When finishing floors, sometimes it becomes necessary to create a durable and reliable coating that will perfectly undergo mechanical stress and friction. The surface should be able to withstand moisture, have a minimum coefficient of expansion and tolerate the influence of chemicals. It is for this purpose that a rubber floor is used.
Main varieties
A fairly modern and convenient option for floor design is a rubberized coating. However, to begin with, it is important to determine which variety of this material to choose. Among others, it is worth highlighting roll material, which is based on a thin layer that can protect against cold and noise. Such a coating has notches that increase friction. This indicates that the surface is able to withstand slipping even at high humidity.
The second kind is separate modules, which are created from thick rubber. They look like tiles and are presented with peculiar puzzles. In addition to the usual characteristics discussed above, such modules have specific qualities, for example, they are able to undergo high loads and strong mechanical stress. Such a coating can withstand acids and active media.
Features of preparation
Before laying the rubber flooring, you must prepare the surface. The evenness and quality of the resulting floor depends on the professionalism and thoroughness of this stage. The main requirement for the base is the absence of large differences in height. Cracks and potholes on the surface should not be. The basis can be the following types of grounds:
- soil;
- asphalt;
- concrete;
- cement;
- wooden.
The preparation involves leveling, applying putty, dust removal and priming. In the case of laying a rubber roll coating in an open area, it is necessary to ensure a natural slope. You can add coverage to the drainage system, which provides for the presence of gutters and slopes. In this case, even after rain, the rubber surface will remain dry.
Features of installation of a roll coating
If you decide to lay a rubber floor, then first you need to prepare the surface. For this, a leveling mixture is usually used, which will achieve an excellent result. At the next stage, a thin layer of glue is applied to the surface, only then can we proceed to rolling the material.
If you decide to use the modules, it is best to apply the composition to their back surface. For rolled rubber, a dense roller is used with which you can remove excess air from under the coating. They try to perform such surfaces seamlessly, however, if necessary, they can be repaired with a special composition of crude rubber and fixed with a heater. Usually a vulcanizer or a soldering iron is used for this.
Features of the work
It is better to spread the rubber floor with the help of another person. This recommendation is due to the fact that one roll of material usually weighs approximately 120 kg. Joints can also be glued with double-sided tape, which will increase the strength of the coating.
After the roll is rolled out, it is necessary to cut it around the edges, guided by the size of the room. To do this, use chalk, a measuring device, a rule and a paint knife. It is worth noting that the rubber floor is laid with double-sided tape, if you do not plan to mount the coating on an adhesive basis. This approach has its advantages, which are expressed in the fact that, if necessary, the material can be reused in other areas. In addition, this technique is used for temporary flooring.
The surface must be firm, even and dry. If concrete is used as a rough foundation, then it is necessary to withstand it after pouring within 28 days. The material can also be laid on a wooden base, which must be dry. Its humidity should not be higher than 10%.
It is important to make sure that the base is uniform, cleaned of old paint and has a smooth relief. In the case of a wooden base, it is only possible to lay the rubber floor covering on a solid surface. As soon as it was possible to measure the rubber and mark the places of its cutting, it is necessary to roll the roll back.
Rubber flooring technique
When dealing with a wooden coating, you must sand it and coat it with a primer. Moisture must not get on glued surfaces. The quality of work depends on the choice of glue. The surface can be operated after 24 hours. Using this technology, it is possible to arrange roll coatings with any thickness.
Cost of coverage
If you do not plan to do the work yourself, then you may be interested in the price of a rubber floor. Installation work will cost 400 rubles. per square meter. In this case, we are talking about stables, stadiums, gyms, etc. But if it is necessary to carry out work on laying treadmills from the described type of coating, then such work will cost 1250 rubles. per square meter.
Additional expert advice
If you have chosen rubber floors for the garage and plan to start laying them yourself, then after preparing the surface, roll the roll along the wall and let it rest for 12 hours. Material cutting should be carried out with an allowance. It should be found on the wall by 15 cm. This is necessary to reduce the room defects due to the curvature of the walls.
By this technique, all rolls are cut. The canvases should fit close to each other. Before laying a rolled rubber coating, you should take care of the presence of some tools, including a construction knife and a metal ruler. As soon as the canvas is laid on the floor after applying the adhesive, you can cut the left allowances. This stage must be performed in several approaches.
Conclusion
Using two-component glue for laying the rubber coating, you must take care of the availability of a special container for its preparation. To draw glue you will need a rectangular spatula. But to apply the mixture to the surface will have a notched trowel.