Cementing of floors, methods of implementation and materials. Self-leveling floor or screed, which is better: what is the difference between a cement screed and a self-leveling floor? How to make a self-leveling floor from cement

The self-leveling floor owes its name to the method of its installation - this is an option for making a screed by pouring a self-leveling mixture. A distinctive feature of cement self-leveling flooring is its thickness, which is about 3.5 mm. Sometimes cement self-leveling flooring is called liquid linoleum - in fact, its surface is perfectly smooth and even, like tiles, only there are no seams on it. This floor can be safely used in public and residential premises, it is environmentally friendly, its installation and operation are safe for people. Self-leveling, cement-based flooring is the optimal solution for creating a heated floor system.

Liquid floors are usually used as the basis for creating a fine finish - laminate, parquet, and linoleum are laid on it. In most cases, they resort to purchasing ready-made dry mixtures; the retail chain has a wide range of products from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

The mixture for filling the floor includes:

• cement as a binder component,
• fractional sand,
• mineral supplements,
• polymer fillers.

Cement mixtures that do not contain additives have high quality characteristics, but to ensure a self-flowing texture, you will need to add a large amount of water. This point can lead to a decrease in the strength of the coating. The problem can be solved by the presence of polymer additives in mixtures. To obtain a high-quality result, you only need strict adherence to the technology of performing the work. Looking at the self-leveling cement floor in the photo, one can only be amazed at the ideal appearance of its surface.

As for the choice of the mixture from which the cement self-leveling floor will be made, the price sometimes plays a decisive role here. When choosing between expensive organic-based and cement-based self-leveling floors, preference is often given to the latter - the cost of such a product is much lower.

We install a self-leveling cement floor with our own hands - preparatory work

The process can be divided into several stages. Preparatory - consists of cleaning the surface of the floor and walls from dust. Next, a line is marked on which the floor level will be located, and polystyrene foam adhesive tape, which has a spongy structure, is glued along it. The width of the damper tape corresponds to the thickness of the self-leveling coating. If it turns out that inaccuracies were made when gluing the tape, then the parts of the tape protruding beyond the edge of the floor are hidden under the baseboard.

Primer - it is applied to a clean surface in any way, using a roller, brush, or spray. All cracks and roughness must be treated.

It will take about half an hour for the primer to dry; to enhance the effect, the procedure is repeated 1 or 2 more times until a damp shine is obtained. Particular attention is paid to loose, old foundations. New concrete surfaces can be primed in one coat. If darkening and foaming occurs when applying the primer, you should expect a longer drying period due to the increased level of humidity in the room. It will take 6 to 24 hours for the primer to dry completely.

After this time, you can begin installing beacons; this procedure is especially important for rooms with a large area, in which case uniform application of the cement composition can be difficult. The installation of beacons divides the area into segments and allows you to fill the mixture in stages. The cement solution is prepared before installing the beacons, this will make it possible to begin work immediately.

The height of the beacons must correspond to the planned thickness of the self-leveling floor. If the floor surface is flat, self-tapping screws are used as beacons; they are screwed into the floor at a distance of about 1 m in a checkerboard pattern. If there are significant differences on the floor, from 3 cm or more, then metal corners can be used as beacons; they are attached to the floor using gypsum or cement mortar. The correctness of their installation is checked using a building level; strictly observing the horizontal line is mandatory.

If the room has a very large area, then they resort to another method of installing beacons - large areas usually require a thick leveling layer. In this case, the same screws screwed into the base can serve as beacons; marks are made on the walls at the height of the screw heads. The horizontalness is checked using a level, then a thin wire is pulled between the marks. Next, the floor is poured.

How to prepare the leveling mixture

You can begin preparing the mixture for filling the floor only after making sure that the solution under the beacons has completely hardened. Carefully study the instructions on the packaging of the mixture. Pour the amount of water specified in the instructions into the prepared container, and carefully pour the contents of the package into it. It is not recommended to add any foreign substances to the solution.

To obtain a high-quality mixture, it is better to use a drill with an attachment or a construction mixer. After the mass reaches a homogeneous consistency, leave it for a few minutes, then stir well again. It is not recommended to set a high speed on a drill or mixer - a better mixture is obtained at low speeds.

Pouring the floor

The pouring process lasts half an hour - this is the time during which the solution is suitable for use. For this reason, it is better to do the work with assistants. The prepared solution is poured onto the floor surface and leveled using rollers.

To avoid haste, sometimes the solution is prepared in portions, for example, the first portion of the solution is prepared, one of the workers levels it, the second prepares the next one, immediately after leveling the first, the second part of the mixture is poured out and also leveled.

The surface obtained in this way will be even and smooth, it will not have seams. A large room is divided into several parts and gradually they are filled. This is how a cement self-leveling floor is made; in the video you can see this process in more detail.

Having completed pouring the floor, it is rolled with a special roller with needles on the surface - this will ensure a better fit of the solution to the base, and will also remove air bubbles from the solution.

You can walk on wet floors in boots with spikes or shoes with metal pads. It takes about 6 hours for the mixture to dry; usually the exact drying time is indicated on the packaging with the mixture.

A cement self-leveling floor, the manufacturing technology of which is quite simple, can be made with your own hands. The bulk of the work will be preparatory work. But, despite the time spent and efforts made, the results of the work will definitely please you with a perfectly leveled floor surface.

Cement-acrylic self-leveling floors

Initially, this type of self-leveling floor was developed for installation in food industry facilities. The polyacrylate copolymer included in its composition provides high strength and protection from moisture and chemical reagents.

Cement-acrylic floors are used inside and outside buildings, taking into account the possibility of their operation at high and sub-zero temperatures.

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The self-leveling floor owes its name to the method of its installation - this is an option for making a screed by pouring a self-leveling mixture. A distinctive feature of cement self-leveling flooring is its thickness, which is about 3.5 mm. Sometimes cement self-leveling flooring is called liquid linoleum - in fact, its surface is perfectly smooth and even, like tiles, only there are no seams on it. This floor can be safely used in public and residential premises, it is environmentally friendly, its installation and operation are safe for people. Self-leveling, cement-based flooring is the optimal solution for creating a heated floor system.

Liquid floors are usually used as the basis for creating a fine finish - laminate, parquet, and linoleum are laid on it. In most cases, they resort to purchasing ready-made dry mixtures; the retail chain has a wide range of products from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

The mixture for filling the floor includes:

• cement as a binder component,
• fractional sand,
• mineral supplements,
• polymer fillers.

Cement mixtures that do not contain additives have high quality characteristics, but to ensure a self-flowing texture, you will need to add a large amount of water. This point can lead to a decrease in the strength of the coating. The problem can be solved by the presence of polymer additives in mixtures. To obtain a high-quality result, you only need strict adherence to the technology of performing the work. Looking at the self-leveling cement floor in the photo, one can only be amazed at the ideal appearance of its surface.

As for the choice of the mixture from which the cement self-leveling floor will be made, the price sometimes plays a decisive role here. When choosing between expensive organic-based and cement-based self-leveling floors, preference is often given to the latter - the cost of such a product is much lower.

We install a self-leveling cement floor with our own hands - preparatory work

The process can be divided into several stages. Preparatory - involves cleaning the surface of the floor and walls from dust. Next, a line is marked on which the floor level will be located, and polystyrene foam adhesive tape, which has a spongy structure, is glued along it. The width of the damper tape corresponds to the thickness of the self-leveling coating. If it turns out that inaccuracies were made when gluing the tape, then the parts of the tape protruding beyond the edge of the floor are hidden under the baseboard.

Primer - it is applied to a clean surface in any way, using a roller, brush, or spray. All cracks and roughness must be treated.

It will take about half an hour for the primer to dry; to enhance the effect, the procedure is repeated 1 or 2 more times until a damp shine is obtained. Particular attention is paid to loose, old foundations. New concrete surfaces can be primed in one coat. If darkening and foaming occurs when applying the primer, you should expect a longer drying period due to the increased level of humidity in the room. It will take 6 to 24 hours for the primer to dry completely.

After this time, you can begin installing beacons; this procedure is especially important for rooms with a large area, in which case uniform application of the cement composition can be difficult. The installation of beacons divides the area into segments and allows you to fill the mixture in stages. The cement solution is prepared before installing the beacons, this will make it possible to begin work immediately.

The height of the beacons must correspond to the planned thickness of the self-leveling floor. If the floor surface is flat, self-tapping screws are used as beacons; they are screwed into the floor at a distance of about 1 m in a checkerboard pattern. If there are significant differences on the floor, from 3 cm or more, then metal corners can be used as beacons; they are attached to the floor using gypsum or cement mortar. The correctness of their installation is checked using a building level; strictly observing the horizontal line is mandatory.

If the room has a very large area, then they resort to another method of installing beacons - large areas usually require a thick leveling layer. In this case, the same screws screwed into the base can serve as beacons; marks are made on the walls at the height of the screw heads. The horizontalness is checked using a level, then a thin wire is pulled between the marks. Next, the floor is poured.

How to prepare the leveling mixture

You can begin preparing the mixture for filling the floor only after making sure that the solution under the beacons has completely hardened. Carefully study the instructions on the packaging of the mixture. Pour the amount of water specified in the instructions into the prepared container, and carefully pour the contents of the package into it. It is not recommended to add any foreign substances to the solution.

To obtain a high-quality mixture, it is better to use a drill with an attachment or a construction mixer. After the mass reaches a homogeneous consistency, leave it for a few minutes, then stir well again. It is not recommended to set a high speed on a drill or mixer - a better mixture is obtained at low speeds.

Pouring the floor

The pouring process lasts half an hour - this is the time during which the solution is suitable for use. For this reason, it is better to do the work with assistants. The prepared solution is poured onto the floor surface and leveled using rollers.

To avoid haste, sometimes the solution is prepared in portions, for example, the first portion of the solution is prepared, one of the workers levels it, the second prepares the next one, immediately after leveling the first, the second part of the mixture is poured out and also leveled.

The surface obtained in this way will be even and smooth, it will not have seams. A large room is divided into several parts and gradually they are filled. This is how a cement self-leveling floor is made; in the video you can see this process in more detail.

Having completed pouring the floor, it is rolled with a special roller with needles on the surface - this will ensure a better fit of the solution to the base, and will also remove air bubbles from the solution.

You can walk on wet floors in boots with spikes or shoes with metal pads. It takes about 6 hours for the mixture to dry; usually the exact drying time is indicated on the packaging with the mixture.

A cement self-leveling floor, the manufacturing technology of which is quite simple, can be made with your own hands. The bulk of the work will be preparatory work. But, despite the time spent and efforts made, the results of the work will definitely please you with a perfectly leveled floor surface.

Cement-acrylic self-leveling floors

Initially, this type of self-leveling floor was developed for installation in food industry facilities. The polyacrylate copolymer included in its composition provides high strength and protection from moisture and chemical reagents.

Cement-acrylic floors are used inside and outside buildings, taking into account the possibility of their operation at high and sub-zero temperatures.

Self-leveling self-leveling flooring is one of the best options for flooring in an apartment or country house. Self-leveling solutions are used as a base for other materials or as an independent coating. The mixture for self-leveling floor can be poured in any room from the bedroom to the garage or workshop. The main thing is to choose the right mixtures. Their range today is quite wide and includes coatings with different compositions, surface structures and layer thicknesses. Each of the mixtures has its own characteristics, pouring technology and recommended area of ​​application.

What does self-leveling floor consist of?

The main characteristic of any mixture for self-leveling flooring is its composition. Depending on the components used for the production of flooring, there are four main types of compositions:

1. The most common are floors with a cement binder. They are quite easy to install, durable and wear-resistant. To the positive characteristics we can add relatively low cost and a large selection of manufacturers.
2. Gypsum-based solutions are also quite popular. They are distinguished by high strength and durability, as well as the ability to pour fairly thick layers. A significant disadvantage of mixtures with a gypsum binder is their rapid wear in rooms with high humidity.
3. Self-leveling floor mixtures based on polymers and polyurethane are the highest quality coatings. They are particularly strong and durable. Laying them will require a lot of effort and experience, but the result is an ultra-thin screed. It is from this type of mixture that it is possible to obtain a floor covering with excellent artistic characteristics. Masters manage to create real masterpieces.
4. Combined compositions are produced based on cement and polymer resins. Their price is lower than that of polymer mixtures, and their quality is higher than that of cement mixtures.

Let's look at each in more detail.

Cement self-leveling mixtures

The mixture contains three main components: cement, sand and water. Only high-quality cement is used that does not contain foreign impurities. Only in this case, after drying, the screed will acquire the necessary hardness. The second component is pre-cleaned sand. For self-leveling floors, it is recommended to use medium fractions. Water for mixing mixtures should not contain any chemical impurities. It is desirable that the pH and salt levels are within normal limits.

In addition, the composition includes the following necessary components for self-leveling floors: plasticizers, antifreeze additives, acidity modulators and moisture-retaining additives. These chemicals give the cement mortar plasticity and the ability to flow over the surface of the base.

Note: Cement self-leveling mortars have the lowest cost among all types of mixtures. To pour such solutions, no special skills are required; even a beginner who is far from construction can do the job. These factors explain the popularity of this type of self-leveling coatings.

In those rooms where the base level has significant differences, depressions and cracks, cement mortars are used as a starting coating, and more expensive polymer mixtures are poured on top. This way it is possible to reduce repair costs, and it is much easier to fill on an already prepared base.

Cement-based mixtures are suitable for use in living rooms and various utility rooms.

Gypsum-based mixtures

The components of a gypsum-based self-leveling floor are almost no different from similar cement mixtures. The only difference is that gypsum is used as a binder. All features of such a self-leveling mixture are related to the characteristics of the binder component. Thus, gypsum hardens faster and allows you to create a thicker screed. When choosing a composition for pouring, you should remember that gypsum is not resistant to high humidity.

Advice: In this regard, the gypsum composition of the self-leveling floor is recommended for use in dry rooms for various purposes with light loads on the floor.

Polymer compositions for pouring floors

Polymer compounds occupy a special place among mixtures. What does a polymer-based self-leveling floor consist of?

Polyurethane solutions include polyurethane as a binder and various chemical additives that increase the plasticity and uniformity of the solution. In addition, quartz filler can be added to the composition to increase strength and wear resistance. As a rule, two-component self-leveling floors with fillers are used in rooms where the floor covering will be subject to regular high loads.

In methyl methacrylate solutions, the role of a binder is played by the resin. As the floor hardens, it acquires a high degree of strength and has a perfectly flat surface. To improve the quality of the coating, sand, plasticizer and various hardeners are added to the floor mixture.

Epoxy self-leveling floors, made on the basis of epoxy resin, are most often used in large areas, industrial or production buildings, where the floor covering will regularly experience enormous loads.

Tip: Cement-acrylic mortars are suitable for rooms with high humidity, as they are not susceptible to moisture.

Calculation of the amount of mixture and its preparation

After you familiarize yourself with the characteristics, read the reviews and decide which mixtures are most suitable for filling the floor, you will need to calculate the required amount of composition. The density of the self-leveling floor mixture is 1.3 kg/l per 1 m2. To fill a layer of 1 mm for each square meter of floor you will need 1.3 kg of dry powder, for a floor of 2 mm - 2.6 kg, and so on.

How to make your own self-leveling floor mixture? There are a few basic rules to remember. The powder should be poured into a container with water, and not vice versa. This way you will be able to obtain a solution of uniform consistency. The amount of water is calculated according to the recommendations on the packaging. It is best to mix the solution with a drill with a special attachment. Particular attention should also be paid to the time during which the mixture thickens, and all work should be planned in such a way as to use the prepared solution before it begins to set.

So that the work does not seem overwhelming, and the process itself proceeds smoothly and without unpleasant nuances, you need to follow the main stages of pouring technology. This is an important point, since the result will depend on the correct execution of work at each stage.

Preparing the base for cement pouring

This stage is considered the most important; the final result of your work will depend on it. For example, you were irresponsible in cleaning the surface from construction debris, and did not have enough strength to level it. Get the result you worked hard for. An uneven surface will make itself felt at the stage of pouring concrete - the filling mass will flow down.

For the most part, a base made of concrete is chosen for self-leveling coating, which is why the requirements for it are quite stringent:

• the base must be made as level as possible;
• it is necessary to level out all cracks and defects;
• before pouring the floor, do not forget about waterproofing the base;
• clean the floors of various debris and dirt, remove oil stains, if any.

The easiest way to fulfill all these requirements is to make a concrete screed on the base, trying to level it. This will help hide all the unevenness, and in addition, it will be more convenient to lay waterproofing material on the screed.

After the screed has dried, priming work must be done. For this, a one-component varnish is most often used. It is applied in two layers and each of them is thoroughly dried. When the primer is applied correctly to the surface, it will look like coarse sandpaper. The purpose of the primer is to create excellent adhesion to the base pouring material.

If after application the primer begins to foam and darken, you need to wait a little longer for it to dry completely, up to 24 hours. After the base has dried, puttying work is carried out to ensure maximum leveling of the surface.

Installation of beacons

After all the preparatory work has been carried out, you need to begin securing the beacons - guides, which will facilitate the uniform application of the cement-containing composition. This can be avoided if the floor is poured in a small room, but in large rooms the beacons cannot be neglected. Otherwise, you will not be able to apply the cement mixture evenly.

Thanks to the installation of beacons, you will receive a main area divided into segments, due to which you can gradually pour the concrete solution. The beacons are fixed using the same concrete mixture that will be used for pouring.

How to prepare a solution for a cement self-leveling floor?

When the solution under the beacons has completely frozen, it’s time to prepare the mixture for filling work. When you pick up a package of dry mixture, you must carefully study the attached instructions. The required amount of water is poured into a pre-prepared container and the contents of the package are poured into it.

In order to obtain a homogeneous mass without lumps, you can stir the solution with a drill with an attachment. After this, the solution is left for a while, and then another stirring step is done. It is not recommended to use the drill at maximum speed; only low speeds will guarantee the best quality mixture.

The process of pouring cement self-leveling floor

The technology for pouring a cement floor is that for a good result it should be poured in two layers, of which the first layer is called the underlying layer, and the second – the front or finishing layer.

Pouring the underlying layer contributes to the final leveling of the base and removes all minor unevenness. The result is an ideal coating for the final coat. The thickness of the first layer should not exceed 2 millimeters.

Apply the finishing layer, leveling it with a squeegee. After this, you need to run a needle roller over the pouring area to remove all the bubbles that affect the quality of the final result. Using the same roller, you can distribute the color over the surface. As soon as the self-leveling floor has dried, the expansion joints should be sealed with sealant.

Self-leveling cement flooring is used to level the surface before laying linoleum or laminate. The pouring mixture consists of cement, fine sand and polymers. The mixture is applied in a thickness of 0.5 to 6 centimeters. The most important advantage of the cement mixture is the possibility of using it to create “warm floors”.

What materials and tools are needed for self-leveling flooring?

Necessary equipment and materials:

• tank for mixing the composition;
• construction vacuum cleaner;
• drill with attachments for mixing liquid mixtures;
• metal trowel;
• needle roller.

First, you need to check the level of the subfloor using a lath and thoroughly clean it from the remnants of old mortar and dirt with a construction vacuum cleaner.

If the differences are more than 4 millimeters per 2 meters of floor, then it is necessary to level it with a grinding machine, or fill it with a layer of more than 1 centimeter.

Applying a primer is an extremely important part of the work. After applying the primer, the base becomes rough, which enhances the adhesion of the concrete to the cement fill. Priming is carried out using a paint brush or roller.

24 hours after applying the primer, you can start pouring the floor.

Mix a solution consisting of one kilogram of dry mixture and 200 milliliters of water using an electric drill attachment.

Note that water is first poured into the mixing bowl, and then the mixture is poured in, otherwise, there will be many lumps in the solution, which always leads to the appearance of holes on the floor surface.

The resulting mixture is laid out on the base of the floor and smoothly leveled over the surface. Since the mixture hardens quickly, work must be done continuously. If it is difficult to achieve continuity of filling of the entire area, then the filling is carried out in sections.

After leveling the mixture, the floor surface is pressed down with a needle roller. This is necessary so that the portions of the solution adhere better to each other, and the existing air bubbles are removed.