Christ! Early start for me tomorrow. Concrete coming at 9!
bounce in my floor insulation
- Thread starter pilsbury
- Start date
Just sitting enjoying a beer. Up at 6 laying plastic sheeting over my insulation. Luckily I had a plastic sheet and the remains of my DPM roll. Only just enough to cover. Concrete rolled up at slightly before 10. Had to barrow half over the far side and the chute did the rest. Being a mix as you go lorry, the first half was spot on consistency wise. The second bit was a tad watery which left a surface water on top which made it a pig to screed across and get the concrete level. Ended up using a broom to sweep most of it off!
The bull float was OK. A fine balance of getting it nearly there or overworking and putting lines in it. I'm sure experience would have helped. If it was a nice square slab it would have been easier. I have services coming up through the middle, go through a doorway into an odd shaped utility room and toilet.
Is it flat and level? Pretty much. Could it be better? I'm sure a pro would have done a better job but if you asked me yesterday if I'd take what I've got now I'd have snapped your hand off. A few minor float ridges. Nothing a few mm if SLC won't sort at the end.
The bull float was OK. A fine balance of getting it nearly there or overworking and putting lines in it. I'm sure experience would have helped. If it was a nice square slab it would have been easier. I have services coming up through the middle, go through a doorway into an odd shaped utility room and toilet.
Is it flat and level? Pretty much. Could it be better? I'm sure a pro would have done a better job but if you asked me yesterday if I'd take what I've got now I'd have snapped your hand off. A few minor float ridges. Nothing a few mm if SLC won't sort at the end.
Only bit of advice I've got having done similar, is if you get on it once it can take your weight stood on a square of insulation, and give it a trowel, it will make for a smoother finish and not so much of a ridge tamped finish. I got blisters doing mine and went a bit OTT but the finish ended up really good. But then again if you've had a few beers by now you may not be fussed 
I get where your coming from. My only worry, as I found with the bull float, is that by trying to make things better, I bugger something else up. I fully plan to SLC at the end..... not sure any more effort now will make much difference except to look nicer throughout the build.
Well done!
Andy
Andy
Thank you mate - not perfect but as a first time I'm not complaining. As I said earlier, I could easily now be in a world of pain. Most noticable to me was how long it stayed sloppy wet concrete (about 1.5 hours) then turned all of a sudden. Easy to get caught off guard.
That will come tomorrow when you can't get out of bed.
It might take you a few days to get over the hard work you completed today.
Andy
I'm going to my real work tomorrow for a break. I work far harder in my days off than I ever have to at work!
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