Hello
After completing the screed, we are considering installing a so-called skim coat floor with a concrete look. Unfortunately, there are not many providers, and if there are, they tend to be extremely expensive. If anyone knows of alternatives, companies that offer a good price-performance ratio, or if it’s okay to do it “yourself” with guidance and instructions, I would be grateful for any advice. Rooms and a bathroom are to be done. Maybe someone here has taken on this task themselves. I understand that there are many things to consider.
After completing the screed, we are considering installing a so-called skim coat floor with a concrete look. Unfortunately, there are not many providers, and if there are, they tend to be extremely expensive. If anyone knows of alternatives, companies that offer a good price-performance ratio, or if it’s okay to do it “yourself” with guidance and instructions, I would be grateful for any advice. Rooms and a bathroom are to be done. Maybe someone here has taken on this task themselves. I understand that there are many things to consider.
Hello "Tommy77".
Here is a realistic scenario from my professional experience that might help you decide whether DIY knowledge (and some advice from users) is sufficient:
Even though it was installed by the homeowner himself, in a property I inspected, the new skim coat floor applied in the living area started showing problems just two months later, according to complaints from his wife. Not only had the appearance in the main walkways deteriorated significantly, but the surface of the floor was clearly worn down.
What was missing from the surface had settled on the furniture as a thick layer of dust, which did not please the DIY builder or his wife. To avoid further household tension, the furniture including the kitchen fittings had to be dismantled and temporarily stored in the garage and all available dry rooms. The skim coat floor was then removed by milling and replaced by a specialist company.
This is not a fictional scenario!
Regarding the issue, please note the following:
1. The price you mentioned for such leveling compounds usually directly relates to the quality and thus the durability of the material.
2. It is not enough to simply read a product brochure from the home improvement store and then start working. Details such as the "ripening" or curing of the compound, the correct mixing speed to avoid air bubbles that would otherwise rise to the surface and cause problems – these are important considerations. Such details are often unknown and unfamiliar to amateurs both in theory and practice.
Even before hiring a company to install such a floor, it is absolutely essential (!!) to visit a reference site where the contractor has installed this or a similar decorative leveling compound. If another homeowner was already dissatisfied with the workmanship, you don’t necessarily have to experience the same.
So: There are corresponding, highly formulated leveling compounds available from various reputable suppliers, as well as the necessary surface protection systems.
I have not yet mentioned the surface protection, but this opens up another potential source of household conflict during installation, as aesthetics are subjective and the final result usually reflects special preferences or skills in the trade!
Best regards, KlaRa
Here is a realistic scenario from my professional experience that might help you decide whether DIY knowledge (and some advice from users) is sufficient:
Even though it was installed by the homeowner himself, in a property I inspected, the new skim coat floor applied in the living area started showing problems just two months later, according to complaints from his wife. Not only had the appearance in the main walkways deteriorated significantly, but the surface of the floor was clearly worn down.
What was missing from the surface had settled on the furniture as a thick layer of dust, which did not please the DIY builder or his wife. To avoid further household tension, the furniture including the kitchen fittings had to be dismantled and temporarily stored in the garage and all available dry rooms. The skim coat floor was then removed by milling and replaced by a specialist company.
This is not a fictional scenario!
Regarding the issue, please note the following:
1. The price you mentioned for such leveling compounds usually directly relates to the quality and thus the durability of the material.
2. It is not enough to simply read a product brochure from the home improvement store and then start working. Details such as the "ripening" or curing of the compound, the correct mixing speed to avoid air bubbles that would otherwise rise to the surface and cause problems – these are important considerations. Such details are often unknown and unfamiliar to amateurs both in theory and practice.
Even before hiring a company to install such a floor, it is absolutely essential (!!) to visit a reference site where the contractor has installed this or a similar decorative leveling compound. If another homeowner was already dissatisfied with the workmanship, you don’t necessarily have to experience the same.
So: There are corresponding, highly formulated leveling compounds available from various reputable suppliers, as well as the necessary surface protection systems.
I have not yet mentioned the surface protection, but this opens up another potential source of household conflict during installation, as aesthetics are subjective and the final result usually reflects special preferences or skills in the trade!
Best regards, KlaRa
So the protective system is usually just a single sealing coat that can be applied multiple times. The biggest issue is actually the filler itself, where a lot can go wrong. That’s as far as I’ve gotten. My goal is to work with quality from the start when it comes to materials and tools. The technique, as the name suggests, will be the decisive factor.
We have also looked into such systems.
We saw some floors that developed cracks over time or simply looked very worn. Of course, this was just a small insight.
For us, it was not an option anyway because we didn’t want visible joints.
We would rather go with concrete from the start and, in the worst case, seal it with epoxy.
These floors are also very expensive and not suitable for budget-conscious construction.
Concrete-look flooring is quite “special” and needs to match the overall style, starting from the house itself to the interior design.
We saw some floors that developed cracks over time or simply looked very worn. Of course, this was just a small insight.
For us, it was not an option anyway because we didn’t want visible joints.
We would rather go with concrete from the start and, in the worst case, seal it with epoxy.
These floors are also very expensive and not suitable for budget-conscious construction.
Concrete-look flooring is quite “special” and needs to match the overall style, starting from the house itself to the interior design.
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