Experts do not recommend laying linoleumdirectly on the concrete floor, since such a base is not even. Smoothing or rubbing the concrete floor surface is not enough, since it will not be ideal. Before laying linoleum on a concrete floor, a set of various measures is carried out.
Structure of household linoleum.Each type of linoleum that is planned to cover the concrete floor surface affects the method of its preparation for laying the covering. All work must be carried out taking into account certain requirements for a particular type of premises. The concrete floor surface increases the service life of the linoleum covering, and there are no problems with its installation.
How to prepare a concrete surface and a linoleum coating?
Return to Contents</a>Obtaining a high-quality floor screed ForTo obtain an ideal floor covering, its surface is prepared and linoleum is laid in strict compliance with the technology. If the concrete floor base is prepared correctly, this is the key to an aesthetic appearance of the room. Any defects can lead to various deformations, as well as linoleum breaks. For this purpose, the concrete screed should be carefully leveled, which will eliminate all chips and depressions. To level outdated screeds, special leveling solutions are used. In this case, you can successfully combine floor leveling with its repair.
Tools for floor screed.To obtain a high-quality screed, you will not need too much time and special professional skills with specialized knowledge. You will need the following types of tools and materials:
Before using the cement-sand mixture in the screed, the composition is tested for crack resistance. Return to contents</a>How to take all the measurements?The cement-sand mixture is applied only to the marked floor surface. In order for the floor level to be correctly determined, the starting point on the horizontal floor surface is determined. However, this stage can be difficult for a novice craftsman. Usually, the emphasis is on the walls that are located opposite each other. Having measured a distance of 1 cm from the floor surface using a building level, a straight line is drawn. On the opposite wall, a line is marked, having made the same measurements. A flat plane is obtained between the drawn lines.
Floor screed diagram.To check the evenness of the floor surface, use a long rail. When measuring a room, measure not two, but four sides. This is due to the fact that the opposite walls have different lengths. Using a two-meter level, check the curvature and horizontality of the floor. If there are differences in floor height of more than 15-20 mm, it is necessary to carry out work to create a leveling screed. Before starting work, install metal beacon rails in accordance with the level. In this case, the distance should be 15-20 cm less than the length of the rule. The choice of its length will depend on the number of people who carry out all the work, since one person is not able to handle a tool longer than 1 m. Beacon rails are installed using quick-setting gypsum-based glue. The glue should be used in the form of "cakes" located every 25-30 cm along the rails. You can achieve horizontality for each plane in which the rails should be located using a level. If the gypsum-based adhesive has already set, then a solution of cement and sand (1:3) is poured onto the floor, filling the space on the plane between the beacon slats.
Determining the evenness of the floor using a rail.By making zigzag movements with the rule on the installed slats, the excess composition is pulled together in the direction of the exit, and as a result, a smooth surface is obtained. Then the floor surface is left to dry for a long period. If necessary, the excess cement is knocked down with a chisel. All the recesses can be filled with a cement-sand mixture. If satisfactory results are found for the horizontal plane of the floor, you should use not a regular screed, but a special solution made of polymer cement, that is, a self-leveling floor. Laying linoleum on the surface of a concrete floor requires pouring the solution in the required amount on the floor, and then rolling the material out with a toothed roller with a long handle. If necessary, be sure to wear special shoes that are waterproof. Return to Contents</a>
How to put linoleum on the floor of concrete with your own hands?
Return to Contents</a>Features of choosing the right type of linoleumBefore laying the covering on the concrete floor surface, you need to wait for some time until it dries completely. Due to the low vapor permeability of the covering, linoleum rots when the base is wet. The floor is put in full order before laying, that is, not only leveled, but also cleaned of debris. For this purpose, you can use a dry brush or vacuum cleaner. Laying linoleum on a concrete base as a flooring requires a very careful selection of material.
Linoleum classification table.It is necessary to use a multilayer covering, the base of which is insulated with felt or foam. It should be relatively thick. When choosing linoleum for a small room, it is better to buy a roll of such a size that the linoleum is laid across the full width of the material without joints. When cutting the covering, it is necessary to take into account the lighting. First, you should roll out the roll, which is then marked and cut so as to bend the material on each side. When marking, it is necessary to take into account the coincidence of the pattern of individual parts of the linoleum, if it is not to be laid in a single piece. When the linoleum is already cut, it is left lying for two days in a straightened state. The material must have the same temperature as the surrounding environment. Then, each unevenness is smoothed out. If necessary, the material is trimmed. When using marbled or single-color linoleum, it must be laid in the direction of the light entering the room. The pattern should be at a right angle to the outer walls. If it is necessary to make a drawing, then its parts are placed, observing the longitudinal direction of the room. The outer walls should be located parallel to the drawing. Return to the table of contents</a>How to properly glue linoleum to a concrete floor?
Linoleum laying scheme.If the concrete base surface meets the requirements, then the linoleum is laid directly on it. It should be noted that the temperature in the room does not fall below 15 degrees, and the humidity level is no more than 5%. The materials and tools that will be needed in the process of gluing the coating to the concrete base are as follows:
The adhesive used must have good adhesionadhesion to the concrete floor surface. Bituminous mastic is often used, which has good waterproofing properties. This type of adhesive allows moisture to condense under the linoleum covering. Experts recommend creating a layer in the gap before laying the covering made of wood fiber board. Bituminous mastic is used for gluing them. If you need to lay linoleum that is not insulated, then under the sheet covering you can lay additional insulation, which is extruded polystyrene foam. The covering should be trimmed at the edges so that there can be a distance of at least 10 mm between the covering and the wall. After installing the baseboard, all gaps will not be visible. Otherwise, as a result of pulling out the uncut linoleum, its edges will rest against the walls, which will cause swelling of the material. If the area of the room is less than 20 m², linoleum is not glued. It is more difficult to solve the problem of flooring in large rooms, when the floor is laid in a row of several strips. To do this, fold the canvas in half, then lay one half on the other. Glue is applied using a notched trowel. First, lubricate the floor and only one half of the material, then glue it to the floor surface. After this, do the same operation, lubricate the second half with glue. When the material is glued, use a roller to roll it to the floor. Then the material should be left until completely glued. After this, install the baseboard and the strip on the threshold of the room.
