During construction or major renovations, when you have to re-lay the floor, it is not always that it turns out perfectly flat. This affects its service life; furniture and other items are uneven. How to level the floor? For many, this will seem like an impossible task. If you imagine how this is done, consult with friends and acquaintances, read information on the Internet, it turns out that there is nothing too difficult here.
Some people think of pouring a cement screed, but this work will take time and affect the budget. Nowadays, a method such as using gypsum fiber to cover the floor is gaining general popularity. It is especially suitable for substrates that cannot withstand heavy loads. GVL is primarily a finishing material; it is produced on the basis of gypsum; it also includes cellulose and many technological impurities. U gypsum fiber sheets There is no cardboard covering, its density is higher than that of gypsum board. This is an indicator that he is strong. They produce both simple GVL and GVLV, which means moisture resistant. According to environmental indicators, it is safe, fire-resistant, and does not burn at all in a fire. It has heat and sound insulation.
GVL is now gaining more and more popularity
When executing repair work a wet screed is not always suitable; there are times when you need to lay the floor quickly, but here it will take a period of time for it to dry out and become strong. GVL can be laid on a dry floor. The final finish requires a flat surface, so gypsum fiber is the best material for such work. It is used as a substrate, subfloor and insulation.
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Advantages and disadvantages of GVL for floors
Not all building materials have the same advantages. They have both positive and negative aspects. Let's consider the advantages of gypsum fiber sheets.
- Moisture resistant, massive. In terms of this property, gypsum fiber prevails over fiberboard and gypsum board.
- Has high density.
- Non-toxic, environmentally friendly (natural materials are used for production).
- Durable but at the same time flexible.
- It features excellent sound and heat insulation.
- Fireproof does not burn in fire.
- Tolerates temperature differences perfectly. When they change, its shape does not change.
- It is easy to install and there is almost no waste left after work.
- You can install a warm floor under the gypsum fiber.”
- Significantly lighter than wet screed.
- It does not creak during operation.
- Withstands heavy loads perfectly.
- Can be laid on a wooden base.
A few words about its shortcomings.
- It is quite heavy, weighing 18 kg.
- High price indicator. Drywall is much cheaper.
- It is worth remembering how to work with gypsum fiber correctly. If handled improperly, the material may become brittle.
Attention! Before purchasing gypsum fiber sheets, be sure to look at the labeling. Buy from qualified manufacturers. Unscrupulous manufacturers can replace GVLV with GVL, which is difficult to distinguish.
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Some information on the use of the material
To correctly make flooring from gypsum fiber sheets, follow the rules. The thickness of the slabs should be 10 mm. We lay guides on the base; firstly, this will serve as a kind of border when you pour the mixture, and secondly, it will serve as a support for the gypsum fiber sheets. Thanks to the leveling mixture, the floor will be smooth and warm. It is imperative to lay a film under the expanded clay, its thickness is 200 microns. It will serve as a vapor barrier.
Gypsum fiber can serve as a subfloor. It is laid on wooden and concrete floors. The material is laid on a ready-made cement screed, thereby further leveling the floor, and the finishing coating is laid on it. In addition to the above advantages, the material provides an ideal microclimate that breathes and absorbs excess moisture. It is worth mentioning an important advantage: under the gypsum fiber you can safely install a heating system, water, electric, or a combination of them. Due to the fact that the material is quite dense, at this temperature it will not collapse or deform.
The scope of application of GVL is varied. They cover ceilings, walls, and build internal partitions, structures for communications, decorate doors, windows, and this is an incomplete list.
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Features of purchasing GVL
Before you go to outlet for GVL sheets, consider the following points.
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If you are going to insulate the floor, it is important to remember that the material is divided into three types:
Expanded polystyrene is a bit like polystyrene foam, has a long service life, retains heat, but there are two disadvantages: it is easily flammable, and the price is quite high.
Fibrous materials include mineral wool and glass wool. Here you can give advice: if you decide to use this material as insulation, it is better to purchase imported one, since Russian material is not suitable for residential premises.
Backfill includes crushed stone, expanded clay, and slag pumice. They don't insulate very well, but the price is quite affordable.
GVL slabs, due to their properties, are in great demand and are increasingly in demand among professionals and those who like to carry out their own construction work.
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Options for dry screed based on GVL
Dry GVL screed is divided into three types:
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The main components of a prefabricated screed
This method is gaining more and more popularity. This is because it is convenient, practical, costs less money, and is easy to work with. The system itself, so to speak, contains several layers. It is equipped with reinforced concrete slabs and concrete floors. This method of laying the floor is used to level it, allows you to evenly distribute the load, and it is immediately covered with finishing material. Let's look at the components of such a screed:
Hydro- and vapor barrier. This is a kind of layer separating the main floor and screed elements. If the base is reinforced concrete, then film is used; if it is wooden, then it is better to use glassine.
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Compensating and soundproofing gasket. This component is an edge tape, it is attached with self-tapping screws or glued. They are made from foam film, isolon, basalt wool.
Leveling layer. Quartz sand is usually used for this. Perlite sand or expanded clay is better suited. The use of these materials will improve heat and sound insulation.
GVL slabs. Now there are two-layer ones on sale, you can use them or lay single ones in two layers, glue them together and secure them with screws.
If the leveling layer is more than 10 cm, then the gypsum fiber must be laid in three layers, its thickness should be the same as the first two.
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GVL for floors: installation rules
How to lay the floor correctly? You purchased everything you need and let the materials rest at room temperature. First of all, you need to lay down a plastic film; it will serve as a separating layer, then we attach an edge strip along the entire length of the room, its thickness should be 1 cm.
The next stage of work will be laying the vapor barrier substrate on the film; it needs to be laid with an overlap. Then cover with a leveling layer. It should be leveled using a level or rule, focusing on the guides, and compacted. Places near doors, walls and corners deserve attention.
Work begins from the corner near the door. Having installed the initial layer, it is smeared with mastic or glue for gypsum plasterboard. The next layer begins to be laid with opposite side. The folds of the gypsum fiber sheets are coated with glue. The distance between the screws that will need to secure the gypsum fiber should be exactly 30 cm.
Before laying the finishing coating, all seams and places where fasteners are located must be puttied. Once all the layers are laid, the surface is primed. It is imperative that the sheets be cut at the wall where you finished the flooring. Plates small size, intended for the floor, have folds. Glue is applied to them and the sheets are joined. If the folds are adjacent to the wall, then they are cut off and the slab is tightened with self-tapping screws.
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Installation of gypsum fiber board on a wooden floor
With wooden floors the situation is a little more complicated. The base coating must be carefully prepared. The first step is to remove the old coating and carefully inspect everything. If there are affected areas, they must be replaced and an antiseptic applied. Then, if necessary, install additional logs, check with a spirit level (for those who don’t know, that’s what they call a tool for checking the horizontal position of a line on a plane), and if necessary, level it. The next step is to screw the protruding screws in deeper, process them with a plane, and putty the flaws.
Now we need to do everything right. In order not to damage the GVL sheets, they are cut strictly in a lying position. A hacksaw or cutter is suitable for this. First, an edge strip is secured along the entire length of the room, then a vapor barrier is installed. To avoid any gaps or gaps, the strips of material are overlapped. Then a leveling layer of expanded clay is poured. The base must be leveled using a rule or a building level and compacted. All attention to places near the walls and in the corners.
Install the initial layer of gypsum fiber board, starting from the corner at the door. When laying the entire layer, the plane is covered with glue, then the second layer is laid, starting from the other side. According to the laying rules, glue is applied to the folds, and the slabs are tightened with self-tapping screws. Finally, putty is applied to the desired areas, and then the surface is primed. When the height of the expanded clay layer exceeds 10 cm, then an auxiliary layer of GVL is required.
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Prefabricated gypsum fiber board floor on a loose cushion
What is a prefabricated screed? These are 2 layers of gypsum fiber sheets, which are placed on top of each other with the joints shifted. The main thing is that they do not coincide. The slabs of both layers are fixed with special glue and tightened with screws. Therefore, the coating will be smooth and solid. The room should be + 10 degrees, but not lower, humidity 60%.
If the difference in floor unevenness is significant, apply auxiliary materials to level the plane. The slats are mounted on the base to create a grid with cells. Medium-fraction expanded clay is laid there in a layer of 2 cm. It will serve as noise and heat insulation. Then lay gypsum fiber in two layers. The bottom layer is screwed to the slats with self-tapping screws. The top one is fixed with the first one with glue. We look carefully at the joints; they should not match. And one more main point There must be a gap of 1.5 cm between the gypsum plasterboard and the wall. This will serve as additional ventilation and will help keep the structure intact.
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What consequences can result from errors when installing gypsum fiber boards?
Laying gypsum fiber board on the floor is not an easy task. If you can’t lay the floor yourself, there may be different reasons, you just don’t know how, you don’t have enough qualifications, this work is difficult for you, and you had to turn to builders, be careful, because unscrupulous workers who don’t know their job can allow gross mistakes this may affect the results of the work. Then everything will have to be corrected or redone.
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What mistakes can be made?
- Incorrectly prepared surface. Before work, you need to thoroughly clean the floor from dust, debris and dirt. We remove all the sand so that not a single grain of sand remains, because there may be cracks or cracks underneath it. This will affect the final result and the floor will not be level.
- Incorrectly selected material or poor quality. It happens that builders ask to purchase profiles for gypsum fiber sheets. You shouldn't do this. Profiles are usually used as beacons or serve as a boundary when pouring a leveling layer. Do not allow workers to leave gypsum fiber boards in expanded clay. Both materials are at the same height after coating. After a while, the floor will shrink, the mixture will settle, and depressions will appear on the sheets attached to the profiles, and the slabs will begin to sag.
- Wrongly selected expanded clay and gypsum plasterboard. The mixture must be homogeneous, without any additives in the form of pebbles or other components. As for gypsum fiber, it is better to purchase it from gypsum particle boards.
- No work experience or not enough the necessary tool. The installation was not carried out according to the rules; the gypsum fiber board folds were not coated with special glue. Glue must be applied. The self-tapping screws must be screwed in until the cap is completely recessed.
These are not all mistakes. Unfortunately, employees are committing more and more negligence. For such serious work as flooring, it is better to turn to real craftsmen.
Video: GVL for floors
Video: GVL floor slabs
The rapidity of progress affects all areas of life, but it is especially noticeable in the construction market. Here, not even a month goes by without innovation. Innovations have significantly changed and simplified technological processes all stages of construction, making life easier for both professionals and beginners. Thanks to the use of advanced technologies, labor-intensive processes in the construction, reconstruction and repair of buildings, such as brickwork or the installation of a concrete floor, are replaced by new, simpler ones. A great way to quality and fast device flooring - making a dry screed from gypsum fiber board sheets. The work is carried out in comfortable conditions, without dirt and dust, with minimal labor costs.
GVL - getting acquainted with the material
Conventional drywall on large construction sites and when carrying out local repair work, it increasingly replaces sheet material new generation - GVL (gypsum fiber sheet). It consists of polished slabs made of ordinary gypsum, but reinforced with reinforcement. For this purpose, fluff pulp is used - a product of waste paper processing. During the manufacturing process, boards marked GVLV are impregnated with hydrophobic compounds. A feature of gypsum fiber sheets that distinguishes them favorably from plasterboard is the absence of a cardboard shell, uniformity of structure, which gives the material high strength characteristics. The technology, in its principle, is very similar.
Gypsum fiber for floors: pros and cons
Gypsum fiber sheets are used for covering any surfaces in apartments, private houses, public buildings. Using GVL, you can quickly and conveniently finish walls and ceilings. They are much better suited for installing subfloors under flooring than plasterboard or fiberboard. Plasterboard boards with moisture-resistant properties declared by the manufacturer, when water gets on their surface, quickly collapse and warp. In addition, gypsum plasterboard is quite fragile; with strong targeted impacts, it can split.
Gypsum fiber boards behave completely differently under similar conditions. They differ:
- fire resistance- gypsum does not burn, the maximum damage that fire can cause to it is charring of the surface;
- strength- reinforcement gives brittle gypsum hardness sufficient for the use of gypsum plasterboard as a floor covering;
- moisture resistance- water does not penetrate into the pores of GVLV (moisture-resistant) boards due to treatment with water-repellent impregnation;
- low thermal conductivity- this indicator makes GV sheets an ideal material for laying on the floor; they perform the function of insulation;
- resistance to low temperatures- unlike drywall, which can withstand only four cycles of freezing and defrosting, gypsum fiber board can withstand as many as 15 such cycles.
A small fly in the ointment in a huge barrel of honey - the cost of the material is quite high compared to drywall, however, it is justified by its advantages.
Selecting high-quality gypsum fiber sheets for flooring
How to choose the right GVL for specific premises? First of all, pay attention to the price and manufacturer. Well-known companies maintain their brand and do not release obviously low-quality products. Low cost signals low quality due to the use of low-quality components or defects in the production process. By trying to save on material, you can lose much more time and money later when defective slabs fail before their stated service life.
When installing floors in rooms with high humidity - kitchens, bathrooms, baths, saunas, choose special moisture-resistant GVLV slabs. For other rooms, ordinary gypsum fiber sheets are sufficient. Between single-layer gypsum plasterboards of standard or small format sizes and sheets consisting of two layers, the latter are often chosen for flooring. They are made of two plates glued together offset and forming a locking system. This material is especially easy to install. It is from this that the so-called “dry” screed is usually made.
Advantages of dry screed
Although concrete coating is one of the most reliable, any craftsman, having once laid a floor from gypsum fiber sheets, is unlikely to want to tinker with concrete mortar for constructing a monolith the next time. Moreover, gypsum fiber has high hardness and is perfect for laying subfloors. They do not bend or creak and are suitable for laying any floor covering.
Installing gypsum fiber sheets is a real pleasure, especially for professional builders. Amateurs getting down to business for the first time can also easily cope with this dust-free work.
The material is easy to cut and, thanks to its low weight, is easy to install. Under dry floors, place engineering communications, lay cable mats for installing a “warm floor” system.
Dry screed base
The basis for laying GVL sheets is both a concrete coating and a wooden floor. Before starting installation, standard base preparation is required:
- concrete screed - the surface is leveled, cracks are filled with mortar, if necessary, rough grinding is performed;
- lean concrete - more cheap option grounds;
- wooden floor - repair of failed joists is carried out, the gaps between the floorboards are sealed with special putty.
When installing floors, special attention is paid to the horizontal surface. At all stages of work, from leveling the base to installing the finished floor, control is carried out using building level or level.
Laying gypsum fiber board: 7 simple steps
- The finished base is covered with waterproofing material. For concrete screed, polyethylene film 0.2 mm thick is used. Glassine is laid on wooden floors. The edges of the waterproofing are placed over the walls, the joints are sealed with construction tape.
- Edge tape is glued along the perimeter of the walls– a strip of polystyrene 10 cm wide, 1 cm thick. This measure helps prevent swelling and cracking of gypsum fiber boards.
- The entire surface of the base is covered with amorphous insulation to a thickness of at least 2 cm– expanded clay, perlite or coarse river sand. Perform leveling it building rule. So that you can move around on the leveled insulation without fear of damaging the horizontality of the bedding, several “islands” are arranged.
- From the wall opposite the door, begin the installation of the first layer of gypsum fiber boards. The folds are treated with PVA glue; additionally, the material is fastened with self-tapping screws in increments of 20-30 cm, depending on its size.
- The entire surface of the mounted sheets is treated with glue, and the next layer is laid on them. The second layer must be laid in the direction opposite to the first, so that the material is spaced apart.
- Putty seals the joints between the slabs, as well as locations for installing self-tapping screws. Cut off the protruding part of the edge tape and waterproofing material.
- Laying the finished floor – wooden boards, parquet, tiles, laminate, linoleum, PVC tiles. The coating is ready for use immediately after installation.
Did you know that plasterboard for cladding frame structures has its own analogue, which can be used when installing flooring - a special gypsum fiber sheet (GVL) for the floor? The composition of this finishing material includes pressed gypsum, reinforced with dissolved cellulose with the addition of various technological “additives” that increase the strength and moisture resistance of the product.
Note that such a sheet has one feature that makes it easy to distinguish it from its plasterboard counterpart: it has a uniform structure with the absence of a cardboard shell. Today we will try to talk about this material in more detail - we will look at the main characteristics of its types, give advice on their use, and also talk about the nuances and features of the technology for laying gypsum fiber board floors.
Types of GVL slabs
Durable and environmentally friendly gypsum fiber is produced in the form of rectangular slabs with straight (PC) and folded (FC) edges. Specialists from KNAUF, a constant leader in the production of high-quality finishing materials– there are two types of gypsum fiber boards with different operational properties, defining the scope of their application:
- Standard GVL slab - has high performance strength, hardness and fire safety. Can be used for finishing industrial and residential premises with normal humidity levels. Available in the form of rectangular sheets with a length of 2500, a width of 1200 and a thickness of 10 or 12.5 mm.
- Moisture-resistant GVLV board is a material treated with special hydrophobic substances with high moisture resistance. Used in rooms with high humidity: baths, showers, toilets or kitchens. Suitable for finishing attics, basements and garages. Available in both regular (2500x1200x10 or 12.5 mm) and small-format versions 1200x1200x10 mm for more convenient installation.
The KNAUF company produces a special type of GVL - floor element (EP) "KNAUF-superfloor", made by gluing two mutually offset GVL sheets 1200x600x10 mm. The edges of the product have folds 50 mm wide, its total thickness is 20 mm. The advantage of the EP slab is that it is completely ready for installation in the KNAUF prefabricated floor substructure.
Sheet characteristics
In addition to hardness and strength, which is achieved due to the high concentration of the reinforcing element - cellulose, the material has a lot of other positive characteristics:
- Possibility of use in any type of interior decoration - GVL slabs are used for flooring, installation interior partitions, wall and ceiling cladding.
- Humidity control – the structure of the material allows you to dry the room by absorbing excess moisture, and also “give” it back when the air becomes drier.
- High viscosity - the product is easy to install, does not crack or crumble during processing.
- Low thermal conductivity - excellent thermal insulation properties of the material allow it to be used as a reliable insulation material. This property is most in demand when using gypsum fiber board sheets for laying floors.
- Non-flammability - gypsum fiber is used as fire protection buildings and building structures. In the event of a fire, the material can prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent rooms and limit its access to important communications.
- Light weight - light (about 18 kg) gypsum fiber boards do not create a serious additional load on load-bearing floors, their transportation and installation are not particularly difficult.
- Opportunity laying GVL on a wooden floor or concrete base - installation of the floor covering is carried out in a fairly short term. You can lay carpet on the finished surface, parquet board, linoleum, laminate or tile.
- Frost resistance - gypsum fiber boards can withstand repeated freezing and thawing, which allows them to be used in cold, unheated rooms: garages, garden or country houses.
Features of using GVL for flooring
Today, most craftsmen prefer the dry method of leveling the floor. Unlike “wet” screed, this method avoids the following problems:
- use of additional materials (concrete, sand, cement, gravel);
- the formation of large amounts of construction debris and dirt;
- time spent waiting for the cement mortar to dry.
Leveling the surface in this way is not only easier, but also much faster - after laying the gypsum fiber board on the floor, you can immediately begin its final finishing.
Please note that the use of modern materials for finishing floor coverings requires the construction of a reliable and absolutely level base. Naturally, not all coatings can boast excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics, so a screed made of gypsum fiber sheets will be the best option.
It should be added that for carpet, linoleum or laminate, these sheets can serve as a backing.
Installation of gypsum fiber boards
Installation of gypsum fiber board floors can be carried out on any base - you just need to take into account some features of the installation technology. If increased requirements are placed on the thermal insulation of a room, then the gypsum fiber will have to be reinforced with other materials, for example, expanded polystyrene boards.
The structure of the gypsum fiber board allows the installation of a “warm floor” system on its surface. However, it should be remembered that the use of thick gypsum fiber board floor elements in this case is not recommended - ordinary sheets with a thickness of 10 mm are quite suitable.
Hidden gasket of various engineering systems is another undeniable advantage of dry screed.
Preparing the base
Before starting installation activities, you should prepare the base by insulating it and installing guides. When leveling floors in residential premises, expanded clay with a granule “caliber” of no more than 50 mm can be used as insulation. Under the insulating layer it is necessary to lay waterproofing - PET film, roofing felt or glassine.
Guides from wooden beam, which need to be mounted on the surface of the base of GVL floors, will perform two functions at once:
- a reference point that determines the level of insulation backfill;
- lathing for laying and fastening gypsum fiber boards.
After filling the expanded clay, it must be leveled using a rule, leaning on the guides, and carefully compacted, turning special attention to the corners of the room.
Installation process in stages
The process of installing a dry screed is a labor-intensive and responsible undertaking that must be carried out in several stages in a certain sequence:
- We lay along the wall near the floor mounting tape, which will absorb impact noise and compensate for deformation from load and temperature fluctuations.
- We lay the first layer of gypsum fiber board for the floor, installing the sheets from the angle closest to front door into the room. We fasten the slabs to the sheathing using self-tapping screws of the required length.
- Apply to the finished surface adhesive composition and install the second layer of slabs, laying them “in a staggered manner” with an offset of 250–300 mm. For reliability, it can also be attached to the sheathing using longer screws.
We have already talked about ready-made floor elements in the form of sheets, which are glued with an offset, forming folds for a more reliable connection. If you care about the durability of the floor and want to simplify its installation, then this is just your choice. The only remark is that this material is somewhat more expensive than its standard counterparts.
Nuances in the work of laying gypsum fiber boards
During the installation of dry screed, several nuances arise that need to be given the closest attention:
- Make sure that the width of the gaps between the plates does not exceed 2 mm. Before laying the finishing coating of linoleum or carpet, you will need to putty both the seams and the screw heads.
- Remove excess adhesive solution, do not let it accumulate in the seams and near the walls.
- At the end of the work, apply a layer of primer to the surface of the new floor, which can “combine” with the applied adhesive composition.
- If the installation of GVL floors includes ready-made panels– cut the folds from those edges that will be adjacent to the main floors and strengthen the edges of the sheets to the guides using self-tapping screws.
- When installing a “warm floor” system, you should lay an additional layer of insulation from polystyrene foam boards– they will prevent heat loss through the base of the floor.
In conclusion, I would like to note that today’s approach to repair requires the use of modern materials and the application of new technologies. We believe that the installation of screeds using gypsum fiber board for floors fully meets this rule. Most professionals prefer this method of surface leveling, rightfully considering it the simplest, fastest and least expensive. What do you think about this?
For lately The construction industry has undergone significant changes. New materials have appeared and advanced technologies. This equally affected the execution of floor installation work. Since 2000, such technology as dry floor screed from the German company Knauf has come to the market of the CIS countries. It is now widely used in residential multi-storey buildings, cottage-type houses and in various office establishments. The main advantage of dry floor screed GVL is the speed of installation. It can be installed in one day and is immediately ready for use, unlike cement screed, which requires 28 days to fully harden. Also important is the complete absence of water during installation and fairly low dust formation.
Types of floor screeds and their features
During construction or renovation, an important element is the installation of a durable rough covering of the screed, on which it will then be laid decorative coating such as laminate, parquet, linoleum or ceramic floor tiles. Today there are several types of screeds. This is a classic cement or concrete screed, it is applied wet method. There is also a semi-dry screed using a minimal amount of water. There is a so-called self-leveling floor, which serves to level the surface of the subfloor. And finally, a type such as, which is mounted from GVL slabs over a layer of expanded clay backfill without the use of water.
Tools and materials
To perform high-quality work on installing a bulk floor made of expanded clay and gypsum plaster sheets, you will need necessary set tool:
- tape measure and marker;
- laser level;
- usual high-quality construction level;
- perforator;
- screwdriver with attachments;
- jigsaw;
- drywall knife;
- square or metal ruler;
- roughing plane for edges;
- construction stapler;
- guides for beacons made of aluminum or galvanized profiles;
- rule or leveling rod;
- bucket and shovel;
- vacuum cleaner;
To install a dry gypsum fiber floor, you will need materials that must be purchased in advance and delivered to the site. For the screed you will need:
- 80 micron thick polyethylene film for vapor barrier;
- edge tape 100 mm wide;
- PVA glue;
- self-tapping screws for drywall 19 mm long;
- expanded clay backfill Compevit with granule sizes of 1-4 mm;
- sheets of dry Knauf screed;
- putty Knauf
Quantity required material calculated based on the floor area of the room and the thickness of the backfill. Anyone can easily perform all these calculations for their apartment themselves, knowing the length and width of the rooms and the corridor. It is worth noting that the material must be purchased with a small margin, based on the fact that during the installation process there will necessarily be cuttings of slabs and the thickness of the screed at different points may differ.
Dry screed technology
The technology for laying Knauf loose flooring is quite simple, but even it requires sufficient experience and skills. Therefore, in order to get the job done quickly, efficiently and without damaging expensive material, it is better to contact qualified specialists. The contact details of such craftsmen can always be found in construction supermarkets or on specialized websites, and customer reviews can also be found there.
The entire process of installing a dry screed can be divided into several stages:
- preparatory stage;
- marking;
- vapor barrier device;
- backfill device made of expanded clay;
- installation of sheets of dry Knauf screed.
Let's take a closer look at each stage separately.
Preparatory stage of work
Before starting work on the screed, it is necessary to dismantle the old existing floor covering - it can be parquet, wooden floor, old tiles. If this is an overlap, it is necessary to repair large dents and holes with mortar or putty. After the solution has dried, it is necessary to vacuum the floor surface, remove all construction debris, and in some cases it is necessary to prime the surface. By this time, all materials must be purchased and delivered to the site. After this, you can begin installing a vapor barrier.
Marking
Before installing a bulk screed, you first need to measure all the rooms using laser level with markings on all walls of the rooms horizontal plane. In this case, it will be easy to determine the difference in base levels in different rooms. Usually it does not exceed two or three cm. However, if a significant difference in elevations is detected, then this must be taken into account when filling a layer of expanded clay sand insulation. After measuring all the rooms, you can finally determine the thickness of the backfill and, therefore, its quantity in each room or room.
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Installation of expanded clay insulation
After completing all preparatory operations start installing a vapor barrier from polyethylene film. For this purpose, a film with a thickness of 80 microns is used. Lay it in such a way that the film extends 10 cm onto the walls. When using a film smaller than the area of the room, it is laid with an overlap of 150 mm and all joints are taped. The vapor barrier will not allow moisture to penetrate through the ceiling and damage the structure of the dry screed. All work must be carried out at a temperature not lower than 10 degrees Celsius and a base humidity of not more than 65%. After installing a vapor barrier around the perimeter of the room, an edge strip 100 mm wide is attached to the walls. It can be secured with a construction stapler.
The next stage is the installation of expanded clay insulation. The best example for this purpose is the dry backfill for prefabricated floors Compevit, which has been certified by Knauf. Until recently, this was the only backfill that met all the requirements. However, now other backfills have begun to be produced, including backfill from the Knauf company. Expanded clay insulation Compevit is characterized by high quality in granulation composition, as well as the absence of dust, which is very important indicator when working in residential areas. The thickness of the insulation layer can be from 20 to 100 mm. Usually this is determined at the very beginning and the volume of purchased material is calculated based on this thickness and area.
After installing a vapor barrier and installing an edge strip, they begin backfilling dry expanded clay for prefabricated floors, and roughly determine how much needs to be poured into a particular room. Next, it is necessary to compact and level the surface of the insulation, ensuring the required thickness.
Leveling the insulation surface
Surface leveling is carried out using two beacon guides and one leveling rod. The guides are placed parallel to each other at the width of the leveling rail. The guides are installed on a layer of expanded clay, and the installation level is checked along the entire length using a laser level. In this case, the installation accuracy should be as high as possible. After the guides are set, expanded clay backfill is poured between them. Using a leveling rod or rule, the level of expanded clay is leveled to the level of the guides. At the same time, if necessary, add the missing or remove excess expanded clay. After the strip between the guides is aligned, they are rearranged further and the process is repeated. The result should be a smooth surface of the insulation.
Installation of GVL slabs from Knauf
The next stage is the actual laying of the dry screed slabs. The sizes of gypsum board sheets for dry floors are: 1500x800x12.5 mm; 1200x600x20 mm; 2500x1200x12 mm, there are other sizes. Typically, gypsum fiber boards are made by gluing two gypsum fiber boards together. Installation of slabs usually begins from the doorway from left to right. In the first slab adjacent to the wall, cut out the outermost joining quarter with a jigsaw. The second plate is laid on the first after coating the joint quarter with PVA glue. The third and fourth are laid in the same way. All sides that are adjacent to the walls are cut off from the connecting quarters. The last slab in the first row is cut to the remaining size. The second row begins with the cut tiles remaining from the first row. This achieves maximum savings, and the seams of adjacent rows are shifted by at least 250 mm. After laying three rows, all connecting joints are fastened with self-tapping screws using a screwdriver with a pitch of about 300 mm.
The self-tapping screws are screwed strictly vertically with the head slightly recessed by about 1 mm. If the screw goes in at an angle, you must unscrew it and screw in a new one next to it.
After all the slabs are laid and secured with self-tapping screws, remove dust and debris using a vacuum cleaner. Depending on the type of finishing decorative coating, such as linoleum or carpet, all joints and recesses from self-tapping screws are sealed with Knauf putty. After this, it is advisable to let the dry screed sit for about a day and you can begin fine coating floor. You can use a knife to cut off the protruding edges of the plastic film and edging tape around the perimeter of the room.
Positive and negative qualities of dry screed
Dry screed Knauf has become very popular due to its obvious advantages, which include the following:
- laying the screed is carried out without water in a completely dry way, which allows it to be carried out in residential buildings without fear of leakage to the lower floors;
- the speed of installation of a Knauf bulk floor is the highest compared to other types of screeds;
- after installing the dry screed, you can begin laying the decorative floor covering almost immediately;
- the weight of a dry gypsum plasterboard floor screed is significantly less than a similar cement screed;
- work on installing a dry gypsum plasterboard floor can be carried out at any time of the year;
- Knauf bulk floor has high thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics;
- the design of the dry screed allows you to hide various utilities and underfloor heating elements;
- Considering that laying a Knauf loose floor does not require special qualifications, all work can be performed by anyone who knows how to use power tools.
Despite the large number of advantages, Knauf loose flooring has disadvantages that can be found among customer reviews:
- dry prefabricated Knauf floors do not like humidity very much, and can become deformed in case of flooding, this applies to the corridor next to the bathroom;
- It is not recommended to install such a floor in damp rooms, bathrooms, toilets;
- high-quality gypsum board is expensive, so such a screed cannot be called cheap;
- if the screed is installed in low rooms, then structurally it steals up to 100 mm from the height of the room.
Cost of dry screed Knauf
The cost of a Knauf loose floor is determined by calculating the number of materials taking into account their price, and adding the cost of work. The price of a screed with a thickness of about 80 mm will be approximately $15-16 per square meter. Of these, $9-10 is the cost of materials, the rest is the wages of hired workers. Nowadays websites have built-in tools for calculating the cost of materials.
The floor is one of the complex building structures. GVL floors consist of several elements. Each performs its own function. The result is a durable, perfectly flat surface. To make it like this, different methods and materials are used.
Recently, “wet” leveling methods have been replaced by dry methods. These include the technology of covering with gypsum fiber sheets. They are laid on different foundations. GVL on a wooden floor is one of the best materials For .
Gypsum fiber sheets – modern material, designed for leveling curved surfaces, finishing walls, ceilings and floors. They are made from reinforced gypsum and cellulose. It is specially disassembled into fibers to enhance the strength of the final product. During the production process, the raw materials acquire a homogeneous structure and high density. When gypsum hardens, the material becomes dense and durable.
Gypsum fiber products are similar to gypsum plasterboard and fiberboard, but have a number of undeniable advantages over these materials.
- They are highly environmentally friendly, as they are made from natural ingredients. The production process does not use synthetic inclusions or artificial chemical additives. Which are released and poison the air during the operation of the room.
- GV sheets are fireproof. The material does not burn, but chars. Does not emit toxic gas.
- Dry gypsum fiber board flooring is strong and durable and can withstand severe mechanical loads. It does not sag or creak over time. This characteristic they obtained due to the high concentration of cellulose. It acts as a reliable connecting element.
- Compared to drywall, gypsum boards have the greatest moisture resistance. That's why they cover them wooden floors in kitchens, bathrooms. It preserves itself well and protects the finish coating, made from wood components, from warping.
- GV slabs are a universal leveling coating for any finishing material. It serves as a substrate for laminate, carpet, linoleum.
- The material, made of gypsum and cellulose, perfectly retains heat and prevents noise from spreading.
- GVL are easy to install and easy to transport. They cut and shape well. They have convenient dimensions. It is pleasant to lay them, thanks to the absence of dust, dirt, and contact with water.
- They are suitable for covering warm floors and do a good job of masking communications.
Gypsum fiber boards are ideal for leveling wooden floors. They do not interfere or restrict the freedom of natural boards.
GVL parameters
Plates made of gypsum and fiber are produced in two variations.
- Simple products are intended for interior decoration with low to medium humidity levels. They are placed on the floor, used to line walls, to create partitions and original design elements.
- Moisture resistant - play the role of a hydrophobic layer on wooden floors kitchens, bathrooms, bathrooms.
In terms of dimensions, GVL slabs are standard - 1200x1500 mm and small-format - 1500x500 mm or 1200x600 mm. Small-sized gypsum boards are 2 sheets whose central axes intersect and are shifted in vector directions. This is how a rebated locking system is obtained.
Attention! Weight of one small formatsheet- up to 18 kg. Width – no more than 50 mm. Length -1.5 m. Thickness - up to 20 mm. Hardness – over 20 MPa. Thermal conductivity – no more than 0.36 W/m.
Buying GVl slabs, the calculation is made with the condition that the products are laid in 2 layers. Therefore, the total floor area is multiplied by 2 and divided by the GVL parameters.
Installation of gypsum fiber board on a wooden floor
To make installation of gypsum fiber boards an easy and enjoyable job, you must accept 2 conditions:
- Store the material in a dry, well-ventilated area before installation:
- Carry out cutting only in a horizontal position on a flat surface: place the GVL on a table or workbench so that it does not bend. Use a jigsaw, hacksaw or sharp carpenter's knife for this.
Gypsum fiber sheets are laid in different ways. This depends on the quality of the base and installation scheme.
Prefabricated gypsum fiber board floor on a loose cushion
If there is a large difference in floor height, use additional materials for alignment. On rough boards or an old warped floor, slats are stuffed in the form of a lattice with cells. Medium-fraction expanded clay is poured into them to a thickness of 2 cm. This layer will play the role of thermal and noise insulation.
Next, lay gypsum fiber sheets in 2 layers. The first is attached to the slats using screw-in elements. The second one is glued to the bottom one. At the same time, make sure that the joints of the plates do not coincide and that the locks fit together as tightly as possible.
Attention! Leveling gypsum fiber products should not fit tightly to the walls. A distance of 1-1.5 cm will create conditions for additional ventilation and will serve to better preserve the entire floor structure, made from natural parts.
Multilayer prefabricated “dry” screedunder GVL
First stage
Before installing gypsum fiber boards, the rough foundation is examined and repaired.
- Checking the condition wooden logs and horizontal parts of the general structure, their horizontality and possible depressions and protrusions. If serious defects are detected, damaged elements are repaired or replaced with new ones. Rotten boards and beams are removed, and well-processed, reliable parts of the same format as the old ones are put in their place.
- All structural elements are processed protective composition: special impregnation for wood. It will protect the boards and other components of the multilayer device from mold, mildew, and insects. Compositions with fire-retardant inclusions will protect the material from fire.
- If there are differences in heights of individual boards of the rough base, grinding and cutting off protruding parts are carried out. The depressions are filled with sealants and wood putty. Sometimes craftsmen use a simple solution: fine sawdust, mixed with PVA glue. When hardened, the composition acquires special strength and reliably protects the material from any subsequent damage.
- Particular attention should be paid to protruding nails and screws that secure the boards to the beams and joists. They need to be buried in the tree as deep as possible. The dent is sealed with a mixture of sawdust and PVA or any sealant.
Second stage
When the base is prepared, proceed with the installation of the thermal insulation layer under the gypsum fiber board on the wooden floor.
- The rough plank base is covered with a vapor barrier fabric: glassine, corrugated or waxed paper.
- An edge strip is installed along the perimeter of the room to the walls. This can be a narrow strip of basalt wool, foam film, isolon: thickness - 1 cm, width - 0.1 m. It is screwed on with self-tapping screws or glued on. Attention! The insulation tape will protect the gypsum fiber board from cracking and bending.
- Next, the main leveling material is cut. When taking measurements, take into account the size of the gaps and the geometric features of the room. The incisions are made electric jigsaw strictly along the intended lines. The edges are lightly cleaned of protruding components of the slab.
- A 20 mm layer of fine expanded clay or fine clay is poured onto the prepared wooden boards. river sand. The insulation is leveled using the rules and checked for level.
- On bulk material lay mats of fiberglass or polystyrene, which are cut into squares (rectangles).
- Top on created from different materials“layer cake” the first level of gypsum fiber boards is laid. For this purpose, moisture-resistant sheets are used. The gap between them should be no more than 1 m.
Attention! Installation of gypsum fiber boards should begin from the doors. This way the thermal insulation layer will maintain its integrity and remain level. If it is necessary to install from the opposite side, you should create “islands” of sheets and move along them.
- The first layer of dry screed made of gypsum fiber parts is covered with an adhesive mass. To do this, use PVA dispersion or special mastic. The composition is applied in an even thin layer. If it has a liquid consistency, use a brush or roller. The thick product is distributed with a fine-toothed spatula. The adhesive solution contains water, but the moisture-resistant characteristics of GVL will prevent the material from deforming.
- Work begins from the corner opposite to the doors. The gluing of the slabs is carried out in stages, in rows. Leveling products of the second level are attached perpendicular to the first. If at first the sheets were laid lengthwise, then the last layer is laid across the base.
- Small-sized leveling products are glued and secured with self-tapping screws in increments of 20 cm. Large-sized ones are screwed at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Attention! To screw the GVL, special hardware with double threads is used.
- Upon completion of laying the sheets, the joints and locations of the screw heads are sealed with putty or sealant, and the protruding edges of the edge tape are cut off with a sharp knife.
To correctly lay gypsum fiber board on a wooden floor, no special skills are required. The main thing is to understand the main technological points, listen to the advice of the experts and follow the installation instructions.
Important nuances about GVL
Gypsum fiber leveling boards can be placed as a substrate under laminate, linoleum, carpet directly on a wooden base. But it must be in perfect condition.
Sheets are cut in the last row to achieve an optimal spacing of 25 cm.
Factories and construction plants produce double small-format products ready for installation. Their joining occurs using folds, which are covered with glue at the production stage. If the fastening projections extend onto the walls, they are cut off. Such plates are tightened with fastenings (screws).
Gypsum fiber material lends itself well to molding. For complex cutting, a diagram drawn on tracing paper with the geometric features of the room must be placed on a flat sheet of gypsum fiber and the necessary cuts must be made according to the markings. Round shapes are first outlined drilled holes and then cut out with a jigsaw.
GVL is placed on a wooden floor when they want to do absolutely flat surface at minimum costs. Boards made from inexpensive gypsum and cellulose are an excellent alternative to more expensive analogues.
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