Asphalt subfloors, are they any good? I see loads that have failed and seems a lot on the forum. Whats you views on them. My views- They work well as a DPM . But as they get older or have high hygroscopic pressure then they tend to fail. They are a fast track flooring system also. They are also not suitable for wood floors to be glued to either. They can be soft and indent and also cause compounds to fail when they get warm. ---------------- Its interesting that so many floors like this was laid and are still laid, so whats the major advantage ? I know a few on here still have them laid as a new subfloor. Whats your views on the stuff. Do some use this product as there is nothing else out there that can be laid as a DPM at such a thin thickness maybe?
it's cheaper than breaking up the old crete, pouring new with a proper dpm, and is quicker that's the only plus side i can see.
I think it's good. Had Quite a few jobs done over the years. When woodblocks are down and have been taken up its handy as its a dpm and it brings the height up. But after seeing that today I'm worried about that big school job I did with the beach design. That was hight moisture reading 94% RH and it's had Ashpalt down. Think it's a quick fix solution. Wonder what guarantee you get off the blokes that do it.
See, you would mate as your a wood fitter. For a wood installer its a pain in the arse. For someone like Daz its spot on as LVT installer. Carpet fitter? well they don't care whats on they floor so they are happy LOL
do you reccon we get so many failures when fitting wood due to the screeds being stronger than the asphalt?
So about same as me Daz, quick fix DPM that does work . But for how long for can be questioned. Gets me thinking really. It has served a house well for say 20 years before it decided to fail. Now it has failed but 20 years later? Did it really fail 20 years later or has carpet masked its failer many years ago? Is that considered a acceptable service life? PS, you think this should be moved to trade ?
It has been known for a good compound to pull it up. Very rare tho. End of it the compound can pull it up the asphalt was not installed correct . We cant blame a product failing on not being installed correct. As for woodflooring on it, well simply wood flooring will roll it up. The wood strength is a lot stronger then asphalt . Hence not a suitable subfloor for real wood flooring.
yep seems trade orientated, asphalt bad customer bad for not doing it right we're bad for lettng them get away with using it, sadly don't think it's going to die out anytime soon.
we know the wood is stronger, what i was trying to get at was the screed layers should get weaker as you go up. The concrete base being the strongest then the screed, but the asphalt used as a dpm then screeded over is usually a weaker compound than what's above wouldn't that cause it to fail, i.e. Latexplan trade is defo stronger compound than asphalt.
Why can't every one just have rapid drying screed or good old floorboards. I'm getting headaches from all these asphalt, anhydrites and floated chipboard floors
But there is nothing wrong with asphalt when used in the correct place with a suitable product on top. Daz uses a lot of it and nothing wrong with what he is doing. But it will fail at some point. What im getting at is when does it fail and has it supplied a suitable life? Is 20 years more than acceptable? Go back to the 60's / 70's etc cars / furniture etc was made to last. But now you buy a Ford fiesta then expect it to be scrapped by the time its 15 years old. never used to be like that.
true but people expect that asphalt should last for ever when we all know it won't, makes it difficult to explain to them that it's gonna cost to rip up and replace if it has failed when 90% of "fitters" won't even mention it.
i was saying when we turn up to give an estimate and the asphalt down has failed, prior to getting the job mate.
I think it has to be mechanically removed mate due to its weakness as matt has stated. Also the oils in asphalt will prob effect adhesion.
