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I have my office changed by opening a large passage between two adjacent rooms(see my previous discussion). The concrete floor was just a cement one unfinished on which the previous owner laid a wall to wall carpet. I pulled this out, installed new electrical pipes and wires (telephone and electricity and now I would like to pour a concrete screed of 3cm thick.
What should I use and what should be the mix.
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Your use of the word "screed" in this context lends mystery to your question. Different regions equals different jargon. Are you referring to a concrete overlay?
*Around here, screen is a verb and describes the process of leveling and smoothing the top of the concrete with a long stick while pouring. I guess it's also an adjective as in "screed stick".But you also mention 3cm which makes me think you're not from around here. Around here we use a simpler system where measurements are based on 8ths, 16ths, 12s, 3's, 16's, 2000s, 5280's and other easy to remember stuff.But to answer your question. There's nothing that will stick well and not crack that's only 3cm thick, especially if your slab is now divided up because of cuts to bury the electrical.
*Your best solution is a sand/cement screed, 6/1 and 5cm thick, of a semi-dry mix.Anything thinner, stronger or wetter will curl up at the edges and/or crack.The above has been standard proceedure in UK for many years over concrete and under carpet/vinyl/ceramic.Allow it to dry slowly -- damp it down if necessary or cover with plastic and allow at least a week for curing.
*you can get a Quikcrete topping mix for just that application...get a bottle of the bonding agent along with it.. follow the directionsboy, this stuff gets easier and easier...we used to have to do it just like Ian described
*Its really interesting to me how much things vary, country to country -- in Oz they would pump a lightweight self-levelling screed straight in on top -- job done in a couple of hours, ready to use 24 hours later! In England, it would be as I described -- it sounds as though Claude is in France or the Continent somewhere so Quikcrete delivery might be expensive!!
*Yes in fact the actual floor is just plain concrete even not horizontal I laid down electrical ducts and I have to hide them and have a good base to lay ceramic tiles.Your help will be helpfull. By the way if you know a Fine Homebuilding issue that talks about that please remind me the issue. I am a subscriber since at least 7 years but my difficulty in finding the proper issue is the barrier language and the right terms.Thanks
*THank Mike but what is Quikcrete. If you explaine me I may find the same type of product under another name.
*Yes I am in Southern part of France on the "Cote d'Azur"A lot of products are available but the idea is to have the job done the easiest way without too much trouble. If someone can describe what the Quickcrete is I may find an equivalent.Thanks for your help and sorry for the mistakes, mainly when it comes to explain my problem. My dictionnary is a british one and, therefore I have only british terms.
*claude... Quickrete & Sakrete are two manufacturers that package concrete and mortar and grout for the buiding trades and do-it-yourselfer's.. there is a lot of masonry construction where you are .. so any good concrete man can whip you up a batch...it's a topping mix.. , high strength, with coarse sand as the aggregate..as Ian described..with 3 cm to work with you could pour the bottom with a high strength , half inch aggregate ( what's that .. about a cm. + ? ).. and immediately trowel a topping mix with fine sand aggregate so you can feather it... the bonding agent is usually a latex additive, and you paint it onto the existing surface prior to the pour...it aids the bond between the new and old.. and adds strength to the topping
*Claude,You may find that 'Ardit', 'Mapei' or another self-levelling compound is available there, in which case it would be another way of doing it. There will be full instructions on the packaging for adding aggregate to cope with greater thicknesses of screed.It would be a lot easier to get a level finish that way.
*Try a mortar mix with a liquid latex additive......thinset may also be a solution
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I have my office changed by opening a large passage between two adjacent rooms(see my previous discussion). The concrete floor was just a cement one unfinished on which the previous owner laid a wall to wall carpet. I pulled this out, installed new electrical pipes and wires (telephone and electricity and now I would like to pour a concrete screed of 3cm thick.
What should I use and what should be the mix.