Page 1 of 2
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:30 am
by msmarks
Firstly apologies for starting a new thread on this but i didnt want to hijack someone elses.
I am in a similar situation to a few others on this forum in that I bought a sectional garage on the strength of a site survey that site was fine and garage fitter would pack the base where needed.
No such luck after paying for the garage the fitter refused to put it up and less I signed a waiver first since there is a diminishing front to back dip of 25mm over 12' along one side.
Based on other threads here and a couple of conversation I had with RONACRETE who were very helpful have advised I should lay a Concrete\RONAFIX mix 6mm deep at lowest points and 31mm deep at highest points.
As I am unable to level whole area as garage kit has been placed in middle of site, I would need to lay a 9" wide area around perimeter site allowing 3" either side of outside and inside edge of the sections.
I am a layman here and I know that a frasmework would need to be built to lay the Ronafix mix, but how easy is it to lay to a depth of 6mm at the lowest points?
Thanks - and advise is greatly appreciated as I have a garage kit sitting in my garden in pieces . 
Rgds
mSm
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:42 am
by Tony McC
To achieve a 6mm depth,you need a fine-graded concrete. We use an aggregate known as 'grano' which is an exceptionally hard-wearing limestone or granite aggregate crushed down to 4mm or less. This is mixed with cement and a bit of sand to give an exceptionally workable concrete that can be floated out to 6mm with relative ease.
However, it seems that some parts of the country have difficulty obtaining grano dust, so it's simply a matter of finding a fine aggregrate or a coarse sand that will do the job. If you ask your local BM to point out what is used locally to bench manholes, that should be suitable.
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:46 am
by msmarks
Tony
Thanks for that.
Is it easy for an expert to lay to a 6mm depth - i mean that is pretty low!
And what about the Ronafix?
Rgds
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:33 am
by simeonronacrete
Michael
Delighted you've latched on to the idea of using Ronafix in the screed, and a good idea it is too. Let me take you through the procedure.
Prepare the substrate. At the least, power wash to remove loose dirt, dust, moss, algae. You can leave it damp but no standing water or puddles.
Ideally mechanically abrade the concrete where you are going to lay the Ronafix, with a hand scabbler or plane. If you can't do this, then at least give it a wire bush. Again, clean the surface and leave damp.
Mix a primer - this acts as the "glue" to stick the Ronafix screed to the base concrete. The mix for the primer is 1 part Ronafix (liquid) to 1 part cement. Mix in a bucket with a stirrer or stick to make a creamy slurry. Paint this on with a brush or broom onto the damp surface. The reason it is applied to a damp surface is to stop it being sucked into dry concrete.
Don't let the primer dry; make sure it stays wet or sticky so that the Ronafix mortar is applied to the wet or sticky primer. The primer should stay wet/sticky for 10-40 minutes depending on how hot/cold/dry/damp the weather is and how porous or dense the concrete is.
Now mix your mortar. Dry mix 1 volume of cement with 2 volumes of medium sharp sand. Then mix Ronafix with water, by volume 1 of Ronafix and 1 of water is a separate bucket. Then add some of the diluted Ronafix to the cement and sand and mix until the mortar is wet enough to lay as a screed without it being too wet such that it slumps and flows across the surface.
Trowel the Ronafix modified screed onto the wet or sticky primer, achieve your thickness - minimum 6mm, maximum 75mm as long as you can compact it.
When you're finished, protect it from kids, pets, wind, rain. No point having your hard work damaged by the elements. Cover it with some heavy gauge polythene sheet; if it the wind dries it too quickly it will crack and be weaker.
In this weather you will have to give it several days to gain strength, and don't do it when its 4oC and falling. Wait till the air and the concrete warm up.
As to how much you will need:
Primer
0.25 litres of Ronafix for every 1m2 of area
Screed
0.4 litres for every 1 linear metre at an average of 19mm thick.
Where to buy Ronafix
WTBurden, Adawall, BBM Support Site, some Travis Perkins, some independents, or come to us.
Price
£6.99 per litre plus delivery plus VAT if bought from us.
If you want to talk through this ring me or Donna here at Ronacrete.
Oh, and it's not difficult to do.
And finally - if you don't want the hassle of buying and measuring your own ceent and sand, diluting the Ronafix with water, etc, we can supply you with a choice of prepacked products which are ready to mix and apply. And some of them will give you a mortar which is rock solid after 1 hour on which you can build your garage, even when its cold.
Regards
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:16 pm
by pepperday
Screeds not being my bag. Just a query. would a reinforcing mesh be required. prevent cracking etc?
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:22 pm
by Tony McC
You can't use mesh with less than 50mm of cover, so for a levelling-up screed, there wouldn't be adequate depth.
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:53 pm
by pepperday
i can't remember the product we ended up using, but we had to go down as low as 4mm in places. The 'mesh' was more of a fabric, and the stuff was poured on, came out like a runney thick milkshake. I think it was an isocrete product.
Anyway i digress, what does Ronafix do? is it a bonding agent ? or strength?
p.s the floor was about 70m Sq. and roller shelfs - heavy foot traffic etc.
we originally laid the floor wrong level hence the screed, so i won't mention the site.
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:23 pm
by Tony McC
Ronafix improves strength and bonding and....I'll let Sim tell you the rest! 
Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:07 am
by simeonronacrete
For screeds, floor repairs, bedding mortars, etc:
Thinner
Ronafix allows thinner layers to be laid to a min. of 6mm (ordinary mortar needs 65mm min)
Bonding
Ronafix mixed with cement as a bonding primer is a much better bonding material than cement and water, or pva and cement, and much cheaper and easier to use than epoxy
Stronger
Ronafix makes mortars stronger in compression, bending (flexural strength), pulling (tensile strength)
Tougher
Ronafix mortars are less likely to be damaged by impact or abrasion
Waterproof and Frostproof
Ronafix mortars (depending on the mix you use) will not let water in therefore it will not suffer from frost damage or water attack
More workable
Ronafix mortars are easier to mix and lay than ordinary mortar
More durable
Ronafix mortars will therefore last longer with some sites, with heavy wear on the surface from constant foot and industrial traffic, performing well after more than 25 years
If you want to know more go to Ronafix for Flooring or give us a call
Good luck.
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:44 pm
by pepperday
Cheers for the info / website.
Makes good reading & well laid out. i'll definitly remember this product. It'll come in useful.
As a side step (no offence to Ronafix) is their any other comparable product on the market?
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:26 pm
by simeonronacrete
Well, expect me to say no - and that's true - there is no other product with the same 36 year track record, test data, certification, support, etc, etc. Oh and 4 x BBA Certificates confirming its suitability and performance.
And I'm sure you understand and recognise that the cost of the product is not necessarily the only factor to take into account. Consider the (free) advice you've already had and can continue to get from Ronacrete.
You may care to remember the words of John Ruskin "The common law of business prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It cannot be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better."
I hope to serve you well.
Regards
Simeon
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:04 am
by Suggers
My old man swears by Ronafix - retired Chairman of Arup Associates & Arup Acoustics - (82 and sharp as a button) - he feels they have no competition......
Voila.............................................
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:29 am
by pepperday
Something tells me you may be a little biased simeon .
When i said comparable i wasn't considering cost, but performance / qualities. As mentioned the Ronafix fix site is excellent with information, and how to guide.
I have to run a site with buyers (usually good) sourcing materials, & Q.S's usually HOW MUCH! So i have to have all information at hand.
If dealing with subbies i definitly have to know what should be being laid is laid to manufactures / architects spec, and be prepared to give reasuring hugs when site agent (me) gets grumpy.
Oops loosing my track of thourght. Anyway is there a comparable product / competitor for Ronafix? Is isocrete a Ronafix product? whats in the Tiz Tub? and who is the phantom flan flinger?
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:43 pm
by Tony McC
There are many "white label" SBR products available, but not all of them have the accreditation of Ronafix. Companies such as Arcon in Warrington, or Instarmac in the West Midlands might be able to advise you regarding their products.
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:52 am
by simeonronacrete
Give me a call and I'll discuss the subject with you. We do manufacture other products under other labels and this may give you the answers you need.
Specification and price vary quite considerably.
Regards
Simeon