Today, there are a huge number of different materials that can be used as floor coverings. But in order for the installation to go as it should, it is necessary to prepare the foundation in advance, making it perfectly smooth. This article will discuss what constitutes a floor filling with a self-leveling mixture.
Of course, you can do everything the old fashioned way. To do this, you just need to set up the beacons and fill the surface with ordinary cement. But this process is more difficult and lengthy. That is why many people prefer to resort to special mixtures, which have a large number of advantages.
Filling the floor with a self-leveling mixture has become possible relatively recently. The use of modern materials provides a variety of opportunities with which to prepare the foundation for laying flooring has become much easier. Moreover, the quality of such mixtures fully meets all the requirements that are necessary for the subsequent finishing of the floor.
Before filling the floor with a self-leveling mixture, it is necessary to learn more about its composition. It should be understood that the conditions of its operation will depend on the materials used to create the mixture. Therefore, you should approach the purchase with special attention.
The mixture may contain gypsum, cement or polymers. If a large thickness of the layer is required, then the floor should be poured in the apartment using the same mortar that was made on a cement basis. To improve the quality, one more coat should be applied. It will consist of the mixture that contains polymers.
Before you begin to level the base, you need to apply a special layer of primer. It is necessary in order to improve the adhesion property with subsequent self-leveling layers. The primer in its composition has not only cementitious materials that contribute to better adhesion of subsequent layers to the base. Also, in the manufacture of primers, a variety of antiseptics are used that prevent the formation of fungi and bacteria.
Everyone can purchase a more economical option. It is used if the surface is dry and has no cracks. In this case, as a primer, you can use the mixture itself for leveling. Previously, it will need to be diluted with water in a much larger volume than when preparing the working solution.
Filling the floor with a self-leveling mixture should only be done with a carefully prepared base. It should not have garbage, oil substances, coloring agents, etc. If all this is on the surface, then you need to get rid of it. In addition, the base must be dry. Before pouring, a primer coat is required. This can be done using a roller or brush. Ideally, there should be two such layers. Between applying them, you need to take a short pause to give time to the first layer to grasp the base. After applying the second coat, a break of four hours is also required. But you don’t need to pull with the fill, because after a day you can’t get the desired effect.
When preparing the solution, you must follow the instructions that come with the package. It should be understood that the container in which the solution will be prepared must be dry and clean. To avoid lumps, the dry mixture must be gradually added to the water and stirred with a drill with a special nozzle. The mixing time should be selected based on the requirements of the instructions.
The fill layer should not be thinner than five millimeters. After it is completed, it is necessary to roll the layer with a roller to get rid of air bubbles. As you can see, self-leveling floors with their own hands is not so difficult to do as it might seem at first glance.