Cost of Limecrete floor slab v 'standard' concrete slab

[andymet87]

Hi all, it will take a long time to explain why I'm asking this, so I won't, but...

What is the difference in cost between a limecrete floor slab (specification available at https://goo.gl/NnCb8M) and a 'standard' concrete slab?

If anyone could offer a rough price per m2 for each I would appreciate it! I'm just trying to work out the cost implications of various choices I will need to make shortly.

Thanks!

 

[Nige F]

Never mind the costs . have a look at Grand Designs limecrete. Have you got a few months for it to dry

 

[andymet87]

Yes - if need be!

 

[jason61c]

The limecrete slab on grand designs was put down by people who didn't know what they were doing at the wrong time of year with no thought to temp.

What size area is it you're doing? Its a nice mix of modern methods while looking after an older building. I've got 65sq m to do next year, I'm going to do it in the early spring.

 

[andymet87]

It will be about 70m2 I think... what are you budgeting to do yours?

It's going into a house dating from 1770..

 

[jason61c]

The materials work out at about £80ish a sq M delivered. So £5600 for your 70sqM. You should be able to get that down to about 5k all in I reckon.

If you think of a day per 20ish sq labour, cost of removing your current floor(concrete?) so say 5 days for 2men at about £140per day each, so another £700ish. I think you should be able to get it done for under 7k?

 

[andymet87]

Thankyou so much for that. Very helpful.

We will be replacing the existing concrete floor (put in 30 years ago) that is now causing damp in the solid walls. This alongside removing masonry paint from the solid walls will allow the property to breath and hopefully resolve some damp issues!

Where abouts in the country are you?

 

[jason61c]

Sounds like exactly what we're doing, removing gypsum plaster, external concrete render, bitumin over the concrete floors, it was pushing damp up the walls. One year on the walls are dry, just saving to get the floors done, then plaster in lime.

We're in the SW, Exeter, yourself?

 

[andymet87]

We're in the South East near(ish) to Gatwick so might be a tad more pricey in terms of labour. Are you using local contractors or a national firm? I'm keen to find someone who knows what they are doing!

 

[jason61c]

I'll be doing it myself but with 2 ground workers that I use for my business.

 

[andymet87]

Fyi (& for the benefit of others that might find this thread) I went to the Homebuilding & Renovation Show at the Excel last week. I had a one to one chat with Douglas Kent who is a chartered building surveyor specialising in building conservation and is Technical and Research Director at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). He recommended that the limecrete floor is the way to go to resolve my damp issues and recommended the Ty Mawr solution...

https://www.lime.org.uk/products//limecrete-and-sublime/labc-registered-sublime-limecrete-floor/

I plan on getting in touch with them in the near future!

 

[andymet87]

As an update for anyone that is interested...

I'm having the limecrete floor put in by http://limecrete.co.uk/ in the next two weeks! If I remember I will report back on how it goes

 

[andymet87]

For completeness I thought I should post an update...

Floor was installed and is great. Would highly recommend the Limecrete Company who were professional and laid a perfect floor slab. The floor is lovely and warm and damp issues seem to be resolved...

I've made some pics available here for reference... https://1drv.ms/a/s!AqdX841uZeItiNEeRqFpVMy3S598oQ

 

[Vesalius]

For completeness I thought I should post an update...

Floor was installed and is great. Would highly recommend the Limecrete Company who were professional and laid a perfect floor slab. The floor is lovely and warm and damp issues seem to be resolved...

I've made some pics available here for reference... https://1drv.ms/a/s!AqdX841uZeItiNEeRqFpVMy3S598oQ

Just stumbled across your thread and wanted to say thank you for coming back to post your completed update, congratulations on the beautiful new floor!

We've recently moved into an old welsh farmhouse from the 19th century so not as old as yours, but still subject to the unfortunate assaults of modern cement renders etc etc so will be soon following a similar path to yourself (lime plaster/limecrete flooring)

 

[noseall]

The materials work out at about £80ish a sq M delivered. So £5600 for your 70sqM. You should be able to get that down to about 5k all in I reckon.

If you think of a day per 20ish sq labour, cost of removing your current floor(concrete?) so say 5 days for 2men at about £140per day each, so another £700ish. I think you should be able to get it done for under 7k?

Lol. No builder is going to price in a 70sq/m floor at £700 quid. A weeks work for a van, man and gang you'll be looking at around £2k, in Staffs. Possibly double in Gatwick.