Limecrete floors

[oxalto]

Has anyone used limecrete on their floors?

I am very eager to do so instead of the evil concrete, and am hoping to combine it with underfloor heating and flagstones as well as a sump & pump flood defence system. The following article suggests that it should work well for the first 2 uses. I've been advised that it won't do the job for flood defence, though. Any thoughts?

http://www.ihbc.org.uk/context_archive/90/henry1/Context90.htm

I'm very tempted to go for it because the flood risk is, in my opinion, very low!

Has anyone any positive/negative experiences with limecrete or tips for me to follow? Is is even within the abilities of a DIY project or is it a specialist job?

I'm intending to take up the concrete that's currently down on the floors by the way!

 

[Penners]

Obviously you won't get a totally unbiased view, but you might think about having a chat with The Limecrete Company about your proposals. They do invite this on their website: http://www.limecrete.co.uk/

 

[robgil]

Thanks for the link Penners. Ive been on the phone seeking advice from a different company and all I could get out of them was a brochure, how informative it will be I dont know.

 

[Penners]

They're not too far away from you, Rob, as you can see. For Oxalto's purposes I'm sure they deliver far and wide, but this is obviously likely to bump up transport costs.

 

[oxalto]

Thanks Penners - I'll have a talk to them. It's clearly not a product which people are using lots if PPUK regulars haven't had experience of using it!

 

[Penners]

I think a fair number of people on this forum have used it at one time or another (although I'm not one of them). But perhaps they don't all buy it ready-mixed. You can, of course, mix it up yourself.

Some users may not have spotted this thread yet.

 

[MdB]

A bit of home made limecrete for you. It is surrounded by concrete (sorry) as that was more appropriate for the rest of the house.

(though it now has a number of dog shaped paw prints in it....)

The mix for this was as follows:

2 parts lime hydrate
4 parts builders sand
1 part 0 to 4mm Leca
1 part 4 to 10mm Leca
4 parts 10 to 20mm Leca

NHL would have been better than hydrate as it will set quicker in the damp environment of the wall / floor and would give a stronger finish. I also wouldn't use it in any place that would get any wear as the leca isn't very strong and the surface of the previous bit I've done has worn before I've got the final flooring finish down.

 

[Penners]

That's a very decorative lintel you have there, MdB. I trust you'll obtain LBC if you ever plan to replace it.

 

[robgil]

Not sure they would let you replace a lovely feature like that.

 

[MdB]

The original lintel has been removed so it can be cleaned up, reinforced and then put back so it actually holds up the stonework above it. I'm going to this effort as the original lintel is simply two old miners hand drills which would have been nicked from the mine down the lane. It's something a bit different anyway.

 

[Penners]

Sounds fascinating! Please show us a photo when they've been replaced.

 

[AMc]

Thanks Penners - I'll have a talk to them. It's clearly not a product which people are using lots if PPUK regulars haven't had experience of using it!

Insulated limecrete is not mainstream but it isn't experimental either.
You may find a search of two on here is worth a try http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ as Lime and insulation are two very Green Building things.
The flags should provide plenty of protection for the leca in the slab - make sure you pay plenty of attention to how to look after the lime as it 'goes off'.
I would also heartily recommend using either builders who really know lime or a specialist contractor. I regret letting general builders lay my brick floor on lime mortar every time I walk on a loose brick - which is every bliming time I go in the kitchen.

 

[robgil]

Lime isnt what i would call a green building material , perhaps greener than cement but it still takes large amounts of energy to produce and transport it.