I've got a little utility room of 2 or 3 square metres which has a concrete floor on which I want to lay some vinyl. However the floor is a bit uneven so I want to lay some wickes self-levelling screed to even it up and smooth it off. I also want to put some bitumen floor paint (if that's the right description) to stop any damp rising.
Which should I put on first the screed or the bitumen or does it matter?
I'm no expert but it seems logical to bitumen first to prevent any rising damp getting into the levelling compound and causing it to break up. Levelling compound's only a relatively thin layer so I assume it wouldn't take much damp to damage it.
Si
I'm not sure that either will work! If you were going use a 2" layer of normal screed, the thing to do would definitely be to put the bitumen on first.
But I'm not sure whether a thin layer of levelling compound will take on top of bitumen - and may separate or break up. Equally, if you put bitumen on top, the vinyl flooring will stick to it, and be there for ever!
Should be no need for bitumen if you use a "latex" screed, (the one that comes with a 5L jerry can of liquid). Unless you suspect damp, the cheaper self levelling screed would probably be ok without bitumen
Yes, I was going to use a "latex" screed. Do you mean that that has something which stops damp penetrating? What do you mean ,'the one that comes with a 5L jerry can of liquid', it's in powder format and you add water? Thanks, John
Yes. Normally SBR, which is a rubber type polymer. This isn't the one I've used but looks similar
The bag of powder comes with 5 litres of liquid. IIRC you don't need water, although the polymer is water based so you can add a little to change the consistency. The self levelling screeds that don't come with a liquid are cheaper, but less resistant to damp. If the floor is dry at the moment, this would probably be fine. I'd forget the bitumen though.
few things stick to bitumen, so I'd avoid that altogether.
NT
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