Styrofoam for floor screed

Styrofoam under the screed as a heater is used quite rarely. Usually, when leveling floors, other types of insulation are used. But it is worth noting that for the first floors of apartment buildings, foam is the best option for screeding. There are two ways to insulate floors with this material: use granules or whole sheets. In the first case, the foam granules are added directly to the solution. The effectiveness of this method can be argued, but given that the technology is gradually gaining popularity, there is still a result. We are more interested in the second method, which we will tell you about.

Why foam?

The answer to this question is unequivocal: the material has a number of undeniable advantages. For example:

• The structure of the foam is porous, which provides the material with low thermal conductivity. Accordingly, heat will not leave the room, and cold air will not get inside.

• Due to its structure, the foam is not exposed to moisture. Therefore, in some cases, you can save on laying waterproofing.
• Polyfoam belongs to the category of fireproof materials. Of course, it burns, but without the constant presence of an open source of fire, it quickly fades.
• In addition, the material is lightweight, easy to use and is not susceptible to decay and destruction over time.

Execution method screeds on foam has its own characteristics and nuances. It is worth noting that the technology is quite simple, so absolutely anyone can cope with the execution of work.

Technology

The workflow begins with the preparation of the rough coating. For this, the concrete base of the floor is leveled with cement mortar. After that, the base is cleaned of construction debris and dust. Then it is necessary to fill in the initial screed. This is necessary for the final alignment of the base of the floor. The recommended thickness of such a screed varies from 3 to 5 centimeters. We advise you to do with a minimum thickness. Do not forget that waterproofing, insulation and the main screed will be laid. To this you can add the thickness of the finish coating. Too thick floors will reduce the height of the rooms in the apartment.

After the preliminary screed rises, you can begin to lay the waterproofing layer. Usually, special waterproof films are used under the foam. They are overlapped, all seams are glued special tape. Remember that the waterproofing layer should go on the walls of the room for about 10 centimeters.

Under the foam, it is not recommended to use mastic or bitumen as a waterproofing. There will be a conflict of materials and as a result, the foam will begin to melt. If you still decide to use bitumen, then between the layers of waterproofing and insulation, lay a plastic film.

Styrofoam sheets are placed on the moisture-proof layer. Remember that the higher the apartment is, the thinner the foam can be used under the screed.

Sheets are smeared with glue and laid on waterproofing. This is done so that the seams of adjacent sheets are not in the same straight line. After all the sheets are laid, a small gap should remain between the wall and the insulation. This is a precaution against building shrinkage. The gaps are closed with a damper tape. The cracks between the sheets of foam are covered with adhesive.

To bond the insulation with the finish layer of the screed, it is necessary to perform reinforcement. To do this, pour a thin layer of cement-sand mortar. Recommended thickness is 1-1.5 centimeters. A metal solution is installed in the filled solution. reinforcing mesh.

It is worth noting that the screed on expanded polystyrene can be performed without reinforcement. This material has a more dense structure, therefore it is quite capable of ensuring reliable adhesion.

Then the main screed is poured. For this, a concrete mixture is usually used. The coating thickness should be at least 5 centimeters. To fill the screed evenly and without much difficulty, it is recommended to use special beacons. The role of the lighthouses is played by a metal profile, which is laid on a reinforced layer and set on a level. The screed is poured between the lighthouses and is leveled with a special rail or rule. Final smoothing is done with a spatula.

When leveling the screed with a spatula, be sure to periodically pierce the surface with a thin metal rod. This is necessary to remove air from the structure of the solution. This nuance will positively affect the strength of the floor.

The screed should dry for at least 28 days. It takes so much time for concrete to gain maximum strength. If work is carried out in the summer, then it is recommended to spray concrete periodically with water. After that, you can proceed to finish flooring.

Conclusion

Foam screed is a cost-effective technology in which the floors in the apartment gain additional protection against moisture and noise. This is especially true for homeowners whose apartments are located on the ground floor. It is worth noting that the installation of foam under the screed combines well with the technology "warm floor». In this case, you will need to use two layers of waterproofing. One is laid under the insulation, the other on top of it.

There is polystyrene coated with a layer of foil. Such material will not only retain heat, but also reflect it inside residential premises. This will create a certain microclimate in the apartment. True, the cost of foil foam is significantly higher than usual.

In any case, the use of foam under the screed is a cheap and effective way to warm the floors in the apartment.