Hi I have recently laid a parquet floor using in a herring bone pattern with a straight border. This is in an S shape hallway. As part of the floor preparation I removed the old "marley" tiles exposing the bitumen adhesive. I covered the bitumen with Arditex NA and tech spec says it is suitable for that surface. Having finished the floor, a few weeks later there has been considerable movement at one end of the hall and a hollow sound when tapped. I have removed the border and the failure is because the Arditex has come away from the bitumen adhesive at that that end of the hall. I think I have no option but to rip the floor up at that end but am concerned about a possible repeat of the issue. Can anyone advise how I can resolve this issue? Thanks. Smiler
Was it solid oak? If so did you install a new dpm or take moisture readings? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sounds like the bitumen was as we say LIVE, if it was hard and dry then it's DEAD. You're going to have to get minimum 80% of that off, prime and screed. Was is live throughout or just up that end ?
Thanks all for your replies. It seems there are a couple of things I did wrong. I wasn't aware of "live" vs "dead" adhesive and I didn't prime the surface as I read it that I didn't need to prime with that product. The house was built in 1974 I would have thought that a DPM would have been installed. I thought the adhesive was just that rather than a dpm but as two of you have mentioned that, I guess I am wrong? Thanks. Smiler
You always need a surface dpm if installing wood, personally I would remove all the old bitumen and grind it smooth, surface dpm and a higher compression strength screed than NA it’s too soft in my opinion. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi tarkett85, Are you able to advise on what smoothing compound you would recommend with a higher compression strength than Arditex NA please. Thanks.
Mapei latexplan will do the job just make sure you use the correct primer over the dpm otherwise it will fail. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Almost any have a higher compression strength than NA Mapei Trade plan is awful stuff imo but it does have a high strength for a latex and much higher compression strength than NA when fully dry it's about 30nnm I believe compared to NAs 16nnm Most water based smoothing compounds are around 30nnm plus
It’s not the best gear but it’ll do the job at a price point (it’s 25nnm if I remember correctly) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'd only use 157 for build ups or deep pours If a high strength smoothing compound is needed it's best to mechanically remove bitumen and lay on a clean uncontaminated slab
Just checked Its 26 but that's after 28 days after 7 its still only 20 and 1 day its 7 Which is where the problem always lies The floor is normally fitted the next day or soon after so they never get to full strength for a long time when they're covered Its a bit of a grey area I think NA is 6 after 1 day lol
For me I’d be grinding all the adhesive off then ardex DPM1c or if the sub floor has a dpm maybe 2-3 coats of Uzin PE404 Then Uzin Gold but if money is a problem a strong water mix
