stepheni Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 I have just had my concrete screed laid yesterday for my ufh. I explained to the builder that it needed to be a smooth flat finish as I was just laying karndean directly to this. I was told this was no problem and that it would be perfect. Got home last night to see a far from perfect floor with a 3 or 4 long ridges protruding some 20mm. I have phoned the builder and he is supposed to be coming round this morning. What are my options here? Pretty disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trw144 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 2 minutes ago, stepheni said: I have just had my concrete screed laid yesterday for my ufh. I explained to the builder that it needed to be a smooth flat finish as I was just laying karndean directly to this. I was told this was no problem and that it would be perfect. Got home last night to see a far from perfect floor with a 3 or 4 long ridges protruding some 20mm. I have phoned the builder and he is supposed to be coming round this morning. What are my options here? Pretty disappointed. I d be inclined to grind it off using the builders face. On a more serious note, I seem to remember someone on the forum needed a few mm taken off there screed, so a specialist sanding company came in. I m sure the same could be done on this, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crofter Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 If it's just some ridges on an otherwise level surface, they should shift pretty easily (hammer and bolster) whilst the concrete is still green. It's not ideal but maybe the guy knew that it was better to leave them than to try and do another pass. Bit like the way you shouldn't pick a fly off wet paint. If thr whole slab is uneven, that's a totally different story... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Is this wet concrete or dry sand and cement screed ? How long ago was it laid ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oranjeboom Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 That's my worst fear too. My floor is being poured next week and also have been assured it will be level, smooth etc etc. Getting a sanding company will cost a bit again, so hopefully your builder can either rectify himself or cough up for the further expense. As long as it's all mostly level those ridges should not be too much of a big deal if they can be ground/cut down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepheni Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 wet concrete finished about 5pm last night. I haven't walked over it but standing at the door looking across I can see about 3 or 4 ridges about a metre or so long which are sticking up about 20mm. It is obviously where they have just lifted up the float and it has stuck to the floor a bit and created a ridge. Overall it looks pretty flat and they were using a laser its just these few ridges. The builder said on the phone that I was just "being difficult". He hasn't turned up and hasn't responded to text yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepheni Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 I figured they could just be cut off with grinder but would appreciate the builder just saying that after coming to take a look rather than having a go at me. Even if I was laying a carpet with thick underlay wouldn't hide these ridges! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oranjeboom Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 2 minutes ago, stepheni said: The builder said on the phone that I was just "being difficult". He hasn't turned up and hasn't responded to text yet. So bloody typical. Happy to take your money and get the job done. Get him to do the flooring/tiling now and let's see whether he has any difficulty!!! It's really no wonder builders have such a bad image in this country. Guess he's all paid up too? I made that mistake once also. But it sounds like it can be rectified fairly easily although still a PIA after his assurances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Complaining about 20mm ridges is you "being difficult"? I'm concerned about this language being used so early in the discussion with him about this. What's your relationship been like to date? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepheni Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 He has only done a couple of jobs for me and things have been fine until now. Haven't paid anything yet so onus on him to resolve. Just popped into the karndean place round the corner from my work to explain what has happened. He kind of laughed and said 100% of the jobs they do need the floor screeded no matter how smooth the builder says he has got the floor too. So it looks like I would have had to pay to get this done anyway about £6 m2. I still need to get the worst of the ridges sorted though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 We have similar - if he used a bull float the chances are its cement slurry that has built up on the edges and its quite soft. I've taken a hand held diamond grinder to ours and they are gone in seconds.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepheni Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 I have uploaded a few pictures of the floor. Would you say that I am right to be disappointed with this. The builder is coming tomorrow morning to take a look so just wondering what I should be expecting from him as a resolution. After speaking to the karndean installers they say they would always be laying a 3-4mm screed anyway before laying floor but there is no way as far as I could tell that it would fix this floor. Do I ask him to grind/sand the ridges away and level of any bad areas (can this even be done) or should I just leave the levelling to the karndean installers. The karndean guy said the screed they use for levelling has latex in it and normally goes down after kitchen is installed. appreciate any further advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiehamy Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Not acceptable - how someone walked away from that thinking it was acceptable is beyond me. I'd go so far as to say it's appalling! It's one thing not having it level but that's not even flat. However don't be downhearted, it all gets covered up anyway. Builder should be hiring a concrete grinder to smooth it right down. As far as he should be concerned, it's got to be flat and level. Onus on him to sort and not get out of jail because of efforts of a follow on trade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 I would agree that is not acceptable considering he had assured you it would be flat enough to lay karndean directly on it, That said it's a lot better than some of the slabs I've seen, and I would be very surprised if you could get a decent vinyl floor layer to put anything directly down onto a concrete slab without it being either screeded or latexed, grinding the major ridges out with something like this shouldnt be too time consuming https://www.amazon.co.uk/Latinaric-Concrete-Diamond-Grinding-Masonry/dp/B01EEWR8B8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504809205&sr=8-1&keywords=cup+grinder Whether you try to get the builder/ floor layer to do it or DIY depends how much extra he charged you to give a vinyl ready finish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiehamy Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Was genuinely thinking more like this. Would do the job in jig time. https://www.hss.com/hire/p/htc-gl270-grinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 1 minute ago, jamiehamy said: Was genuinely thinking more like this. Would do the job in jig time. https://www.hss.com/hire/p/htc-gl270-grinder mines £144.76 cheaper, but I suppose that depends whos paying for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 13 minutes ago, Construction Channel said: I would agree that is not acceptable considering he had assured you it would be flat enough to lay karndean directly on it, That said it's a lot better than some of the slabs iv seen, and I would be very surprised if you could get a decent vinyl floor layer to put anything directly down onto a concrete slab without it being either screeded or latexed, grinding the major ridges out with something like this shouldnt be too time consuming https://www.amazon.co.uk/Latinaric-Concrete-Diamond-Grinding-Masonry/dp/B01EEWR8B8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504809205&sr=8-1&keywords=cup+grinder weather you try to get the builder/ floor layer to do it or DIY depends how much extra he charged you to give a vinyl ready finish Got a 9" version of that on a 110v Makita grinder and it's scary how quick it takes the floor down to flat - it's heading towards being polished ..! Not that easy to control but fine for small areas. Big thing is dust extraction - you need some serious kit otherwise you will choke in minutes..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 5 minutes ago, PeterW said: Got a 9" version of that on a 110v Makita grinder and it's scary how quick it takes the floor down to flat - it's heading towards being polished ..! Not that easy to control but fine for small areas. Big thing is dust extraction - you need some serious kit otherwise you will choke in minutes..! agreed, green concrete will disappear in seconds, also yes there is going to be a lot of hovering during and after the process Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepheni Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 ok guys cheers will see how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now