I had an lvt laid onto a floor Initially I had building work done a d the builder screeded the floor to v level it The fitter didn't do a damp test, and screeded the floor to level it etc, then did a damp test when they came to fit it and the damp tester was beeping, so they said need to dpm it and then you have to screed it. When asking their boss, that, didn't they know it needed a dpm before, shouldn't they have done a damp test at the start. He said yes they should have but didn't want to mention it in front of the floor fitters, but if they did that at start it wouldn't have made a difference as you have to screed a floor, dpm it, then rescreed over the dpm.. Is this correct, or can you dpm, screed then lay it... In affect saving screeding twice? Reason why I ask, the floor guys are charging me an extra £1000 without telling me it was going to cost that much extra at the point of carrying out the work.. I think they made a mistake by not checking and I am paying for it...
So did they level it and then test it the next day? By the sound of the machine they are testing it with it’s not accurate and it will pick up levelling compound is not fully dry after one day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes they leveled it and came the next day to fit the floor and said its too damp so need to dpm and then do a tin layer of screed once dpm dried. Which they are now charging me an extra 1200 for which they didn't tell me it would cost me extra and due to the amount they should have told me before doing it... But my argument is they should have test for damp before starting, which may have not led me to having to pay extra??
Should have been tested before anything was done and scanning a smoothing compound after its been laid will give false readings you have drill through it into the concrete below and test by probe method
That's what I thought and said and the owner kind of admitted that his flooring fitter should have tested at 1st but after said all that would have done is told them earlier that it was damp, they still needed to screed, Dpm then thin layer of screed again on top. Who would I deal with this situation, as even more annoyed to be slapped with an extra bill which they didn't tell us about until after completing the work
100% should’ve been checked before any work proceeded. Personally I’d look for another company to do a price for you and see what they chg. No way I’d be paying £1200 extra just because they decided to add it on afterwards. It’s not even an unforeseen extra as it should’ve been done as a matter of course.
Just noticed your saying the work has been completed. Balls I’d be contesting it You agreed for the works to go ahead on the basis of the initial estimate/quotation. Not your fault they should’ve done it dif to begin with Why should you fork out for their error
This is the annoying part, at the point that the price changes, they should inform and we accept or decline. If was just a few hundred extra may have just paid it. But that much extra is just ridiculous without telling the customer. Is there somebody we could goto with a complaint like this
I’d be getting another estimate lol But ultimately if that’s the price then that’s the price. I do sympathise tho, I have a lot of customers who love the look but just commit to certain types of flooring due to costs, then it’s our job to look at alternatives that fit within their budget. Ultimately Comes down to communication Shops fault imo so they have to bite down on this one
Could have looked at alternative options ? Also what I am trying to establish is, did they need to do a screed, Dpm then screed again or could they have have just done dpm over the screed by builder did, then just do their screed .. Instead of them screeding twice thus not costing me as much extra if they had tested 1st
They absolutely need to screed before dpm, I have never in my life seen a builder able to screed well enough to do anything with. It should have been tested beforehand, but they are installing relatively correctly which is good news if it was me who cocked up (does happen we’re all human) then I would try to keep the cost as low as possible, probably just charge cost on materials and for the labour. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes I appreciate that, but the additional cost of the screed for the area I believe isn't cost... I am not sure. But looking at the comments above, maybe the tester should high damp as they tested after laying their new screed... Instead of before... Which potentially means the read could have been wrong...
How deep was the builders screed? And how long from it being done did the installers start the LVT? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As to how deep I don't know, maybe 7/8mm? They did it a week or so after .. But what's strange is thinking about it, their damp tester was beeping on an area which has tiles on that the builder didn't touch those tiles must have been there 30 years .. Which makes me think their screed may have set the tester to beep....
Your mechanical dpm may have failed or never been there to begin with, really a Rh% test was needed to give some real readings to work from, as for a 7-8mm screed I really hope they primed it first and the screed should’ve been dry enough, the base underneath sounds the problem. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Honestly your builder should have done one before they screeded, but a proper Rh% test takes a minimum of 72 hours to take and are usually chargeable which you would arrange after first site inspection, it involves drilling a hole into your subfloor and inserting a humidity plug after finding the highest moisture areas with the tester your installer used. It sounds like an honest mistake by the store, but I would have spoken to them about costing before they came back to dpm and screed to try and meet half way because it was their mistake. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I appreciate that, but at the end of day they made the mistake and my understanding was they made he mistake I thought they were including it in the price, its their job to tell me if the price has changed. I just saw them bring one tub of liquid and some screed bags, I wasn't to know that it would cost that much extra
