When building or renovating a home, consulting an engineer can save you from unnecessary expenses and even protect you from potential scams. Recently, we came across a case where an engineer helped a client avoid spending an extra 50-60 thousand rupees due to a contractor’s recommendation. Here’s how it happened.
The Case
The contractor advised the client to demolish their existing floor and lay down a new one. His recommendation was to break the old floor, clean it up, and then apply new tiles over fresh cement and Badarpur (stone dust mix). However, the engineer stepped in and questioned whether this was really necessary. After inspecting the floor, he found it to be solid and without any significant issues. So, why go through the hassle and expense of tearing up the old floor?
Understanding the Costs
Demolishing the floor would mean extra expenses in three major areas:
- Demolition Cost: Breaking the existing floor would add labor and machinery expenses.
- Debris Disposal Cost: The rubble created would require proper disposal, adding to costs.
- Material Cost: A fresh layer of cement and stone dust (Badarpur) would require a considerable amount of material, raising the overall cost of the project.
The Engineer’s Solution
The engineer proposed an alternative approach to directly lay tiles over the existing solid floor. Here’s the technique he suggested:
- Use Tile Adhesive Mix: Instead of cement and Badarpur, the engineer recommended using a chemical adhesive by Mapei, which costs around ₹35 per kilogram.
- Mix Ratio: For optimal results, use a mix of 80% adhesive and 20% cement. This combination ensures a strong bond, and if you’re in a hurry, adding cement can reduce the drying time. However, if time isn’t a constraint, you can skip the cement and apply adhesive alone.
- Easy and Quick Application: With this method, there’s no need to break the old floor, making the job quicker, cleaner, and more cost-effective.
Final Thoughts
This is a safe, effective solution with no compromise on durability, as attested by the engineer, who has implemented this technique successfully across thousands of sites. He advises anyone building or renovating to consult with a professional engineer.
