Drying out new floor slab

[justAgirl]

Hi I'm just embarking on an extension and kitchen refit and new flooring throughout and would like some advice.
New extension is due to complete in about 8 weeks. We want to lay wood (engineered) throughout, we also want to replaster the kitchen and plaster the extension.
I know the extension (and kitchen plaster) need to be fully dried out before we can do this and I have read this can take 3-6 months.
Obviously we can't live without a kitchen for that long. So do I -
a) replaster the kitchen (removing only the top units) along with the extension and then hang fire on the refit while the extension dries out (but can we use the extension during this time if we stick cardboard down and put furniture in?) or
b) refit kitchen (and lounge floor) at around the same time and hold fire on the extension floor only so the rest of the house is complete? Again can we use the extension at this point?
Any advice about generally drying out the extension floor and plaster greatly received.
Thanks all.

 

[JohnD]

you need three things:

1) ventilation

2) fresh air

3) ventilation.

Once the concrete has cured, by being kept wet with polythene or similar covering for two weeks or so, open the doors and windows at every opportunity, and remove the covering.

 

[dazlight]

Are you floating or glueing down the wood?

 

[crazydaze]

If you are floating the wood, you can lay over a moisture barrier such as F-Ball Isolator membrane but NOT poly sheeting.

If you are gluing direct to subfloor, you can use two part DPM applications such as F-Ball F75 (two coats) prederably followed by a primer and latex screed. You could use this instead of F-Ball Isolator if you wish to float the floor too.

Either way, you will need to accurately measure the subfloor moisture level before proceeding and it's not a cheap option.