ᐅ So, which is it: cost-effective or expensive exposed screed?
Created on: 20 Mar 2015 11:05
W
Willem81
Hello everyone!
My family and I are currently planning to build our own home. We have found a nice and affordable plot of land and are in the process of purchasing it. We have found a great architect who wants to bring our partly very concrete ideas to life. Since the planning has just begun, but I already enjoy dealing with details, I have a question for you.
To briefly explain:
Over the past few years, I have read a lot about architecture, especially on how to build cost-effectively without compromising on quality. Great books on this topic are, for example, "Attractive Building on a Small Budget" by Achim Linhardt and "The Wooden House of the Future" by Marc Lettau and Markus Mosimann. The discussions often lead to more philosophical questions like: What do I actually need? For whom am I building? Do I focus on outward appearance or coziness? Where do I set priorities? What is really important to me? Do I have to build the way “it is usually done,” or can unconventional solutions that save money also have a special appeal?
Besides these fundamental questions, which relate to construction type, concept, floor plan, and features, material choice is also a very important aspect. The general advice is: avoid mixing materials and allow unconventional solutions (for example, do bathrooms and kitchens always have to be tiled?).
One thing that kept coming up is polished screed flooring. Many books and magazines mention that a flowable screed treated with epoxy resin or other materials can be a very affordable floor covering. However, it is actually hard to find much information about it online. No one really quotes realistic prices; you mostly just read that polished screed is very expensive. In forums, some say the floor cost about 150 euros per square meter (about 14 USD per square foot), while others claim to have installed such floors for 7 euros per square meter (about 0.65 USD per square foot). So the range is very wide. Has anyone here had experience with this? I'm not looking for sugar-coated answers—if it’s too expensive, it’s not an option. I just find it interesting that the information varies so much. I look forward to hearing your experiences.
My family and I are currently planning to build our own home. We have found a nice and affordable plot of land and are in the process of purchasing it. We have found a great architect who wants to bring our partly very concrete ideas to life. Since the planning has just begun, but I already enjoy dealing with details, I have a question for you.
To briefly explain:
Over the past few years, I have read a lot about architecture, especially on how to build cost-effectively without compromising on quality. Great books on this topic are, for example, "Attractive Building on a Small Budget" by Achim Linhardt and "The Wooden House of the Future" by Marc Lettau and Markus Mosimann. The discussions often lead to more philosophical questions like: What do I actually need? For whom am I building? Do I focus on outward appearance or coziness? Where do I set priorities? What is really important to me? Do I have to build the way “it is usually done,” or can unconventional solutions that save money also have a special appeal?
Besides these fundamental questions, which relate to construction type, concept, floor plan, and features, material choice is also a very important aspect. The general advice is: avoid mixing materials and allow unconventional solutions (for example, do bathrooms and kitchens always have to be tiled?).
One thing that kept coming up is polished screed flooring. Many books and magazines mention that a flowable screed treated with epoxy resin or other materials can be a very affordable floor covering. However, it is actually hard to find much information about it online. No one really quotes realistic prices; you mostly just read that polished screed is very expensive. In forums, some say the floor cost about 150 euros per square meter (about 14 USD per square foot), while others claim to have installed such floors for 7 euros per square meter (about 0.65 USD per square foot). So the range is very wide. Has anyone here had experience with this? I'm not looking for sugar-coated answers—if it’s too expensive, it’s not an option. I just find it interesting that the information varies so much. I look forward to hearing your experiences.
G
Goldi0911126 Nov 2017 09:06Thank you for the information
We would like to avoid tiling in our utility room and, if possible, seal the screed directly.
I have done some research and am now confused because there seem to be very different approaches, and many people advise against it.
In my simple understanding, it would be enough to prime the screed and then apply concrete paint twice, which also contains a sealant.
However, I am also reading that the screed must be sanded multiple times and that the use of epoxy resin is recommended. This, in turn, would be quite expensive and ideally should only be done by a professional.
Do you have any further experience with this?
Thank you very much.
I have done some research and am now confused because there seem to be very different approaches, and many people advise against it.
In my simple understanding, it would be enough to prime the screed and then apply concrete paint twice, which also contains a sealant.
However, I am also reading that the screed must be sanded multiple times and that the use of epoxy resin is recommended. This, in turn, would be quite expensive and ideally should only be done by a professional.
Do you have any further experience with this?
Thank you very much.
nadori schrieb:
In my naive view, it would be enough to prime the screed and then apply two coats of concrete paint that also acts as a sealant.You can do that. Depending on the quality of the screed, I would recommend filling it first to get a smooth surface. Ideally, have the screed finished about 3mm (1/8 inch) below the final floor height of the adjacent room. Then use leveling compound to fill the rest, prime, and paint. But please do not use exterior paint, as it contains biocides that are not suitable for indoor use.
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