Height differences in different rooms

Hello dear all,

the screed layerer will start working in the house in two weeks.
I am getting tiles in all rooms (except bedrooms/children’s rooms), so far so good.

Question for you:

What types of flooring have you had experience with in bedrooms? What can you recommend? I am having a hard time especially with the children’s room.

To what extent do I have to consider the flooring with the screed?
Tiles including tile adhesive are about 13/14 mm, vinyl depending on the manufacturer 8-9 mm, I could of course increase thickness here, but:
What if I want to use a different type of flooring in the bedrooms later on?
Does it even make sense to adjust the screed for these 5-6 mm?

Thank you.
Best regards

ps. Underfloor heating available.

Nice to see that things are progressing for you. It makes absolutely sense to consider the floor covering when determining the screed thickness in order to avoid any steps if necessary. Adjusting later might be needed in case of changes - but I would find it strange to forgo an adjustment right from the start for that reason.

We have refrained from making adjustments and compensated for the difference with thicker impact sound insulation.

Hello questioner.
With ceramic tiles as the planned floor covering, the greater installation thickness should actually already be taken into account during the screed installation.
In the other rooms (which now lie lower due to a different covering), the screed is in any case standardly levelled before laying the floor covering.
The 5-6mm you mentioned are not exactly exorbitant, and a good transition profile would technically bridge that without any problem, but the rule applies that from a height difference of 4mm the risk of tripping can occur.
Please note (to reassure you) that surfaces levelled on or with filler are never "carved in stone"!!
So if in the lower room on about 50cm length in front of the door was ramp-shaped levelled, that would be technically absolutely fine.
If the top covering is changed in the future and the "ramp" turns out to be disturbing, the "overhang" would simply be sanded off and thus adjusted to the required transition height.
This procedure complies with the regulations - and is therefore really not a serious problem for a floor fitter!
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Good luck with the measure: KlaRa

Hello questioner. With ceramic tiles as a planned floor covering, the greater installation thickness should indeed already be taken into account during the screed production. In the other rooms (which now lie lower due to a different covering), the screed is in any case standardly skimmed before the floor covering installation. The 5-6mm you mentioned are not exorbitant and a good transition profile would technically easily bridge that, but the rule applies that from a height difference of 4mm the risk of tripping can occur. But please note (to reassure you) that skimmed or patched surfaces are never "set in stone"!! So, if in the lower-lying room a ramp-like patching was done over approx. 50cm length in front of the door, that would be technically absolutely fine. If the top covering is changed in the future and the "ramp" turns out to be disturbing, the "overhang" would simply be sanded off and adjusted to the required transition height. This procedure is in compliance with regulations – and therefore really no serious problem for a floor layer! ------------- Good luck with the measure: KlaRa

Hey Klara, Many thanks for the valuable tips. Should I tell the screed installer anything? Best regards and thanks Piotr

Should I/Do I need to tell the screed layer anything?

Well, screed layers are excellent craftsmen. Most of those I know professionally, anyway. But not a single one of them is a mind reader. Therefore, it is advisable that the screed layer already knows in the planning phase (before writing his offer) that he has to adjust the surfaces in terms of height. And that he can then also recognize how much extra effort he needs for the thicker screed, whether the doors will still fit in height, etc. There is a whole "chain" of necessary planning attached to that. Simply making the screed (where tiles are to be laid) thinner would be a simple logic, but it misses the point. The minimum thickness (and thus the load-bearing capacity) must be guaranteed. And if he simply installs it thicker, the height dimensions (related to the binding reference point) will no longer be correct, which affects the following trades. The easiest way is actually to build everything at one height and then (in rooms without tile covering) apply filler near the door areas! Regards: KlaRa