Through the arrangement of a water-heated floor, living in a country house can be made much more comfortable. But of course, when installing such a system, all the required technologies must be strictly observed. When laying a water heated floor in a house, it is important not only to correctly position the pipes, assemble and connect the collector, but also choose the most suitable material for pouring.
What can be used
It is allowed to equip heating communications of this type, according to the regulations, only in private country houses. At the same time, several types of mixtures are the answer to the question of how to fill in a warm water floor.
Closing such engineering systems, of course, is necessary using materials that have a sufficiently high degree of thermal conductivity and are durable. For filling water heated floors in country houses, compositions can be used:
- concrete;
- semi-dry;
- self-aligning.
All of these varieties of material, after drying, become strong enough to easily withstand the weight of interior items installed in the house. Also, such floors conduct heat well, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of the heating system.
Concrete screed: the pros and cons of using
This type of material is just a great answer to the question of how to pour a warm water floor. It is these solutions that are most often used in the arrangement of engineering systems of this type. The advantages of concrete screed owners of country houses include, first of all, low cost. Also, the advantages of such material are:
- easy to make;
- easy to install;
- durability.
Some disadvantages of this type of coating include only a long curing process. Walking on the screed and installing any interior items on it is allowed no earlier than 14-30 days after pouring.
Concrete screed pouring technology: how to prepare a mortar
Coatings of this type are very popular in our country. Concrete screeds are poured in residential premises, industrial premises, warehouses, garages. In all these cases, the mortar is usually kneaded from cement of not too high grades and sand. When arranging a screed for a water-heated floor, this method, unfortunately, does not fit very well.
This type of coating is subject to increased requirements. Sand for screeding a warm water floor is not recommended at all. Instead, it is supposed to take screenings of rubble. Cement for such a screed is suitable for grades not lower than M400. Also, plasticizers are supposed to be added to the solution. When preparing concrete mix at home, slaked lime is usually used for this purpose.
Knead the mortar for a concrete screed of a water-heated floor to a viscous consistency. In this case, the work is carried out using special equipment. In a concrete mixer, the mixture is very homogeneous and of high quality. A manually mixed mortar on a warm water floor will most likely not last too long.
To make a screed over pipes, it is necessary to make a viscous, plastic solution like clay. If the mixture is too liquid, subsequently cracks will appear on the floor. A very thick screed mortar for underfloor heating is also not recommended. In this case, the coating may be unreasonably heavy.
How to pour the floor when using concrete
This procedure is performed using a very simple technology. At the initial stage, a damper tape is attached around the perimeter of the room. Concrete is taken from the mixer in buckets and poured on the floor. Preliminarily, using special stands, guide beacons are mounted in the room.
Concrete poured on the floor is carefully leveled with a long rule. When using this technology, the coating ultimately turns out to be as even and accurate as possible.
When pouring such a coating, beacons are usually installed in increments of 1.5 m. The thickness of theconcrete screed should not be less than 3 cm. Otherwise, the coating will subsequently crack very quickly.
Two hours after pouring, the beacons should be carefully pulled out of the coating. The gaps remaining after them at the final stage are sealed with a solution and rubbed with a paint float.
Helpful tips
Before you start pouring a concrete screed for a warm water floor, experts recommend checking the pressure in the system. After all, it will be extremely difficult to perform any repair work after laying such a coating. To do this, you will have to dismantle part of the screed. The pressure in the system before laying the mortar must be at least 0.3 MPa.
It is recommended to cover the finished concrete screed immediately after pouring with plastic wrap. In the future, within two weeks, the floor should be watered from time to time. This will prevent surface cracks on the screed.
How to pour a warm water floor: semi-dry mixtures
Compositions of this variety are also made on the basis of high grade cement. However, fiber is additionally added to such mixtures. This makes them lighter and stronger. The advantages of such a material include the fact that it hardens and matures faster than simple concrete.
You can prepare such a solution, like a regular cement one, if you wish, on your own. It is not necessary to use crushed stone screening. With fiberglass, such mixtures are quite strong when used as a sand filler.
Prepare a solution in this case using cement brand M400. It is mixed with sand in a ratio of 1:3. Fiber fibers are added to this type of mixture 0.5 kg per 1 m3. It is necessary to knead such a solution until a dense state. A mixture of this type when working with it should retain its structure well. A crumbling or cracking fiberglass mortar is not suitable for pouring a water-heated floor.
Styling technology
Next, let's see how to fill the floor when using a semi-dry mix correctly. Such compositions are laid on warm water systems in almost the same way as concrete ones. Mounting, however, the material of this variety is still somewhat more difficult. After all, it has a thicker texture.
All holes formed on such a coating during leveling should be filled with an additional portion of the solution. After leveling, such a base is also supposed to be carefully rubbed. Before performing this procedure, wait about half an hour. During this time, the mixture will already have time to harden a little.
Advantages and disadvantages of using self-levelling compounds
Compositions of this type have recently gained popularity among private developers. The advantages of coatings of this type include:
- high strength;
- ease of installation;
- short drying time;
- no need for beacons or alignment.
Featureself-leveling mixture, used quite often for pouring a warm water floor, is primarily a liquid texture. That is why when using such materials indoors, it is not required to install beacons. Solutions of this variety simply spread over the entire floor area in an even layer.
There are practically no drawbacks to such mixtures. Coatings of this type serve as long as concrete ones. The only disadvantage of solutions of this type is their relatively high cost. It is unlikely that such a mixture can be prepared at home. In this case, only purchased formulations are used.
How to choose a blend
The answer to the question of how to fill a water heated floor, self-leveling material is just great. But in order to ultimately get a durable coating, such a mixture, of course, must be chosen correctly.
The composition of self-leveling materials may be different. Acquiring for rooms with water floors is, of course, mixtures intended for rough pouring. The use of a decorative composition in this case is unlikely to be the right decision. In the future, it is still better to finish floors with pipes laid in them with some beautiful facing material. Finishing decorative self-leveling compounds look very impressive, but, unfortunately, they cannot be laid in a thick layer.
Experts recommend using self-leveling cement-based mixtures to fill a water-heated floor. But if desired, suchthe work can be done with the use of a plaster composition.
Self-leveling compound pouring technology
Laying solutions of this type in rooms with warm floors is extremely simple. This type of screed is poured, usually using the following technology:
- underfloor heating elements are aligned and inspected visually;
- check system pressure;
- the purchased mixture is mixed with water in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer;
- The screed solution is poured in portions onto the floor and everything is carefully leveled.
It is most convenient to mix the self-leveling compound in a large bucket. When performing this procedure, of course, among other things, you should use a construction mixer. Using such a tool, the mixture can be made as homogeneous as possible.
Helpful tips
How to properly fill a water-heated floor with a liquid composition, we have thus found out. The procedure for laying self-leveling mixtures is not particularly difficult. But when installing such a base, of course, certain rules should be followed.
The self-leveling mix, like concrete, should cover the pipes with a layer of at least 3 cm. At the final stage, such a floor must be leveled using a spiked roller. Using this tool will get rid of air bubbles, the presence of which can make such a coating much less durable.
Afterthe end of all work, as well as a concrete screed, a layer of self-leveling mortar on the floor should be covered with plastic wrap (after it has set a little). This will allow you to equip a better and more durable coating.
What you need to know
The technology of pouring a warm water floor, therefore, is not particularly difficult. However, when performing this procedure, one should, among other things, adhere to the recommendations of experienced specialists.
After pouring a concrete screed, semi-dry or self-levelling, wait some time before using the system. Higher temperatures can have an extremely negative effect on a fragile coating. A screed of any kind in this case can simply crack. It is allowed to put warm floors into operation when using any type of coating no earlier than two weeks after pouring.
Is it possible to fill a warm floor with tile glue
Very often the floors in country houses with engineering systems of this type laid in them at the final stage are lined with ceramic tiles. And of course, owners of private residential buildings often have a question about whether it is possible to fill a warm water floor with tile adhesive.
Using such a composition for this purpose is still not worth it. The screed in this case, most likely, will come out unreasonably expensive. In addition, tile adhesive is not intended for arranging too thick coatings. And consequently, the screed from it is strongunlikely.
