Partyraum Part 4

Almost a month ago we put in the concrete. It was ordered a week previously with express instructions to (a) use a chemical delay agent to stop the concrete setting too fast and (b) to ensure that the driver of the lorry had a 6m long slide for the concrete. The reason for (a) was that because of availability of help, we could only start at (planned) 14:00 and 33% of the help (Sven) had to leave for night shift at around 20:00. The reason for (b) was that it was intended that the concrete be poured pretty much in the middle of the room, so we'd be able to spread it easily.

As you might anticipate neither (a) nor (b) worked out. First, the lorry was an hour and half late - meaning we started pouring at around 16:00. Second, the slide was only 4m instead of 6m meaning we had to quickly construct a makeshift extension (which worked but made a bit of a mess in front of the door). Third, it became obvious pretty soon that the chemical agent (if there even was chemical agent in it) wasn't working and the concrete was setting too fast.

Under the circumstances we managed to get it some way even. Due to having to work full out until midnight, I didn't notice until much later that I had a nasty cement burn on my right leg (ended up with six trips to the doctor over the following four weeks and it still isn't right yet and will probably leave a nasty scar). I also didn't really have time to float the floor before the concrete set. The next day I floated as much as possible, wetting the floor as much as possible and using cement to fill in the worst of the holes. It worked out ok-ish. The main thing was that I wasn't too far off on the levels. Checking with the laser it looks as though the maximum deviation from the level I need is about 2cm. Those deviations are quite local though (meaning there are small steps rather than long hills). What was immediately obvious was that a surface will have to go in. There is a self levelling compound that can be poured like soup on to the floor. As a viscous liquid it levels itself like water and the finish is perfect. It is relatively expensive though, at €20 a 25kg bag. I'll need 10-15 bags, but it will be worth it for the finish.

Before the self levelling compound goes in, two things have to happen. (1) we have to run a concrete sander over the floor to remove small steps/ridges and to take the worst of the problems away and (2) the raw surface has to be treated with an epoxy compound so that the new surface sticks (kind of like polybond). The other Sven is going to give me a hand and he knows what he is doing, so come Saturday evening there should be an acceptable finish on the floor that I just have to paint with floor paint.