Self levelling screed in Victorian second floor flat
Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.47 PM
Hi, we are wanting to lay LVT floorboards throughout our second floor Victorian flat. The floors are very uneven. We have laid plywood down as a subfloor and want to use self levelling compound to even out the floor level.
How do we screed round existing pipework (radiators, gas and water pipes)?
How do we stop screed slipping through gaps at the side of the subfloor (we are conscious of the flat below)?
Would there be any issues with ventilation laying screed throughout this flat, it's an old flat in an old Victorian block?
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Thanks for all your answers, really helpful advice.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Hi. Use gaffer tape to tape up around edge of floor and around pipes. Don't worry about ventilation as this is not an issue. If you are going to do the work yourself watch a YouTube video before hand and it should go smoothly !
Hi, provided there are no gaps between the plywood and the ply is held well enough (nails every 10cm around the edge and every 15cm in the middle) then you can use a couple of screed products. The top of the market is ardex na, a little more expensive but the manufacturers guaranty more with it. First I would mix some a lot thicker than it states and put this around the edge of the room to stop the rest from falling through the gaps, you could do this a day before so it's dry when the rest goes down. With the ventilation question as long as the edges are done with the thicker mix then nothing should get through to block anything for you. Hope this helps.
I have never seen a self levelling compound applied to a plywood floor.
I think if it were to be applied it could easily crack as the ply, floorboards etc underneath will expand and contract with the heat or lack of it.
I would of used packers under the ply or floorboards in lengths of hardboard or similar rather than small packers
However i have seen plywood joints skimmed over with latex prior to vinyl flooring being laud
Staple polystyrene sill seal around the perimeter of the room. Apply caulk with a caulking gun along the seam where the sill seal meets the floor. The seal and caulk will prevent the leveling compound from spilling out past doorways, air conditioning ducts or leaking through the floor once it is poured.
Hi
I wouldn’t recommend pouring any self levelling screed or Liquid compound given that you are on a upper floor so unfortunately I would say just grin and bear it with these old buildings, we have an Edwardian property and understand your issues.
You can put new timbers in, floor packers to level it but I wouldn’t pour a liquid as most of it will end up on the ceiling below.
Kind regards
Answered6 March 2020
1
Anonymous user
You can use sand on the perimeter. Just build it up and the self leveling compound won't go pass it. After you can just sweep it up if needed
