Today, there is a huge variety of materials for arranging premises. A primer is a special building material that is intended for the primary treatment of various surfaces before performing basic work. It helps to improve the operational characteristics of other materials, increasing their resistance to negative environmental factors, and extends the life of building materials. You can buy it in specialized stores at an affordable price and from well-known manufacturers.
When pouring floors, it is very important to prime them so that they are warmer and the flooring lasts much longer. Therefore, many people are interested in the question of which primer of the bulk floor is better. From this article you will learn about the main varieties of this building mixture and their differences.
Why is it necessary to prime the floor?
The quality and durability of the floor does not depend on the cost of flooring, but on how tightly they adhere to subsequent layers. In case of poor adhesion with subsequent layers, the flooring will be detached from the previous layers, as a result of which it will deform.
It is not recommended to lay the flooring directly on the concrete screed, since it practically does not interact with other materials and does not adhere tightly to them. In addition, voids remain in the concrete after solidification, which significantly reduce the strength of the concrete. The only solution to all problems is priming. However, in order to achieve the desired result, it is very important that the primer for the floor is of high quality.
What gives a primer to the floor?
Priming the floor allows you to get the following result:
- the quality of adhesion of concrete to other materials increases;
- screed operational characteristics increase;
- concrete becomes more resistant to negative environmental factors;
- various defects made when filling the screed disappear.
If your house has wooden floors, then a primer for the floor, the price of which varies from 480 rubles. up to 3500 rub. for 10 liters, allows:
- significantly save on paints and varnishes;
- hide various defects of wood ;
- prevent the formation of mold and fungus;
- improve the quality of adhesion of the tree to other materials;
- extend floor life;
- prevent the release of resin by the tree;
- create excellent floor waterproofing;
- protect the tree from harmful insects.
Thus, priming the floor, regardless of the flooring used, is mandatory if you want to get a quality floor.
Which primer to choose: manufacturers, reviews
If you need the best primer for the floor, then before choosing a specific type of mortar, you need to understand the main varieties of this material that exist today. Each of them has certain advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when choosing.
Today we can distinguish the following primer manufacturers who have earned the trust of consumers: Caparol , Prospectors , Ceresit and Knauf . Based on customer reviews, the primer from "Prospectors" is the most economical option. As for the brands Ceresit and Knauf , they belong to expensive manufacturers, but the quality of the material is at the highest level. About Caparol primer you can hear only positive reviews. Its price perfectly matches the quality.
Alkyd primer
This type of primer is used exclusively for the impregnation of wooden floors before painting. This mixture contributes to a significant improvement in the quality of adhesion of wood to other materials. It is worth noting that wooden floors should be primed at a room temperature of at least 15 degrees. It takes 15 hours to fully dry.
Acrylic primer
The primer for this type of floor, as the name implies, is made on the basis of acrylic, so it is one of the most versatile and can be used for both wooden and concrete floors. The mixture perfectly eliminates any defects and significantly increases the strength and durability of the screed. In addition, acrylic does not emit any toxic fumes and unpleasant odors, and also completely dries out in just 3 hours.
Shellac primer
It is made from insect cell juice and is intended for impregnation of floors made from conifers. Drying time is 24 hours.
Gliphthal primer
Another type of building mixture designed for priming wooden floors. Designed to prepare wood for epoxy resin impregnation. Before buying this primer, you should take into account the fact that it can be used exclusively in dry conditions. After the wood is impregnated, the floor is left for a day for complete drying.
Vinyl chloride primer
This floor primer, the consumption of which is very economical, is almost a complete analogue of acrylic mixtures intended for use in industrial facilities. It is strictly forbidden to use it in residential premises, since the substances that make up the primer are dangerous to human health.
Polyvinyl acetate primer
A universal building mixture that is used for priming various types of surfaces before painting with emulsion paints. The mixture consists of synthetic substances, thanks to which it completely dries in just 30 minutes.
Phenolic primer
The starting mixture, which has a very sharp and unpleasant odor, which is applied to all types of surfaces before laying wooden floors. It takes about 12 hours to fully dry.
Polystyrene primer
Universal primer industrial type. Due to the toxic fumes emitted during the drying process, it is not used in rooms intended for human habitation. It is used to carry out starting work in the preparation of wooden and cement substrates.
Polyurethane and epoxy mixtures
This primer for polyurethane floors is intended for application to concrete substrates. It is made by adding solvents to various coloring materials.
General recommendations for choosing a primer
When choosing a primer, the composition of the screed should be considered. The thing is that a certain type of mixture is intended for application to a certain type of surface.
The primer in front of the self-leveling floor must be carried out with the help of starting mixtures with high penetrating power, which include glue. It helps to improve the operational characteristics of concrete and cement, and also extends their life. If fire-resistant additives or alkali are present in the cement screed, the primer must be anti-alkaline.
If you are already at the final stage of filling the floor and are going to start laying the flooring, then in this case it is worth using finishing primers. In this case, consider the compatibility of the mixture with the type of screed.
If you need to prepare a surface for adhesion to other materials that has previously been painted, then in this case a universal mixture will not work, and the only solution is a deep penetration primer for the floor. When choosing a specific mixture, its compatibility with the composition of the screed should be taken into account.
When performing repair work to strengthen the old screed, it is also recommended to use primers with deep penetrating ability, which have a strengthening effect. Such mixtures are able to penetrate into concrete and cement to a depth of 10 millimeters, giving the floor foundation high strength and durability, as well as preventing the formation of dust. It is worth noting that most of the building materials of this category in their composition have various antiseptic and biological additives that prevent the formation of mold and fungus, and also protect the base from harmful insects.
Mixes for concrete floors
A primer for a floor made of concrete must have the following characteristics
- high penetration;
- after hardening, the surface should be perfectly smooth;
- the mixture should contain special additives that give concrete protection against aggressive environmental factors;
- a good primer should reduce the amount of materials needed to fill the floor.
If you take into account all the factors described above, then "Concrete contact" will be the ideal solution for priming floors in a living room. The composition of this mixture includes quartz sand, so it can be used for both starting and finishing work. If the screed was poured from high-quality cement, which has high strength, then various epoxy solutions will become an alternative.
When priming floors in a bathtub, bathroom or bath, it is necessary to use mixtures containing water-repellent and antiseptic additives.
Construction mixes for priming wooden floors
A primer for a wooden floor is selected according to other criteria than concrete or cement screeds. In most cases, alkyd, phenolic and polystyrene primers are used to impregnate wood. It is also possible to use oily mixtures and natural resin of trees, which penetrate perfectly into the tree and create an excellent protective layer.
If you want to make a floor from a tree that will last quite a while, then the primers should contain special fire-fighting additives and antiseptic agents that prevent the formation of mold and fungus, as well as protect the wood from ants, termites and other insects.
It is worth noting that there is no point in using deep penetration mixtures for wooden floors, because unlike industrial premises, large loads will not be created on the floor. Therefore, priming with any finishing mixes that are intended for wood impregnation will be sufficient.