Self-leveling floor by own hands

The floor is exactly that element of the interior of any room that catches your eye first and, in many ways, predetermines the overall impression. Therefore, for its finishing, the highest demands are always made and the best quality coatings are used, the good, their choice is very wide in our time. But, you will agree, however beautiful and modern the coating is, if it is laid on an uneven base, then the whole effect is "smeared".Also, nothing good will turn out if the base for the cover is unstable - such a floor will start to , squeak, and eventually will not last.

So before laying the coating it is necessary to achieve that the surface of the substrate is perfectly aligned and possess the necessary stability and strength. was recently the only possible approach to this, the device of a concrete screed for the classic with its technology - with special preparation, the installation of a beacon system, careful leveling, and a long maturing period. Errors, especially when setting the level of filling, became fatal and required subsequent large-scale works on remaking. At present, everything can be solved much easier and faster - it is possible to fill

self-leveling floor with your own hands, even without having much experience in doing such work. The main thing is to comply with the manufacturer's technological recommendations.

But first of all, you need to understand the types of liquid self-leveling floors, with advantages and disadvantages.

When self-leveling formulations

Composition for pouring self-leveling floor is a specially selected and balanced mixture. In the , diluted to the desired consistency, it, having the properties of a liquid substance, is capable of observing certain technological conditions, independently under the forces of gravity to create a perfectly flat horizontal surface. However, , a special component compound provides extremely fast setting of the solution, its solidification in this horizontal position with the creation of an even surface, ready for further construction or finishing works.

When can this technology be used?

• In order to create a thin leveling screed, directly on the concrete base, to remove defects( roughnesses) of the old surface and prepare for the flooring of the finish coat. Usually, with this approach, the thickness of the layer being poured lies in the range of 2 ÷ 30 mm.
• For filling the leveling "floating" screed on the separation layer, for example, on a roll or film waterproofing( as an option - on oiled construction paper).This technology is justified in cases where state basis does not allow to fill the screed directly onto it( for example, the concrete is deeply impregnated with oil or oil).Another option is to fill the screed onto a wooden base. In any case , the thickness of the screed varies from 30 to 60 mm( some compounds allow for thicker screeds) . .
• Similar to the previous version - pouring screed on the insulation layer( for example, extruded polystyrene), when floor is required special thermal insulation. The thickness of the layer is usually the same - from 30 to 60 mm.

• Finally, such mixtures are suitable for " warm floors", both water and electric. They allow reliably to hide pipes( cables), and at the same time to get a flat surface( installing conventional beacons along paved pipelines or cables is quite inconvenient).The thickness of the fill in this case depends on the diameter of the heating element - at least 35 mm above its upper edge. But the total thickness should not exceed 60 mm, otherwise it will lead to unnecessary over-expenditure of energy carriers.

Now - about varieties of liquid self-leveling floors for the basic, basic component. Immediately "put the braces" of polymeric floors( acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy and , etc. .) - they have a specific sphere of use or purpose, and other, more complex technology of pouring. In general construction works, floors are mainly applied on cement or gypsum-based floors.

• Cement-based mixtures with the obligatory plastic plasticizer additives, providing a good spreadability of the fresh mixture and a quick for its crystallization.

Such floors are distinguished by good strength, they can be poured in rooms with a high level of humidity. It is the cement mixtures that make especially thin leveling fillings, only a few millimeters thick.

• Gypsum( a more precisely - gypsum-cement) mixes are excellent for leveling floors for any type of finish coatings, but only in rooms where normal humidity conditions are created. They are often used also in those cases where especially thick layers of pouring( sometimes reaching even 100 mm) are needed to level out large differences. Gypsum is a good conductor of heat, so these mixtures are very popular with installers warm floors.

Another one criterion - for the intended purpose of a particular type of mixture.

• Rough levelers - designed for leveling uneven grounds with large differences in heights or significant defects. The poured layer, as a rule, is not less than 10 mm( with more thin fillings, the strength of the coating will not be ensured).As a rule, before the flooring of the final elastic coatings, an additional leveling will be required. Can be used for tile, laminate.
• Mixtures for fine leveling - are used in those situations where it is required to remove the ideal floor surface without a noticeable increase in its level. The thickness of the fill can be up to 5 mm. Usually used on an aligned screed, made according to the usual technology of a cement-sand mixture, or after equalization with coarser fill compounds.
• Special - they are often called "for complex bases" mixtures. Thanks to special component additives( for example, reinforcing fibers) and plasticizers, they are given specific qualities, in particular, increased compressive strength and bending strength, increased hydrophobicity and , .The cost of such building mixtures is certainly much higher, but, on the other hand, the possibilities are much wider. So, it is this composition that is used when pouring floors on a wooden base or on a separating layer.

Probably to all self-leveling floors in , in comparison with a conventional concrete screed, there are common advantages:

• Preparation of a mortar for work is not particularly difficult: there is no need to accurately measure the ingredients, everything is already arranged in the optimal composition and it only remains to stick to the instructions.
• To prepare the pouring does not require a powerful technique( concrete mixer) - enough of a construction mixer or even a nozzle for a conventional drill. The component of manual labor is also minimized.

• The complex and laborious operation is completely excluded from the technological process - installation of a beacon system for the removal of the surface strictly horizontally. In our case, all will make the forces of gravity. The main thing is to accurately calculate the consumption of the mixture per square meter trd area. For control, you can use portable tripods-frames.
• Since there are no systems of lighthouses, and with the preparation of a solution of complexities also does not arise, the floor should be poured even by a beginner - of course, at the proper level of its own accuracy and with unconditional adherence to technological recommendations.
• Any concrete screed according to the "classical technology" - is at least 25 - 30 mm thick, "stolen" from the overall height of the room. At use of thin leveling self-leveling floors at times it is enough 2 ÷ 5 mm.
• And a small thickness of the screed, and its lower density - this reduces the load on the slabs, which is very important in multi-storey buildings.

• . Many mixtures after pouring allow to move around to lu already after 2 ÷ 3 hours. This can give a very significant gain in the overall duration of all repair work in the apartment( in the house).Filled passage room or corridor will not restrict movement around the house for several days, as with a conventional screed. Also, much earlier you can proceed to the next technological operations.

Among the shortcomings can be noted a higher price for the raw material. That is why it is more often more profitable to use basic, rough leveling with a screed, and then pour a self-leveling thin-layered floor to get a perfectly flat surface. However, the choice is always for the owner of the dwelling.

What is the mixture and how much to buy?

Which mixture should I use? The variety of them is very high, and there is a choice of and according to producer rating, and target destination, and cost.

It is not necessary to hurry - study the instruction very carefully, as with external similarity, the compositions can be designed for various purposes. As can be seen from the table, the spread of prices( the indicated price - according to the data of the online store, as of May 15 2015 g ) is very significant:

Mixture and producer	Characteristics of the mixture	Possible filling thickness( mm)	Compressive Strength( MPA)	Consumption per 1 sq. M with layer 10 mm( kg)	Standard packing( kg)	Estimated packing price( RUB)
Will establish T-42 NIPLAYN	Cement-sand based leveling floor, for construction and repairGOVERNMENTAL works	3 30 ÷ 25 kg	20	17		395
basis T-48 MASTLAYN	Universal leveling mortar with a self-leveling effect. Suitable for both preliminary and final leveling	3 ÷ 80	15	14 ÷ 15	20 kg	255
BERGAUF Boden Inter Gross	Fast-setting cement-based leveling compound, including for rooms with high humidity level	3 ÷ 50	12.5	14 ÷ 16	20 kg	255
BERGHAUF Boden Zement Gross	Cement floor filler with increased strength, versatile, including for complex work	6 ÷ 50	20	18 ÷ 20	25 kg	280
Weber Vetonit 4100	Self-leveling self-leveling floor for any typepremises. Good for electric underfloor heating.	2 ÷ 30	& gt;20	16	25 kg	630
Weber Vetonit 4310	Universal filling floor for all types of surfaces, incl.old tile or wooden covering. Microarpiece with fiber. Resistance to bending.	2 ÷ 30	& gt;20	17	25 kg	1450
Kesto FINISH	Self-leveling mixture for fine finishing in front of a decorative coating	1 ÷ 7	20	16	25 kg	490
Glims-S-Level	Pouring floor of durability, universal type - for rooms with any humidity level	2 ÷ 30	& gt; 22	17	20 kg	535
Knauf Tribon	Universal self-leveling floor screed based on gypsum-cement mix with quartz sand filling	10 ÷ 60	15	17	30 kg	290

And, finally, when choosing and purchasing,to share with the required amount of material. The task is simple, if the base is sufficiently aligned horizontally, and, in addition, the has already been planned in advance, for which the layer of self-leveling composition will be poured approximately. For any construction mix of this purpose, the average material flow per square meter of of the area is always indicated with a casting thickness of 10 mm. Therefore, the mathematical calculation of reduces to one formula:

M = S × h × m × 100

M is the required amount of dry mortar in kilograms.

S - Area poured premises( in square meters .)

h - height of the filling layer, in meters( 1 mm = 0. 001 m )

m - Said composition manufacturer consumption per 1 m² of filled square at a layer thickness of 10mm.

Further, the value obtained will need to be divided into the weight of the composition in one original package in order to obtain the number of bags to be purchased. It would be reasonable to take the as yet about 5% of the stock.

A simple example, on the data specified in the table. Let's say the floor is filled in a room of 19 square meters, while the floor level rises by an average of 8 mm. The Glims-S-Level is selected for operation. In his instructions, the flow rate is 16 kg per square meter.

M = 0.008 × 19 × 16 × 100 = 243,2 kg

we add once more 5%, we obtain: 243,2 + 12,6 = 255,36 kg

remains to find the number of bags. In this case the factory package " Glims-S-Level " - 20 kg.

255,36 : 20 = 12,77 ≈ 13 bags

Obviously, even at such a sufficiently thin layer of material need lot. It is yet one argument to how important the thoroughly prepared foundation preparation is for priming and its preliminary alignment over by cheap methods.

Video: Concepts self-leveling screed

floor How is self-leveling pouring sex?

All the work on pouring self-leveling floor can be divided into three main components. First, the surface preparation is carried out for the work. Then I go two parallel stages that are performed almost simultaneously - this is the preparation of a solution of the desired consistency and its filling with leveling.

What will it take for

To process of filling and leveling was carried out continuously and efficiently, it is necessary to prepare in advance all the necessary tools and accessories.

• First of all, you need a mixer for mixing self-leveling mixture. Manually try to mix even not too large its number - it's better not to try, because the necessary consistency will not work, and the necessary work rates will be impossible to sustain. It is convenient for mixing a real building mixer. If it is not - you can do with a drill bit.
• To mix the solution, you will need a suitable tank .It should contain at least the full bag of the dry mix with the appropriate amount of water, so that the still has the enough room for free mixing, without splashing on the sides. Usually they acquire technical buckets or high basins( cuvettes), the is necessarily a rounded ( without corners), with a flat bottom, with a capacity of at least 20 liters.

• Measured packagings are required, since the preparation of the solution requires a very calibrated dosage of water. It
• "arm" set spatulas - from narrow, about 30 ÷ 40 mm, which are required for preliminary repair surface to wide and 500 ÷ 600 mm, since they often convenient to disperse by surface of the floor filled solution.

• Instead of a wide spatula it will be much more convenient to apply the ratchet - here it becomes possible to adjust the gap between the floor surface and the level of pouring. Yes, and observe the uniformity when leveling will be much easier.

• Required tool - needle roller. Here you need to take into account a couple of nuances. First, do not buy a roller, which needles have a teardrop shape at the end( like a massage comb).Secondly, the length of the needles is very important. It should be commensurable with the height of the layer being poured. If the needles are too short - the roller will "sink", stick in the mixture. If the needles are too long, the desired effect of even distribution of the solution over the of the floor surface will not be achieved. Optimum it is considered that the needles were 2 ÷ 3 mm longer than the thickness of the fill.

• If the thickness of the self-leveling screed is quite large( about 20 millimeters or more), how not to calculate the consumption of the mixture, but the guidelines for the top level of filling are still needed. You can resort to temporary installation of beacons from the plaster profile. It is more convenient, perhaps, to set up the beacons. They can be rented in a specialized firm.
• To apply a primer to the surface of the undercity before pouring, you need rollers with synthetone soft pile and brushes for hard-to-reach places.
• For cutting the expansion joints in the solid floor, angle-grinding machine( "Bulgarian") with a dial on the stone is needed.

• can be a good help. In some cases, can be a good helper - special attachments for work shoes, allowing you to walk on a flooded surface to with its seizure. However, this should not be done when pouring the solution onto the insulation layer, on the " warm floor" or on the separating layer from the polyethylene film .

For the work, in addition to the actual self-leveling composition in the required quantity, the following materials will be needed:

• Primer for deep penetration - if the floor is to be poured on a concrete foundation.
• Antiseptic impregnation for wood - if the coating is done on a wooden base.

• The damper tape, 8 ÷ 10 mm wide, is larger than the height of the planned pouring. The length of the tape should correspond to the perimeter of the room, minus the door openings of the .
• Repair composition for pre-sealing defects on the starting surface. It can be acrylic or epoxy fillers, sealants, and sometimes just a cement-sand mortar( although in this case will have to wait too long for ).
• If a screed is planned on the separation layer, a waterproofing material - roofing material or dense, not less than 200 μm thick, polyethylene film is required. If you use film you will also need reliable construction adhesive tape - for sealing overlapping laid stripes.
• In case the screed is poured on a wooden substrate, it is better to use a dense building paper impregnated with tar as the separation layer.

Preparing the room for operation

The preparation of the floor surface is carried out in different ways, depending on which type of screed is being performed. However, , the general procedure is available for any of the cases.

• So, whatever the coupler is not complied with , the foundation must be well repaired. On the , should not have cracks( especially with the prospect of further development), potholes, dips, areas of severe pollution, areas of instability, hillocks, protrusions, and other significant defects.

• Strongly oiled or impregnated with other technical fluids, areas must be cleaned up to "healthy" concrete.
• Areas with a crumbling, flaking base must also be removed to a monolithic structure.
• The slots must be cut by the with an grinder or manually to a depth of 20 mm and cleaned of small fragments. If the crack in the concrete tends to continue, its should be crossed at both ends, and also every 250 mm perpendicular cuts per 100 - 150 mm.
• The projections must be brought down to a general level.
• All defects are filled with repairing material and leveled to the general starting level of the floor.

• After solidification of the made "patches" by running t t thorough cleaning, dedusting ( using a powerful vacuum cleaner), and then - double priming with deep penetration. The second layer is applied only after the first coat has dried completely.

• . The following actions may differ slightly:

- If the priming is carried out directly on the concrete base, then after the primer around the perimeter of the room, the damping tape is adhered to the wall, so that it protrudes above the future screed by 8 ÷ 10 mm. After this you can proceed to the preparation of the mixture.

- In the case where the screed is planned on the separating layer, the

waterproofing material( roofing material or polyethylene film ) is laid with the entry on the walls on the 100 ÷ 150 mm. Joints must be glued for complete sealing. It is very important - to drive out from under the waterproofing layer all the air bubbles( this mostly applies to the polyethylene film ). After the material has been laid, the damper tape is glued in the same order as described above.

- If the pouring is carried out on the layer of the insulation or on the "warm floor" of this or that principle of action, the preparation will have its own specific features, which are described in more detail in the corresponding articles, on the thermal insulation of floors or their artificial heating( they are widely represented on the portal).

• If a wooden base is prepared for filling, it is necessary to achieve its full stability. There should be no bending of the floorboards or panels, even with a significant load. If necessary, conduct repairs and replace the lag and top cover. After this, the surface must be treated with impregnation with pronounced antiseptic properties.

After , its is dried, the surface is covered with a layer of construction kraft paper or the polyethylene with film. In the future everything is the same as described above.

. No matter what type of binding, if the of its thickness exceeds 10 mm, then it is advisable to spread the fiberglass reinforcing mesh over the entire surface. It should be necessarily point-stitched to the base( for example, droplets of "liquid nails") to prevent the from its surfacing when curling the liquid solution.

All further work will require strict adherence to the temperature and humidity conditions in the room where the fill will be conducted. Thus, the temperature of the surface covered by the self-leveling composition should be maintained in the range from + 10 to + 25 ° C .Residual humidity of the surface - no more than 4%.This is checked by special instruments, but it can also be controlled by the "folk" method. The surface of the floor is covered with a square piece of polyethylene 1000 × 1000 mm, tightly pressing its edges. If there is no condensation in the film on the a day later, you can proceed to further actions.

The room in which the casting is to be performed, must be protected from direct sunlight, it not is allowed the presence of drafts.

After the is ready, you can, if necessary, set the beacon markers by placing the lower edge of the central adjustable pin at the required level of fill. This will guide the distribution of the semi-liquid solution over the floor area. The height of the installation of adjacent beacons( usually they are placed with and an interval of 1.5 ÷ 2 meters) is controlled by a conventional building or laser level.

Preparation of a mortar for a self-leveling floor

A properly prepared mortar for pouring on a self-leveling floor is probably more than half the success. Conversely, neglecting recommendations or introducing "innovations", own or according to to fellow friends, can drastically ruin the entire done large-scale work of .For example, incorrect water balance or too high / low temperature of water can lead to delamination of the frozen leveling screed or to bad contact of with its with the base.

No one should ever listen - any bag with a dry mixture must have a detailed instruction for making a solution and remembering it. The main thing is to understand the following positions for yourself: the amount of water for compounding the composition( liters per bag), the temperature limits, the average consumption per unit area and the lifetime of the prepared solution.

• In order to avoid mistakes with the amount of water during the repeated preparation of mortar to fill the room, it is possible to prepare a special "measure" by donating an inexpensive plastic bucket. It is necessary once to accurately conduct the dosage( for example, measure the required by the instructions, say, 7.5 liters per bag).Then in the bucket holes are made to the side, through which excess water will simply drain. Now, even with carelessness, it will simply not be possible to add an excessive amount of water for mixing.
• The amount of water required for is added to the mixing container. Mandatory condition - the container must be clean, it should not contain any substances other than a concrete mixture. Water should also be clean - without rust, oiling, sediment or any technical additives.
• In water gradually, with constant stirring, add a dry mix( just like that, not the other way around).

• Stirring should be continuous for at least 2 minutes, so that complete uniformity of the composition is achieved, without which the would have no lumps or delamination of the water and mineral constituents. Particular attention is paid to mixing with the areas near the bottom, in the corners at the walls - there are often accumulated undrained residues of mixture.
• After intensive mixing, when the mixture is properly homogenized, the of its is left to "ripen" for 2 ÷ 3 minutes. After this , the is still mixing for a minute - and the solution can be considered ready for operation.

The begins the "lifetime" count of the self-leveling compound. It is usually indicated in the instructions for use, and may vary slightly in one direction or another, depending on the temperature in the room. On average, you need to focus on 40 minutes, for which you need to pour in and distribute the finished composition. You can not loiter, we must immediately move on to the fill.

Filling the self-leveling floor

• The room should be poured so as to provide a way out of the room, moving from the far end to the doors. Completely to exclude - hardly it will turn out, but it is necessary to minimize advancement on of a freshly-cast surface with its the subsequent leveling - it will be and additional work, and more probability of that defects will remain. As already mentioned, it is possible in a number of cases( with a contact tie) to use the dredges - spot traces are immediately tightened by the solution.
• If there is a risk that the solution may pour through the threshold of the room, it is necessary to make and install a bead, for example, from a thin plywood strip or chipboard.

• The solution is poured by the strips along the of the top surface, observing approximate proportions per unit area. Immediately after this, a uniform distribution of the semi-liquid mixture begins.

• For distribution, you can use - spatulas especially they are useful in close places, for example, in small niches. On the "spaciousness" of the room you can also use a wide spatula, but nevertheless the optimal tool will be a rakla on a rod convenient for work length.

• After solution is evenly distributed is distributed on the floor area, it begins to be rolled with a needle roller. Two goals are pursued: to force out air bubbles from the thickness of the semi-liquid but rapidly solidifying composition and further stimulate it to self-leveling under the action of gravitational forces( not to allow stagnation).

• Rolling is carried out in various directions, up to an apparent increase in the viscosity of the filled formulation. The surface tension force should fully tighten the traces left by the roller.
• The biggest difficulty, probably - is to ensure the continuity of the process, that is, all the operations performed. The room is necessary, if possible , fill with in one , to ensure both the unity of the surface level and the monolithic quality of the screed. Of course, with too large areas, this can be unattainable - then the partitions are made, after which the deformation seams will be cut.

For large-scale construction, mechanized preparation of a mixture and its pouring onto the surface is often used. Workers remains only have time to its distribute and roll. If does the entire process manually , then the optimal participation in the work crew is at least 3 person.

. One deals with solely by kneading the solution, always being ready to issue another "portion" for pouring. The second is responsible for bottling the solution over the surface and its primary distribution using a rake or spatula. And, finally , the third employee of the brigade is armed with an needle roller and is engaged in the final distribution - rolling the flooded surface.

• After the composition is rolled, but the still is not frozen, is removed from the beacon frame. Holes from their tripods are sure to tighten solution.

Maturation of the floor and the availability of

The composition begins to solidify after an hour, and after two to three, as stated in the instructions, it can be moved. However, if there is no special reason for hurry, then it is not necessary to check this - it is better to give the solution 6 ÷ 7 hours, for a full guarantee.

If everything is done correctly, you should get a smooth, perfectly horizontal floor surface - this can be checked by the level in of all directions of .

While the floor is ripe and gaining strength, a number of restrictive measures should be taken:

- to prevent water or other liquids, debris and from falling on it; ;

- avoid overheating from direct sunlight or from elevated temperatures in radiators;

- exclude drafts;

- so that the surface does not dry out, it is advisable to cover with its with thin polyethylene.

- random entry into the room of people or pets should be excluded .

When can we talk about the readiness of the floor for further finishing stages?

• Under normal, temperature-humidity parameters of the filled screed, required by the instruction, after three days it will be possible to proceed to laying the ceramic( ceramic-granite ) tiles, after the obligatory of the double priming .
• The laying of other coatings( laminate, parquet, linoleum and , .) Is possible not earlier than 7 days. But at the same time it is necessary to check the residual moisture level of the floor and proceed in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer of the chosen finish coat.
• The filling of the self-leveling composition on the heating water circuits is allowed only after the preliminary crimping .When pouring the pipes must be filled with heat carrier( to avoid deformation of the walls).
• If an electric hot is poured, the is sure to its complete is de-energized.
• In any case, , both for water and electrical warm floors, their test run can be carried out no earlier than 4 weeks after pouring.

Read any self-leveling flooring floor with a new strength and ready for full operation can also be only after four weeks.

Video: master-class for pouring of self-leveling floor