Floor screed for a warm water floor can be equipped independently. This component of the system is necessary in order to reliably protect the pipes from damage. In addition, the presence of a durable cement screed makes it easy to lay the topcoat.
Preparation before arranging the screed
The floor screed for a warm water floor must be equipped according to the rules, only in this way it will be possible to achieve the necessary effect and durability of the system. As soon as it was possible to mount the collector, which is part of the floor, you can begin to prepare the surface. To do this, the base must be well cleaned of debris, in addition, we should not forget that the floor should be checked for evenness. But do not try to make the foundation perfectly even, as this is not required. The need for alignment can arise only when the unevenness of the floor exceeds several centimeters. Otherwise, different pressure will be exerted on the pipes from the side of the screed, which can cause them to be damaged.
Training
Before the floor screed is laid for a warm water floor, it is necessary to prepare the base using the waterproofing layer. It acts as the first one after the leveling screed before pouring the main one. Waterproofing prevents the interaction of the underfloor heating system with moisture, which comes, as a rule, from the lower level. Do not forget that you will have to provide compensation for the thermal expansion of the screed, for this you should use a damper tape. It must be laid around the perimeter of the room, fixed to the adhesive layer. It is necessary to use a tape whose width should be approximately equal to 15 cm.
The floor screed for a warm water floor should also include insulation material, which not only can increase the efficiency of the system, but also will prevent heat loss. This is possible due to the ability of the heat insulator to direct heated air into the interior of the room. It is important to choose the right thickness and type of insulation layer, some factors will affect this, among which it is especially possible to distinguish the type of finish coating and the location of the room. So, if the room is located above the heated room, it is permissible to use extruded polystyrene foam, while its thickness should be from 2 to 5 cm. But if you have to equip the floor in the room, which is located on the first floor, and there is no room under it that would heated, then expanded clay should be used, after filling in which polystyrene foam is mounted. The thickness of the latter should be 5-10 cm.
A concrete screed for a warm water floor has some features if such a heating system acts as not the main, but additional to the radiators. Then, in the role of the insulation layer, it is necessary to use only foil foamed foam, which fits in one layer. Mentioned material is also known as foamed polyethylene.
The need for reinforcement
In order for the screed to have qualities of strength and resistance to various kinds of damage and impact, it must be strengthened by using the reinforcing cage. As it should be used steel mesh. You need to choose one whose rods have a width of approximately 5 mm. Among other things, when arranging a warm floor, pipes are often fastened to the reinforcing cage. This is done as an alternative fastener for the named elements. Indeed, otherwise the pipes will have to be fastened with the help of specially designed fasteners.
Features of screed pouring
The pipes will be immersed in the screed, their total length should not be more than 90 m. If you have to work with the overall room, you will have to use two circuits, only in this way you can get high-quality heating. In some cases, it is recommended to use a corrugated pipe as part of the screed, which is necessary to protect compression joints from damage.
In addition to the grid, before filling the screed, special mats can also be laid, which are used to fasten the pipes. For this, steel profiles are still used. If you decide to use a grid for this, then it is necessary to strengthen it in a free position, it is necessary to apply clamps. When deciding to use aluminum profiles, it is necessary to fix them to the rough coating using dowels. Only then can you begin to install pipes that are placed in special sockets. In the case of mats, fixation is carried out by bosses, which acts as the most convenient way, however, it will come out much more expensive than the others. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to use special insulation material.
Recommendations of pouring specialists
A screed for a water floor heating, the composition of which is described below, should not be made until the system is tested. This must be done by crimping, which is done after laying the circuit. This will help to understand whether the pipes are intact. This stage takes a period limited to days. The coolant enters the system under pressure, which is 5 atm. If no damage has been noticed, you can proceed with pouring the screed. But the working pressure in the pipes must be maintained for this period. Hot water should not be supplied, as this will certainly affect the acceleration of the drying time of the screed. As a result, the screed will not gain the proper strength.
Finish Material Selection
Floor coverings can only be started to be installed after 28 days after the screed is poured. When choosing its variety, it is necessary to take into account the thermal conductivity of the material. The most outstanding indicators are ceramic tiles. It is permissible to use a massive wooden board or parquet. If you choose a laminate as the topcoat, it is recommended to purchase one that is designed specifically for underfloor heating. It is permissible to equip a thinner screed under it, but it is worth using an additional layer from the reinforcing cage based on the mesh. Its placement must be done on the circuit before arranging the screed.
Concrete Screed Parameters
The minimum screed for a water floor heating should be determined by several parameters, but you must try to make it the thinnest. As a rule, its thickness is 40 mm. But it must be taken into account that it must rise 30 mm above the surface of the pipe, but no less. Use in the preparation of the solution is recommended cement, sand and water. The height of the screed for a water heated floor within the specified limits will raise the surface, which will reduce the height of the ceilings, which is why it is not worth pouring concrete of more impressive thickness. This is also due to the fact that concrete has an impressive weight - 1 m 2 is approximately equal to 300 kg, which is true with a layer thickness of 50 mm.
The screed should not be thick also for the reason that with an increase in this parameter it will be more difficult to bring the system to a stable heating mode from the moment the system starts functioning.
The solution (screed of a warm water floor requires mixing) should not turn out to be liquid. It is necessary to prepare such that there is a need to level it, it is not necessary to lay it too thick layer also because the inertia of the system will be increased.
Finally
In some cases, a dry screed is installed for a water heated floor, this allows us to solve the problem associated with the impossibility of laying the solution because of its significant weight.