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Bierwächter13 Jan 2026 19:00Hello forum,
Short version
The screed is too thin, and the company will probably try to fix it rather than remove and redo it.
Long version:
Our construction is not going as planned. We now have the issue that our screed is too thin.
The situation is as follows: We are building a single-family house with a general contractor on a slab foundation. It’s not completely turnkey, but the screed is still the responsibility of the general contractor. On the slab, there is insulation (polystyrene boards), on top of that the underfloor heating is installed, and the cement screed was poured over it. There is no screed under the shower tray. I could see the side and measured the total screed thickness at only 45mm (1.8 inches). However, the relevant standards specify that the screed must be 45mm (1.8 inches) above the heating pipes, so we definitely have too little thickness.
I contacted the site manager, who filed a complaint with the screed subcontractor. He also acknowledged that a greater build-up over the pipes is needed. He said he spoke with the screed company, and there are ways to add another layer (with a bonding layer, etc.). Allegedly, he experienced this once before without problems.
I have now searched forums and found statements suggesting that repairs are only possible if there are already 45mm (1.8 inches) of screed above the heating pipes. In our case, it is definitely not. I also found out that the screed company doesn’t believe we only have 45mm (1.8 inches) and wants to inspect the site. They are welcome to do so; a meeting with the site manager and subcontractor is scheduled.
However, I am very concerned because it sounds to me like the screed including the heating pipes will need to be removed entirely and redone to be defect-free. I do not want to accept a repair that might cause the large tiles and parquet flooring to crack in 15 years. In my opinion, removal and replacement would be better. I am considering getting one or two expert opinions from other screed companies or, if necessary, a surveyor.
Are there any screed experts here, and what do you think about the situation?
What options do I have?
We also face additional costs because we only discovered the problem on the day the construction company left for their winter holiday, and we were only able to report it afterwards. The tiler was supposed to start now. The rental apartment has already been terminated. Several deliveries have to be rescheduled or temporarily stored. On top of that, the full loan repayment is starting now.
Short version
The screed is too thin, and the company will probably try to fix it rather than remove and redo it.
Long version:
Our construction is not going as planned. We now have the issue that our screed is too thin.
The situation is as follows: We are building a single-family house with a general contractor on a slab foundation. It’s not completely turnkey, but the screed is still the responsibility of the general contractor. On the slab, there is insulation (polystyrene boards), on top of that the underfloor heating is installed, and the cement screed was poured over it. There is no screed under the shower tray. I could see the side and measured the total screed thickness at only 45mm (1.8 inches). However, the relevant standards specify that the screed must be 45mm (1.8 inches) above the heating pipes, so we definitely have too little thickness.
I contacted the site manager, who filed a complaint with the screed subcontractor. He also acknowledged that a greater build-up over the pipes is needed. He said he spoke with the screed company, and there are ways to add another layer (with a bonding layer, etc.). Allegedly, he experienced this once before without problems.
I have now searched forums and found statements suggesting that repairs are only possible if there are already 45mm (1.8 inches) of screed above the heating pipes. In our case, it is definitely not. I also found out that the screed company doesn’t believe we only have 45mm (1.8 inches) and wants to inspect the site. They are welcome to do so; a meeting with the site manager and subcontractor is scheduled.
However, I am very concerned because it sounds to me like the screed including the heating pipes will need to be removed entirely and redone to be defect-free. I do not want to accept a repair that might cause the large tiles and parquet flooring to crack in 15 years. In my opinion, removal and replacement would be better. I am considering getting one or two expert opinions from other screed companies or, if necessary, a surveyor.
Are there any screed experts here, and what do you think about the situation?
What options do I have?
We also face additional costs because we only discovered the problem on the day the construction company left for their winter holiday, and we were only able to report it afterwards. The tiler was supposed to start now. The rental apartment has already been terminated. Several deliveries have to be rescheduled or temporarily stored. On top of that, the full loan repayment is starting now.
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derdietmar13 Jan 2026 19:09Hello,
You are building with a general contractor (GC). Strictly speaking, this means you do not have a say in the process. You will only receive the final result. The GC decides exactly how any corrections are made.
Regardless, only a new screed would be acceptable. For this, the old one, including the heating loops and probably the insulation, must be removed and everything rebuilt from scratch.
Best regards
You are building with a general contractor (GC). Strictly speaking, this means you do not have a say in the process. You will only receive the final result. The GC decides exactly how any corrections are made.
Regardless, only a new screed would be acceptable. For this, the old one, including the heating loops and probably the insulation, must be removed and everything rebuilt from scratch.
Best regards
N
nordanney13 Jan 2026 19:52I agree with that. A solution compliant with DIN standards means completely replacing everything. I wouldn’t accept anything else (two layers that may react differently to heat, a possible weak point horizontally). Since this can lead to significant delays, it’s possible that the general contractor might also be responsible for your consequential costs. However, this depends on the details of your contract.
P.S. There are also (cement) screeds that allow for less than 45mm (1.8 inches) thickness and are compliant with regulations. What exactly was installed?
P.S. There are also (cement) screeds that allow for less than 45mm (1.8 inches) thickness and are compliant with regulations. What exactly was installed?
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Bierwächter13 Jan 2026 20:12nordanney schrieb:
P.S. There are also (cement) screeds that allow for less than 45mm (1.8 inches) and are compliant with regulations. What exactly was installed? In our contract, I only find the specification that the floor build-up will be 17.5cm (6.9 inches), including 1cm (0.4 inches) of final flooring. (We have 14.5cm (5.7 inches) without our final flooring.) There are general specifications regarding flatness, but nothing specifically about the screed itself.
The screed company mixed the cement screed on site in a machine, using sand plus (I believe) cement bags. So definitely a floating cement screed.
Is it really the case that compliance with the DIN standard means it must be redone entirely? In the DIN, I only see that this minimum thickness is required above the heating pipes, but I don’t see anywhere whether compliance can also be achieved through correction or repair.
So could I possibly refuse and demand that it be redone?
Here is a picture from before the screed was applied.
[ATTACH alt="Screenshot_20260113_201511.jpg"]95031[/ATTACH]
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nordanney13 Jan 2026 20:33Bierwächter schrieb:
Is it really true that compliance with the DIN standard means completely starting over? In the DIN, I only find that this minimum height above the heating pipes is required, but I don’t see anywhere whether compliance can also be achieved by retrofitting. If I remember correctly, the DIN states that the screed must be a homogeneous layer. Having two layers is not considered compliant.
Bierwächter schrieb:
There is no screed under the shower tray. So I have a clear view there. What exactly are you looking at there? Are you getting a shower tray installed?
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