W
Wolpertinger29 Jun 2022 06:50Hello everyone!
Our screed installer pushed for quick payment, and since it seemed suspicious to me, I measured it myself. On average, the entire ground floor is 10mm (0.4 inches) too low (two levels), and the same applies to a large basement room.
The biggest issue: The flush sliding door will later protrude 10mm (0.4 inches) above the finished floor level.
What tolerances or standards are normally applied here? Is this still acceptable?
I appreciate any help!
Regards
Andi
Our screed installer pushed for quick payment, and since it seemed suspicious to me, I measured it myself. On average, the entire ground floor is 10mm (0.4 inches) too low (two levels), and the same applies to a large basement room.
The biggest issue: The flush sliding door will later protrude 10mm (0.4 inches) above the finished floor level.
What tolerances or standards are normally applied here? Is this still acceptable?
I appreciate any help!
Regards
Andi
Wolpertinger schrieb:
Hello everyone!
Our screed installer insisted on quick payment, and since something seemed off to me, I measured it myself. On average, the entire ground floor is 10 mm (0.4 inches) too low (two height levels), including a large basement room.
The biggest issue: the flush sliding door will later be 10 mm (0.4 inches) above the finished floor level.
What tolerances/standards apply here? Is this still within acceptable limits?
I’m grateful for any help!
Best regards,
Andi Maybe the flooring expert @KlaRa can assist you with this?
You should ideally provide more information/details and possibly some pictures to clarify the situation...
Hello Andi,
First of all, it should be noted that the screed installer does not know the exact plans for a project.
That is why they receive height specifications from the scope of work, including a reference to the binding benchmark level. This benchmark exists in every new construction project!
For example, the screed installer may be given a requirement of -19 mm (approximately -3/4 inch) relative to the finished floor level (OKB), if later a parquet floor, adhesive, and leveling compound (filler) are to be applied. This figure of -19 mm, as just one example, is binding for them.
The answer to your question is therefore:
A height leveling must be performed on the screed surface, referencing the binding benchmark level!
Verification of whether it has been installed correctly or not is based on the tender documents.
After that, everything will become clear.
Regards, KlaRa
First of all, it should be noted that the screed installer does not know the exact plans for a project.
That is why they receive height specifications from the scope of work, including a reference to the binding benchmark level. This benchmark exists in every new construction project!
For example, the screed installer may be given a requirement of -19 mm (approximately -3/4 inch) relative to the finished floor level (OKB), if later a parquet floor, adhesive, and leveling compound (filler) are to be applied. This figure of -19 mm, as just one example, is binding for them.
The answer to your question is therefore:
A height leveling must be performed on the screed surface, referencing the binding benchmark level!
Verification of whether it has been installed correctly or not is based on the tender documents.
After that, everything will become clear.
Regards, KlaRa
Who is responsible for the finished floor? Just to make sure they have communicated, so there isn’t an additional layer planned on the ground floor that you might not be aware of?
Maybe it’s actually correct as it is. Everyone usually insists on quick payment. Nowadays, getting any kind of discount for early payment is quite rare.
Maybe it’s actually correct as it is. Everyone usually insists on quick payment. Nowadays, getting any kind of discount for early payment is quite rare.
W
Wolpertinger30 Jun 2022 18:12KlaRa schrieb:
Hello Andi,
First of all, it should be noted that the screed installer never knows exactly what is planned on any given project.
That’s why they receive height specifications from a scope of work document, along with a reference to the mandatory benchmark level. This benchmark exists on every new construction project!
For example, the screed installer might be given a specification of -19 cm (7.5 inches) from the top of the finished floor if a parquet floor, adhesive, and leveling compound (filler) are to be installed later. And this value, -19 cm (7.5 inches) in this example only, is binding for them.
So, the answer to your question is:
A height leveling of the screed surface must be carried out with reference to the mandatory benchmark level!
Whether the installation was done correctly or not is verified based on the tender documents.
Everything becomes clear after that.
Regards, KlaRa Their benchmark level matches ours exactly. The height levels were communicated in writing. They did not follow their own benchmark level.
How much deviation is allowed for the height level, and according to which standard?
"His reference line matches ours exactly. The height levels were also provided in writing. However, he did not adhere to his own reference line.
How much deviation, and according to which standard, is allowed for the height level?"
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Well, DIN 18560 part 1 table 1 "Screed Thicknesses" provides guidance here.
The bill of quantities for "Screed Work" specified a nominal screed thickness, which is set by the designer.
Looking at the aforementioned table 1, for example, the nominal thickness for unheated screeds (common in residential construction) is 45mm (1.8 inches).
The smallest individual value there is 40mm (1.6 inches), so there is a difference of 5mm (0.2 inches).
The minimum thickness primarily relates to the load-bearing capacity of the screed layer; nevertheless, we can apply the basic idea to the issue in your house when it comes to minimum thicknesses (and thus the smallest installed thickness).
In addition to the nominal thickness requirement, there is also a specification (directed to the screed installer) of the exact height level to be followed.
The minimum screed thickness is required by DIN 18560-1, but there is no normative requirement for the maximum thickness.
This usually results only after leveling (the screed installer’s task), allowing for additional thickness or material consumption to be invoiced later.
Ultimately, the height specification given to the screed installer relative to the binding reference line is decisive!
Assuming the screed was indeed installed too low, what happens next?
A written notice of defects is issued by the client to the contractor (in this case, the screed installer), requesting correction within a defined period.
The screed installer will usually first check whether the screed height is actually incorrect.
If it was installed too low, he will likely leave the required additional thickness to the following trade (floor layer), to be done at their cost. The floor layer then carries out the leveling, which — depending on the height difference — does not necessarily have to be done over the entire area. Usually, it is enough to adjust transitions between building elements (for example, from one room to another).
This is mostly how it is handled in practice.
There is another alternative:
If the screed was installed too low in every room, then with the exception of the main corridor (in multi-unit buildings) or the main entrance (in single-family homes), the screed can be leveled only where there are forced level points. For example, the house’s front door.
However, if the house or apartment has a staircase to upper floors, the situation is different because the step height of the stairs is set according to the correct screed height (in that case, the riser of the first step would be higher than the following steps, which is not acceptable).
----------------------------------------------------
You can probably see that this is a very complex topic and the solution depends on many factors.
At this point, I just wanted to give the relevant pointers. Ultimately, from my practical experience, you will only make progress with a construction professional who represents your interests (this can be a good site manager or architect, for example).
Because a craftsman’s willingness to compromise depends heavily on the financial pressure they are under ...
And the quick payment of invoices you mentioned already suggests this.
Good luck (and stay calm): KlaRa
How much deviation, and according to which standard, is allowed for the height level?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, DIN 18560 part 1 table 1 "Screed Thicknesses" provides guidance here.
The bill of quantities for "Screed Work" specified a nominal screed thickness, which is set by the designer.
Looking at the aforementioned table 1, for example, the nominal thickness for unheated screeds (common in residential construction) is 45mm (1.8 inches).
The smallest individual value there is 40mm (1.6 inches), so there is a difference of 5mm (0.2 inches).
The minimum thickness primarily relates to the load-bearing capacity of the screed layer; nevertheless, we can apply the basic idea to the issue in your house when it comes to minimum thicknesses (and thus the smallest installed thickness).
In addition to the nominal thickness requirement, there is also a specification (directed to the screed installer) of the exact height level to be followed.
The minimum screed thickness is required by DIN 18560-1, but there is no normative requirement for the maximum thickness.
This usually results only after leveling (the screed installer’s task), allowing for additional thickness or material consumption to be invoiced later.
Ultimately, the height specification given to the screed installer relative to the binding reference line is decisive!
Assuming the screed was indeed installed too low, what happens next?
A written notice of defects is issued by the client to the contractor (in this case, the screed installer), requesting correction within a defined period.
The screed installer will usually first check whether the screed height is actually incorrect.
If it was installed too low, he will likely leave the required additional thickness to the following trade (floor layer), to be done at their cost. The floor layer then carries out the leveling, which — depending on the height difference — does not necessarily have to be done over the entire area. Usually, it is enough to adjust transitions between building elements (for example, from one room to another).
This is mostly how it is handled in practice.
There is another alternative:
If the screed was installed too low in every room, then with the exception of the main corridor (in multi-unit buildings) or the main entrance (in single-family homes), the screed can be leveled only where there are forced level points. For example, the house’s front door.
However, if the house or apartment has a staircase to upper floors, the situation is different because the step height of the stairs is set according to the correct screed height (in that case, the riser of the first step would be higher than the following steps, which is not acceptable).
----------------------------------------------------
You can probably see that this is a very complex topic and the solution depends on many factors.
At this point, I just wanted to give the relevant pointers. Ultimately, from my practical experience, you will only make progress with a construction professional who represents your interests (this can be a good site manager or architect, for example).
Because a craftsman’s willingness to compromise depends heavily on the financial pressure they are under ...
And the quick payment of invoices you mentioned already suggests this.
Good luck (and stay calm): KlaRa