Screeding - Kitchen Floor Uneven. Advice?!

wilykit

Hi everyone,

My kitchen floor is really uneven so I have had to lay lino for now but my dog keeps chewing it.

I want the floor screeding so that a more permanent floor can be fixed but I am wondering if anybody else has had this done and what the time and cost was like?

I know every floor is different but I am just looking for rough ideas so I know what to expect in terms of cost etc

My kitchen is 12 square metres and is relatively flat apart from a few small holes and in one corner it slopes.

ANY advice or experience is appreciated - thanks

phill99

Screeding is probably the wrong term. If the unevenness isn't too bad, you could use Self Levelling compound. This is a cement based product which you mix with water and literally pour it on to the floor. It finds its own level and therefore will give you a decewnt level finish for tiling, vinyl etc. If you are not sure about it, its probably not a DIY job. However, it should need about 5 bags for 12 sqm and is a couple of hours of work for a Handyman type person. Probably cost no more than £150.00

wilykit

Thank you - I wasn't sure if screeding was the right term!!!

I had seen the self levelling thing earlier but as you said - probably not a DIY job!!

I have found this on B&Q's website - http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10487625&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=//catal!!!1/en_GB&fh_search=self+levelling+compound&fh_eds=%C3%9F&fh_refview=search&ts=1287523014291&isSearch=true

I thought it would tell you how much it would cover but I can always just go in-store and speak to them about it. My OH's dad knows a 'handy man' so I will ask him about it

Thanks a lot

ormus

It’s fairly simple to lay a few screeds across a floor and level them as you go and it’s even easier if you have help laying the screeds.

Work with a 50mm covering and to lay the screeds use some 50 x 50mm timbers.

This is a standard size timber and you only need one.
For most room sizes a timber of a standard length is plenty and this can be cut down as required. Make sure you examine the timber before you buy it as you need a straight piece.

Mix your floor screed at 4 sand to 1 cement. The mix should be fairly dry. The way to tell if you have it right is to grab a handful of mixed screed (put your marigolds on first) and squeeze.
The mix should stay in one firm lump in your hand but very little liquid, if any, should come out.


as you can see, 50mm is the usual screed depth.

wallbash

but as you said - probably not a DIY job!!

But it is .
If using a cement mixer , the correct water content gives a 'balling' of the mixture. Difficult to describe.
The mixture allows the formation of spherical balls !!! very small in size. to escape from the main mass.
Yes I know its a lousy description, hopefully some one can elaborate .

The mix should stay in one firm lump in your hand but very little liquid, if any, should come out.

I would go as far as saying , should stay in one lump but not stain your hand ( or glove)

bobhawke

wallbash wrote: »

But it is .

The mixture allows the formation of spherical balls !!! very small in size. to escape from the main mass.
Yes I know its a lousy description, hopefully some one can elaborate .

Like Rabbit poo?:rotfl:


Add a little water at a time. If it is too dry it will fall apart / crumble in your hands. If it is too wet it will squeeze through your fingers

wilykit

how is it a DIY job when people are suggesting using a cement mixer and stuff. i am a 22 year old female and i have no idea how to go about.

i am a bit confused as one person said it is not screeding that i need, then another person said it is.

i think i will leave it to somebody who knows what they are doing!!

wallbash

i am a 22 year old female and

And thats stops you doing what!!

wilykit

i didn't say it stops me doing anything i mean i am young, have no experience in this and am hardly going to start lugging timber around on my own am i

phill99

As I asaid in my earlier post, you do not need to rescreed. You need self levewlling compound. You don't need ant cement mixers for this. Or timber. A screed finish won't be a suitable finish for a vinyl floor.

macman

OP, what is the variation in height? Or, in other words, how thick will the screed or self-levelling compound need to be to bring it level? From your description if sounds minimal, apart from the corner. If so, the latter should do the job.
As advised above, it's absurdly easy to use-you just clean the floor, mix it up and pour it on and (as the name suggests) it finds it own level.
And you don't have to be over 22 or male to do it...