We are a first time "house" owner doing a full house refurb in South London and frankly the journey has been exhausting - filled with issues. I thought we were in the clear now that all the structural/first fixes are done, but the flooring company A said the sub-floor is wet and not comfortable with installing any flooring. They commissioned F.ball to do a report (attached) and concluded the subfloor moisture is high risk. Company A subsequently required us to take the UFH (ProWarm LoFlo Lite) out to let the floor dry for a week and subsequently do additional work including putting a DPM before putting down UFH back on and layer on screed then LVT. However my builder thinks it's unnessary to take the UFH up as they have done this same installation many times, sand cement subfloor and using foil-faced polystyrene insulation boards, without any issues. Flooring company A says they won't take on the job even if the builder is willing to guarantee flooring failure due to subfloor issues. They will simply hand over the LVTs ordered and tell me to find another installer. The builder suggested 2 other local flooring company who he has some dealings which looks reputable and competent. Company B says they will do it but the builder has to take the risk should the floor fail. However it's been difficult to get him to come survey property and provide a quotation. So we then got Company C who is more organised, came within 3 days as agreed, but then said he's not comfortable given the level of moisture. In summary I am hearing consistent message with the moisture with the subfloor from all 3 flooring companies albeit 1 of them is willing to do it if builder is guaranteeing it. The builder is relunctant to remove the UFH as this will cost money for labour and the UFH boards will need to be replaced. The builder has hinted they may have put the UFH on too early when the subfloor was not fully dried. The kitchen has arrived in boxes but no work has been done in weeks as the builders say rest of the house will be finished once the floorings in. Luckily we can eat at my parents granny annex in the garden, but we can't go on like this with no end in sight (especially with 2 young children). If anyone can enlighten us with a sensible solution, it will be much appreciated.
Don’t listen to the builder they’re talking rubbish FBall specced it follow what they said, sounds like the first installers at least know what they’re talking about. Drying times for new concrete are roughly 1mm a day up to 50mm anything over that double the time but generally speaking it’s never below 75% Rh anyway even years later. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
These retro fit under floor heating systems throw up alot of issues. The builders probably get away with it when installing tiled floors but LVT is much more sensitive to moisture and heat.
Also if there builder cant be bothered to remove the ufh system now im pretty sure he wont do it when it all fails and has to come up with screed and LvT bonded to it. Can you leave it to dry out and proceed with other works? Could take some time Presuming the moisture is from a new screed? Not a old subfloor with rising damp?
Years ago we had a job where the customer agreed to take responsibility for not doing the correct preparation. They took us to small claims after it failed, Judge found in their favour, stating that as a professional company we should have refused to install. We don't ever install on anything less that our requirements since that day. Your builders "guarantee" isn't worth the paper its written on.
Let it dry, simple as. Yes it's caused and still creating issues and inconvenience for you all but trust is when we say ' let ot dry' before moving to the next step
Thank you all, the answer is pretty obvious. Will have that difficult conversation with the builder but probably have to contribute at least half the cost of redoing the work to maintain the relationship. Once the UFH is off the flooring company suggested to wait 1 week to dry a little further and then will they will prime and add DPM before cracking on with rest of floor installation. This addition work will cost £1.7k (London price) whilst the alternative is to wait for it to dry. Should I try to save this £1.7k by letting the floor dry naturally and rent some industrial dehumidifier for a month or so? We are keen to do the sensible thing financially without torturing ourselves.
No. It’s won’t dry out as you have no Dpm under the 1930s section. The builder has messed up on this and should have got a flooring expert in before anything was done.
