Ardit levelling compound over AC sheeting?

[ScottyC]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of renovating our first floor ensuite at home. Original bathroom had no floor waste and shower drain was in the corner of the shower, part of the floor waste was actually under the tiles on the wall.

I've organised the plumber to do the pipework underneath to add the floor waste and move the shower drain. He has left me with two fittings, called puddle flanges, with instructions that holes be cut and the flanges be recessed down into the floor sheeting prior to waterproofing. Problem is, the floor sheeting is 18mm asestos. I had an asbestos company come and cut the holes but they would not grind the sheeting to recess the flanges. I've been told to just use a levelling compound to bring the floor up the 3mm or so it needs to come to be level with the un-recessed flanges.

I went to the local building suppliers and explained what I was doing and was sold a bag of Dunlop Ardit.
i've done all my prep today and gone to mix the stuff up but in reading the bag it says I need to prime first and that it's only suitable for use over concrete.

Has anyone used this stuff on AC before? What do I use to prime?

I'm not looking to create fall, i will be waterproofing over this and then a 30-50mm screed before the tiles.

Cheers!

Scott

[Bloss]

What type of Ardit? I assume they've given you Floor Leveller rather than Floor Repairer DUNLOP DIY BUILDING PRODUCTS - Dunlop Floor Repairer - Minor Imperfections (http://www.dunlopdiy.com/Floor_Levelling/fl_minor_imperfections.html) . The latter can be used on a broad range of substrates. But in your situation where really you are using it as a filler I doubt it will be a problem - likewise the absence of primer. If you it was to be the direct substrate onto which you planned on fixing tiles then you would want the exact product - because it might delaminate and become 'drummy'. With a waterproof membrane & screed on top little likelihood. But it's always a risk when not using products to spec - if it were me I'd use it in this situation, but your call.

[ScottyC]

What type of Ardit? I assume they've given you Floor Leveller rather than Floor Repairer DUNLOP DIY BUILDING PRODUCTS - Dunlop Floor Repairer - Minor Imperfections (http://www.dunlopdiy.com/Floor_Levelling/fl_minor_imperfections.html) .

Thanks Bloss!

The product they sold me is in a red and black: DUNLOP DIY BUILDING PRODUCTS - Dunlop Ardit Floor Leveller (http://www.dunlopdiy.com/Floor_Levelling/fl_ardit_leveller.html)

I went back this morning to ask about the primer but the staff were the weekend crew (who sold me the bag in the first place) and said i should come back in the week and speak to the trade guys. I also stopped at Bunnings and had a look. They advised that I speak to dunlop before proceeding as cracking up of this component down the track will result in failure of the membrane. Bunnings, however, had a bottle of primer that was Dunlop branded but not listed on the Dunlop website - this specifically said it was suitable for priming compressed cement prior to using Dunlop levelling products. As luck would have it, the bottle was split and empty and the only one they had....

Thinking i might just risk it and wait a week or so before doing the waterproofing to see if any cracking occurs.

[Bloss]

Cracking is unlikely when sitting inside a constrained area on top of compressed sheet. And the waterproof membranes include fibreglass or polyester reinforcing. As I said I reckon it'd be OK in this case and your decision makes sense. The primers include polymers to increase adhesion so if you can find some use it - even Bondcrete Bondall Bondcrete (http://www.bondall.com/bondcrete/Bondall_Bondcrete.html) is likely to assist as the levellers are cement based.

[Larry McCully]

Bloss is correct in all he says. Ardit is a formulated compound that is designed to both self level and if you need to use it as a build to increase height. The primer is simply a adhesion base and sealer for the compound to take to. Dont be afraid of the product. you can lso shap it as needed during the drying process. Once it is hard, it may be a different story. It is used in the industry all the time to achieve levels.

[ScottyC]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a go. The primer in the busted bottle at bunning smelled like PVA glue so I suspect it's all pretty much the same stuff.

Cheers!

Scott