To level the floor, self-leveling compounds are increasingly being used recently. They are suitable for laying top coats. Gypsum and cement mixes are on the market today. Before you start work, you must figure out which composition is better to purchase.
Varieties of levelers by ingredients
Cement mixtures are used to level the floor in rooms for various purposes. It can be residential, public or industrial buildings. The composition is also suitable for outdoor use. The thickness of the laid layer can vary from 2 to 50 mm.
Cement screed dries fairly quickly, so you can start laying your top coat in no time. The mixture becomes stronger when it absorbs moisture from the air, so these screeds are well suited for high humidity areas.
Gypsum compositions
Gypsum floor screeds can be used in rooms with low or medium humidity levels. This is due to the fact that gypsum is badtolerates water. The material absorbs water and increases in volume, losing its original shape. Such mixtures can be laid in layers from 20 to 100 mm. However, this thickness will dry rather slowly.
Gypsum is environmentally friendly, so mixtures of it can be used in the repair of residential premises. This composition has excellent thermal insulation properties. Turning to specialists for help, you can note for yourself that they usually advise using cement mixtures, because it is quite difficult to determine the level of humidity in the room.
Classification of levelers by purpose
Floor screed can be used for rough leveling or finishing work. The first version of the material is used to eliminate rough chips, deep pits and elevation changes. Such mixtures usually contain large fraction ingredients. Once the components are mixed with water, the leveler can be applied in a thick layer. However, using it will not work to bring the level of the drop to 0.
Usually the base component is cement, and it allows you to achieve adhesion and strength. A rough leveler cannot lie perfectly smooth and even, so it is usually used as the base layer. Let the top coat dry well before applying the topcoat.
Final alignment material
The floor leveler can be finished. It has a finer fraction of materials. The main advantage is thatafter mixing with water, the components form a homogeneous composition. So only a similar mixture will be laid on the surface, the base will become smooth and even. Such levelers are more complex in composition, because they provide for the presence of polymer and mineral additives that allow you to achieve:
- perfect smoothness of the floor;
- high strength;
- high resistance to physical impact.
Finish roving is more elastic. It fills in small level differences and defects. It is also important to know that the levelers differ in their properties. Traditional mixes are usually used for living areas, while for kitchens, showers and baths it is customary to use special-purpose levelers, which contain water-resistant polymers.
Varieties of levelers by manufacturers: Eunice mix. Composition for creating a thick layer
In order to prepare an even, solid base that acts as a screed for laying decorative coatings, you can use a thick "Eunice". It is suitable for the application of thin-layer self-leveling levelers. You can use the mixture not only for indoor, but also for outdoor work.
The material is suitable for dry rooms and is actively used in conjunction with the underfloor heating system. Eunice floor leveler can be used even for damp and freezing rooms. The mixture is high-strength and can withstand loads up to 2000 tons per square meter. The thickness of the laid layer can vary from 10 to120 mm. The solution remains viable for 120 minutes after mixing.
Additional Features
Before walking on the surface of the floor must be kept up to 12 hours, which is true for a layer thickness of 10 mm. The floor leveler consumption is 19 kg per square meter, this figure is relevant for 10 mm thickness. The adhesion strength to the base is 7 kgf/cm².
You can purchase the formula in a 25 kg bag. Frost resistance of the floor reaches 50 cycles of freezing and thawing. For 25 kg of dry mix you will need about 4 liters of water. This rough floor leveler can be poured onto a cement-sand or concrete base. It must be 28 days old or more from the time it was poured.
Characteristics of Eunice finish floor
If you need to carry out the final alignment, then you can use the appropriate composition of "Eunice". The layer thickness can vary from 1 to 30 mm. Subsequently, another floor covering can be laid on the surface. The material is suitable for heated rooms where high or moderate humidity is maintained. In this case, we are talking about bathrooms or kitchens.
This leveler is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems. It has increased crack resistance, is suitable not only for manual, but also machine application, and also allows you to create a perfectly smooth and even surface. The temperature of the work varies from +5 to +30 ˚С. With a thickness of 10 mm, the consumption of the composition will be 13 kg/m2.
Screed for the floor "Horizon"after mixing, you must try to work out within 40 minutes. You should also be aware of the compressive strength characteristic, which is 200 kg / cm². Wait 4 hours after pouring before walking. Further finishing is possible after 14 days maximum. The time will depend on the thickness of the laid layer and the type of coating. Professionals are usually also interested in adhesion strength, in this case it is 10 kg/cm².
Characteristics and reviews of the Hercules rover for rough work
Hercules floor leveler GF-27 is designed for rough leveling and has high strength. Great for use with underfloor heating. The material is moisture resistant. Suitable for machine and hand application. The thickness of the laid layer can vary from 10 to 100 mm. This material is made on the basis of cement and is used to create seamless floors on various types of substrates, including:
- stone;
- brick;
- concrete.
With the help of the composition, you can create a surface with a slope of up to 10%. The bases can be inclined. Suitable material for interior work. Finishing decorative coatings can be:
- laminate;
- parquet;
- porcelain stoneware;
- ceramic tiles;
- textile carpets;
- linoleum.
After reading the reviews of the floor leveler, you can understand that its consumption is quite low and is 1.81 kg per square meter with a thickness of1 mm. Laying is recommended to be carried out in a layer of 1 to 5 cm. The material is highly durable, and after mixing it retains its viability for 30 minutes. After 24 hours, you can move on the surface. Further work is recommended to be done in three days.
Consumers quite often consider Hercules to be the best floor leveler. This is due to the versatility of the composition, because it can be used in almost all rooms, namely:
- bathrooms;
- warehouses;
- basement;
- garages;
- bedrooms;
- kitchens;
- living rooms.
Ingredients include polymers and graded quartz sand. Consumers like the polymer-reinforced formulation, which eliminates cracking and shrinkage. If the room has a fairly high level difference of up to 50 mm, the described mixture is excellent for leveling, which consumers also like.
Reviews and characteristics of the primary leveler "Kreps RV"
Among other market offerings, it is worth highlighting the Kreps floor leveler. It is a dry building mix consisting of coarse sand, cement and modified special additives. The composition has a quick set of strength, is universal - the mixture can be used not only for internal, but also for external work.
This self-levelling floor screed is considered by consumers to have a fairly low consumption of 16 kg per square meter. At this rate, you can lay a layer up to 10 mm. The floor can be walked on12 hours after laying. You will be able to mount the tile in two days.
At the age of 28 days, the material retains compressive strength within 30 MPa. Frost resistance is 50 cycles. The mixture can be used at a temperature of +5 ˚С. The base must be prepared before application, it must be durable, free of dirt and dust, and solid. It is recommended that the surface be cleaned of old paint, loose particles of finish and oil stains. Local defects should be cleaned and filled with the described solution.
If you have to work with concrete or an existing screed, then it must be tapped in order to find and remove, if necessary, old weak points. In case of damage of more than 30%, the screed is removed completely. Floor leveler is recommended to be applied on a primed base. If the preparation is applied in 2 coats, the second coat must be applied after the first one after 2 hours. The perimeter of walls and partitions should be protected from contact with the mortar.
Characteristics and properties of self-leveling compound Ceresit CN 175
According to consumers, one of the best self-leveling floor levelers is a mixture from the company "Ceresit". The composition mentioned in the subheading is a universal material, laid in a layer of 3 to 60 mm. The mixture is suitable for indoor screeds. The material is non-shrinking, retains resistance to cracking during operation, and is suitable for the manufacture of floating screeds. You can use the material on screeds withheated.
The composition is environmentally friendly and has a high strength, which is 20 MPa. Topcoats can be:
- linoleum;
- PVC;
- carpet;
- laminate;
- ceramic tiles.
Designed for the repair of defects and the manufacture of screeds. High mechanical loads should not be placed on the floor during operation. In one pass during application, the thickness of the mixture should not exceed 60 mm.
Consumer feedback on the features of the work
The base must be prepared before applying the leveler. Its strength should be approximately 10 MPa. If we are talking about a cement-sand screed and concrete, then the age of the first should be at least 28 days, the second - three months. Humidity should not exceed 2%.
Consumers emphasize that the base should be cleaned of dirt and be sure to remove dust. The mixture is mixed with water at a temperature of +15 to +20 ˚С. The dry composition should be gradually added to the liquid, achieving a homogeneous mass. Mixing is carried out by a mixer. You can use a drill with a nozzle. Home craftsmen note that the rotation speed should not exceed 800 rpm.
In thin-layer leveling, the material is poured out and spread over the surface with a smooth doctor blade. Customers emphasize that with a layer thickness of 5 mm or more, it is recommended to control the level with point portable beacons.
In conclusion
Rovers in a short time allow you to achieve the desired results. With their help, it is quite easy to eliminate defects and prepare the surface for laying topcoats. They are good for their non-shrinkage and ease of work. To prepare the mixture, you only need to combine the dry composition with water, and then distribute it over the surface.
