Hi folks,
I'm currently working on an insulation & re-lining project in my 'outhouse/utility' (some previous info & background here : //www.diynot.com/diy/threads/to-tank-or-not-to-tank-that-is-sort-of-the-question.464381/ but as this subject suggests, this thread is regarding the floor...)
As mentioned in the previous thread, the original floor had a 50mm sand-cement/concrete 'topping' but without any DPM when laid and was uneven too. My plan for the floor is as follows :
- Liquid DPM
- Latex self-levelling compound (to both level the unevenness and sandwich the dpm at the same time...)
- Poly sheet (to protect the insulation sitting above)
- 25mm PIR insulation
- Poly sheet (VCL)
- 18mm T&G chipboard (floating)
- Then a final floor finish.. possibly some underlay & laminate but not 100% yet....
I contacted a tech advice regarding the compatibility of a liquid DPM being used in conjunction with the self-leveller and that was fine provided SBR was used to seal & prime once the liquid DPM was down and dry...
I went ahead with the liquid DPM.. first sealing the floor with a dilute mix, then applying 3 coats (with about 24hrs drying between coats..).. This went well with no issues...
I then applied a dilute SBR/water mix (1:3) and let it dry fully...
When dry, I then applied a neat SBR over the top and let it get 'tacky'...
Then on to the latex self-leveller..
I had 2x 20kg bags to lay.. this would give me about a 4mm thickness on the floor. Each bag needed 4 litres of water. I had some spare SBR so thought I'd add some into the self-leveller mix (My thinking here was that the greater degree of 'flexibility' could only help with there being a 'somewhat flexible' rubberised coating beneath..)... So, for each bag I mixed a 1.5L latex liquid (1:4 SBR/water) and added that with 2.5L plain water to make a total of 4Litres for each bag.
The two bags of self-leveller were mixed/poured/levelled with no problems and I was very happy with the result. It seemed to dry/harden normally and I left it over-night to be safe before walking on it etc...
All appeared to be fine and dandy for the next stage, except :
- It seems to be ultra-absorbent in that if you place the palm of your hand (or a bare knee) on the floor for 30 seconds an outline/image will be left on the floor (which will eventually disappear once the moisture evaporates...) - almost like one of those 80s/90s colour-change t-shirts..!
- Secondly (and more worryingly) : I left some items on the floor overnight lastnight (which included a metre square of plastic sheeting (loosely laid), some tape still in its cellophane wrapper, an old sheet of laminate flooring, and a pair of rubber flip flops!)... The plastic sheeting and laminate were damp underneath with water droplets on their underside; the tape and the flip-flops left outline marks where they'd been which have since now disappeared...
So folks.. What is going on here...?!?! I can't believe that the liquid dpm has failed and this is damp from the ground below... So, is the self-leveller absorbing moisture from the air which is then condensing on anything impervious placed on the surface..??
With the plastic sheeting to go on the floor next, what should I do...?!? Is it an idea to seal the self-leveller first (with something like a diluted SBR mix) before the sheeting goes down..? Or just plough ahead and lay the sheet and insulation on-top..?
Appreciate your thoughts on this one....
Thanks as always..!
I'm currently working on an insulation & re-lining project in my 'outhouse/utility' (some previous info & background here : //www.diynot.com/diy/threads/to-tank-or-not-to-tank-that-is-sort-of-the-question.464381/ but as this subject suggests, this thread is regarding the floor...)
As mentioned in the previous thread, the original floor had a 50mm sand-cement/concrete 'topping' but without any DPM when laid and was uneven too. My plan for the floor is as follows :
- Liquid DPM
- Latex self-levelling compound (to both level the unevenness and sandwich the dpm at the same time...)
- Poly sheet (to protect the insulation sitting above)
- 25mm PIR insulation
- Poly sheet (VCL)
- 18mm T&G chipboard (floating)
- Then a final floor finish.. possibly some underlay & laminate but not 100% yet....
I contacted a tech advice regarding the compatibility of a liquid DPM being used in conjunction with the self-leveller and that was fine provided SBR was used to seal & prime once the liquid DPM was down and dry...
I went ahead with the liquid DPM.. first sealing the floor with a dilute mix, then applying 3 coats (with about 24hrs drying between coats..).. This went well with no issues...
I then applied a dilute SBR/water mix (1:3) and let it dry fully...
When dry, I then applied a neat SBR over the top and let it get 'tacky'...
Then on to the latex self-leveller..
I had 2x 20kg bags to lay.. this would give me about a 4mm thickness on the floor. Each bag needed 4 litres of water. I had some spare SBR so thought I'd add some into the self-leveller mix (My thinking here was that the greater degree of 'flexibility' could only help with there being a 'somewhat flexible' rubberised coating beneath..)... So, for each bag I mixed a 1.5L latex liquid (1:4 SBR/water) and added that with 2.5L plain water to make a total of 4Litres for each bag.
The two bags of self-leveller were mixed/poured/levelled with no problems and I was very happy with the result. It seemed to dry/harden normally and I left it over-night to be safe before walking on it etc...
All appeared to be fine and dandy for the next stage, except :
- It seems to be ultra-absorbent in that if you place the palm of your hand (or a bare knee) on the floor for 30 seconds an outline/image will be left on the floor (which will eventually disappear once the moisture evaporates...) - almost like one of those 80s/90s colour-change t-shirts..!
- Secondly (and more worryingly) : I left some items on the floor overnight lastnight (which included a metre square of plastic sheeting (loosely laid), some tape still in its cellophane wrapper, an old sheet of laminate flooring, and a pair of rubber flip flops!)... The plastic sheeting and laminate were damp underneath with water droplets on their underside; the tape and the flip-flops left outline marks where they'd been which have since now disappeared...
So folks.. What is going on here...?!?! I can't believe that the liquid dpm has failed and this is damp from the ground below... So, is the self-leveller absorbing moisture from the air which is then condensing on anything impervious placed on the surface..??
With the plastic sheeting to go on the floor next, what should I do...?!? Is it an idea to seal the self-leveller first (with something like a diluted SBR mix) before the sheeting goes down..? Or just plough ahead and lay the sheet and insulation on-top..?
Appreciate your thoughts on this one....
Thanks as always..!
