Modern renovation involves leveling not only walls, ceilings, but also floors. In the latter case, you can not do without a screed.
What is a floor screed?
Many who have not experienced repairs in their lives ask this question. The floor screed is a layer of construction mixture, which is applied to the base of the floor. As a rule, tiles or some other types of coating are laid on top of the screed. The exception is industrial buildings, where this layer of mortar serves as a finishing coat.
The floor screed can be laid both horizontally and at an angle. In the latter case, this is usually done under the water drain. It is worth noting that a screed under a warm floor is not excluded here.
This leveling method helps not only to raise the floor level to the desired level, but also to increase thermal and waterproofing. In addition, if you started a renovation in the bathroom, then using this simple method you have a unique opportunity to hide all communications in the floor.
Special attention deserves a floor screed under a warm floor.
What do you need?
As a rule, it is done in cases where it is necessary to perfectlylevel the surface. For example, in the construction of multi-storey buildings, concrete floor slabs are laid in such a way that their smooth sides become ceilings, and those that have all sorts of flaws or protruding reinforcement become floors. And everyone understands that in this case it is impossible to lay a finishing floor covering (linoleum, laminate, and so on).
Recently, floor screed for underfloor heating is in great demand. This version of the surface on which we walk creates comfortable conditions for living. Thanks to heating elements or pipes hidden under a layer of building material, heat enters the room.
You can talk about the benefits of underfloor heating for a long time. Let's look at what types of ties are suitable in this case.
Varieties
If you keep up with the times, then you certainly can not do without a warm floor. But on what type of screed to stop? Indeed, the question is very relevant. Indeed, today in construction stores you can find a wide variety of these mixtures. Let's talk about each of them.
- Wet screed is the strongest base under the floor. In most cases, it is used in industrial premises. For the final result, more than one day is needed. Such a solution dries for a very long time. Its only plus is its low price.
- Semi-dry type of screed is more popular in apartments. It contains a large amount of sand and little water, which allows the solution to harden quickly.
- Dry screeduniversal. From the name it is clear that water is not used in the process of its installation. The floor is leveled with a special dry mix, on which sheets of plywood are then laid out.
- Self-leveling type of screed, or self-leveling floor, is applied to the floor, then it is distributed over its surface in an even layer.
Now you see how many types of floor screed are divided. Under the warm floor, according to experts, the last three options are more suitable.
Which is better to choose?
The screed under the warm floor should be not only even, but also perfect. The operation of the built-in heating elements under the cement layer depends on its quality. We have already mentioned that the optimal solution for underfloor heating is dry, semi-dry and self-levelling.
The screed under the warm floor must withstand constant temperature changes, be durable and have high thermal conductivity, so the experts agreed that the ideal option in this situation is a semi-dry mixture. It is also worth noting that the application of this solution is quick and easy. It takes a day for it to dry completely. Therefore, after 24-30 hours, it is already possible to do a fine finish of the floor.
You can also make a warm floor under a dry screed. But in this case, the fixing sheets must be made of concrete material.
Scheme of floor water heating under the screed
Quality screed under a warm water floorinvolves not only the knowledge and skill of its installation, but also the use of modern materials. Let us emphasize that this applies not only to the solution itself, but also to heat-insulating materials. So, before proceeding with the installation of a warm floor, make sure that you have the following: mounting mats, heating pipe, collector system, water boiler, automation system, electrical tape and screed material.
The first thing you need to put under the screed is electrical tape. It has good heat and sound insulation. Heat-insulating mats with guide water pipes are laid on it, next to which the main properly assembled heating pipe passes.
This is how the installation of a warm floor looks like. After all the above points have been completed, the water floor system can be filled with mortar.
How do I make my own semi-dry mix?
You can cook it yourself. To do this, you need to purchase Portland cement (grade 400) and clean river sand. In addition, you will need water, a container in which you will stir the solution, a trowel and a small shovel. Today, professional builders recommend adding fiber to the screed, which is an analogue of reinforcement.
So, mix all the dry ingredients until smooth and add water until the solution sticks together into a lump. The ball should keep its shape, and moisture in this case should not stand out from it.
Installation of the screed on the water floor with your own hands
As we have already said, a screed under a warm floor, electric or water, is laid using the “semi-dry screed” technology. For greater strength, 1 liter of plasticizer is added per 1 cubic meter of mortar. You can get more detailed information about the dosage on the packaging of the screed.
Reinforcement of a semi-dry screed is performed with polypropylene fiber (from 13 to 20 mm). As a rule, it is supplied to the installation site by a pneumatic heater.
Due to the fact that this type of mortar contains a minimum amount of water, it dries very quickly. Therefore, a semi-dry floor screed under a warm floor should be done at an accelerated pace. Please note that the mortar should adhere well to the base. Otherwise, after a short time, your screed will swell. The thickness of the screed under the warm floor should not exceed 4 centimeters. Only in this case you can prevent this problem. If there is a need to raise the level of the floor, then first pour a layer of expanded clay or fill the surface with expanded clay concrete, then apply a semi-dry mixture on it and level it.
