Simon
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 08:09 PM |
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Screed - diy or not
Folks,
Need to screed the porch floor - approx. 2m x 2m.
Have never screeded before, so wondering if I can save a couple of quid and do it myself or is it something that really needs to be done by someone
who knows what they are doing.
Cheers
ATB
Simon
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bi22le
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 08:42 PM |
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I screeded my kitchen floor before tiling it. It was about 2.5M X 4M.
I found it quite easy. I did have a ridge that made the tiling a little hard but think I could do better second time round. My mistake was I had to
mix up 2 loads. The first amount was perfect, really runny and fluid. The second amount was mixed in a rush and was a bit thicker. It all started to
set a bit fast and I did not have time to finish it properly.
Dont worry about how it will set, make it nice and runny and you will be fine.
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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Smoking Frog
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 08:54 PM |
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What type of screed? I've used the floor levelling compound and had no problems. However I've seen some that had crazed.
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Simon
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 09:26 PM |
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Screed will be from what I've read on the net, being sharp sand/cement mixed between 1.3 and 1.45 iirc
ATB
Simon
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JoelP
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 09:29 PM |
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I pva the concrete first to stop it crazing. Remember its self smoothing, not self leveling.
Beware! Bourettes is binfectious.
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benchmark51
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 09:45 PM |
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That is totally different to how mine was done by a professional screeder.
I had a concrete floor that needed screeding and was suprised to see how it was done.
The concrete floor was wetted and the screed was almost dry when applied. He found the levels
using string and a spirit level and formed piers making sure they were all level. Then the spaces
between the piers filled in and levelled with the piers using a long float in a sawing motion. He kept
doing this and worked his way to the door. As the screed sucked up the water previously applied,
it all became very smooth and shiny. I was amazed at how smooth and flat it was next day.
He used a small Belle concrete mixer and mixed as he went and the mix was virtually dry.
It came out brilliantly smooth and I've never had any problem with it.
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Barkalarr
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 10:01 PM |
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When we had ours done (Approx 5 x 3m) the builders mixed "feathers" in with the almost dry mix. This was an extension to our kitchen - my
only regret is that we only put wet underfloor heating in the new bit and not the existing because it would have made a right mess digging up the old
screed - in hindsight I wish i had put it in the whole room because it's excellent on your feet (major novelty as we have only just had the
building work done).
Personally, if you haven't got the right tools (like a chuffing-great long level) I'd get someone in to do it.
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 10:20 PM |
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I did our conservatory floor, 5m x 3.2m. Sand blinding, DPM, insulation, wet underfloor heating, screed, diluted PVA to seal and then tiled. The info
I got before doing it (and after three years, it's still fine and no tiles have lifted or cracked) was to use a pretty dry mix.
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bi22le
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| posted on 19/8/14 at 10:31 PM |
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Strange that everybody has said it was almost dry.
I was worried my stuff would not dry it was so liquid!! I brought self leveling, self smoothing simples DIY stuff from Wickes I think.
I dont think I even prepared the floor more than a sweep with a broom.
I would not champion my self as master screeder so dont take my advice as gospal, just as my experience. I have had no troubles with it though.
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 20/8/14 at 05:58 AM |
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screed is normally about 50mm thick, applied almost dry. I have had a few bits done over the years, looks easy but I get the feeling easy to cock up
and then difficult to rectify......
The old chap I use wets the concrete first then sprinkles cement dust on and brushes it around. Old fashioned, but he swears by it.
If just self-levelling, rather easier, especially on a small area, and yes, pretty liquid. the latex versions seem better. dilute PVA or better SBA to
seal first.
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Slimy38
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| posted on 20/8/14 at 06:46 AM |
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The one that was applied to our kitchen was a really runny one. But it was only about 2mm thick of a very plasticky quick drying liquid. This is in
contrast to the garage surfacing which was an inch or so of what appeared to be a cement mix. Looking online they are both called
'screeding', but two very different techniques.
The runny one was just sloshed about until it found it's natural surface (and could have probably done by my ten year old daughter!), the drier
thicker one required two blokes with beams levelling it out (and looked to be very similar to plastering in that they made it look easy but I bet it
isn't).
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motorcycle_mayhem
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| posted on 20/8/14 at 10:59 AM |
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I believe folk here may be confusing cementacious screed with floor levelling compound, the latter is a latex-based polymeric self-levelling
compound.
I've 'just' done the garage floor - 6 months ago, after removing the original shite, laying 6 inches of sub-base, 4 inches of
concrete and then 2 inches of screed. It's not a professional job, I'm DIY, but with TIME on your side (as with all things) some care and
attention makes up for everything.
A 2m square porch floor is definately DIY!
I used polythene strands in the screed mix (as you've been told, this is done very dry), which make it very tough and crack-free, but a
smoothing nightmare. I did not know (of course) that the additive would cause such issues, but it did.
I'm 'sorting' it out now actually. One coat of floor paint, allow to dry and bed the 'hairs' down and then shave with a
sharp blade scraper.
2nd paint coat went on this morning... looking good.
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rick1962uk
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| posted on 20/8/14 at 12:32 PM |
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its not that bad to do i have done loads of floors in my building days the key is prep of the floor and get the mix right it needs to be like a
crumble mix damp so when you squeeze it it holds together to wet it will drip water to dry it wont stick
paint the floor with pva / water mix
on the day your going to do it spray some water down to stop the screed drying out to quick
lay 2 lengths of wood down like train tracks this will be your level take time to get this 100% right
you will need a large plastic float and a lenth of wood to cut the screed a bit longet than the tracks these need to be about 12" from the
wall
as you tip the screed level it and then pat it down hard with the base of the spade
then pull the screed back in a scissor like action
then every few feet polish it down with the float in a s type action
you will need to move the tracks and fill then in as you go
i use a 3:1 mix that i also add a waterproof agent to
THEN WHEN DONE LEAVE IT FOR 3-5 DAYS AT LEAST A WEEK WOULD BE BEST
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