Help/advice required

Hello all,

I really need some advice please. A local flooring company applied a screed in small kitchen over original quarry tiles. Then underlay and laminate herringbone flooring. There were a few issues following installation with boards popping up - they returned 3 times to sort and now 3-4 months down the line the whole lot has had to be lifted due to the whole floor practically lifting/bowing due to moisture. The floor was actually wet. The flooring guy was here to lift the flooring. He advised there must be a leak despite the floor edges not being wet nor the uncovered quarry tiles under units. I had researched and thought it was potentially wrong screed meaning moisture penetrated through screed and got trapped under underlay/flooring. There is definitely no leak. The floor has dried but looks patchy. When asked, he said he used ardex n/a but that is grey, mine is not. I also think the standard of the screed is way off anyway. Any comments/advice please? I will try to include pictures.

 

This is how the floor looks today

 

Did he screed and fit the same day? Looks like a rapid set leveller

 

And whys it so short round the edges lol

 

Thanks for replying- He did it afternoon then fit the flooring the next day morning. There was a couple of pools of water on it don’t know if that’s normal? He didn’t check moisture levels or anything I don’t think if he was supposed to? It should be neat at the edges right not jagged?

So the stuff you think used is not moisture proof?

Do you have any opinon on whether is h this would have created the moisture issue?

 

This was taken right after it was done

 

100% That’s not ardex na

the quarry’s would of needed ardex DPM1c

 

Thank you so much for your reply. Can I please ask you would that screed they’ve used need to be removed in full for them to then use the correct DPM you mention or could it go over the top?

 

You need to know what screed it is.
Is it a water mix type or a latex type ( bag and bottle )

 

If the compound they used is moisture tolerant then you can Dpm over. I’d say no looking at it.

 

Thank you - It’s more than likely not moisture tolerant given the fact the floor/underlay and flooring was completely buckled and wet. Given they have lied about what they used I’m guessing they just picked to say ardex n a knowing it was moisture tolerant when they could have just said what they actually used. How annoying. I’m so glad you are making this make sense though. Much appreciated.

 

What laminate and underlay was used ?

 

I don’t know the brand. I have asked if the underlay was moisture tolerant and he said yes but I don’t know. The flooring was
FORMA
BONETTO
HERALDIC OAK
LAMINATE

 

This was it just after being laid

 

They needed to come back 3 times due to it lifting in different areas and then now 3-4 months down the line it’s all had to come up due to the moisture and it lifting

 

I would imagine it’s a leveller that isn’t meant to be used over tiles. Also it could be a bad batch of levelling compound that hasn’t set properly. Rising damp wouldnt cause pooling water unless you’ve got a leak. That’s the compound.

 

The underlay needs to be water proof / vapour proof.
Moisture tolerant means a screeding compound lets moisture pass through it with no problems.

 

They can't even get the layout properly!
Hea center lined without taking into account the Herringbone pattern...

Bodge job from the start that is