Increased requirements for the quality of repair stimulate manufacturers of building and finishing materials to create modern high-quality products. It is safe to include a new generation of self-leveling flooring mixes for such products. They are mobile, easily spread and quickly gain strength. Leveling the floor with a self-leveling compound is a fast and reliable way to get a perfectly level floor.
Leveling the floor with a self-leveling mixture: types and properties of mixtures
Self-leveling mixes for the floor in their application are divided into several types:
- coarse mixtures – are used for flooring in draft form. The application layer, as a rule, is about 6 cm. It is used as a base under the coating (laminate, tile, parquet), as well as to eliminate defects in the existing screed: dents, cracks, mounds;
- Finishing blends – thin coating layer (minimum – 2 mm, maximum – not more than 10 mm). It is used as a finishing coating. It is characterized by quick drying;
- mixtures of increased strength – have good adhesion to surfaces and high strength properties. Found use in the elimination of local damage to the floor (cracks, pits). Used for leveling wooden floors;
- quick-drying mixtures – resort to the use of such mixtures when repair time is limited. It dries within two to three hours, however, it is recommended to use it as a base for flooring no earlier than after two days. Need an additional reinforcing layer.
Often, to obtain the desired result, several types of self-leveling mixtures are used in stages.
Helpful advice! For confidence in the quality and properties of building mixtures, purchase them only from reputable, well-established manufacturers.
Self-leveling floor mixes vary in composition:
- Cement – self-leveling mixture, in which the main element is cement. Inexpensive at a cost, can be used as a dedusting mixture for priming the floor surface. They have high adhesive and strength properties, resistant to shrinkage, are not afraid of moisture, do not crack. Allowed layer up to 5 cm.
- Gypsum – gypsum acts as a binder. They are characterized by thermal conductivity (can be used for floor heating), resistance to shrinkage, environmental friendliness. Apply only to dry rooms. A layer over 10 cm is allowed.
- Polymer – are composed of epoxy resins, polyurethane, methyl methacrylate, etc. They have surface strength, resistance to vibrations, shocks and temperature drops, long service life.
In order to fill the floor with a self-leveling mixture gave the desired result, the correct selection of the dry mixture is of fundamental importance. For different types of surfaces to be leveled, as well as depending on the condition of these surfaces, the technology of use differs.
Leveling the floor with a self-leveling mixture with your own hands can take from 1 to 14 days. On the basis of the quick-drying mixture it is possible to lay the topcoat after a couple of hours. However, the properties of these mixtures do not allow their use for large-scale reconstructions.
The technology of filling the floor with their own hands provides for the presence of special tools, without the help of which it is impossible to achieve the required alignment:
- container for mixing the dry mixture – choose containers with a volume that allows you to use a bag of 25 kg of the mixture at a time;
- perforator or drill with a mixer-nozzle – as the solutions are quick-drying, high-quality and fast pouring is required;
- Notched trowel (up to 100 cm wide) – in order for the mixture to manifest its functions, it is necessary to roll it out in an even and thick layer. Teeth in size should match the thickness of the layer;
- needle roller with a telescopic holder – for smooth rolling out of the solution and removing air;
- studded nozzles for shoes – usually use spikes on the sole up to 3 cm in length, they can be moved along the flooded screed without leaving any marks;
- the rule is used when pouring a tie around beacons;
- level of construction – preferably from 1.5 to 2 m, is necessary to calculate the flow rate of self-leveling mixture for the floor and check the quality of the fill.
The technology of self-leveling flooring works with self-leveling solutions implies careful preparation of the base. The presence of cracks or fistulas at the base, where a liquid mixture may leak, is not allowed. All defects are pre-filled with putty or covered with a rough tie.
After processing the base, all the rubbish, remnants of the old coating is removed, since even the slightest unnecessary inclusion can weaken the adhesion of the mixture to the base. Subsequently, this may lead to cracking of the self-leveling floor. When the basis is cleared of garbage, it is necessary to process it a primer. In the case of rapid absorption of the primer composition, the procedure is repeated.
Priming is an important process, after its application the self-leveling mixture has good adhesion and lays down in an even layer.
When purchasing self-leveling mixes for the floor, take the trouble to familiarize yourself with the instructions, which indicate the necessary proportions of the preparation of solutions. Follow the instructions, as an excessively liquid mixture spreads and smoothes easier, but at the same time loses its stated qualities. Cracks and chips may appear in the bulk screed.
It is also important to follow the sequence of solution preparation. If you pour dry mixture into the container and then add water to it, then it will be difficult to achieve a homogeneous consistency, without lumps. The correct technology is that the dry mixture is poured into water, and not vice versa. Mixing should be diligent, given the fact that the fluidity of the solution is maintained for about 30 minutes. After the screed thickens, it becomes unsuitable for pouring.
The consumption of a dry mix for filling the floor is determined depending on the layer thickness, the type of mix and the structure of the base (presence of drops, holes, etc.) on which the mix is poured. The mixture consumption for one square fill with a thickness of 1 mm is about 0.5 kg. To reduce the flow of the mixture, you can apply the underlying layer with the addition of a mixture of quartz sand. This layer will provide additional leveling and significantly reduce the consumption of self-leveling mixture.
Helpful advice! For a substantial (1.5-2 times) saving of consumption of a dry self-leveling mixture, quartz sand is used as a screed filler. Such a filler does not affect the strength characteristics of the self-leveling floor.
In addition, to reduce the consumption of the main mixture, you can use when laying the floor polymer compounds (for example, polyurethane impregnation), which are more economical.
Starting to fill the floor, it is recommended to get acquainted with the advice of professionals on the device of the self-leveling floor, to view video information on relevant topics. Self-leveling floor mixes are more convenient to pour when several participants are involved in the process: for kneading, pouring and leveling the screed.
Self-leveling self-leveling floor. Video and technology description. A set of tools, principles of choice of materials, important information for beginners.
The container with the solution is turned over in the required place and with the help of a spatula is rolled out on the base. To avoid defects in the coating, it is necessary to remove possible air bubbles using a needle roller.
The drying time of the screed on the floor depends on the choice of the composition of the mixture, its thickness and the conditions of the work performed. It is advisable not to cool or overheat the finished surface. After the time specified in the instruction, the self-leveling floor is ready for flooring.
For clarity, see a selection of videos on the self-leveling floor with your own hands.
To perform the work on the alignment of the wooden floor with their own hands, it is necessary to consider some features. The technology itself remains similar to the pouring of a concrete base, but using a certain type of mixture. Such mixtures contain polymers and fiber additives (fiberglass). Thanks to them, sufficient adhesion to the wooden surface of the floor and the absence of cracking are ensured.
Helpful advice! When purchasing a self-leveling mixture for leveling wooden floors with your own hands, pay attention to the manufacturer’s notes, which state that the composition can be used for pouring wooden floors.
Preparation of wooden floors for leveling includes strengthening of the bending boards, cleaning from the old paint, sealing of the gaps with acrylic, grinding of all irregularities and splitting elements. After that, debris and dust are removed and the wooden base is carefully primed in two layers, which will further improve adhesion with the self-leveling screed and prevent rotting of the wooden base.
Then a solution of a self-leveling mixture is prepared with its own hands and a wooden floor is poured. In this process, it will be useful to involve several people in the work: one mixes the solution, the second distributes on the base, the third smoothes the air and removes the air. As soon as the self-leveling mixture dries on the wooden floors, you can begin to finish laying the coating.
For an example, on the Internet you can find video instructions for pouring a wooden floor with a self-leveling mixture.
Today, leveling the floor with a self-leveling tie is quick, uncomplicated, though not the cheapest way.
