The concrete floor screed is the base on which it is laid.which plywood or finished flooring (laminate, parquet, carpet, etc.) is laid. A concrete floor screed is made from cement-sand mortar. The dried mortar is a reliable base for the floor. It is quite difficult, but possible. The most important thing is to follow all the rules and listen to the main recommendations. Only in this case the result will not make you disappointed.
Scheme of concrete screed on the ground.
Features of concrete coating
It should be noted that for concrete floor screedabsolutely any type of flooring will do. Moreover, it is noteworthy that concrete screed is ideal for installing warm water floors in it. Considering the fact that the work process is quite labor-intensive, be patient. Concrete screed is classified as a raw floor leveling, accordingly, you should be wary of leaks into the apartment that is located on the floor below. In order to avoid such troubles, the floor surface must be carefully prepared in advance. It is very important that each joint of the slabs is sealed with cement mortar. In order to leave no doubt about the possibility of leaks, before pouring the screed, lay a waterproofing material on the floor.
Scheme of concrete screed with sound insulation.If you decide to make a concrete screed on the floor yourself, keep in mind that the mortar layer should be at least 50 mm. Otherwise, the screed will be fragile. Many experts recommend reinforcing it with a metal mesh. But there is a nuance here - it should be positioned so that it is as close as possible to the surface of the screed. The fact is that this part of the floor takes on the greatest bending stress. If you plan to make a screed of considerable thickness, you can save mortar by using expanded clay or some other filler. The mortar with the addition of filler acts as an underlying layer of the concrete screed, and the surface layer is made of standard mortar. This method of screed is not only economical, but also very convenient. Before making a concrete screed with your own hands, carefully study each stage of the work. This way you will not make mistakes that can significantly reduce its service life. The work process can be designated in three main stages:
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How to make a screed with your own hands: the preparatory work phase
Tools for floor screed. In order to make a floor screed yourself, you need the following materials and tools:
- ready-made mortar (or cement, sand);
- filler;
- primer;
- reinforced mesh;
- lighthouses;
- self-tapping screws;
- rule;
- building mixer (perforator with a nozzle-mixer);
- level (preferably laser);
- large capacity;
- Soviet shovel;
- grater for grinding.
In order for the concrete floor screed to be successfuldurable, the base first of all requires careful preparation. After cleaning all contaminated areas on the floor, it is recommended to apply a primer layer. As already mentioned, you can avoid leaks by sealing each joint of the floor with mortar. In addition, do not forget about waterproofing, which will reduce the risk of leaks to zero. Your next step will be to determine the highest point on the floor, for this purpose its level is measured. That very highest point is a reference point, based on which you will have to install beacons. The measurement is carried out using a level. It is worth noting that installing beacons will be much easier if you use a laser level. Return to contents</a>
The process of installing beacons
Scheme of installation of beacons.In order to level the cement mortar as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to install beacons. You should act here arbitrarily, but taking into account that the distance from the guides (beacons) to the wall surface should be 20 cm. In order to level the mortar, you will need a rule, its length should be 20-30 cm longer than the step with which the beacons will be installed. The installation of beacons can be done in two ways:
- with the use of solution beacons;
- using metal beacons.
Most specialists, in order to doconcrete screed, they prefer to use metal beacons, explaining that the screed with their use is more technological and high-quality. The thickness of the beacons, with the help of which the floor screed is carried out, should be 10 mm. To install them, you can use one of two methods:
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Self-leveling of the floor
Scheme of fastening the profile for floating coupler.Before making a screed, a cement mortar is prepared. Very often it is mixed directly on the floor. This method takes a lot of time and effort, and sometimes it is not possible to achieve the desired consistency the first time. The process will be much faster and easier if you do this with a construction mixer. In this case, you will need a container with a large volume. The mixer can be replaced with a hammer drill, using a specially designed nozzle. In order to make a floor screed, you can use a ready-made solution. This option is recommended by most experts. The fact is that the ready-made solution contains special additives that ensure easy installation, strong and reliable screed and quick hardening. In addition, its use guarantees the exclusion of the possibility of shrinkage or cracking of the screed on the floor. The main condition is the correct dosing of water. It is quite difficult to prepare the solution yourself, since its incorrect consistency can lead to various unpleasant phenomena. It should be noted that the price of a ready-made solution is not much different from that prepared independently. If you decide to make a cement mortar for the floor with your own hands, the ratio of materials (cement, sand and water) should be 1:3:0.5. Keep in mind that the requirements for sand are special: it should be used only in dry form, and it is also very important that it does not contain any impurities. Mix the sand with the cement to get a homogeneous mixture, and only then add water. The next step is to distribute the finished solution over the floor. In order for the base to be uniform, level it with a rule. It should be moved along the surfaces of the beacons. If the floors have formed unevenness in the form of small holes, it is necessary to add the solution, and then level it. Keep in mind that the entire space should be evenly filled with cement mortar, air pockets are not allowed under any circumstances. In order for the floors to be durable, the screed should lie as tightly as possible. Accordingly, according to the same principle, the screed is poured over the entire base of the room. After waiting for the solution to harden (2-3 hours), sand it with a float. This will not only eliminate the presence of small defects on the floor screed, but will also make the surface smooth and even. The screed will become completely strong after the remaining moisture evaporates. As a rule, this takes 20-25 days. Only after this can you lay the plywood and the finished floor.</ ul>
