Do-it-yourself self-leveling floor: step-by-step instructions (4 videos)

Some floor coverings, such as laminate, linoleum, tile, require a perfectly even base. Using a regular cement screed is incredibly difficult to obtain such a coating, especially if you are not a professional. The best solution in this case is to fill the bulk floor with your own hands, creating an impeccable foundation for the finish coating. Compared to arranging the screed, the installation of a bulk floor can be quite a simple matter. For those who do not know how to fill the bulk floor with their own hands, video tutorials will allow you to understand in detail the intricacies of the process.

The choice of mixture for bulk floors

The first thing to do before you begin to equip the finishing bulk floor with your own hands is to choose the right material. Mixtures for bulk floors are presented in a huge number of varieties and options that differ in characteristics, quality, price. How to understand which composition to choose?

The criteria by which you should choose a mixture for the device of the bulk floor:

• Composition. Self-leveling mixtures can be based on cement or gypsum binder component, in addition to which sand, mineral fillers, special modifying additives are present in the composition. Cement poured floor is the most inexpensive and versatile option, characterized by high wear resistance, strength, moisture resistance. Gypsum floors dry quickly, allow you to create a thicker layer, but they are afraid of moisture, therefore they are suitable only for dry rooms.

• Layer thickness. Varies from 1 to 100 mm for different compositions. For cement - up to 10 mm, for gypsum and complex - more.
• Setting and hardening speed. All flooded floors dry quickly, but you can walk on gypsum earlier than on cement, about 3-4 hours after the end of work.
• The consumption of the mixture. Varies between 13-18 kg per square meter. m. with a layer thickness of 10 mm. For a cement floor, it will be more than for a gypsum one.

If you are thinking about how to make a flooded floor with your own hands, you should first of all be interested in the composition and approximate thickness of the filling. When choosing, you should be well aware of the subject of bumps, swings and slopes in the room in which you will make the bulk floor under the finish coat with your own hands, it is from their sizes that you need push off.

Many mixes for a jellied floor successfully replace a coupler, and are also used when filling pipes of the "heat-insulated floor" system.

Calculation of material consumption

Before you do the bulk floor with your own hands, you should correctly calculate the flow rate of the dry mixture, leaving a small margin. The norm is from 1.3 to 1.8 kg per 1 square. m area per 1 mm of layer thickness. It turns out that if you need to fill in a layer of 8 mm, the calculation will be as follows:

1.8 × 8 = 14.4 kg / sq. m

Foundation preparation

Before making bulk floors, it is necessary to gradually prepare the surface. Anyone who is still unfamiliar with the filling of the bulk floor can watch video tutorials. General rules are the same everywhere.

• Floor preparation begins with the removal of everything superfluous, including skirting boards.
• The surface is thoroughly cleaned of any dirt, dust, oil stains.
• Old peeling coating is removed.
• Before filling the floor with mortar, potholes and cracks are closed. This must be done in advance, no later than 24 hours before the start of work.

It is possible to fill the bulk floor in an apartment at a temperature of +5 to + 30 ° C.

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• The base must be treated with a deep penetration primer. Porous materials are processed several times. Large pores are closed with a highly viscous primer. Precipitation of dust on a freshly treated surface is not allowed. They start pouring no later than in a day.
• A special damping tape for flooring should be laid around the perimeter of the walls on all sides, otherwise the layer will crack due to temperature deformations. Polystyrene strips up to 10 mm thick can be used. The width of such a strip or tape should correspond to the thickness of the poured layer.
• Aligning the surface, it is checked using the level and rule. The highest point and the lowest are located, after which beacons are set.

The lighthouse for the bulk floor is a dowel screwed into the base, which is then easily removed. The installation of beacons in height allows you to correctly determine the thickness of the fill.

Before you make a bulk floor with your own hands, you need to select the necessary equipment, and then calculate the flow rate of the dry mixture. To properly level the base under the laminate or tile using the self-leveling floor, you must follow the step by step instructions. This will help not to miss anything.

Necessary tools

The device of the bulk floor is made using special tools, among which:

1. Tanks for solution preparation.
2. Drill with a nozzle for mixing mortar or construction mixer.
3. Large spatula.
4. Raklya for a bulk floor.
5. Needle roller.
6. Footwear for passing on a fresh covering (kraskostoy).
7. Level and rule.

Solution preparation

When bulk floors are made in the apartment with your own hands, the solution is first prepared.

Important! Many people ask: “why does the bulk floor crack?” The reason is simple: it's all about excess water. Therefore, do not pour water "by eye", follow the manufacturer's instructions.

1. In a predetermined ratio, water should be poured into the container and the dry mixture added.
2. Mix the solution with a mixer until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
3. To sustain 5 minutes necessary for maturing of the leveling solution.
4. The technology of pouring the bulk floor provides a check for spreadability. The solution is poured into the lid of the shaving can with a cut bottom, placed on a horizontal plane. The lid will rise and the solution should form a spot with a diameter of 16–18 cm. If the sizes do not correspond to the norm, the composition of the solution is adjusted.

Important! Freshly prepared mixture must be used within 60 minutes. Portions are applied in portions with an interval of at least 10 minutes. If you look at how the bulk floor (video) is made, then you will notice that the number of employees should be at least two.

Floor filling

How to make a bulk floor? The first time you can fill the self-leveling floor in a small utility room to develop the necessary skills. The process of pouring the bulk floor is not difficult and is done as follows.

• Work starts from the wall farthest from the front door. There should not be long breaks between each operation, otherwise the surface will turn out uneven. The solution is applied to a separate area parallel to the wall, and then leveled. The squeegee adjusts the thickness of the layer. Then move on to the next section.

In the process, you will need special shoes for pouring the bulk floor. A worker wearing boots with special spikes will not damage the level floor by moving along it.

• To remove air bubbles, the solution is rolled with a needle roller.
• The following layers are poured and leveled in a similar fashion until the floor is completely poured. Work is best done at least by two: while one is pouring and leveling the floor, the other is preparing the next container with the solution.

Attention! After pouring, it is important to protect the surface from drafts and direct sunlight.

To better understand how to make the bulk floor yourself, it is recommended to study photos and videos with detailed descriptions.

Note! When bulk floors are made, the technology for preparing mortars and pouring from different materials may vary slightly. Before pouring the bulk floor, it is necessary to study the instructions for use.

Conclusion

Now you know how to properly fill the bulk floor. The procedure includes sequential operations: preparation, preparation of the solution and its application. A well-made coating will be an excellent basis for the finish floor - tiles, laminate, linoleum or parquet. The laying time for these materials will be as follows:

• tile can be laid in 3 days;
• linoleum - after 7 days;
• laminate and parquet board - after 28 days.