ᐅ Screed installed three days ago and still damp?

So far, only minor work has been done, mainly on the exterior of the house.
Cement screed. Our general contractor prefers to take the time to ensure it dries properly.

mr.xyz1 schrieb:

So far, only minor work has been done, mainly on the exterior of the house.
Cement screed. Our general contractor prefers to take the necessary time to allow it to dry properly.

It seems like they're starting to cut corners here, maybe because they won't be working anymore or something—I don't know. I managed to postpone it until next Wednesday, but then it will be nearly two weeks. I spoke with the drywall contractor; he supports the site manager and said I should discuss it with him because he works under his contract, not mine‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️. And as I mentioned, the site manager probably goes on vacation right after and is fully booked afterward, so to get it done quickly, it has to happen before his vacation. He doesn’t really give proper advice; once he has the contract, he just follows instructions. I explicitly told him not to enter the construction site without our consent.

Often, the companies showed up without us being involved. For now, I will just keep ventilating and see what happens.

I have spoken with several other drywall contractors; all recommend ventilating and allowing drying for 2-3 weeks, especially now with the frequent rain and high humidity outside.

Since I didn’t have the energy for a discussion, I’m not responding to the email. However, the site manager also suggests leaving windows tilted open to speed up drying. That has been forbidden by the neighbors so far because it’s considered bad.

We planned to paint a wall in the utility room next Friday before the installations are mounted. However, our painter postponed it because it is still too damp even after 3 weeks. It’s surprising that your drywall installers want to start already. I would get written confirmation that the wall is dry enough and that no damage will occur if work begins now.

However, the room doesn’t have any windows.
For several days, we have kept some windows in the house slightly ajar to allow ventilation, but in a way that minimizes drafts.

Where exactly is the problem with the drywall? By the time the screed is installed, the drywall ceiling on the upper floor and the drywall in the bathrooms are usually already in place. Of course, these will become damp during the heating phase before the floor covering is installed, but the gypsum plaster, the walls behind it, the concrete, and the wooden substructure for the drywall ceilings all experience the same. That’s why ventilation is necessary... 3-4 times a day...

If this alone caused mold, there would not be a single mold-free house with underfloor heating anywhere in Germany...

Are you building a turnkey home with a general contractor? Then you have no right to decide when the tradespeople come. You wouldn’t call a car manufacturer and ask them not to install the engine block yet because you heard that there are currently faulty batches coming off the production line.

Sure, you can forbid them from entering the construction site. But don’t be surprised if they stop coming when you actually want them there.

If you don’t want to leave the windows tilted open, which shouldn’t be a problem during the day at 20-25°C (68-77°F), then you need to ventilate 2-4 times a day and, depending on the weather, fully air out the rooms for at least 20-30 minutes. Are you doing that?

And the example of the timber frame house being built in pouring rain is such a completely inappropriate comparison...

xMisterDx schrieb:

Where exactly is the problem with drywall? When the screed is poured, the drywall ceiling on the upper floor and the drywall in the bathrooms are usually already installed. Of course, they will get damp during the floor heating process before the final covering, but the gypsum plaster, the walls behind it, the concrete, and the wooden substructure for the drywall ceilings all experience the same. That's why you ventilate... 3-4 times a day...

If that alone caused mold, there wouldn't be a single mold-free house with underfloor heating anywhere in Germany...

Are you having a turnkey build with a general contractor? Then you have no right to decide when the workers come. You wouldn't call VW and ask them not to install the engine block because you heard there are bad batches coming off the line.

Sure, you can forbid them to enter the construction site. But don’t be surprised if they stop coming when you eventually want them there.

If you don’t want to keep the windows tilted, which shouldn’t be a problem during the day at 20-25°C (68-77°F), you need to ventilate 2-4 times a day and, depending on the weather, fully air out for at least 20-30 minutes. Are you doing that?

And that comparison with the timber house being erected in pouring rain is completely inappropriate...

Yes, we ventilate 3-4 times a day with quick airing!

The screed is always poured first, otherwise the drywall would get damp from its moisture...

That’s nonsense. Drywall can handle that, just like the plaster that goes on the wall before the screed.

But by all means, block your construction site and ruin your relationship with the contractors if you think you know better.

PS:
And good luck installing the drywall once the screed is already in place… with the underfloor heating underneath as well… 😉
No contractor works so precisely that you won’t accidentally hit a pipe sometimes.
Adhesive?

Honestly… forget it…