By arranging a water heated floor, living in a country house can be made much more comfortable. But of course, when installing such a system, all the required technologies must be strictly observed. When laying a water heated floor in the house, it is important not only to correctly position the pipes, assemble and attach the collector, but also to choose the most suitable material for pouring.
What can be used
To equip heating communications of this type, according to the standards, is allowed only in private country houses. In this case, the answer to the question of how to fill a warm water floor, are several types of mixtures.
Closing such engineering systems, of course, is necessary using materials that are distinguished by a sufficiently high degree of thermal conductivity and are durable. For pouring water underfloor heating in country houses, the following compounds can be used:
concrete;
semi-dry;
self-leveling.
After drying, all these types of material become strong enough to easily support the weight of home furnishings. Also, such floors conduct heat well, which positively affects the efficiency of the heating system.
Concrete screed: pros and cons of use
This type of material is simply an excellent answer to the question of how to fill a warm water floor. It is such solutions that are most often used when arranging engineering systems of this type. The advantages of concrete screed owners of country houses include primarily low cost. Also, the advantages of such material are:
ease of manufacture;
ease of installation;
durability.
Some disadvantages of this type of coating can be attributed only to a long-time solidification process. Walking on the screed and installing any interior items on it is allowed no earlier than 14-30 days after pouring.
Concrete screed pouring technology: how to prepare a mortar
Coatings of this type are very popular in our country. Concrete screeds are poured in residential premises, production facilities, warehouses, and garages. In all these cases, the solution is usually mixed with cement of not too high grades and sand. When arranging screeds for a water heated floor, this method, unfortunately, is not particularly suitable.
This type of coating is subject to increased requirements. Sand for screed warm floor heating is not recommended at all. Instead, it is necessary to take the screening of rubble. Cement for such a screed is suitable brand not lower than M400. Also in the solution is supposed to add plasticizers. When preparing a concrete mixture at home, slaked lime is usually used for this purpose.
Mix the mortar for the concrete screed of the underfloor heating to a viscous consistency. At the same time, work is performed using special equipment. In a concrete mixer, the mixture is very uniform and of high quality. A manually mixed solution on a warm water floor will most likely not last too long.
To make for pouring the screed over the pipes, it is just a viscous, plastic, clay-like solution. If the mixture is too liquid, cracks will necessarily appear on the floor later. A very thick mortar for screed for underfloor heating is also not recommended. In this case, the coating may turn out to be unreasonably heavy.
How to fill the floor when using concrete
This procedure is carried out using a very simple technology. At the initial stage, a damper tape is fastened around the perimeter of the room. Concrete is taken from the mixer with buckets and poured on the floor. Previously, using special supports in the room, guide beacons are mounted.
Concrete poured onto the floor is carefully leveled with a long rule. Using this technology, the coating ultimately turns out to be as even and accurate as possible.
When filling such a coating, beacons are usually installed in increments of 1.5 m. The thickness of the concrete screed itself should not be less than 3 cm. Otherwise, the coating will subsequently crack very quickly.
Two hours after pouring, beacons should be carefully removed from the coating. The gaps remaining after them at the final stage are sealed with a solution and wiped with a paint grater.
Useful Tips
Before you start pouring concrete screed for a warm water floor, experts recommend checking the pressure in the system. After all, to carry out any repair work after laying such a coating will be extremely difficult. To do this, you will have to dismantle part of the screed. The pressure in the system before laying the solution should be at least 0.3 MPa.
It is recommended to cover the finished concrete screed immediately after pouring with plastic wrap. In the future, for two weeks the floor should be watered from time to time with water. This will prevent surface cracks from appearing on the screed.
How to fill in a warm water floor: semi-dry mixes
The compositions of this variety are also made on the basis of high grade cement. However, fiber is additionally added to such mixtures. This makes them lighter and more durable. The advantages of this material include the fact that it hardens and matures faster than a simple concrete.
To prepare such a solution, as well as ordinary cement, if desired, you can do it yourself. Screening of crushed stone is optional. With fiber-reinforced fiber, such mixtures turn out to be quite strong even when using sand as a filler.
A solution is prepared in this case with the use of cement grade M400. It is mixed with sand in a ratio of 1: 3. Fiber fibers in a mixture of this type add 0.5 kg per 1 m 3 . Kneading such a solution is supposed to be dense. A mixture of this type should work well with its structure. Scattering into fragments or cracking mortar with fiberglass is not suitable for pouring an underfloor heating.
Styling technology
Next, let's see how to fill the floor when using a semi-dry mixture correctly. Such compositions are laid on warm water systems using practically the same method as concrete ones. To mount, however, the material of this variety is still somewhat more complicated. After all, he has a thicker texture.
All formed on such a coating during leveling pits should be filled with an additional portion of the solution. After leveling, such a foundation is also supposed to be thoroughly wiped. Wait about half an hour before completing this procedure. During this time, the mixture will have time to harden a little.
Advantages and disadvantages of using self-leveling mixtures
Compositions of this type have recently gained popularity among private developers. The advantages of this type of coating include:
A feature of the self-leveling mixture used to fill a warm water floor quite often is, first of all, the liquid texture. That is why when using such materials indoors, it is not necessary to install beacons. Solutions of this variety simply spread over the entire floor area in an even layer.
There are practically no drawbacks to such mixtures. Coatings of this type serve as long as concrete ones. The only minus of solutions of this type is their rather high cost. It’s unlikely that you can cook such a mixture at home. In this case, only purchased formulations are used.
How to choose a mixture
The answer to the question of how to fill in a water heated floor, a self-leveling material is simply excellent. But in order to ultimately get a durable coating, such a mixture, of course, you need to choose the right one.
The composition of self-leveling materials can be different. To purchase for rooms with water floors is, of course, mixtures intended for rough pouring. Using a decorative composition in this case is unlikely to be the right solution. Floors with pipes laid in them are still better to be trimmed with some beautiful facing material. Finishing decorative self-leveling mixtures look very impressive, but, unfortunately, they can not be laid in a thick layer.
Specialists recommend using self-leveling mixtures made on the basis of cement for pouring a water-heated floor. But if desired, such work can be performed with the use of gypsum composition.
Self-leveling mixture pouring technology
It is extremely simple to lay solutions of this type in rooms with warm floors. Screed of this variety is usually filled using the following technology:
elements of the warm floor are aligned and inspected visually;
check the pressure in the system;
the purchased mixture is mixed with water in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer;
the screed solution is poured in portions on the floor and carefully leveled.
Mixing a self-leveling compound is most convenient in a large bucket. When performing this procedure, of course, among other things, you should use a construction mixer. Using this tool, the mixture can be made as uniform as possible.
Useful Tips
Thus, we have found out how to properly fill a water-heated floor with a liquid composition. The procedure for laying self-leveling mixtures is not particularly difficult. But when installing such a foundation, of course, certain rules should be followed.
A self-leveling mixture, like concrete, should cover the pipes with a layer of at least 3 cm. At the final stage, such a floor must be leveled using a needle roller. The use of this tool will allow you to get rid of air bubbles, the presence of which can make such a coating much less durable.
After finishing all work, like a concrete screed, the layer of self-leveling mortar on the floor should be covered with plastic wrap (after it sets slightly). This will allow you to equip a better and more durable coating.
What you need to know
The technology for pouring a warm water floor, therefore, does not differ in particular complexity. However, when performing this procedure, you should, among other things, adhere to the recommendations of experienced professionals.
After pouring a concrete screed, semi-dry or self-leveling, wait a while before operating the system. High temperatures can have a very negative effect on a loose coating. Screed of any kind in this case can simply crack. Putting underfloor heating into operation when using any type of coating is allowed no earlier than two weeks after pouring.
Is it possible to fill the heated floor with glue for tiles
Very often, floors in country houses with engineering systems of this type laid in them are faced with ceramic tiles at the final stage. And of course, the owners of private residential buildings often have the question of whether it is possible to pour glue for tiles on the warm water floor.
Use such a composition for this purpose is still not worth it. Screed in this case, most likely, will come out unreasonably expensive. In addition, tile adhesive is not intended for arranging too thick coatings. And consequently, the screed from it is hardly durable.