hiya lads ,how long should this be left before tiling on ,and will it need a primer,i think not but welcome advice

its in a conservatory,dont know the thickness,cheers steve

would help if you knew thickness,drying time approx 1-2mm per day , depending on temp

Does anyone know the origin of the advice that you follow in the UK regarding drying time for screeds?

I'm curious to learn why we have such different standards in the US and Canada. For a thick mudbed on a floor, say 2 inches/50 mm, I would wait maybe 2 days before setting tile or installing a sheet membrane. I would wait longer for mud on the wall because it has more moisture in it, but likely not more than 3-4 days.

Most of the shrinkage is done in the first day or so.

Phil, you've done a lot of mud work in the US...how are things done differently here such that we have such different standards for curing of the mudbeds?

BRITISH STANDARD'S are the most popular rob we refer to them as BS, not bull ****

Dave, what is done so differently I wonder? Is portland made differently in the UK? Are the mixes a lot wetter? More conservative approach on the curing times?

For guys that are doing mud floors and walls in baths and kitchens...are they really waiting 2-3 weeks before setting tile?

yes they are if they are going by the book, but if not then they are tileing and so forth just a few day,s after , but all the addy makers have get-out holes if you do not go by the book mate

Originally Posted by Rob Z

Does anyone know the origin of the advice that you follow in the UK regarding drying time for screeds?

I'm curious to learn why we have such different standards in the US and Canada. For a thick mudbed on a floor, say 2 inches/50 mm, I would wait maybe 2 days before setting tile or installing a sheet membrane. I would wait longer for mud on the wall because it has more moisture in it, but likely not more than 3-4 days.

Most of the shrinkage is done in the first day or so.

Phil, you've done a lot of mud work in the US...how are things done differently here such that we have such different standards for curing of the mudbeds?

Hi Rob, the 1mm per day is the rule in the UK. But we used to lay 4 to 1 screed and tile same day using neat cement slurry. Don't know how shrinkage effects that, have done hundreds of thousands of m2 that way no probs. Strange eh!

Originally Posted by Phil Hobson

Hi Rob, the 1mm per day is the rule in the UK. But we used to lay 4 to 1 screed and tile same day using neat cement slurry. Don't know how shrinkage effects that, have done hundreds of thousands of m2 that way no probs. Strange eh!

i think the difference is the addy we layed them into the screed with no addy and any probs and the addy-maker's look at a get-out garantee if you break the BS Sandards

so shall i go for a month?

I would be confident at that, but best to stick to BS imo

BS is 3 weeks minimum for cement:sand screeds. After this time moisture content is irrelevant for tiling. It is if you are applying a resin, resilient or wood floor finish.

Originally Posted by dock

BS is 3 weeks minimum for cement:sand screeds. After this time moisture content is irrelevant for tiling. It is if you are applying a resin, resilient or wood floor finish.

Hi Dock, very interesting....do you know if thinsets are formulated that much differently in Europe and North America? Is the concern of the BS only because of shrinkage in the mud bed, or is it also because of some interaction of latent moisture with the setting materials?

Rob

The information within the BS is related mainly to the initial drying shrinkage associated with concrete formulations used. This information has been collated from various bodies since BS's for tiling were made available. They started out as MOD standards years ago but have been amended and honed over the years using data specific to sites within the UK.

Dock,

I know this is unrelated to the topic of BS, but Schluter here in the US and Canada have a different approach to specified thinsets and their membranes as compared to those specs in the European market (I'm sure you are familiar with the modified/non modified debate here in the US). When pressed for an answer as to why Schluter has an approach in Europe that is 180 degrees out from the approach here in N America, all we can get is a nebulous "thinsets are formulated differently in Europe".