Tim S wrote:
Hi Folks,

OK - not so pleased. Just had another look at the floor - builders
asked for latex and got fobbed of with "Cempolay" (I was wrong, I
thought they got sold "Cempolatex 1 part".). Sigh. Wish I'd known
what I do now 4 weeks ago...

Cempolay is basic cement-y levelling compound. Nothing special. That's
actually 20 quid on Travis's website, so it seems Mr Builder got
charged the same as I could get with a TP Cash card. Proper 2 part
would be 29
quid - hardly breaking the bank.

---

OK. Let's make the best of a bad job... What I'd like to find out
before I buy a 25 litre drum is: what can SBR do.

I do know (from this group and reading the sheets) it's used as an
admix to make a sand/cement screed apply thinner than normally
possible.

And I know the properties of PVA on a dry substrate and its abilities
to glue all manner of crap into a solid mass.

So:

1) Does SBR glue up and stabilise all manner of crap in the same was
as PVA, but is resistant to water (unlike PVA)?

2) Can SBR be used as a basic crude DPM when applied to the surface of
concrete?

3) Should SBR be diluted with water for the first application onto a
porous substrate like PVA, the add another undiluted or less diluted
coat afterwards?

---

I ask because I'm considering rescue plans.

The few hollow sounding bits in the floor are (upon investigation)
due to the sub-screed being apparently 99% sand and 1% "other" in a
couple of places (looks like areas where the 1970's "builders" doing
a agarge knock through have been let loose).[1]

What I'm considering doing is to drill some 10mm holes in the dodgey
places and pour in neat SBR until it wont take anymore, in the hope
of stabilising the crap under the levelling compound (which itself is
solid and firm).

Then I plan to go over the top with SBR to lower the amount of damp
hitting the tile adhesive.

I also plan to chuck SBR over the concrete slab in the bathroom area
before applying screed to there to stabilised, damp proof and give
better adhesion.

[1] Yes - I could also dig these out back to the concrete and
re-screed. But it's more work. It's not like the floor's collapsing,
but I'd like to ensure it's firm - If I start digging I have the
feeling I won't stop till it's all up and I don;t really want to go
there...

Cheers

Tim

Hate to say 'I told you so', but without actually saying those words, I
can't think of a way of finishing this sentence :-p

It would have been cheaper and quicker to take the lot up, add insulation,
then membrane and concrete, but money has now been been spent, and no matter
what you do now, I fear you are throwing good money after bad.

--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008