At the end of the nineties of the last century, adjustable floors began to be used in domestic construction. Moscow was one of the first cities where structures were widely used.
General information
This brand new foundation method has competed with traditional concrete screeds used in residential and industrial applications. What made adjustable floors so popular? Reviews of many consumers contain a description of the advantages of this design. What attracts them? More on that later.
Design Advantages
Many people doubt whether it is worth building adjustable floors. Reviews of those who already have such designs in their home help to make a choice. Users themselves call ease of installation one of the most important advantages of such a finish. In addition, as the owners of residential premises say, such structures are durable. This opinion is confirmed by experts, according to whom, the service life reaches 50 years with the rightleaving. Users note another advantage that adjustable floors have. Installation of structures takes quite a bit of time. So, for example, one installer can finish the base in a day. The simplicity of the technology allows you to build adjustable floors with your own hands. It does not require special knowledge or sophisticated equipment. Unlike concrete screed, adjustable floors can be operated immediately after installation. When constructing the structure, there is no dirt, no need to mix the mortar and get dirty.
Finish Features
On what principle is the action of the construction carried out? First of all, it should be said that an adjustable floor is being built on logs or bushings with plates. The design includes a simple mechanism. Due to the adjustable rotation, the logs can be lowered or raised. Thanks to the free movement on the threads of the bolts, they are aligned precisely horizontally. Adjustable floors allow you to achieve a perfectly flat surface. Alignment is carried out with millimeter accuracy. Such designs do not "float" and do not creak underfoot. In addition, the surface does not flex or deform under load. Wooden logs can be fixed on any base. Plywood is laid on top in several layers. Adjustable floors are perfect for spaces such as gyms, offices, shops. In residential buildings, such structures are mounted where the foundation is under severe stress: in corridors, children's rooms.
Adjustable lugs
Thisthe type of construction can be used in any premises on various grounds. At the same time, such adjustable floor supports are the optimal alternative to concrete. In accordance with the technology, the surface must be at least five centimeters from the base. Holes are provided in the long lag. Bolts are screwed into them. Installation of the log on the base is carried out using dowel-nails. Such fasteners provide durability and strength of the structure. Lowering and raising to the required height is carried out with bolts-racks. After the adjustable floors are leveled, the installation of the finishing coating is carried out. It can be laminate, parquet and other materials. Thus, mounting the structure is as easy as adjusting. Underfloor heating is today a fairly common method of heating a room. It is quite possible to install such a system under the flooring - the height of the cover can be adjusted.
Slabs
In this case, the floor will be raised by three centimeters. Such structures are used where there is no need to arrange additional communications under the surface. Moreover, a distance of three centimeters allows you to lay wires or cables (telephone, electrical, for the Internet, and others). As a supplement, thin heat insulators can be used. If it is planned to install flooring in the form of plates, then holes are made in the material (plywood or other). Threaded bushings are inserted into them from the back. In themscrews are screwed in, which, in fact, regulate the floors. The assembled structure is also mounted on the base using dowel-nails. In this case, alignment is carried out similarly to lags. The bolts rotate up and down on their axis.
Application of structures
As mentioned above, adjustable floors are often installed in office and residential premises, they can be found in classrooms, classrooms, laboratories, production shops and warehouses, conference rooms, television studios. Structures are built in server rooms and at transformer stations. Adjustable floors are for:
- Leveling the base in new buildings.
- Raising the floor level. This is especially true in cases where additional surface loading is not allowed.
- Leveling the floor during the reconstruction of premises.
- Laying utilities.
- Devices of multi-level floor structures.
Some usage features
If it is necessary to level or replace the floor in a room with a low ceiling, experts recommend installing an adjustable structure. In this case, there is no need to pour a concrete screed, which significantly raises the level of the base. In addition, at least a month must pass before the solution completely hardens and acquires all its properties. When installing an adjustable floor, the base will rise by only a few centimeters. Such designs are perfect for rooms inwhich were left under the flooring during construction more than 15 cm. It is very problematic to fill such a volume with concrete mortar, and in many cases it is not possible. This is due to the fact that the screed will be too heavy for the old building. When installing an adjustable floor, the surface can be raised up to 20 cm. At the same time, for the load-bearing elements of the building, the weight of the structure will be almost invisible. Adjustable floors are often used in redevelopment as well. The design features of the flooring allow you to hide communications under the surface. When transferring, for example, a toilet bowl or a water pipe, the pipes do not need to be hidden in the screed. Adjustable floors for country cottages are perfect. So, piping can be placed under the surface. This is a very convenient, safe and economical option for laying communications. This is how heating, water supply, sewerage are installed, cables are laid. The latter, by the way, is also relevant for an ordinary comfortable apartment. If, for example, there are a lot of household appliances in the house, then numerous wires and cables will look very unaesthetic. They can be hidden in the floor.
Installation technology
Bolts are screwed into the logs. Elements are laid out on the basis at a certain distance. The step between the lags is selected in accordance with the requirements for the bending strength of the surface. For example, if parquet or laminate is used as a finishing coating, then the distance between the elements is about half a meter. A gap of a centimeter is left between the walls and the lags. Behinddue to it free ventilation is provided. On the lags placed on the base, the floor surface is drilled through the existing holes. In these places, the elements will be attached. The depth of the holes for the lag fasteners is about 40 mm. Next, the elements are aligned to the required level. Bolts will help with this. To raise and lower them turn in the right direction. The corresponding key is used as a tool. When leveling, the height difference should be no more than a millimeter. After giving the elements the necessary position, the lags are fixed to the base with the help of dowel-nails.
Flooring
Waterproof plywood is used as a coating. Sheets are laid in two layers. The coating should have a total thickness of about 20 millimeters. Using self-tapping screws, the first layer is screwed to the lags. Between the flooring and the wall also leave a gap of a centimeter. When laying the second layer, the sheets are slightly shifted so that the joints do not match. In some cases, waterproof drywall is used instead of plywood. So the second layer is made, for example, under the tile. The centimeter gaps between the flooring and the walls are subsequently covered with skirting boards.
Some recommendations for choosing a design
The elements of the adjustable floor must be of high quality. In many ways, the final result will depend on the condition of the materials. For more accurate alignment, experts recommend purchasing a laser level. Before the construction of the structure, it is necessary to check the condition of the base - it must be strong and notcrumble. It is recommended to leave gaps for ventilation of the coating. To prevent dust during installation, it must be ensured that it does not remain on the surfaces. After drilling the holes, as well as screwing the fasteners, everything should be vacuumed. You can also prevent creaking by hammering the dowel-nails all the way. In this case, the racks will not loosen.
During operation, with a high position of the flooring relative to the base, the floor may "sound". For example, when walking in heels, strong sonorous or, conversely, deaf sounds can be heard. To avoid this, experts recommend laying additional heat or sound insulation materials between the base and the flooring. They fill the space between the lags. As a rule, tile materials are used as insulation.
