Fresh screed - water damage

Hello dear community,

since March we have been building a Tuscany house and everything has gone absolutely smoothly so far, so we were already prepared for a misfortune.

Now it has happened: On Wednesday the screed (cement screed, floating) was laid all day and everything was fine. On Thursday we had a severe storm with extreme hail, as a result of which water entered through an open basement window (which was removed to lead the construction power cable into the technical room) and the (still) not sealed supply line to the heat pump. Of course, it was dirty clay water. Since I had already feared something like this, I entered the house despite the entry ban and inspected and dealt with the damage. With cloths and towels we wiped up a total of 12 liters of water from the technical room and the stairwell.

Our construction company wants to set up a dehumidifier at the end of this week, not earlier, as the screed could be damaged otherwise.

Now my question is: What would you do?
Would you insist on replacing the screed? Or on an extended warranty for the screed (although we already have 5 years warranty on the whole house...)? Demand a reduction in the contract price?

As a precaution, I definitely took enough pictures of the damage!

Stupid question, but: What exactly is the damage to the screed?

Regards,
Sebastian

Stupid question, but: What exactly is the damage to the screed?

Regards,
Sebastian

At first, no obvious damage. However, we are concerned that bacteria may have been washed in with the rainwater, which could in the worst case lead to mold. One must not forget that the screed had only been laid for 24 hours, so it definitely was not dried yet, but it did hold me (90 kg) up.

Bacteria from outside? Are you planning a cleanroom? A laboratory...

I wouldn't worry about that, and if I'm not mistaken, the damage isn't even a defect since no handover has taken place yet....
So keep calm, everything will be fine. Screed is just dirt with water.

Hello,

Since I already suspected something like this, I entered the house despite the entry ban and inspected the damage and repaired it. With cloths and rags, we then wiped up a total of 12 liters of water from the technical room and the stairwell.

And you think this behavior is right?

The construction company wants to set up a dehumidifier at the end of this week, not earlier, because otherwise the screed could be damaged.

With good reason; I would love to know what he would think of your "clean-up action" if he knew.

my question: What would you do? Would you insist on replacing the screed? Or further warranty coverage for the screed (although we already have a 5-year warranty on the entire house...)? Demand a reduction in the contract price?

Boy, boy – you, as a complete novice, are pulling out some serious guns! Although, with the following statement...

we are concerned that bacteria may have been washed in by the rainwater that entered, which could in the worst case lead to mold. One must not forget that the screed had only been laid for 24 hours, so it definitely was not dry yet, [B]but it did hold me (90 kg)

... I rather wonder if perhaps a house seller is currently bored and wants to stir up the forum a bit?

I have definitely taken enough pictures of the damage!

That is, of course, the most important piece of evidence.

Kind regards

Well, that's a great help now....

You can gladly put yourself in my shoes when you are standing next to your house during a huge storm with all the trimmings, watching liters of rainwater disappear into the ground (clay soil and superficial pine soil), your neighbors already have water in their basements despite a white tank, so that their basements have to be pumped out. I would like to see the builder who calmly stands next to it and says, my God, then the basement just fills up!

The question of whether I behaved correctly does not arise. I tried to reach my site manager - no success. I moved carefully on the screed and would perhaps have taken any damage caused upon myself - but nothing happened.

The cleanup was agreed with him, as he called back later.

What does “bringing out the big guns” mean - these are things advised to me by acquaintances (bricklayer, architect, construction lawyer). If you can think of something better, I am grateful for any reasonable suggestion!

Hello,


And you think this behavior is correct?


For good reason; I would love to know what he would think of your "cleanup action" if he knew.


Boy, oh boy - you, as a complete layman, are firing some pretty heavy artillery! Although, with the following statement ...


... I rather wonder if maybe a house seller is currently bored and wants to stir up the forum a bit?


That’s of course the most important evidence ever

Best regards