Thursday 20 April 2017

Private residence: Site visit report / Product Specification

                                   
The following 'site visit report/product specification' was put together for my client who has had to take over a job from a previous builder due to one reason or another.

The job was supposed to be completed in February 2017 but due to a change in builder is now due to be completed by June 2017.
The home owner has to move in by the end of July 2017.

My client had the following requests from the homeowner...

  1. Real wood flooring
  2. To be installed June 2017
These requests don't seem too difficult to do, until you arrive on site....


To: 
From:

Site Ref:
Date: 19/04/17

Specification
To inspect sub-floor and general site conditions prior to the installation of a wood floor
Client requests specification for sub-floor preparation prior to installation of Polypipe UFH system
Flooring to be installed in approx 6-8weeks from inspection date.
Suitability of installing real wood flooring – Plank / Herringbone effect

Date of Inspection 18/04/17

Site Visit Results

Area: 270sqm (3 levels. Entrance area 45sqm/Kitchen 125sqm/Lower section 100sqm)
Concrete Sub-floor Moisture level:  Building has not been sealed as of 18/04/17. No readings available
General Humidity level:   Building has not been sealed as of 18/04/17. No readings available

Level 1 Entrance Area
Sub-floor in a sound condition. Initial inspection shows the concrete floor to be dry (Moisture reading should be taken when building is sealed)
Electric UFH to be installed with thermal insulation boards.

Level 2 Kitchen
Sub-floor in a sound condition. Initial inspection shows the concrete to be dry (Moisture reading should be taken when building is sealed)
Polypipe UFH to be installed.
Engineered wood flooring to be installed.
Depending on which Polypipe system is used depends on the installation process…
Polypipe Overlay – Wood flooring can be a ‘floating floor’ or fixed to the overlay board with screws or fixed with adhesive when Overlay boards are sealed with a suitable floor primer (see product spec)
Polypipe Overlay Lite – Wood flooring to be installed on a ‘floating floor’ method. 

Level 3 Lower Section
Sub-floor in sound condition. Initial inspection shows the concrete to be wet (Moisture reading should be taken when building is sealed)
Polypipe UFH to be installed.
Engineered wood flooring to be installed.
Overall length exceeds 10m (14.5m) and would require a break in the floor due to expansion.
Depending on which Polypipe system is used depends on the installation process…
Polypipe Overlay – Wood flooring can be a ‘floating floor’ or fixed to the overlay board with screws or fixed with adhesive when Overlay boards are sealed with a suitable floor primer (see product spec)
Polypipe Overlay Lite – Wood flooring to be installed on a ‘floating floor’ method. 


Product Recommendations

Sub-floor Preparation
  • All concrete sub-floor to be sealed with a Surface Damp Proof Membrane. Due to the excess of moisture in the Lower Section and unable to detect a suitable Structural Damp Proof Membrane throughout the rest of the floor area it would be recommended to seal the whole floor area prior to the installation of any type of floor covering.
Products suitable: FBall F77 or similar

  • Please check manufacturers’ recommendations when applying adhesives. Priming might be needed.
Products suitable FBall P131 or similar

Real Wood flooring
  • Due to the timescale for installation, the majority of real wood flooring would not be suitable for installation for at least 6 months due to the moisture and humidity levels within the building. The building had not been sealed which therefore means the wet/dry products such as concrete/plaster have not had the ability to ‘sponge dry’. Concrete/plaster soak up moisture at cool temperatures (evenings/winter) and then release the moisture when temperatures raise (daytime/summer) This sponge effect drying can continue for approx 12 months depending on the material. Speed drying is not recommended as this can cause shrinkage/cracking   
Products Suitable: Meister Wood Flooring with Aquasafe HDF Core

         Meister Lindura / Meister Residence Parquett (Herringbone Design)
Meister Lindura/Residence are manufactured using a moisture tolerant HDF core which allows the product to be installed in rooms with 30 – 65% relative humidity at a room temperature of 18 – 22 degrees Celsius. Most engineered wood flooring have a soft wood/multi-ply core which only tolerates up to 30 - 45% relative humidity at a room temperature of 18 – 22 degrees Celsius.
Meister HDF core products can be installed up to a maximum of 10m (length/width) before an expansion break is needed.


In conclusion to my findings I would recommend the following products to be installed.

Level 1 Entrance Area
Meister wood flooring with HDF core installed on a Low TOG wood flooring underlay with integrated PE film.

Level 2 Kitchen
Meister wood flooring with HDF core (Lindura/Residence). Glued down installation preferred but ‘floating floor’ would be adequate. If floated a Low TOG wood flooring underlay with integrated PE film is required.
Meister composite HDF (Catega Flex) 100% waterproof. Wood and Tile effect available. 

Level 3 Lower Section
Meister wood flooring with HDF core (Lindura/Residence). Glued down installation preferred but ‘floating floor’ would be adequate. If floated a Low TOG wood flooring underlay with integrated PE film is required.
Meister composite HDF (Catega Flex) 100% waterproof. Wood and Tile effect available.

Note: Due to the Lower Section room length exceeding 10m there would need to be a break in the floor due to expansion. If a carpet was installed in the ‘Lounge’ area of the lower section then this would reduce the length to under 10m and there will be no need for an expansion break.


There are many other products available which would also be suitable but I have only recommended products which suit the specification given.


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