Is a week enough for a floor to dry after a major leak? - TilersForums.com

[Ozzy]

Apologies if I have posted this in the wrong forum!

I'm supposed to be tiling a kitchen floor tomorrow. There was a major leak in the pipework in the floor and since taking the old tiles up they have had a dehumidifier on and a heater to dry it out. Is a week enough? The dehumidifier has been off for two days and there haven't been any more damp patches. I'm still a bit worried though. Are there any easy tests I can do to make sure?

 

[Handyeire]

Put a some buckets on few places on the floor, leave for 2 days and if damp appears, don't tile!

 

[Ozzy]

Two days? Dammit, lol. I was hoping for something a bit quicker but will do that thanks!

 

[Handyeire]

Two days? Dammit, lol. I was hoping for something a bit quicker but will do that thanks!

I've seen it in 1 day, 2 days and even a week. A week would be better

 

[Chalker]

Hi
Is a week long enough, or a month??
It's dry when it's dry. Either measure with moisture tester. Or a simple quick one, use a bucket of water, or paint tin, cut a square of polythene and lay it under. If condensation forms underneath after a few hours, it's not dry.

 

[Ozzy]

I should have worded that differently, I should have said 'can a floor dry in a week'. Thanks Chalker, I suppose I'll find out tomorrow!

 

[Bill]

Personally, I would tile it but then I am used to fixing on green screeds. If the screed has already run it's course of drying and shrinking, then a leak shouldn't cause any problems.

I have repaired tiled swimming pools full of water, with the correct adhesive and they don't fail.

Some folk should do their homework about moisture in screeds before damning all.

 

[J Sid]

What tiles are you lying in are you using?
are you using Ditra ?

 

[LM]

After the initial curing of the screed (provided that it's a standard sand and cement screed) where all shrinkage has already occurred, I'd tile it once it was surface dry provided it was standard tiles or porcelain being used.

 

[Chalker]

Nobody has dammed it. The word "major flood " was mentioned, so we have no clue how much water was leaked. So advice was to make sure it's dry, !