It is quite easy to pour a self-leveling floor onto a concrete screed. If you follow the recommendations, then even a beginner will be able to cope with this task. The technology lies in the fact that the prepared mixture is poured onto a cement screed cleaned of dirt and dust. However, other types of materials, such as wood or tiles, can also be used as a rough coating. The rough coating must be prepared in advance. This and the features of filling the self-leveling floor will be discussed below.
Preparing the screed
If you decide to pour the floors in a private house on your own, then you need to become more familiar with the method of preparing a cement or concrete screed. The correctness of the work is the key to many years of operation of the created coating. The screed must have a strong structure, it must be devoid of problem areas. If weakened zones, greasy or oily spots on the surface are detected, then the area should bedismantle and repair the concrete floor.
The self-leveling floor on a concrete screed is poured after the restoration of the surface with cement plaster or a special mixture, if there is such a need. One of the important steps is the laying of foamed deformation tape, which is glued around the perimeter of the room. Its thickness should be several millimeters. This material helps prevent the mixture from adhering to the walls.
Extra Tips
The presence of such a seam softens the deformation that is transmitted by the floor from the rough screed due to temperature changes. As a result, it is possible to create self-leveling floors, which for many years retain the integrity of the structure. Cracks do not form on their surface. If it is important to ensure 100% tightness, then the tape is cut out after the floor dries, and the resulting voids are filled with a layer of sealant.
Recommendations for work
When laying a self-leveling floor on a concrete screed, it is important to pay special attention to the temperature regime. The air in the room must not fall below +15 °C. During the installation of floors, drafts and temperature changes must be avoided. If the thermometer drops below the mentioned mark, then the mixture may lose its ability to spread at the required speed. In this case, the consumption will also increase, and uniformity and strength may not be at a high level.
If the temperature is above the specified norm, then the speedhardening will increase. The consequence will be a decrease in the time of working with the floor, which will affect the final result for the worse. It is also important to adhere to a certain moisture content of the screed.
This parameter should be kept around 4%. If the humidity cannot be reduced, then you need to treat the rough surface with a layer of waterproofing. As one of the stages of preparation is the application of a primer, which will increase the level of adhesion. When the starting porous substrate is not primed, air bubbles are released from it, which can spoil the appearance and integrity of the surface.
Filling technology
Once the base has been covered with a primer, it should be left until it dries. The self-leveling floor on a concrete screed is laid in the next step. It is important to distribute the mixture as evenly as possible over the surface. If the area of \u200b\u200bthe room is quite large, then filling can be done in parts.
After leveling the mixture, remove air bubbles from it with an aeration roller. Then you can start pouring the finishing layer. When the floor is dry, it should be varnished with a polyurethane base. A constant temperature during drying of the material is a prerequisite. Within 2 days, it is important to observe the temperature regime, avoiding surface moisture and drafts.
How to choose a self-leveling floor
Quite often, consumers wonder whichbulk floor is better to choose. All self-leveling mixtures are classified into two varieties - polymeric and cement-containing. The former are used for finishing coats, while the latter are used to level an existing subfloor.
As for polymer floors, they can be:
- methyl methacrylate;
- epoxy;
- polyurethane.
Cement self-leveling floors are not used as a finishing coating. They act as an alternative to cement screeds. A distinctive feature from traditional screeds is a more liquid working consistency, which spreads over the floor and forms a flat surface. Such compositions are dry mixes for self-leveling floors. They are used as rough bases for carpet, linoleum, laminate, etc.
Water is added to ingredients for cooking. Among the components should be highlighted:
- lime;
- cement;
- plasticizer;
- fine sand.
The advantages of such floors are:
- versatility;
- durability;
- high leveling properties;
- low temperature resistant;
- excellent strength;
- insignificant cost.
Polyurethane floors are also called liquid linoleum. Such compositions are practical, have high decorative properties and can be used in residential premises and in production. If you still do not know which self-leveling floor is better to choose, then you can prefer the polyurethane compounds that have been foundits wide distribution not only in apartments and offices, but also in / on:
- stores;
- children's centers;
- car services;
- restaurants;
- sport facilities;
- laboratories;
- car parks;
- factories.
Among the advantages of such floors should be highlighted:
- strength;
- heat resistance;
- high elasticity;
- easy care;
- resistance to chemicals;
- high decorative properties.
Epoxy self-leveling floors
Such floors are composed of epoxy hardeners and resins. After setting, the surface acquires a solid and even base, which does not allow moisture to pass through and does not collapse under the influence of acids, household chemicals and alkalis. Such compounds can be used in food and chemical shops, in car washes and in swimming pools. If you want to fill the floor in a private house, then epoxy compounds are the best fit for this, because they are completely safe and are recommended even for hospitals and children's institutions. Among the advantages of such mixtures, one should highlight abrasion resistance, excellent decorative properties, high strength and resistance to moisture, as well as chemical compositions.
Methyl methacrylate floors
Screed leveling can be done with methyl methacrylate compounds, which are great for industrial premises. They are more durable thanepoxy and chemically inert. After drying, such compounds are not subject to abrasion, they cannot be scratched, they perfectly withstand mechanical stress, so they can be used where cars and heavy equipment drive.
Such self-leveling floors are also good because they dry quickly, so their installation can be carried out without stopping the production process. The main advantages are:
- hardness;
- increased strength;
- moisture resistance;
- chemical resistance;
- high speed of work.
But there are also disadvantages, they are the unpleasant smell of the liquid composition.
About the minimum thickness and technology of pouring concrete screed
If you decide to equip self-leveling floors, it is important to know what is the minimum thickness of the concrete screed, because it will act as the basis. This parameter, according to sanitary norms and rules, can be equal to 2 cm, which is true when a reinforced cement mixture is used.
If a reinforcing frame is not provided, then the minimum layer height can be 4 cm. It is also important to know how to make a concrete screed. First you need to prepare the old base and determine the curvature of the surface. Next, beacons are installed, waterproofing is carried out, a reinforcing mesh is laid.
For the floor, the next step is to prepare the concrete mix. The next step is to fill the finished solution. As in the case of self-leveling floors, air bubbles can form in the concrete screed, whichcan degrade the quality of the design. They are removed at the stage of pouring with a thin rod, which should pierce the filled space.
