Floor screeding is necessary for several reasons: before installing the finishing coating, when creating a “warm floor” system, when laying insulating materials. Find out how to fill the floors in your apartment yourself in our article.

How to fill the floors in an apartment with your own hands - the preparatory stage

Any construction and repair work begins with the preparation of working surfaces. In the case of the floor, preparatory work will include the following actions:

• The old covering, if any, is removed from the floor.
• Then the surface is swept, all debris is collected, dust is wiped off and dirt is washed off.
• Grease stains are removed with solvent compounds.
• Then the floor is covered with a layer of primer, which will improve the adhesion of the materials used. If the working base is too dry or porous, then it is primed 2 times. The primer must dry before continuing work.

How to fill the floors in an apartment with your own hands - waterproofing the floor

After preparatory work It is advisable to waterproof the floor. For this purpose, polymer, bitumen, mineral or mixed compositions are used. There are different types of materials for waterproofing:

• Rolled or film - these are multilayer membranes that perform both hydro- and thermal insulating functions.
• Mastic - these are peculiar adhesive mixtures based on resins, rubber or polymers. They are good because they don’t leave any gaps anywhere and fill all the cavities.
• Liquid - after hardening, cover the base with a durable waterproof film.
• Powdered - they are a mixture of plasticizers and astringent ingredients that must be diluted with water in accordance with the instructions.

Waterproofing the floor is especially necessary if work is carried out in a bathroom or toilet, if there are significant cracks and gaps at the junctions of walls and floors or near communications.

When waterproofing, you can immediately install thermal insulation of the floor by laying a layer of appropriate material: mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, expanded clay.

How to fill the floors in an apartment with your own hands - measuring the horizontal level of the floor and setting beacons

The screed is poured strictly horizontally, for which the horizontality is first determined using a laser or water level. Here's how it's done:

• From the bottom level of the door upward, measure 1 m upward and make a mark there.
• A line corresponding to this mark is drawn along all the walls of the room. To ensure that the line is parallel everywhere, it is checked with a level.
• A second line is drawn down from the first line at a distance of 1 m.
• Nails are driven in the corners of the room at the level of the bottom mark and a cord is pulled between them.

Markings painted on the walls will help place beacons. As beacons you can use sections of metal profiles or wooden slats. They are placed on edge, maintaining a distance less than the length of the rule for leveling the cement mortar.

How to fill the floors in an apartment with your own hands - preparing and pouring the solution

The mixture for preparing the solution can be purchased ready-made or made by yourself. If the room area is small, then some people prefer not to save money and buy the composition in finished form. Well, those who want to save money or perform a large amount of work choose independent option preparations. The cement-sand mortar is made as follows:

• Water and perlite are mixed in a ratio of 2:4.
• Then 1 part of cement and another 1 part of water are added to this composition.
• The mass is thoroughly stirred again and 2 parts of sand are added. Then add another 5 parts of water and stir again to a plastic consistency.

Pour the solution in the following way:

• It is laid out in parts between the beacons and leveled building rule, looking like a mop. If such a rule is not at hand, use a plaster trowel or a very wide spatula instead.
• When leveling the solution, vibrating movements are carried out so that the composition fills all the cavities and air bubbles come out of it.
• If expanded clay is placed under the screed as insulation, then before pouring the solution, it is watered with cement milk - a very liquid mixture of cement and water.
• In some cases, expanded clay is added directly to cement mortar.

Sometimes floors are filled not with cement mortar, but with special plastic mixtures that are sold ready-made. Such self-leveling floors are stronger and more durable. The composition purchased in powder form is diluted with water to obtain a fairly liquid mixture, which is poured using the same technology. As a rule, the self-leveling floor is more even due to the fact that liquid composition spreads better over the surface.

Floors in ordinary apartment are not always distinguished by their smooth surface and beauty. The time comes when residents do not want to put up with this condition and think about repairs. It's not necessary to hire professional builders, because you can do everything yourself no less efficiently.

A perfectly flat floor - why is it needed?

Filling the floor in an apartment will create a perfectly level base for modern floor coverings. All of them are designed specifically for this surface quality, otherwise there will be no beauty or comfort, only money will be thrown away. Even the slightest irregularities lead after some time to the appearance of cracks and deformation. decorative material on the floor.

Even the most quality material will begin to lose its properties and change geometry. Gaps, bends, and dips form - you will have to spend money again, replacing the coating that has become unusable with a new one. And this can be repeated endlessly until an absolutely even base has been made. finishing coat. But you only have to arrange it once correct filling gender, and for many decades you can forget about problems with gender.

In general, it is mandatory to fill the floor in two cases. The first is when you need to replace flooring. It doesn’t matter what you use – laminate, parquet, linoleum – whatever, but a flat base is the key to its long service life. And the second case is when you are going to install a heated floor system or insulate it in another way.

Mortars for perfect pouring - building mixtures or concrete?

You should start pouring the floor in an apartment not by thinking about how to do it, but by deciding what to fill it with. There are quite a lot of materials, and it is important to choose the one that is most suitable. There are enough factors influencing the choice: the price of the material, the operating conditions of the floor, the finishing coating. By the way, the use of some innovative compositions allows you to create such beautiful high-quality surfaces that you can do without a topcoat.

The traditional and cheapest material has been and remains concrete. The preference for concrete is explained not only by its low cost, but also by its good mechanical properties. It is resistant to wear and is difficult to damage, even subjected to strong mechanical stress. The components of concrete are of natural origin, so it is environmentally friendly. He is not afraid of moisture, heat, frost. Quick hardening makes it easier to work with. A significant disadvantage is that concrete floors are cold; a warm coating is required in residential areas.

Two technologies will help make a concrete floor warmer. The first is to use expanded clay. A heat-insulating cushion is made from it, which is filled with concrete on top. All the advantages of a concrete floor are preserved, and it itself becomes much warmer. The second way to make a warm cement floor is to use cement-sand mortar. Sand, unlike expanded clay, is not laid separately, but mixed with cement. The screed is warmer than concrete, but hardens for a long time.

Makes it easier to fill the floor construction compounds, sold in stores ready to eat. To prepare them for pouring, you do not need a concrete mixer; it is enough to have a drill mixer. You don’t have to worry about the ratio of components; you just need to mix it with water. They are used for the subfloor and for the finishing layer. Unlike cement-sand mixtures, their thickness without loss of strength is not 30–60 mm, but only 5–10 mm, and 0.5 mm is sufficient for a finishing surface. The composition of the mixtures includes modifiers to impart plasticity, as well as various fillers that improve quality.

The easiest material to use are. They are simply poured onto the prepared base and form an exceptionally even layer. Produced on the basis of cement with modifiers and mineral fillers, are mainly used under tile coverings. Polymer self-leveling floors are environmentally friendly, resistant to mechanical damage, fire and water, and easy to clean. Wide range available color solutions, you can apply a drawing. An excellent material for finished floors.

Compliance with technology is the key to a high-quality surface

The floor in the apartment is poured after the completion of the main repair work with walls, ceiling, communications. After pouring, the floor covering is laid and decorative finishing walls and ceiling. The floors are poured separately in each room, which makes the job easier. When working, you should adhere to the required technology, then the result will not disappoint.

You need to select a tool:

• and two-meter construction;
• 10m tape measure;
• spatulas of various lengths;
• rollers different sizes, including needle-shaped;
• drill with mixer attachment;
• beacons.

We follow the sequence of work:

1. 1. Prepare the base: remove the old coating, remove dust and dirt. Treat with a degreasing solvent.
2. 2. We carry out waterproofing. We fill the existing cracks with hermetic compounds and pre-prime them for good adhesion. For waterproofing, traditional roll materials: polyethylene film, roofing felt, as well as modern ones.
3. 3. Setting the level. The floor height must be level throughout the entire area. By using building level We put marks on the walls.
4. 4. Laying the beacons. They are attached to the base with plaster, aligned in all directions according to the marks on the walls.
5. 5. Do the filling. Application various materials introduces some features into the technology, which will be discussed below.

If all technological processes done correctly, with proper patience and accuracy, the poured floor will turn out smooth, strong and beautiful.

Preparing the base - leveling and waterproofing

After dismantling the old floor (you should also remove the baseboards and doors), we begin cleaning the base. We use brushes, a scraper, and a vacuum cleaner. We completely remove all crumbling substances, glue residues, and dust. After cleaning, we degrease using a solvent or ordinary soapy water. We putty thin layer existing cracks and crevices. For puttying we use solutions with glue or resin.

For better adhesion, coat the base with a primer. IN small rooms this can be done with a brush or roller larger area. If you plan to install a floor with cement-sand pouring, we use any universal primer; for mixtures and poured floors, you should select a special primer. On a porous and dry surface, apply a second layer of primer, but first let the previous one dry.

If we level the floor surface using several layers, before pouring each next one we prime the previous one.

If the base has large gaps, be sure to carry out waterproofing. Depending on the content of the main water-repellent component, waterproofing can be polymer, bitumen or with mineral components. They are produced in different ways:

1. 1. Rolled - the usual polyethylene film and roofing felt. Modern polymer membranes, consisting of several layers, have not only water-repellent, but also heat-insulating properties.
2. 2. Mastics – plastic compositions made of resins, polymers, liquid rubber. The mastic layer has excellent water resistance.
3. 3. Liquid – penetrate deep into pores and have varying degrees of viscosity. A thin water-repellent film is formed.
4. 4. Dry - they are a powder that is diluted with water. Contains binders and plasticizers.

Should not be used for roll waterproofing. It does not adhere well to it, and over time cracks appear on its surface.

Let's install beacons - the process will be easier

First, we apply marks on all walls using a hydraulic level or, if available, a laser at a height of about a meter. We measure the distance from them to the floor. You need to find the place with the shortest distance, which is the highest point. This is where the fill layer will be the thinnest. We evaluate the difference in the distance from the marks to the floor. If the difference is more than 40 mm, the floor should be leveled.

We use a starting leveler, choosing it according to the required thickness of the fill. If the differences are significant, you will have to fill it several times. To fill a thick layer, we use solutions with a low weight. Cement-sand and others based on sand are not suitable; we use those based on expanded clay.

We continue to mark up. We put marks on the walls along the perimeter, which should be placed at the same height as the highest point. We connect these marks by drawing solid lines with a pencil. They serve as landmarks along which we install beacons. An aluminum T-shaped profile can be used as them. We place the lighthouses on gypsum or sand-cement mortar. If necessary, level it by placing pieces of broken brick. We check the correct installation with a level, not only along the beacons, but also across them. We carry out further work after the solution has dried.

Getting ready to pour - mix the solution according to a simple recipe

Large volumes are best filled with concrete or cement-sand mixture. If you need to raise floors up to 5 cm, it is better to use concrete. A perfectly even layer is unlikely to be achieved; special compounds will be required. If you have a good, dense base, you can use a cement-sand mixture rather than concrete. To prevent cracks from appearing on a cement-sand floor, we add fibrin, a fibrous material, to the mixture. A plastic or metal mesh will also strengthen the screed.

Solutions for cement based You can buy them ready-made, or you can cook them yourself. Perlite is used as a filler for concrete. To prepare it, dry mix 4 parts perlite, 2 parts sand and 1 cement. Add water and knead until plastic. A mixture of cement and sand is prepared as follows: mix 3 parts sand with one part cement, add water and mix well again. The concrete layer will become smoother if you add polypropylene fiber to it - 50 g per 100 kg of concrete.

Store-bought solutions are very easy to prepare; you just need to follow the instructions. Filling with any materials is best done together. The fact is that they set quickly enough, and delay can lead to the fact that the cement mortar cannot be leveled. Knead in small portions so that it does not lose its plasticity while we work with it. A separate room should be filled over the course of one day so that the filling is uniform.

For pouring, a solid and dense base is required - a pillow. To make a warm floor, expanded clay is used, which is filled and leveled, and concrete is poured on top. It is possible to use crushed stone, gravel, coarse sand. But they should be taken into account heavy weight, so application is only possible on the ground floor without basement. If you need to raise the floor a lot, it is better to make a thick pad rather than lift it with concrete.

Filling with various solutions - technology features

We start filling from the far corner. Pour the mixture between the beacons and level with a rule or spatula, distributing it evenly. We go over the surface with a needle roller to remove air from the solution, which leads to the formation of voids. After this, we finally level the screed. Having used one portion of the solution, mix the second and repeat the procedure until we have filled the entire room.

Ready-made self-leveling compounds of a more liquid consistency. They spread absolutely smoothly on their own. . The sandy one sets within an hour, but it is not yet strong. For concrete it will take about a month until it finally hardens, for cement-sand mortar - two days. All this time, the concrete should be looked after - protected from sunlight, temperature changes, and drafts. To prevent cracks from appearing, cover with film or moisten periodically.

If cracks or irregularities do appear on the surface, finishing We use ready-made self-filling mixtures. Cracks, as well as places where the beacons were removed, if wooden slats were used, are sealed with a mixture similar to that used previously. To prepare a solution from dry powders, carefully monitor the amount of water. If you add more, the mixture will not harden. Pour the mixture over the surface and wait for it to dry completely.

Installing a flat floor in an apartment is not at all difficult process. Compliance with technology, correct selection leveler, following the manufacturer’s recommendations will allow you to create a beautiful and even floor.

Almost after installing the screed, a horizontally flat plane is achieved in the room. But initially this gender is meant as rough foundation for subsequent finishing. Not big differences and unevenness still remains, no matter how hard the master tries.

That is why, in order to lay linoleum or laminate, materials that require practically ideal surface the surface needs to be further polished. But don't think that this is being done mechanically or manually, no. Alignment is carried out using. They are the ones who help make it perfect flat surface.

We’ll talk about the so-called polishing of the subfloor today.

• it's simple
• What kind of floors do you need?
• Floor leveling materials
• Pouring the floor

Technologically, carrying out work with self-leveling floors is not complicated and is accessible to absolutely everyone. But if you decide to try yourself in this type of work for the first time, then you still need to familiarize yourself with the theory.

Any novice craftsman faced with repairing floors asks the question: how to do it yourself? But if you are at least a little familiar with the construction of screeds, then you are almost an expert and self-leveling floors are definitely within your capabilities.

In practice, there is usually already a rough base, but it is not yet ready for finishing floor coverings. First of all, the work area needs to be properly prepared. Remove all debris first; it is advisable to use a construction vacuum cleaner.

Afterwards, be sure to open the surface with soil. deep penetration. This is usually done using paint roller or a wide brush. After the preparatory work has been completed, the floors are ready to be poured.

Which surface requires additional treatment?

Initially, the technology of pouring a concrete floor does not pursue the goal of a perfectly flat surface. It serves as a foundation, and a strong one, for subsequent work on the floors. There are always many flaws left on the concrete, bulging rubble, and small sagging. This surface is definitely not suitable for finishing laying the subfloor.

In this case, the floors are usually tightened with a screed. But you can go another way, which is more economical. Required during installation concrete screed level it out as much as possible. Taking into account that the next finishing coating will be self-leveling floors. So we move away from cement screed, and the final pouring of the concrete floor is carried out self-leveling floors, speeding up the process and saving money.

If your base is a ready-made screed, then additional processing carried out mainly when the surface quality is unsatisfactory. These can be all kinds of holes, furrows that appear when unsown sand is used.

Advice! It is worth resorting to additional leveling of the floor only if, according to the finishing plan, the floor will have laminate, linoleum or carpet. For tiles This method of leveling the base is not used.

We buy the mixture and fill the floor

Well, it's time to choose a mixture for filling the floor, but the rich assortment makes us wonder what exactly we need. Let's take a closer look at the product that is offered to us.

There are usually two types of self-leveling floors on sale: polymer based and cement-based. These are ordinary inexpensive compounds that are widely used for additional leveling of the base. There are many more varieties of self-leveling floors, but we won’t talk about them, that’s a different story.

The best option when choosing would be a self-leveling mixture for a polymer-based floor. Such a finished surface can withstand heavy loads and is not susceptible to destruction. This is achieved by the increased elasticity of the composition, which has a huge advantage when installing floors.

You can use a cement-acrylic mixture; these compositions are slightly cheaper in price and of slightly different quality. They contain various types of fillers, it can be quartz sand and other materials. Thus, the manufacturer reduces the cost of production and, accordingly, the price of the product. But they perform their task of creating a clean foundation perfectly.

Note! When purchasing material, always look at reverse side packaging, in this case a bag. The manufacturer indicates there the composition of the mixture you are going to purchase.

Prepare the mixture and pour the floor

So, according to our plan, we are planning to fill the floor with a self-leveling mixture, what do you need to know in order to do everything correctly and efficiently?

Usually, ready mix diluted with water tends to harden quickly. Before you start work, think about who could help you. As practice shows, one person cannot cope with self-leveling floors; a partner is definitely needed.

Let's take a look at the tools we have in stock:

1. Wide spatula
2. Needle roller for self-leveling floor
3. Electric mixer
4. Container for preparing the mixture, at least 20 liters

If everything described above is ready, then you can safely proceed. First of all, prepare the solution for filling the floor. Pour water into the container, initially not a lot, and pour the dry mixture out of the bag. We lower the mixer into the container and begin to thoroughly knead the composition.

If we see that there is not enough water and the mixture forms lumps, add water without ceasing to knead. A high-quality finished mixture should look like kefir in consistency. Not too thick, but not too runny either.

When the desired state is achieved, pour the prepared liquid onto the floor in the place where we will start pouring. Usually this is the corner of the room opposite the doorway. What is convenient about working with self-leveling floors is that the work eliminates the need to fill the floor using beacons. Thanks to the plasticizers contained in the solution, the mixture itself evenly spreads to the places where it is needed. Like spilled water, it will find all the dimples and go around the bumps.

But here you can help the self-leveling floor fill all such unevenness faster. Using a wide spatula, spread the mixture across the floor to the places where it is needed, evenly covering the base.

The bay, thus, is 3 - 4 squares of area, we arm ourselves with a needle roller and begin to roll out the filled surface. This is done in order to expel the air that accumulates under the poured mixture.

Advice! Remember, pouring a self-leveling mixture on the floor in an apartment requires, first of all, accuracy and attention. Do not roll out the mixture with sudden or forceful movements. The needle roller tends to spray the liquid mixture onto the walls. Once dry, it is very difficult to clean off.

We gradually move around the entire room, there is no need to rest while working, the mixture, once on the floor, begins to quickly become dirty. To avoid the appearance of joining seams, work should not be stopped until the room is poured.

These are the basics you need to know when starting to work with self-leveling floors. At the end of our guide, we invite you to watch the video “Poured Floors Video Guide”.

The happy owners of a new private building are most often interested in how to fill a floor. And if you have virgin soil in front of you, then we’ll look at how to make a strong and durable foundation on it - from sand cushion to the finishing layer.

Self-leveling concrete floors have been popular with builders for quite some time. The fact is that the material is not only durable in itself, but also quite cheap and not demanding on environmental conditions. However, this process is quite labor-intensive and not very clean, and therefore most people do not dare to pour a concrete floor with their own hands, entrusting the task to teams of experienced workers. If you have decided, then let’s figure out how to prepare for this event.

So, if you have your own home and don’t need to run through various authorities to obtain permission to fill, then start by calculating the area and cubic capacity. The next question that must be clarified is how dry the soil is, as well as the level of groundwater available under the house. Such pickiness is necessary in order not to increase the load during winter freezing soil and prevent destruction of the foundation.

If the self-leveling floor is used as a subfloor, it must be taken into account that groundwater must be at a depth of at least 5 m.

Rough self-leveling floor

The sand and crushed stone cushion is the basis of everything, so we start with this important stage. From the lower level doorways we take measurements at what level it will be located outer surface floor, draw a line for this limit. Starting from this line we draw excavation, removing the soil approximately 35–40 cm from the marking. We fill the perimeter of the dug space with crushed stone, which should then be compacted tightly so that its level is approximately 10 cm.

To fasten the base, it is necessary to fill the crushed stone with sand, the layer of which will be at least 10 cm, fill it with water, and compact it tightly. After drying, apply another sand layer, with which exactly the same manipulation is performed. We again pour a layer of crushed stone 5 cm high, which we supplement with sand and compact. The main requirement is that the sand covers the crushed stone completely, preventing the sharp edges of the stones from protruding.

Since it is impossible to properly fill the floor without properly insulating it from water and cold, then after creating a kind of crushed stone-sand cushion, we will do just that. The protection is not difficult to make: roofing felt sheets are laid overlapping on top of compacted crushed stone with sand, the edges are fastened to each other with bitumen or metal staples. Heat-insulating ingredients are placed on top of the roofing felt: expanded clay, slabs of basalt wool or other modern materials intended for these purposes. But this stage is not as strictly required as a cushion; an appropriate layer can be arranged after the concrete has been poured.

In what order should the work be carried out?

Now you can proceed to the most important thing and literally walk through the steps of how to pour a concrete floor.

How to fill a floor from scratch with your own hands - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Before pouring

When all the necessary preparations for pouring have been completed, we proceed to installation. reinforced mesh. For floors, a welded structure is usually used, the side of one cell can be from 5 to 10 cm. Reinforcement is necessary in order to increase the strength of the floor when pouring.

The reinforcement does not need to be placed immediately on the thermal insulation pad. It is best to install the mesh on supports approximately 3 cm high. At the same stage, “beacons” are installed - sections of wooden blocks secured with concrete. The surface will be leveled using them. The main thing is that they are perfectly straight. They are leveled and fixed rigidly, but in such a way that they can be removed if a mistake is suddenly made.

Step 2: Solution

While the “beacons” are being fixed with cement, we begin to dilute the solution. Here it should be taken into account that he must prepare immediately in the right quantity and pour in one go, and not in parts. Otherwise, you can forget about a flat surface. For a living space, the filling solution prepared in a bucket is clearly not enough. This means that you need to take care of the concrete mixer in advance. And if you already have a concrete mixer, it’s a good idea to think about additional thermal insulation by adding an ingredient such as perlite (sand with special properties) to the solution.

The material for filling the floor is prepared in the following order. First, pour two buckets of sand (perlite) into a concrete mixer and fill them with 10 liters of water. When everything is well mixed, you should again add a bucket of sand and 2 liters of water. The mixture must be stirred until it becomes completely free-flowing. When the solution base reaches the desired consistency, you need to stop the device and let it stand for 15 minutes. Once the composition has settled, you should continue kneading until the substance becomes thick and viscous.

Instead of sand, you can use domestic cement marked M400 and M500. Its use in this case must be consistent with the recommendations attached to the material.

Step 3: Fill

You should pour the concrete floor with your own hands so that it finishes near the exit from the room. Otherwise, you will have to sit by the window and wait for the screed to harden. The surface is poured in sections and leveled special device- the rule. It is advisable to use a vibrator when tamping to make the layer more dense. As you apply the solution, it is advisable to immediately roll it out on top plastic film so that it can dry for 3-4 weeks.

Also, do not forget to wet the solution once every two to three days so that the layer does not crack or dry out. You can use polyethylene film for covering, stretched over a pre-made slatted frame. It is better to spray the hardening solution from a thin hose with a sprayer, carefully lifting the polyethylene protective covering.

Step 4: Get the beacons

After waiting the necessary time sufficient for final hardening, the installed “beacons” should be removed. This is, of course, a personal matter. Some people just leave them on the floor. If you want everything to be “according to science,” slowly begin to free the lighthouse from the mortar, lifting it from one of the ends and at the same time tapping it on the surface with a hammer, beating off part of the concrete.

When the beacon is removed, the resulting groove is filled with concrete. The disadvantage is that you will have to wait again for the solution in this cell to set, and then grout it again so as not to disturb the evenness of the surface.

Step 5: Making it perfect

Self-leveling floors in residential premises rarely serve as a full-fledged covering; they are used as a base for other types: tiles, linoleum, carpet, or for construction under rough wooden or laminated floors. In any case, we must strive to ensure that the horizontal surface is close to ideal. The period of its further operation depends on this.

If you plan to lay laminate or linoleum on the floor in the future, it will not be superfluous to apply an additional leveling screed to the existing concrete base. For these types, the requirements for the surface are increased, and therefore special “self-leveling” mixtures can be used.

There are many myths about solutions that themselves spread over the floor and harden, allowing you to create an ideal mirror surface, among people who are not keen on repairs and construction. Let's try to clarify, because applying such a layer also requires skills and abilities.

Self-leveling floor mixture

• easy to prepare - just mix the powdered substance with a certain amount of water;
• the liquid composition hardens much faster than cement;
• are made from environmentally friendly ingredients;
• the layer turns out to be quite thin, which is especially important for owners of premises where the ceilings are quite low;
• There is a large selection on the market, allowing selection for any purpose.

Disadvantages of self-leveling mixtures:

• Thorough cleaning of the surface is required before application;
• special care when applying to wooden base, since as it is absorbed into the fibers, cracks may appear on the surface;
• if you plan to lay tiles, you will have to wait at least a day for the liquid layer to dry;
• An ordinary screed costs much less than a self-leveling mortar.

Self-leveling mixtures cannot replace the “rough” composition discussed at the beginning of the article. Their role is to prepare the top layer for final finishing or service as an original floor covering.

Self-leveling floors today are considered a suitable option for any apartment or house. The process of their creation itself has certain peculiarities. Before starting work, it is worth taking this into account. Pouring the floor begins with choosing the appropriate material. According to experts, the main ones are mineral and polymer compositions. They have their pros and cons, and are also suitable for a specific gender. And only taking into account the application technology can you achieve the desired result. How to do everything right and get high-quality coating? Let's look at it in our article today.

Where to begin?

To understand exactly how a self-leveling floor is poured, you should know that each pouring material has its own nuances. Much depends on what substances are in the composition. As already noted, there are two main options for filling the floor. We will talk about them in detail below.

Mineral compositions

This composition is based on cement. And to achieve a certain property, they use Additional materials is a plasticizer and modifier. As a result, such a mixture can create a smooth surface for cladding. This type of floor filling in the house is quite suitable for many people. There are several options from which to build your preference:

• Draft composition. From the name it is clear that without such a layer it will not be possible to complete the entire process. All defects must be removed if the old screed has any. A layer of 20 centimeters or less is sufficient, it all depends on the individual approach.
• The final composition. Suitable for the final finishing process. Here a full leveling of the floor is carried out in order to create self-leveling surface or any other.

Experts identify several main advantages by which you can lean in this direction in your choice:

• Elementary installation work. Each step in the work is clear and it is almost impossible to make a mistake.
• The cost of materials is low. All components are affordable, so almost everyone can afford it.
• Error correction. Not everyone can do everything flawlessly the first time. If any defects appear, they are removed with the following layers.

Most often, this method of filling the floor is used under such finishing material– laminate, tiles, parquet board etc. But independent floors are not so common, although some are used for painting. Therefore, at the planning stage, all these points are taken into account and a choice is made. There is no need to rush when a person does not have experience in such work.

Polymers

Pouring the floor is not such a difficult job, especially if there is a wide variety of compositions available. Polymers are another type in construction and finishing. But there are significant differences from the previous one:

• Epoxy mixtures. Most often they are used in houses and apartments, although on a production scale they have great importance. One of the important advantages is its long service life. There is a technology for filling the floor using drawings. In such a situation, the base must have a transparent base. Some are simply painted with dyes and the result is unusual.
• Polyurethane. This floor will last a long time, since the result is a monolith, without errors. Even under the influence chemical compositions does not give a reaction. Under heavy loads, cracks do not appear on the surface.
• Methyl methacrylate compounds. These are new developments and without experience it will not be possible to create what you need. And you shouldn’t do it yourself, because the money will be wasted.

Each type always has its own positive sides, but most often epoxy and polyurethane resins are used. To make it work reliable surface, it is better to use two-component formulations. The main thing is to create the right composition by mixing all substances, including hardeners. There are also modifiers, without which nothing will work.

Work on creating a mineral self-leveling floor

If each step is followed according to the instructions, then the desired result can be achieved. To ensure that nothing fits, each element is checked for reliability. The first is to prepare everything you need, namely the tools:

• Any capacity, but the right size, the solution will be diluted in it.
• Drill with attachment or construction mixer.
• Spatula (preferably several, of different sizes). It is important to choose the one that is easier to work with.
• The roller is toothed.

Sometimes beacons and an angle grinder are required. But everyone carries out the work themselves and decides what they can’t do without. All tools are clean; if this is not the case, then you should prepare them for work in advance. If something is not at hand in time, this may lead to a violation of the correct application of the material.

Laying the base

The self-leveling floor must be poured onto a high-quality base. How to do it:

• The floor surface is cleaned. Every corner should be cleaned to avoid unexpected situations.
• Afterwards, the entire surface is assessed for the presence of cracks. If they are present, they are covered up.
• As soon as the surface is dry, work continues. A damper tape is fixed around the entire perimeter.
• After which it is worth impregnating the primer in two layers.
• The fill level is measured. It is worth doing this efficiently, otherwise the result will not please you.

When there are large differences, you need to create a new screed by removing them. Having completed all the preparation work, you will have to wait at least a day until it dries completely.

Creating a Mixture

It is mineral compositions that can withstand serious loads. Therefore, when creating the mixture itself, you need to be careful. The material is sold dry, and water is used to obtain the required mass. The required amount is poured into the selected container. The manufacturer always talks about this when placing information on the packaging. Afterwards, pour in the base material in a gentle stream and mix thoroughly until a homogeneous mass is obtained.

You need to know that such a composition cannot be in finished form for a long time. You should read about this on the packaging. So the work process cannot be delayed. This especially applies to pouring a self-leveling floor. You should not change the rules and algorithm of actions on your own, violating the requirements.

Distribution of mass over the floor surface

Before work, it is worth studying the scheme according to which the finishing will have to be carried out. It's not that difficult:

• If there is deformation of the subfloor, it can be removed by applying a finishing or base coat.
• Distributing the mixture using a squeegee or spatula. All this is prepared in advance. Beacons are also set up in advance.
• Using a roller with needles, the entire mass is distributed. This procedure also expels existing air to prevent cracks from forming later.
• When the main filling process is completed, you can remove the beacons and see what happened.

This is exactly how you fill floors with your own hands in an apartment or house. You should not conduct experiments and give something away from yourself, otherwise nothing will work.

Polymer coating - stages of work

The polymer composition is more capricious and for this reason you need to do every step correctly. The solution should always be prepared taking into account the required proportions. If the room area is large, then you won’t be able to do it yourself. You need to take at least one assistant, since you shouldn’t interrupt the process, and you won’t be able to mix the solution alone. You also need to have everything you need on hand:

• Capacity (three pieces, the volume of which is at least 30 liters). It is under such conditions that the solution will be prepared easily and quickly.
• Special mixers are available for sale. polymer composition. But if there is no possibility of additional expenses, a drill with attachments will come to the rescue. It’s definitely not possible to create a high-quality composition manually.
• A roller with needles and a spatula to pour liquid into hard-to-reach places.
• Squeegee - they will be able to distribute the solution well.

Since after pouring the composition you will need to walk around the entire perimeter and expel the air, you cannot do without special paint shoes.

Working on the base

How the surface is prepared will determine the quality of the floor itself. It is important to know how to finish the floor on each surface. It could be wooden base– this is the most difficult thing, so you need to prepare it carefully:

• If present, skirting boards are removed.
• All dust and old coating is swept away.
• The cracks are cleaned and sealed.
• After which the surface is degreased to increase the level of adhesion.
• A screed is being made.
• If this is not enough, then any wooden sheet is laid.

Afterwards, you should carefully inspect the entire wooden surface for the presence of mold and mildew. Under a flooded base, these harmful processes can continue, and eventually everything will collapse in a short period of time.

Concrete base

Pouring a floor with concrete is more suitable option, but it’s worth checking for the following shortcomings:

• Presence of dust. It is cleaned and washed.
• Cracks and depressions appear, they are covered up.
• If there are protrusions on the contrary, they are knocked down.
• If a new screed was made for pouring a heated floor, then it takes at least 30 days to dry.
• Humidity no more than five percent.

It is also important that everything is clearly level. If there are errors, they will have to be eliminated. After which the main stages of work begin. Do not forget about the rules for preparing the mixture:

• Humidity no more than 70 percent, temperature no higher than 25 degrees Celsius.
• The primer mixture is applied and dried within 24 hours.
• When applying several layers, you need to wait until the previous one is completely dry.
• Most suitable material two-component - a base and a hardener. Mixing is carried out exactly according to the proportions specified in the instructions.

Many people wonder how to fill the floor in an apartment. Yes, there is a lot of information everywhere, but this does not mean that every instruction will help you achieve the desired result without the presence of special tools. So you shouldn’t experiment, otherwise you won’t be able to achieve the desired result and complete the repair.

What's next?

There are several steps that should be followed by those who decide to make self-leveling floors in a house or apartment:

• The finished mixture begins to be poured onto the leveled and dried surface.
• Each poured part is leveled using a spatula, and also distributed according to thickness.
• The process itself should not have a break. If you can’t mix as much as you need, then you can’t do without an assistant. While one is pouring and leveling, the other is preparing a new portion.
• To prevent anything from spoiling the surface, after drying you need to go over it with a needle roller. You can’t do without this, otherwise air bubbles will create holes.

Then you need to wait until everything dries. Some are coated with special varnishes for reliability. The process itself is elementary, but the master is required to be attentive and follow the rules. If you wait too long or combine the proportions of the composition incorrectly, everything will be ruined.

Many people today create colored self-leveling floors. The application procedure is not much different. The main thing is the addition of pigment desired color. This is already done ready-made composition so that there is an even distribution. Mix everything thoroughly, about 10 minutes, continuously. The most difficulties arise when fixing the decorative layer, namely the 3D effect. But this modern direction in decoration that attracts people's attention and desire.

Conclusion

So, we found out what floor pouring is and how it is done. As you can see, this operation can be done with your own hands. The procedure for performing any self-leveling floor is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Initially, you need to understand the theory, understanding every nuance and process. Only after this proceed to practice.