Floor levelling compound rotten smell!

[Deepster]

Good morning and a very Happy New Year to all.

I'm new here and in need of some help/advice. I've seen similar threads but the outcome has been different...

Background:
- A builder we were using to redo our kitchen (note he's now been sacked!) used the "Ultra Tile Fix ProLevel One Floor Leveller" to level the floor.
- Base underneath was existing concrete.
- Given cracks appeared the very next day, and given the continued negligence we witnessed, we know for sure he did not prime the floor first.

Issue:
- The smell!!!
- I noticed the smell the next day but it has now been almost two months and the smell persists!! (he laid it on Nov 10th).
- We initially suspected the floor being the issue but instead began focusing on other sources, i.e. the sink waste drain.
- After speaking with a drain company, we had the waste pipe excavated and moved externally meaning there is now no open waste in the room itself.
- Despite this, the smell persists and we have now ruled everything else out!
- I should add that this smell did not exist when the old kitchen was there or even prior to laying the levelling compound.

My concern is that it has been almost two months and it hasn't improved or lessened!!

My initial thoughts are to dig it up and start again, but does anybody have any insight to share??

Thank you
Deep

 

[Mr Chibs]

Is it definitely the SLC that is giving off the smell?

Just a thought... I had an issue for months with a gassy type smell, (got the plumber out, as thought I had a leak) turned out to be stagnant water in some paint I was using.

 

[Deepster]

I think it is most definitely the SLC giving off the smell now. The smell started after the floor was laid. We later suspected it was the waste pipe but have just completed excavation work to have this moved outside (and now the sink/dishwasher waste pipes will be fed through the wall to the drain outside but the holes have not been done yet). There is now nothing else left in there, including a gas pipe which has been removed and capped off externally to the room.

 

[Notch7]

I think it is most definitely the SLC giving off the smell now. The smell started after the floor was laid. We later suspected it was the waste pipe but have just completed excavation work to have this moved outside (and now the sink/dishwasher waste pipes will be fed through the wall to the drain outside but the holes have not been done yet). There is now nothing else left in there, including a gas pipe which has been removed and capped off externally to the room.

I found this review, person said same thing

id contact the manufacturer

Ultra Tile Fix ProLevel One Floor Leveller 20kg

Ultra Tile Fix ProLevel One is a single part, high strength, rapid drying and curing cementitious smoothing and levelling compound. Available in 20kg

www.tilingsuppliesdirect.co.uk

ProLevel One: Deep Fill Floor Leveller - Instarmac

Enabling the earlier fixing of tiles at thicker depth applications, ProLevel One is a high strength, rapid-drying and curing cementious compound. Find out more...

www.instarmac.co.uk

 

[Deepster]

Thank you, I'd seen that too but wondered if anybody else here was also familiar with the issue or experienced it. Thank you!

 

[dazlight]

What was the sub floor ? How old is the sub floor ?

 

[Deepster]

What was the sub floor ? How old is the sub floor ?

The sub floor was concrete. The builders may have left some old tile adhesive on a small area (maybe 1sqm). Overall room size is 16sqm. I am guessing it will be approx 15 years old (if I remember correctly as to when the prior owners built the extension).

 

[dazlight]

So shouldn’t be any damp then? The smoothing compound he’s used is a water mix not a latex type. Sometimes if the latex is out of day it can smell. is it grey or white colour ? Can you post a pic.
if lots of cracks yes take it up. Should be easy if he hasn’t primed it ?

 

[Deepster]

So shouldn’t be any damp then? The smoothing compound he’s used is a water mix not a latex type. Sometimes if the latex is out of day it can smell. is it grey or white colour ? Can you post a pic.
if lots of cracks yes take it up. Should be easy if he hasn’t primed it ?

There shouldn't be any damp, unless they'd somehow wet the concrete floor first before laying the leveller. The room had been skimmed about a week earlier but it should have been dry.

I'll go grab a picture shortly. It is mostly grey in colour but definitely doesn't have a consistent grey colour... it's more a marbley finish!

I might try taking a chisel and hammer to see if it comes up.

 

[Deepster]

Further to the above, attaching images...

 

[dazlight]

Mixed with too much water that. Should be more grey. Tap it to see if it sounds hollow. What floor covering is going down?

 

[Deepster]

Mixed with too much water that. Should be more grey. Tap it to see if it sounds hollow. What floor covering is going down?

Plan is to tile over it, but I'm reluctant to start any of that until I know what is going on with this.

That image you attached, what leveller is that?

 

[dazlight]

Ardex CL. All we use is ardex & uzin. When using a water mix you never go over the water limit as it’s makes the top surface weak and soft.

 

[Deepster]

Ardex CL. All we use is ardex & uzin. When using a water mix you never go over the water limit as it’s makes the top surface weak and soft.

Thanks bud, and was it odorless?

I'll try a smash at this floor now to see how brittle it is, if it is.

 

[dazlight]

Yes no smell. Like I said sometimes when out of date it smells or bags / bottles have been frozen Maybe.