Hi I'm a new subscriber who has recently bought my first house (an 1870's mid terrace in need of total modernisation) and am a diy novice. Finances dictate that I need to start learning so I'm afraid you'll be hearing quite a lot from me! Hope this isn't too basic and boring for the more experienced readers but any help would be massively appreciated.
Ok, the details are: most of the ground floor is tiles laid directly on soil and is damp. The hallways are only about 1 inch thick cement and damp. We have 1 room, which has had concrete put down, but it is uneven and sloping (although does have membrane in it and is dry). DPC has just been injected into the walls. I'm assuming laying concrete is the way forward unless anyone can suggest a better (cheaper) alternative? I think I understand the basic structure of the new floor
- sand then damp proof membrane, insulation (100mm?), concrete (100mm?) and finally some sort of screed. I need advice on the following:
1) Are the above layers in the correct order and thickness? 2) Will a hardcore layer and/or compacting be needed, or will the ground already be sufficiently compacted in this situation? 3) Regarding the hallways, is there any way I can work with and damp proof the existing cement floor or do I need to break it up and start from scratch? 4) Ready mixed verses self mix? I reckon there are about 20 square meters to lay. Is this a realistic amount to try and mix myself, would ready mixed be a cost effective alternative, would I even get someone to deliver this amount, and would this be any easier with only having front door access? 5) I think I need to create an expansion gap around the edge of the floor? If this is correct then how is it best achieved - could I just attach some of the insulation board to the wall, leave it in place and then screed over it? 6) What is the best method of levelling the concrete - if put level timber tracks down as guides to tamp down can these stay in place. If no how & when do I remove? 7) Assuming I opt to self mix, do I have to lay the whole ground floor as one slab, or is there any way I can lay one hallway / room at a time in order to make the job more manageable? If yes, how is this done and how do I manage where the separate slabs meet regarding the damp proof sheeting? 8) Is screed necessary or, in order to make things easier, is it possible to just concrete and then use a thin layer of self levelling compound? 9) The one existing concrete floor is not level (and stops part way across a room due to a moved wall) it has vinyl tiles glued down which are impossible to get off cleanly. It has about 2 inches of cement screed on top with a damp proof sheet between the concrete and screed. I was thinking of just breaking up the screed and levelling with new concrete over the old. Is this a viable plan? And how would I deal with damp proof sheeting where the new and old floors meet part way across the room? 10) The existing floors are all uneven and sloping. I'm really confused about where my starting point is with levels for the new flooring. If I start at the back door and lay the floor level then I'm worried that by the time I get to front door I might be half way up to the letter box!!!. Also I'm aware that I need to keep below the levels of the DPC. How can I plan this out? If anyone has managed to get to the end of this (and is still awake!) then well done thanks for reading. Once again, any help will be greatly appreciated.