New bathroom not done correctly?

moneyistooshorttomention

A huge proportion of that tiny bathroom floor was dug up and new concrete poured in in the event - as the old suite was ripped out and replacement bathroom was re-arranged with the various "bits" in different places (hence new pipework going in - drains, etc).

Sounds like that's the overall conclusion then, ie a two-stage job of:

- liquid DPM done:(

- then new vinyl:(

How long should the "drying time" for a liquid DPM be?

Approximately how long would it take to do and is it something I could do myself (bearing in mind I'm useless at/totally uninterested in DIY)? I've had a quick google at some of the products for this and it looks to me as if it's something that could be done by an amateur who is just about capable of wielding a paintbrush - does that sound about correct?

andyhop

You will need to liquid DPM then screed over to smooth to give a suitable surface for the vinyl to adhere too

Given you'll probably have to take WC out , I'd leave it to the professionals as this time ensure what your being told is correct! Its a job that needs a few visiting as drying times between coats and layers will need to be adhered to

DaftyDuck

If the pipes were laid under or in the concrete, were they correctly covered against corrosion? Were they well-plumbed?

Although I understand the job may not have been done particularly well, and the concrete might not be perfect, simplest solution would be to simply sort the vinyl for now - so long as there's no source of damp... and, if the pipework is under the floor, there might be.

So, first thing I'd do is check for leaks. Water meter, look closely, any movement (look 30 minutes after last water usage, all taps FIRMLY off). If no leak, I'd try, for now, to sort out the vinyl and mark as-is (especially if funds are tight).

Thing is, in my opinion, laying vinyl directly onto a concrete floor of a humid bathroom is almost always going to lead to problems.... The high humidity, solid, cool floor, and impermeability of the floor covering isn't ideal.

However, a remedy isn't cheap or easy (alternate flooring, DPM layer, ventilation...) so, for the moment, I'd investigate what the problem is and, if it's non-progressive, I'd ignore it if I could.

If, on the other hand, there's a leak, I'd do something about it as soon as possible. In bathrooms with concealed pipework, I'd always worry about a leak. I'm not quite clear if you do have pipes buried under or in the concrete, but I hope not.

So, one more question: is it an outside wall that's getting the marks near the skirting?

As for cleaning the vinyl, nothing abrasive, nothing too strong, and nothing too wet. Look up online for the make of vinyl and cleaning advice.

moneyistooshorttomention

DaftyDuck wrote: »

If the pipes were laid under or in the concrete, were they correctly covered against corrosion? Were they well-plumbed?

Although I understand the job may not have been done particularly well, and the concrete might not be perfect, simplest solution would be to simply sort the vinyl for now - so long as there's no source of damp... and, if the pipework is under the floor, there might be.

So, first thing I'd do is check for leaks. Water meter, look closely, any movement (look 30 minutes after last water usage, all taps FIRMLY off). If no leak, I'd try, for now, to sort out the vinyl and mark as-is (especially if funds are tight).

Thing is, in my opinion, laying vinyl directly onto a concrete floor of a humid bathroom is almost always going to lead to problems.... The high humidity, solid, cool floor, and impermeability of the floor covering isn't ideal.

However, a remedy isn't cheap or easy (alternate flooring, DPM layer, ventilation...) so, for the moment, I'd investigate what the problem is and, if it's non-progressive, I'd ignore it if I could.

If, on the other hand, there's a leak, I'd do something about it as soon as possible. In bathrooms with concealed pipework, I'd always worry about a leak. I'm not quite clear if you do have pipes buried under or in the concrete, but I hope not.

So, one more question: is it an outside wall that's getting the marks near the skirting?

As for cleaning the vinyl, nothing abrasive, nothing too strong, and nothing too wet. Look up online for the make of vinyl and cleaning advice.

Errrm...

I'm not sure what you mean by "correctly covered against corrosion"? As far as I recall - they were plastic pipes and I don't recall them having any sort of covering. I do hope that doesnt mean they weren't "correctly covered against corrosion"...

Water meter checking...ah right....first thing being to figure out just which water meter is mine...but that sounds logical.

Talking about laying vinyl directly onto concrete floor - is there something else (ie some other "layer") I should have had laid in between concrete floor and the vinyl?

The one consolation in all this is this seems to be basically a pretty "dry" little house - I've not spotted any signs of damp anywhere since moving in. Just this concern re what is happening to my bathroom vinyl (and also the fact that a bit of the paint near the skirting board on part of the bathroom walls has peeled off - and I suspect that is down to a different cause. That being I had the walls painted at the point that same firm told me the new plaster would have dried by now).

The pipes are down there in the concrete - ie the new concrete was poured all over them AFAIK.

It's an inside wall that is getting the marks near the skirting. The one outside wall in the bathroom has my massive walk-in shower right along it.

Am having more than a distinct suspicion by now that I've been "taken for a mug" by that firm....

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Errrm...

I'm not sure what you mean by "correctly covered against corrosion"? .

Copper pipes need wrapping with plastic or other special tape to avoid chemical reactions with the concrete and subsequent corrosion. Mine weren't, and they survived.

Plastic pipe OK, so far as I know.

moneyistooshorttomention

Thanks Dave...:D

It helps to have someone that's figured JUST how ignorant I am about matters DIY related (errr...that's pretty darn ignorant then....ahem..:o). My excuse is I'm a woman... and I'd hazard a guess that there is a sizeable proportion of middle-aged women out there currently that know about as much as I do about that (ie not a lot then....).:rotfl:

By now I've developed a distinct liking for workmen that will explain things to me in nice/clear simple language and tell me exactly what's what and what they propose to do - and then give me the various options and leave the correct person to decide which particular option to take (ie myself).

Doozergirl

Because you're a woman?! So much for progress

How about you just don't know these things because you've never needed to know about these things?

I don't know much about cars because I'm too busy knowing other stuff that women apparantly shouldn't know about. It's certainly not because I'm a woman.

We still don't know who laid your floor. It's them that are responsible for laying it on the right surface.

You'd usually have a layer of self-level as concrete isn't perfectly level and the flooring won't take kindly to an uneven surface. Both self-level and liquid DPM would be because of the type of flooring, not just because it is concrete.

moneyistooshorttomention

Not quite sure what you mean by self-level?

As it was basically pretty much a newly-done floor from scratch in effect - then I presume that at least they got it level.

The firm that did the vinyl was a different one - just a standard firm that supplies carpet/vinyl/etc. I just told them that the other firm had said the floor will be ready to do in x days time and they came in/just laid the vinyl in the standard way/job done (I presume).

I had a thin layer of concrete poured over the floor in another room in the house (ie to me it looked like pouring a layer of double cream type consistency over the floor) - as it had previously had stuck-down type vinyl on it and I got told not to have vinyl laid straight down on that (ie because it would send "marking" back up through that would show on the surface of the vinyl). Don't know if that's what you are thinking might have been done to my bathroom floor?

Nope - in many ways I guess I never felt the need of knowing about these things before. Having gone from modern public sector housing to a Victorian house (but it was a "starter" - and so I didnt go into things that much - as I didnt intend to keep it long) to this one. Prior to which - from the age I started being aware of things when growing up my parents went first into one brand new house (with standard floors etc) and then another brand new house. So - yep...that makes me pretty ignorant about stuff like that I guess....

Davesnave

The stuff like cream was self-levelling compound. It's poured on and it produces a level floor on top of rough concrete

It's possible the new bits of bathroom floor were concrete, finished with a float to an almost polished surface. I've done that and then laid vinyl, but only in a small area the size of a typical cloakroom. I dare say there are guys who can do that easily, but I found it [STRIKE]quite[/STRIKE] very difficult.

My chief designer and tradesperson chaser-upper is a middle-aged woman. They find it harder to say 'no' to her!

Rain_Shadow

Davesnave wrote: »

My chief designer and tradesperson chaser-upper is a middle-aged woman. They find it harder to say 'no' to her!

Is that the legendary Mrs Davesnave?