Advice needed! Liquid screed

Lyixd

Looking some advice if possible. I got liquid screed poured a couple of days ago and as I was working away I only got to check it today.
When I looked at it the surface was bumpy and I was on the phone to my builder at the time, it turns out it is sweet corn in the mix! Builder has not seen it yet as he was not there day it was poured.
What I'm wondering is, is there more of it below the surface! will it affect the screed. I have underfloor heating in also, do I request it be all dug up and redone now or builder mentioned scrapping it all of the surface! But then it will leave a pitted surface with loads of holes.
It will also extend the build time now which leaves me at more expense as I'm renting and got furniture in storage. Should I get a solicitor involved? And would it be best to get the floor dug up and replaced? Any advice appreciated.:mad:

Mahogany Gaspipe

Can you expand on what you mean by the sweetcorn in the mix? Do you mean a tin of sweetcorn was spilled on the semi-cured screed?

Removing the floor means scrapping the currently installed underfloor heating and insulation. Ouch that is going to be pricey!

Lyixd

While it was been poured there was sweet corn in the mix coming out of the lorry! I have know idea how it ended up in the mix.The lads pouring it, knew it was there and now it is round the whole house and it's a whole lot more than a tin, it's loads and loads of tins equivalent. I know this could end up pricey hence why I'm wondering should I got a solicitor involved?

wexie

Lyixd wrote: »

While it was been poured there was sweet corn in the mix coming out of the lorry! I have know idea how it ended up in the mix.The lads pouring it, knew it was there and now it is round the whole house and it's a whole lot more than a tin, it's loads and loads of tins equivalent. I know this could end up pricey hence why I'm wondering should I got a solicitor involved?

have you thought about what that's going to smell like once your underfloor heating gets switched on if you leave it there?

If those lads knew about it then why did they continue? Have you spoken to the supplier of the screed? If it was me I'd be ringing them and asking what they propose to do to resolve this and letting them know that if they don't come up with a proper solution you'll be talking to a solicitor and making sure you'll get every last bit of publicity you can get.

What kind of operation are these yokels running? It's not exactly something that 'accidentally' ends up in the screed is it?

Lyixd

wexie wrote: »

have you thought about what that's going to smell like once your underfloor heating gets switched on if you leave it there?

If those lads knew about it then why did they continue? Have you spoken to the supplier of the screed? If it was me I'd be ringing them and asking what they propose to do to resolve this and letting them know that if they don't come up with a proper solution you'll be talking to a solicitor and making sure you'll get every last bit of publicity you can get.

What kind of operation are these yokels running? It's not exactly something that 'accidentally' ends up in the screed is it?

Good point about the smell and also "accidentally" in the screed. How does sweet corn end up in a cement lorry? I'm pushing the contractor first as he employed the screed supplier and I agree about the publicity thing. Am I allowed to name them on here? any mods?

wexie

Lyixd wrote: »

Good point about the smell and also "accidentally" in the screed. How does sweet corn end up in a cement lorry? I'm pushing the contractor first as he employed the screed supplier and I agree about the publicity thing. Am I allowed to name them on here? any mods?

Probably best not to name them here I think. Although you might be able to say the general area they operate in.

I would get the contractor to call the company or ring the company myself. They may well be dealing with a disgruntled employee or something (can't really think of any other reason for there to be sweetcorn in a cement truck ) in which case I feel they'd deserve a chance to resolve this amicably.

Either way I wouldn't want the lads who noticed this and didn't mention it and just carried on.....working on my property again.

Mahogany Gaspipe

Wow this has to be one of the most bizarre building stories I've heard.

If you are sure that it is indeed cooked sweetcorn I suppose that given you've many cubic metres of screed; the sweetcorn cant make up to much of the overall composition percentage wise; given that sweetcorn comes in relatively small cans.

On the other hand is the sweetcorn going to rot over the coming years; maybe it will metamorphosed into popcorn with the uf heating! You need to ask your engineer about this.

Lastly did the guys laying the screed inform you about it as it was going in? Or did they make a judgement call on it themselves?
Why they would continue pouring the screed with the cost of the floor/underfloor heating/insulation package is beyond me; given what you've said this far.

Lyixd

Lot of good points here. Thanks for advice so far, it really is unbelievable, think im as shocked as I am mad. I said to the builder once the pourers noticed they should have put the lorry out the road and rejected it. I definitely want the whole thing lifted I've decided but I'll not be paying!!!

fclauson

Lyixd wrote: »

Lot of good points here. Thanks for advice so far, it really is unbelievable, think im as shocked as I am mad. I said to the builder once the pourers noticed they should have put the lorry out the road and rejected it. I definitely want the whole thing lifted I've decided but I'll not be paying!!!

Have you checked the u-value of pop corn maybe the did you a favour

BryanF

OP
i sympathise with you. if the underfloor guys are subbies of the main contractor - you should get your architect to inform the main contractor in writing that the screed should be removed and replaced.- and also the ufh system as you wont get the screed out without damaging it (or at least without the risk any way)

id argue it is the responsibility of the main contractor to remove and replace the UFH system but that the liability is with the screed subbie

discuss this with your architect and see how you go.

id imagine you'rE into time and delay issues also - which your architect should be keeping an eye on

fclauson wrote: »

Have you checked the u-value of pop corn maybe the did you a favour

be nice Fclauson - we may not have all had such an extensive design team on our jobs.

btw i was thinking of starting a thread entitled 'read these threads before you consider self-building' - and give some of the horror stories that are here on boards.ie - maybe more people would think twice:o

Dante79

Sweetcorn in floorscreed?? this has to be the most incredible construction blunder ever....Can we have some pics please to see
exactly what we are talking about?

Lyixd

fclauson wrote: »

Have you checked the u-value of pop corn maybe the did you a favour

Use to have a bit of respect for you until I read the stupid comment. Hope plenty of others on here see this and now realise how you down at everyone else as if your something special.

fclauson

fclauson wrote: »

Have you checked the u-value of pop corn maybe the did you a favour

Frivolity meant but obviously it did not work - Sorry won't do it again
:rolleyes:

tred

i am so waiting for some catch line here.....on a serious note, how is it actually possible to get sweetcorn into screed...post up some pics...i sense someone has jacked your account!

sydthebeat

lads, pop corn doesn't come from sweetcorn ;P

Safehands

Dante79 wrote: »

Sweetcorn in floorscreed?? this has to be the most incredible construction blunder ever....Can we have some pics please to see
exactly what we are talking about?

Is this a concrete screed or an anhydrite one. If somebody dumped cans of sweetcorn into the mix it could not have been done for positive reasons. If they saw it in the mix and did nothing about it they were extremely irresponsible and not working with the best interests of their client in mind. It would have been relatively easy to rectify at an early stage.
Are you sure it is corn and not beads of polystyrene, from the insulation which I have seen in the past. They do look a bit like corn?

Lyixd

Its an anhydrate mix. I met with contractor on site yesterday and owner of the screed company. Apparantly when the haulage company imports sand etc from germany the haulage firm returns maize. This is how it got in mix. They admitted liability on site and said haulage firms insurance was covering all costs. Today screed company called my contractor and said as they use several haulage firms they cant pin down which firm it is, and now they will only cover cost of screed. The screed is been removed today and tomorrow and the contractor seems to be covering the cost of replacing insulation and u/f heating. Ill try and post some pics

tred

Lyixd wrote: »

Its an anhydrate mix. I met with contractor on site yesterday and owner of the screed company. Apparantly when the haulage company imports sand etc from germany the haulage firm returns maize. This is how it got in mix. They admitted liability on site and said haulage firms insurance was covering all costs. Today screed company called my contractor and said as they use several haulage firms they cant pin down which firm it is, and now they will only cover cost of screed. The screed is been removed today and tomorrow and the contractor seems to be covering the cost of replacing insulation and u/f heating. Ill try and post some pics

WOW. Amazing. I just couldnt figure this out. Glad its all getting resolved.
Send us on some pics. That stuff no doubt would rot over time, and stink the place.....or would wither way and the screed would just crack all over...glad its resolved......

Safehands

tred wrote: »

WOW. Amazing. I just couldnt figure this out. Glad its all getting resolved.
Send us on some pics. That stuff no doubt would rot over time, and stink the place.....or would wither way and the screed would just crack all over...glad its resolved......

I agree, but terribly, terribly poor by the flooring contractor. I have to say I would have zero faith in that company to do any more work.

tred

Safehands wrote: »

I agree, but terribly, terribly poor by the flooring contractor. I have to say I would have zero faith in that company to do any more work.

I am thinking this is one of those darwin award moments in that, i doubt anyone has ever seen what looks like corn in the screed!, it might not even have being that obvious as it flowed

roisincorran

If the builder got the screed delivered I would only talk to him about the sweetcorn issue as its his problem to resolve. Do not give him another penny til he sorts it and tell him the longer it takes him to resolve it the less you will be paying him. Its up to him to sort out or deal with the suppliers of the screed as your builder. .its him id be threatening with solicitors if anything that way he will be forced to sort it out. I just cant believe sweetcorn in the mix is an actual real issue..you poor lad. Deep breaths but be very clear and not one bit vague when speaking to the builder about this. Keep us posted on how you get on with this please