ᐅ Should the screed be installed as soon as possible after pouring the foundation slab?

Hello everyone,

We are currently renovating the utility room that houses the groundwater pump supplying water to the house, as well as installing a staircase to the upper floor.

Due to significant delays caused by unforeseen structural damage to the building's foundation (strip footing and moisture damage), we can no longer spend much time on drying.

Therefore, my question is: How soon and as quickly as possible can a floating screed be installed after pouring the concrete slab?

The conditions are as follows:

The space is a well-ventilated, tall, and generally easily heated room measuring 3.03 m x 1.11 m x 5.00 m (10 ft x 3 ft 8 in x 16 ft 5 in). The removed concrete slab will be restored with a 10 cm (4 inch) layer of concrete, after which a floating screed will be installed. No floor covering will be applied on top for the next few months.

Following that, only a welder, mason, and stair builder will work in the room. The floor does not need to withstand heavy loads since everything above will be built into the walls, but I am concerned about covering the concrete too early with screed.

Thank you very much for your answers. Feel free to ask if you need any further information.

It's just a theory... Somehow forums are useless.

Thanks for no comments.

Regards

Try searching in construction-oriented forums, you can find something there via Google.

Why do you need a screed on top of the concrete?

Just pour the concrete and let it cure. The staircase builder should be able to work with spacer blocks or similar.

Otherwise, there are additives for concrete that speed up drying. In the worst case, you won’t be able to get the moisture out from underneath. I know a homeowner who also didn’t allow enough drying time. The tiles in the living room still have moisture stains after 10 years. This isn’t a basement but an intermediate floor.

However, giving advice here without knowing the local conditions doesn’t really make sense. I would recommend giving the whole thing plenty of time to dry properly.

DEKU_1992 schrieb:

That's why my question is: How soon and as quickly as possible can you install a floating screed after pouring the concrete slab?

When it comes to strength, the "28-day" rule generally applies. By then, the concrete is usually sufficiently cured (and dry enough).
Since you want to proceed quickly, I would personally start with the screed after 10 days and hope it has dried sufficiently by then.

nordanney schrieb:

Personally, I would start with the screed after 10 days, hoping that it has dried sufficiently by then.

Hope is always the last thing to die!