ᐅ Leveling compound on waterproof concrete basement floor: When is it possible?
Created on: 15 Mar 2020 12:21
M
Mbk84
Hello everyone,
In December, our basement floor (waterproof concrete) was poured. Since the end of January, the roof has been in place, and the basement is dry (at least visually, no more signs of moisture or dark spots). From mid-December to the end of January, there was about 3cm (1.2 inches) of water in the basement.
Since we have two weeks off now due to the pandemic and can’t travel anyway, we would like to use this time to level the basement floors with a self-leveling compound and possibly start tiling.
Is it okay to do this now, or should we wait longer for the concrete floor to dry or cure more?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Markus
In December, our basement floor (waterproof concrete) was poured. Since the end of January, the roof has been in place, and the basement is dry (at least visually, no more signs of moisture or dark spots). From mid-December to the end of January, there was about 3cm (1.2 inches) of water in the basement.
Since we have two weeks off now due to the pandemic and can’t travel anyway, we would like to use this time to level the basement floors with a self-leveling compound and possibly start tiling.
Is it okay to do this now, or should we wait longer for the concrete floor to dry or cure more?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Markus
Vicky Pedia15 Mar 2020 20:55Self-leveling compound should be fine, as it is "breathable." I would still advise against tiles. They say to wait at least 3 months after installation, but it is cold, and there was water in it, etc.
Aren’t you installing a screed layer in the basement? Why does your floor construction differ from the other levels? Normally, it’s raw concrete floor, insulation, screed, and tiles!
Even considering the energy saving regulations, I find it hard to imagine you could have insulation under the slab. How exactly did you build it regarding the energy saving regulations, KfW55 (I assume KfW40 and higher standards aren’t applicable)?
Even considering the energy saving regulations, I find it hard to imagine you could have insulation under the slab. How exactly did you build it regarding the energy saving regulations, KfW55 (I assume KfW40 and higher standards aren’t applicable)?
Thank you @Vicky Pedia and @Zaba12!
We are installing screed everywhere, including insulation and the floor covering, except in two basement rooms. There is insulation underneath the concrete slab. The house is built to KfW55 standards.
This was mainly just a calculation exercise:
By skipping the screed in those two basement rooms, we saved almost €2,000. For the leveling compound in those two rooms, I will pay about €250–300. Since these are purely utility/storage basement rooms, we don’t currently see much benefit in having screed there. On the contrary, the idea was that this would gain us about 12cm (5 inches) of room height.
Or am I missing something? Does it make sense to have screed everywhere?
Zaba12 schrieb:
Aren’t you getting a screed floor in the basement?
We are installing screed everywhere, including insulation and the floor covering, except in two basement rooms. There is insulation underneath the concrete slab. The house is built to KfW55 standards.
This was mainly just a calculation exercise:
By skipping the screed in those two basement rooms, we saved almost €2,000. For the leveling compound in those two rooms, I will pay about €250–300. Since these are purely utility/storage basement rooms, we don’t currently see much benefit in having screed there. On the contrary, the idea was that this would gain us about 12cm (5 inches) of room height.
Or am I missing something? Does it make sense to have screed everywhere?
The question is whether this has been coordinated with the energy consultant, so that the missing insulation in the two basement rooms does not affect your funding approval from KfW.
If the screed and insulation are missing, the height difference compared to the other rooms is quite significant. We’re talking about around 13cm (including tiles, at least in our case), which feels like half a step. Just try searching online—there might be valid reasons to install screed after all.
If the screed and insulation are missing, the height difference compared to the other rooms is quite significant. We’re talking about around 13cm (including tiles, at least in our case), which feels like half a step. Just try searching online—there might be valid reasons to install screed after all.
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