How to make a polymer self-leveling floor with your own hands. Creating polymer floors with your own hands. Preparation of the polymer mixture

And other wooden materials on a solid base, metal, after applying a special primer.

In the article we will talk about how to make self-leveling polymer floors with your own hands in an apartment, as well as in a garage.

Types of polymer bases

At the heart of the synthetic coating used in houses, apartments and offices is one of the polymers.

Epoxy resin - together with additional components creates a durable, abrasion and chemical resistant coating.

A smooth, elastic floor is able to withstand any deformation.

Methyl methacrylate floors are created by mixing acrylic resins and hardeners. They are highly resistant to ultraviolet and moisture; with the help of dyes, unique color combinations. Hardening of the floor occurs in 2 hours, and the service life is up to 40 years. For all positive characteristics this type of self-leveling floor is rarely used, the reason for this was the high cost and harmful fumes that occur during the pouring process.

Features and Benefits:

Hygienic and easy care.
Resistance to mechanical influences.
Seamless fill technology.
Possibility to make polymer floors on your own.
Variety of color solutions.
Immunity to chemicals.
High speed of self-leveling floor hardening reduces repair time.
Durability of use.

Foundation preparation

The main requirements for the preparation of the base are the correction of defects and the cleaning of the surface. If there is an old coating, it must be completely removed. The entire area of \u200b\u200bthe subfloor is thoroughly cleaned of debris and dust (you should use a vacuum cleaner). After cleaning, existing defects become clearly visible. Existing gaps and cracks are puttied, the protrusions are knocked off. The best way surface treatment considered application grinder. If the polymer floor has to be poured onto ceramic tiles, its surface is deprived of smoothness with sandpaper or sandpaper.

It is necessary to measure the horizontal level of the base: if its difference does not exceed 4 mm, then you can start manufacturing a polymer floor. With significant level fluctuations, the surface will have to be leveled with a sand-cement screed and set aside further work before it dries.

In the vast majority of cases, a poorly prepared base is to blame for poor-quality pouring of the self-leveling floor, which caused delamination.

After the screed has dried, a thorough primer is required, which increases the adhesion between the substrate and the self-leveling floor, and also reduces absorption. polymer mixture, and hence the consumption expensive composition. It is better to apply the primer in two layers, taking a break of at least 4 hours between them. The composition is applied with a roller. To prevent the liquid mixture of the self-leveling floor from leaking near the wall, this area is glued with a damper tape. Also along the perimeter of the room set wooden slats, which will save space for the expansion joint.

Solution preparation

For work you will need:

Drill with a nozzle.
Wide spatula.
Roller with a needle insert on a long handle.
Big bucket.

It's time to prepare the working solution. This process is described in the instructions on the package, to obtain an excellent result, the manufacturer's recommendations should be strictly followed. To create a polymer floor, you will need two components, one of which is a hardener. Mixing takes place in a large container. During the reaction, heat is released, so it is recommended to lower the container in advance, where mixing is carried out into a container with cold water to slow down the reaction.

Novice masters can mix the composition in a bucket, pouring two components in turn. A nozzle with spatulas is selected for the drill, and a low mixer speed is used during operation. The mixing process takes about two minutes.

Mounting

The floor must be poured at a temperature not lower than +10°C, at a lower temperature chemical processes slow down, and the polymer will not spread well over the surface of the base. Heat will cause the components to cure too quickly and will not allow for a quality pour.

During the curing process, the floor must not be exposed to drafts or direct sunlight. Upper layer polymer coating must not dry before the rest of the mass, otherwise cracks will appear.

The liquid polymer is poured into the corner far from the entrance and the wooden leveling agent is used to spread it over the surface. The work is carried out in strips, without stops, the composition quickly hardens in the container. It is good to connect an assistant to this process, because it will be difficult for one person without experience to do everything. During the pouring process, the solution is rolled with a spiked roller, which removes air bubbles. The work ends at the entrance to the room. It is not worth walking on a fresh composition, otherwise traces of shoes will remain.

After the composition has dried (the process, depending on the polymer, takes several hours or days), the wooden planks around the perimeter are removed, and the seams are filled with sealant and closed with a plinth. Finishing layer self-leveling floor is coated with two layers of varnish, it gives the surface shine and smoothness, and also increases wear resistance. Using different kinds varnish: matte, colorless, glossy or colored - you can achieve the desired effect.

thin-layer polymer coatings;
impregnation of concrete;
thick-layer polymer coatings with sand.

Most economical option self-leveling floor - polyurethane impregnation. This is one of the most reliable types of coatings for the garage. Looks like varnished concrete. To obtain a more attractive floor covering, color markings can be applied to it.

The first step is to clean the rough surface. If the floor was wooden, then you need to dismantle it along with the lags. Having cleared the base of debris and dust, you can evaluate the quality of the subfloor. If there are cracks and chips on it, then this is a bad signal, indicating the destruction of the material. All damage to the screed must be repaired.

In some cases, before pouring the self-leveling floor in the garage, it is necessary to perform a cement screed. This is advisable if the floor is badly broken, there are large differences in height, or if there is no screed as such.

If you still need to make a screed, then pay special attention to the arrangement of waterproofing. In addition, to improve the strength characteristics of the floor in the garage, which is very important in this room, make reinforcement. To do this, you can use a galvanized mesh laid in a solution.

After the screed has dried or the existing floor base has been cleaned, it must be primed. For what?

The primer will improve the strength of the base.
Thus, the adhesion of the screed to the polymer floor is ensured.
Protection of the surface from the appearance / reproduction of microorganisms.

Stick around the perimeter of the garage damper tape, which will serve as a cushioning layer. This is done to the height of the pouring of the polymer floor.

Now you need to install beacons / guides. If you have a small garage, then you can use corners, pipes or metal profiles as guides. Lay them in such a way that the top edges of the guides are in the same plane. For these purposes, you can use long screws. Divide the floor into square/rectangular sections. Screw self-tapping screws into the tops of the rectangles/squares. To do this, you first need to drill out the screed and insert the dowels into the holes. Raise the beacon if necessary. Do it with a solution.

Now you should prepare the polymer mixture according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Mix it thoroughly. For this you can use electric drill with a special nozzle mixer. It is important that the drill runs at low speed, otherwise a lot of air bubbles will form in the mixture. And this will negatively affect the quality of the polymer floor.

Pouring resin is fast because it dries quickly. That's why best method performing this work - prepare the mixture based on a rectangle / square set on beacons - pour it and level it.

At the end of the pouring, you need to roll the mass with a studded roller. Thus, air and excess moisture that have entered the polymer will be removed. The self-leveling floor can only be used when it is completely dry. The time it takes to do this depends on the temperature in the garage.

Drying the floor artificially is not worth it. When the room warms up, a crust forms on the polymer. In this case, the thickness of the self-leveling floor will remain viscous. As a result, the floor in the garage under the weight of the car will simply sag over time.

The work on the installation of a polymer floor has many complexities and nuances, but it is quite affordable to do it on your own. Instructional videos will help you follow the technology.

Video

You can see the process of pouring the self-leveling floor in the video below:

A photo

AT recent times The technology of applying polymeric floor coverings is gaining more and more popularity. The second name of the technology is self-leveling floor. This partly explains the manufacturing technology. The finished composition is not mounted, but poured onto the prepared floor surface.

Polymer floors

Bulk polymer floors do not contain cement. This greatly speeds up the installation process. The polymer mixture consists of two, in some cases three phases.

The basis of the mixture is acrylic, polyester or epoxy. The most resistant to external damage mixtures, which include epoxy.

In addition to the main component, the mixture includes the following elements:

hardener;
granite chips or gravel;
colored pigments.

Advantages of polymer coatings

Consider the main advantages of this type of coating:

short polymerization period;
high level of elasticity;
resistance to low temperatures;
high level of wear resistance;
long service life;
ease of use;
safety for human health;
aesthetic appearance;
variety of textures and shades;
the possibility of installing a three-dimensional coating.

Technology Disadvantages

Speaking about polymer floor coverings, it is impossible not to note their inherent disadvantages:

high cost of materials;
installation complexity;
high cost of installation work;
when installing polymer coatings on a new foundation, it is necessary to withstand a break before installation for at least 1 month;
vapor tightness;
when installing the coating on a cement base, it is necessary to additionally apply a layer of waterproofing material. Otherwise, due to vapors penetrating the concrete, the coating may be damaged.

Peculiarities

Polymer flooring has the following characteristics:

The absence of connecting seams leads to a high level of hygiene. The cover is easy to clean both wet and dry. Seamless technology prevents the spread of insects indoors. The material does not absorb moisture and retains an aesthetic appearance for a long period of time.
High level of resistance to various chemicals. Alkaline and acid solutions are not able to destroy the finished coating.
Lots of modifications. Any end result of surface appearance can be achieved. The coating can be either smooth or rough.
Diversity colors. Ability to create unique design coatings. Three-dimensional drawing technology is also popular.
High level of strength. Thanks to the polymers that are part of the mixture, it is possible to achieve strength equal to the strength of the concrete base.
High level of elasticity. Due to this, the surface is not subject to external damage.
The material does not support combustion.
Durability. If you follow the basic rules for caring for the coating, you can achieve a long period of its use.

The main types of polymer coatings

Do-it-yourself polymer floors are applied using two main technologies:

Thin coating. The thickness of the applied mixture does not exceed 0.35 mm. This technology is suitable for work in standard rooms with an average level of load on the floor surface. The mixture can be used as a final coat or under a waterproofing mixture.
Coating with high level filling. Its average thickness can reach 4 mm. This technology is intended for installation of coatings in buildings with an increased level of load on the floor. Differs in the high level of firmness and durability. Possible various options surface decor with additional inclusions.

Installation work

To fully familiarize yourself with how to make polymer floors, you need to study the main stages of work:

Preparation of materials for work.
Base surface treatment.
Floor priming.
Finish coating.

Preparation of materials for work

The work is done with the use of metal tools. In order not to damage the polymer coating, it is recommended to pre-soak them in an acetone solution for 6 hours.

During installation, the roller must also be moistened as often as possible in a solution of acetone. This will prevent polymerization of the mixture residue on the roller.

Note! Work is performed only with dry tools. Use contaminated - unacceptable.

To install the self-leveling floor, you will need the following tools:

plastic roller;
bucket;
paint spatula;
rule;
shoes with specialized soles;
mixer;
squeegee - regulates the level of coating thickness;
funds personal protection- work with toxic materials. Therefore, protective gloves and a respiratory mask must be used during installation;
a vacuum cleaner.

Base surface treatment

Before starting work, you must first prepare the base of the floor. It must be level and free of chips and cracks.

Polymer coating can be applied to any type of substrate. However, before applying it, it is imperative to prepare the surface for work.

First of all, it is worth checking the evenness of the coating. To do this, you need to use the level.

Note! Deviations from the level should not exceed 4 mm.

Processing features depend on the type of floor surface.

Working with a wooden base. Surface cleaning, moisture check. It is necessary to remove the baseboard, paint and stains. The surface should be sanded. Dust and dirt are removed with a vacuum cleaner. To prevent damage to the polymer surface, it is necessary to apply a layer of screed to the wooden surface. It will prevent damage from natural deformations. wooden surface due to temperature difference. Fill not recommended bulk mixture too thin layer.
Working with concrete surfaces The floor should be leveled, cleaned of dust, paint and dirt, then additional polishing of the surface should be carried out. If the base is severely damaged, it is recommended to apply a new one on top. In this case, the polymer mixture is applied 3 weeks after the completion of the installation of a new screed.
Working with ceramic surfaces It is necessary to check the strength of the coating. To do this, each tile is tapped. If the result is ringing, the tile should be removed. The place must be primed and covered with a layer of putty. Then the surface is degreased and primed.
Work with metal surface. Base cleaning. Removing paint stains, grease and oil. Degreasing. Removal of traces of corrosion and rust by sanding.

Floor priming

Before applying the polymer mixture, the floor surface is primed. The base must be dry and free from dust. Priming is carried out 2 hours after the dust removal procedure.

The primer is carried out using a special mixture - impregnation. It is applied to the base with a roller. The primer will improve the adhesion of the polymer mixture to the floor surface. Impregnation is applied in one layer when working with a metal base, in 2-3 layers when working with other types of bases. Each subsequent layer is applied only after the polymerization of the previous one.

Putty

After the floor surface has been primed, it is necessary to give it evenness with putty. In this case, existing cracks and irregularities will be corrected.

Start applying polymer solution it is necessary at least one day after priming the surface.

Work should begin from the farthest corner of the room, gradually moving towards front door. To ensure that there are no air residues in the applied solution, it should be treated with a spiked roller.

The mixture is applied in stripes. For ease of application, you can use a special hose. The liquid is leveled with a squeegee. Next, you need to compact the layer with a special roller. Work is done in shoes with metal studded soles.

Finish coat

After the base layer of the mixture has been applied, the surface should be treated with a finishing layer.

Finishing is carried out 48 hours after pouring the polymer solution. As finishing mix can be used polyurethane varnish. It improves the quality of the polymer mixture and adds shine to the floor surface.

Application finish coat will significantly extend the life of the self-leveling floor. Lacquer should be applied in at least two layers. After applying each of them, it is necessary to withstand at least one hour to dry.

Note! The self-leveling floor is ready for use not earlier than two days after the finish coating has dried. If provided elevated level load on the floor surface, the polymerization period must be increased to one week.

Floors are one of the most difficult interior parts to repair and replace, since it requires significant reworking of the entire room. Where the floor is changed, it is impossible to live temporarily, because there are problems in walking around the room. In addition, the replacement of floors is often accompanied by the replacement of skirting boards, and this, in turn, often leads to damage to the wall finishes - in a word, replacement floor covering practically equals full repair the entire room. That is why the choice of flooring is given maximum attention.

Each customer wants such a repair to last no less than a decade, or even longer, fortunately, modern choice materials contribute to this. In addition to the classic types of wood, modern designs are increasingly using various synthetic materials, and a kind of fashion in recent years is a polymer self-leveling floor.

What it is?

The polymer floor fundamentally differs from other types of floor coverings in its device, since it does not fit, but is poured. The material is made on the basis of various polymers and is sold in the form of a liquid. To fill this type of floor, first make a full-fledged base of concrete screed or any other dense material, on top of which liquid polymer is poured in a thin layer. The one freezing through certain time, gives a perfectly smooth, and most importantly - even (due to the property of the liquid to form a uniform level) surface without the slightest joints.

Initially, this type of coating was used in public institutions with a huge turnover of people - for example, in airport lobbies. This use is due maximum ease of cleaning caused by the integrity of the coating without any seams and joints, as well as the high strength of the material, which allows not to close terminals and other premises of special public importance for long-term repairs.

However, private consumers quickly appreciated all the advantages of such a floor and became interested in the possibilities of pouring polymers in private settings, and manufacturers promptly responded to rising demand and introduced more affordable, but no less quality options for houses and apartments.

Today, polymer self-leveling floors are available in any major city, their pouring is successfully carried out in rooms of any size and purpose.

At the same time, industrial enterprises and public institutions are still the main consumers, however, such coverage may be appropriate for home use. Polymer floors are available in two main varieties, but if you count the small differences, you can count a huge number. variety of options, each of which has own advantages and is optimally suited for rooms of one kind or another.

Peculiarities

If for public institutions and industrial enterprises the use of such floors is almost a panacea for all ills, so not every owner still decides to use such a coating in an apartment. It is possible that an important role in the selection process is also played by the design moment, after all, not always such a floor is able to create the necessary comfort or just fit into the desired style, but still, before installation, you need to once again go over the advantages and disadvantages of this material in an ordinary home.

If you look at the pluses, they are very numerous and will force many to urgently be interested in the prices of this product. Here are the main advantages of using this type of flooring at home:

High elasticity ensures that the floor is practically not subject to any mechanical damage- he can easily survive even a small earthquake, because if necessary he can stretch and shrink.
Chemical resistance allows the floor covering not to change its appearance even under the influence of any aggressive chemicals, from detergents of any type to others accidentally spilled.
The polymers underlying such a floor are able to continue the phrase "water wears away a stone, but a self-leveling floor does not." Moreover, due to the integrity of the seamless coating, it is also an excellent waterproofing - even with a flood in the apartment, the neighbors from below will not know about it.
The polymer coating does not ignite, therefore it fully complies with fire safety standards.

This type of floor is very easy to maintain, because it allows the use of any type of detergents, and also eliminates the ingress of dirt into the seams, which simply do not exist.
The service life of a high-quality polymer coating, even in conditions of the highest daily traffic, is no less than ten years, and even in an apartment, this is an almost eternal option.
Many fear that the high smoothness of the surface will result in slipperiness, but in fact this is not at all the case.
Modern self-leveling floors and the technique of pouring them make it possible to achieve a very tangible artistic effect.

All of these properties literally make you immediately give preference to them. However, there is no building or finishing material, which would not have some disadvantages. Naturally, self-leveling floors also have them, and although there are not so many of them, they are serious enough to scare away most potential customers:

Truly high quality costs a lot of money, and although in recent years the developers have done everything possible to reduce the cost of the material, it is still more expensive than the vast majority of analogues. An attempt to save, by the way, can be fraught, since the cheapest varieties of polymer-based floors, judging by the reviews, fade rather quickly in bright sunlight.
The high cost concerns not only the material itself, but also the work performed. Although the fill fluid is capable of leveling itself, due to its high cost, it is usually Special attention are given to creating a perfectly even and balanced foundation. It is quite expensive, and it also takes a large number of time, not to mention the fact that a high-quality result requires confidence in the high professionalism and dedication of the workers.

Polymer flooring is a very durable type of repair. It is so strong and reliable that so far no one has come up with an adequate way to dismantle such a coating. Therefore, if the self-leveling floor gets tired, or, even worse, wears out to the obvious need for replacement, a new coating will have to be done right on top of it, which, in the conditions of most standard old apartments that do not have too high ceilings, will lead to a noticeable reduction in space. And if replacing one self-leveling floor with another, as is done at airports or industrial workshops, takes a maximum of a couple of millimeters, then replacing it with parquet will take no less than a couple of centimeters, which can force even doors to be redone. This is a significant disadvantage of such coverage.
Filling a polymer floor is a difficult task, since the material is very whimsical to the conditions of solidification. For perfect flat surface it is necessary that the moisture content of the base does not exceed 4%. The permissible fluctuation of the temperature in the room during solidification is two degrees in one direction or another.

In other words, normal filling is only possible in a sealed room and under stable weather conditions.

Kinds

Self-leveling floors, also known as 3D, are now available in great variety species, which helps to more accurately select the properties that are optimal in certain conditions. Although not all of them seem suitable for domestic use, a certain amount of attention must be paid to each type in order to prove that one or another variety is not suitable for use in a residential environment.

Of the classic coatings used for several decades, there are known epoxy floors and floors made of polyurethane. These two varieties are the most common, and they are usually a prime example of how opposite properties can be. different types bulk polymer coating. The epoxy variety is famous for its highest resistance to any damage, both mechanical and chemical.

Even a somewhat less shiny and attractive surface does not stop customers, forcing them to purchase such a coating for finishing industrial shops and enterprises, laboratories, and other similar premises.

The polyurethane version is also remarkably resistant, but in this component it is still somewhat inferior, but it looks a little more attractive, and most importantly, it wipes less with your feet. That is why it is actively used in offices and other public institutions with high traffic, and also looks more relevant at home.

Of the other varieties, it is worth highlighting methyl methacrylate and cement-acrylic flooring, which are a kind of new analogues of epoxy and polyurethane. In general, today's self-leveling floors are made from the most unexpected materials. Even a variety of urea exists, which, by the way, is considered convenient for installation due to the method of application through spraying.

If we talk about reliability, then it is usually not advised to choose a floor based on polyester, since it is with this material that problems arise in terms of quality and durability.

As for the appearance, usually polymer floors are colored with the addition of colored sand. As a result, such a coating can even resemble a wood-polymer floor in appearance, so that the problem of fitting such an ultra-modern material into classic designs seems to be practically solved. However, in some cases it is possible to purchase transparent composition- in this case, it looks especially appropriate to create a base for covering from natural wood, although more often they are used simply to create the top protective layer of the self-leveling floor.

With this solution, you can get all the best benefits polymer filling with an appearance that uses literally any decorative inserts from the most unexpected materials and components.

Which ones are better?

Choose a self-leveling floor should be based on the purpose for which it will be used. Since we are talking about typical home conditions for our country, in terms of their performance and aesthetic qualities, polyurethane and cement-acrylic mixtures are most suitable for finishing. But polyester flooring should be used with great caution - reviews indicate that the quality of such material often leaves much to be desired.

Another thing is that even a private customer for their own needs can order the floor that is considered more oriented to industrial needs. Such a need arises in a situation where the question of finishing the floor in the garage is open - there this surface experiences significant mechanical loads due to a passing or standing car, and at the same time some aggressive chemical compositions, including oils and much more.

Again, the use of all these substances does not contribute to the creation perfect purity, therefore, the floor in such a room must be designed for maximum ease of cleaning and minimum contamination, as well as high chemical resistance. Therefore, materials based on epoxy resin or methyl methacrylate.

The basis, which almost always acts as an ordinary concrete or cement strainer, does not put forward any special requirements for the type of flooring, however, you can build on the appearance of the finished floor. It should be noted that the most commonly used options are those that are called « liquid linoleum» , because in a frozen form they really resemble this finishing material.

To be honest, the imitation of any other types of finishes turns out to be very conditional and can hardly be called plausible, so the option with such a “linoleum” should inspire the greatest confidence.

How to choose?

The choice of self-leveling floor components is quite complex, since the materials are numerous and varied. For example, for a concrete base, you should first select a reliable waterproofing material, cement M-200 or higher, as well as to prepare and lay the mixture itself so that its moisture content does not exceed 4%. In some cases, two-component floors are made, when the basis is a wood-polymer composite that looks very much like ordinary wood, and an ordinary colorless polymer floor is poured on top.

Although home environments are unlikely to involve the same number of hazards and loads as in an industrial plant, a combination of different types is usually recommended for apartment use. polymer base. In the hallway, bathroom and kitchen - where there is an increased amount of dust and dirt, increased humidity, and there is a high probability of spilling caustic or hot liquids, it is recommended to fill in epoxy compounds.

Very important for living quarters aesthetic appeal, and much less various strength tests are expected here, so here the choice often falls on decorative polyurethane floors.

At the same time, you should always choose antistatic mixtures with quartz sand in the composition for the house, because the accumulation of small charges of electricity is not conducive to health, and it attracts dust.

It must be said that self-leveling floor in the interior is not combined with any wall decoration, and this moment also needs to be taken into account, because changing the flooded flooring is very problematic. AT living rooms in combination with polyurethane on the floor, decorative putty on the walls looks best. Looks normal and expensive vinyl wallpapers, but ordinary paper wallpaper, most likely, will be inappropriate. For the kitchen combined with epoxy floors suitable either classic tile, or colored plaster, with which the self-leveling floor will be combined in the same way as the laminate, which is often imitated by it.

In some cases, private farm owners prefer to forego classic materials even for exterior decoration and for the street, they do not use slabs, but a self-leveling self-leveling floor, which is well suited for pouring garden paths. Here, methyl methacrylate will show itself in the best possible way, which is unpretentious to temperature changes and freezes faster than its colleagues.

Thanks to this unusual solution paths in the garden will always look fresh and clean, their color will delight for a long time. In this case, you can use a small tile as a basis.

Required Tools

In practice, pouring a self-leveling floor is not such a difficult process. She does not need any special equipment, so more and more men find it necessary to carry out repairs of this kind on their own. To complete the task, the master will need:

A large container for preparing a mixture for pouring - usually a volume equal to at least two medium buckets is assumed.
Drill and special nozzle for her, allowing to mix any liquid mixtures. There is a catch here, since not any drill is needed, but only one that allows speed control, because too active mixing is fraught with splashing of the future floor onto the walls. The nozzle is also not suitable for any - it is necessary that it mixes the mass in the container right up to the very bottom.

A set of spatulas adapted for applying the mixture both in the main part and in the most inaccessible places.
A special needle roller, with which the future floor surface is rolled again after application. This is done in order to remove small air bubbles from the mass, which will certainly form during the pouring process. If they are not removed before the mass hardens, this will have an extremely negative effect on the strength and durability of the material, and can lead to its cracking even with a slight mechanical impact.
A chemical solvent needed to remove the dirt left by the potting slurry from used tools. There is no universal solvent suitable for all types of self-leveling floors, so it must be selected based on the instructions indicated on the can with the self-leveling floor mixture.

Shoes with studded soles are an important part of the job, as even during the pouring process, repairers will have to walk on a freshly poured surface, and only a studded sole can reduce exposure to liquid material.
Most experts also recommend purchasing several pairs of ordinary rubber gloves in advance, which will help protect the skin from exposure to all the components used in the process.

Training

The mixture that will form the floor in the future is applied to a previously prepared surface, which is most often concrete. Such a surface requires a minimum level of humidity and perfect horizontality, therefore, when laying a new screed, the process is carried out in two steps - a semi-dry mass is applied with the first layer, and only on top of it is a thin leveling layer (within half a centimeter). Only after the floor is well high x, you can proceed to the next steps.

At the same time, in some cases, an old concrete screed can also be taken as a basis, but then it is carefully cleaned from dust and any other contaminants, and any visible cracks are carefully repaired using a special epoxy compound.

In this case, by the way, it is also impossible to do without pouring an additional leveling screed.

Old wooden floor can also be used without dismantling. First step in this case– careful inspection of the floor, replacement or repair of any worn components, as well as strengthening their fastenings. If the floor was painted old paint in without fail is removed, any irregularities and cracks are filled with a special putty for wood. After the putty dries, the surface of the old floor is carefully polished to a state of perfect smoothness, after which the dust is removed from it with an industrial vacuum cleaner, and the same leveling screed is poured on top.

After that, the surface is primed. The primer is selected depending on what type of self-leveling floor is selected - any conscientious manufacturer should indicate on the package how to choose the right primer in this case. The primer is applied in two layers using a roller with a fine pile, sometimes with an ordinary paint brush. The second coat of primer is applied only after the first one has completely dried.

In order to increase the effectiveness of priming, it is recommended to add quartz sand to the primer.

Manufacturing technology

You can also fill the self-leveling floor with your own hands, but on condition that the instructions are carefully studied and will be followed to the last letter.

Filling with polymer occurs on average at a thickness of 1.5-3 millimeters, but this, of course, is only true if concrete screed was made qualitatively and is really horizontal. Material consumption per 1 m2 is calculated based on the fact that one liter of liquid mass is square meter surface, covered with a layer of one millimeter. At the same time, the thickness of the layer may vary somewhat, because the liquid flows into any seams and pits, so you need to purchase filler floors with a margin.

The first step in preparing the mixture is mixing, which must be done as carefully as possible until complete mass homogeneity is achieved. When the finishing composition is ready, the application begins - the liquid is simply poured onto the floor and accelerated in all directions using a rule or any other similar tool. Air bubbles are likely to form in the filled layer – they must be removed with a specially prepared spiked roller.

At this stage, you can only move around the room using shoes with needle soles - the mass will fill the small pits left by such spikes, but the mark from ordinary shoes would probably remain on long memory the owner of the premises.

When the composition begins to visually thicken, its acceleration over the surface and rolling with a spiked roller is stopped - it is time for an aesthetic decoration of the coating. AT modern design Mounting in the self-leveling floor of any foreign elements is actively used, including small pebbles and shells, as well as coins and any other decorative elements, which, when solidified, are firmly "glued" into the material.

Such a prefabricated "pie" allows a person with a creative approach to turn a rather boring floor covering into a real work of art that you never want to change, which immediately solves the problem of the complexity of replacing such a floor.

After the lower layer of polymer with decorations sticking out of it has completely hardened, a second layer is applied - usually completely transparent. Its task is to cover protruding elements to create a smooth surface, so the calculation of the amount Supplies must also take into account the size of "foreign" decorations. Moving through this layer must be even more careful, because it is the immediate surface of the future floor.

Craftsmen for their own needs are allowed to move around the hardening outer layer as early as the second day after its application, but when the filling leaves the workers completely satisfied, you need to wait another week until the material is completely cured. After that, he is ready for all those difficult tests that he was created to withstand.

Publication date: 03-04-2015

Polymer floors have recently become very popular due to the extreme simplicity of their application, excellent decorative look, long service life and amazing resistance to almost all types of impacts and loads.

floor leveling

Such a fact as the practical impossibility of self-dismantling can speak in their favor - such a coating will successfully resist almost any kind of action on it.

Therefore, such floors are usually mounted either for a very long time or with the expectation that subsequently such a coating can become an excellent, perfectly even base for another type of flooring.

But is installation really that easy? What is needed for this?

Consider how to apply a polymer self-leveling floor with your own hands using the simplest tools and the prepared mixture, how to make an unusual 3D volumetric floor.

The history of the creation of a decorative polymer floor

Modern self-leveling floors take their history from Italy, this event dates back to 1972. It began with the art of drawing with chalk on asphalt, street artists created voluminous images of incredible plausibility on a variety of topics.

Such paintings quickly became very popular around the world, and designers took advantage of this, transferring unusual street art to the surface of residential buildings.

It was decided to combine three-dimensional images with high-strength polymer floors used for industry. This is how the 3D polymer floors were born, which consist of a base base, a pattern and a transparent layer applied on top.

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The characteristics of such a coating

Pouring a polymer floor

Polymer floors are famous for extremely high performance, which makes it possible to use them for premises with a wide variety of purposes: industrial workshops, warehouses, shopping centers, apartments.

Ease of application, excellent appearance, extremely easy maintenance - such coatings are becoming more common today, replacing traditional coatings.

Among the main characteristics are:

wear resistance to friction, mechanical stress, almost any kind of impact;
adhesion to the screed, which ensures a long service life, such a coating is almost impossible to remove on its own, it is usually knocked together with the base;
aesthetic appearance, not affected by time;
environmental friendliness;
ease of care, high hygiene;
high fire resistance;
waterproof, antistatic effect;
amazing resistance to direct sunlight, ultraviolet radiation, temperature extremes.

In addition, with the help of self-leveling floors on the surface of the base, you can recreate the structure of wood, artistic modeling, natural stone, interspersed (glitters, coins, pebbles, shells), creating fancy patterns when mixing mixtures of different colors, 3D volumetric floors with drawings, patterns and other decorative elements.

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Main types

Polymer self-leveling floors: scheme

Bulk polymer floors are different great variety depending on the materials used in the composition and the method of their application.

The most common are:

epoxy, which are characterized by high strength, good elasticity, are used quite often;
polyurethane, such a bulk coating has long term service, very resistant to a variety of influences;
methyl methacrylate self-leveling floors are used only for industrial premises, freeze very quickly;
polyester are the cheapest, but they cannot guarantee an excellent and high-quality effect;
urea-based pourable bases can be applied by spraying.

In addition, polymer floors are also distinguished by the thickness of their application to the surface of the base:

high strength for industrial premises, the thickness of this can be up to six millimeters;
medium thickness, reach a value of one and a half to three millimeters;
thin for residential apartments, have a thickness of one and a half millimeters;
dedusting polymeric, which are a simple thin film applied to concrete base;
coloring bulk, giving the surface the necessary shade, the thickness of such a coating is only one fifth of a millimeter.

Also, self-leveling floors are divided into smooth, textured, rough, self-leveling with mineral particles, highly filled with large particles, combined, 3D volumetric, one-component, two-component, three-component.

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Application features

Screed floors in the living room

The technology for applying self-leveling flooring is simple and does not cause problems.

It includes the preparation of the base (it can be concrete, wood, ceramic tile, metal), removal of dust, debris, dirt, stains from its surface and subsequent primer.

Then the preparation of the floor mixture begins, the application of the base layer and the pattern for volumetric floors, pouring and varnishing. All these works can be easily done by hand in a short time.

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Preparing the base and preparing the solution for pouring

When preparing the base with your own hands, it is necessary not only to completely clean the surface and remove the remnants of the old floor covering, but also make sure that there are no cracks, dents and other surface defects, a large slope. For this, a horizontal level is used.

The maximum permissible slope is up to two millimeters, otherwise it is necessary to carry out leveling work.

For wood flooring, skirting boards, oil stains, and debris are removed first. After that, the base is dedusted. It is recommended to carry out screed work before applying the mixture to ensure that there is a leveling.

it is impossible to mount a self-leveling floor on recently laid wooden bases;
layer thickness for pouring on wood flooring should not be too thin.

The concrete base is also prepared in a similar way. If the concrete was recently poured, it is necessary to withstand a time of twenty-one days from the moment of its installation.

Ceramic tiles should first be checked for strength and secure fastening. individual elements, after which the base is degreased, a primer is applied on top of it.

Metal surfaces are also cleaned and degreased, then traces of scale and corrosion are removed from the surface using a sandblasting machine.

Primer and putty make it possible to mask all surface defects that could remain, cracks are carefully sealed plaster composition with quartz sand. In this case, it is unacceptable to use water-based formulations.

For a simple self-leveling floor, the dry mixture is poured into a large container and, in the proportions specified by the manufacturer, is thoroughly mixed with construction mixer within three to five minutes.

For multicomponent formulations, the mixing conditions should be exactly observed: often one component is first diluted, and then another is added in certain parts. The mixture must be used within one hour after mixing, otherwise the quality of the floor may deteriorate.

Polymer floors have gained considerable popularity due to their excellent technical characteristics and excellent performance. Such a coating can be installed not only indoors industrial use but also in private houses and apartments. Making polymer floors with your own hands is not very easy, but if you follow all the stages of work accurately, you will definitely get a high-quality smooth coating that will last for many years.

What base is suitable for pouring?

You can make a polymer floor covering with your own hands on almost any type of base. But each of them has its own device features:

Wooden base. To make a fill on a wooden floor, you first have to level it. Usually, an electric planer is used for this. If necessary, failed logs should be replaced, and all the gaps between them should be treated with adhesive;
Concrete base. If there are significant irregularities on the coating, before pouring a clean floor, it is necessary to make a screed. At the same time, the reliability of the polymer coating on a concrete floor will always be higher than on a wooden base;
Tile. If necessary polymer composition can even be poured onto tiles. It must be well fixed, so before starting work, each of the tiles must be tapped. In order for the adhesion of the polymer mixture to the tile to be high, it is desirable to treat the base with emery.

Preparation of the wooden base

Of course, making a self-leveling coating is quite problematic, since you will have to do a lot of work to prepare the base for pouring the polymer.

First you need to make sure that the warping is even. Check this with the usual level. A tolerance of 4 mm is considered. To make polymer bulk floors with your own hands on a wooden base, you must:

Dismantle all skirting boards;
Clean off the old coating: varnish, paint, adhesive composition. To do this, you can use a grinder. If you don't have one, use a regular spatula and metal brushes;
Be sure to take into account the humidity of the ceiling, it should not exceed 10%;
Find and process all defects: chips, dents, cracks and cracks. All existing flaws must be sanded with sandpaper;
Clean the base construction debris and dust;
Then degrease the coating using scouring powders;
Next, treat the defects with special building compounds.

Preparing the concrete base

If you are going to mount the coating on a concrete base, you will have to perform the following preparatory steps:

Measure humidity, it should not be higher than 4%;
Then be sure to check the compressive strength of concrete, the indicator should be above 20 MPa;
If the concrete base was poured recently, it is possible to carry out work on the installation of the polymer mixture no earlier than after 25-28 days;
Remove the old covering from the floor;
Remove any contaminants from the surface: mastic, oil and glue stains, varnish and paint;
Clean the surface of debris;
Fill cracks and dents with building mix with resin;
Treat small cracks and crevices with adhesive;
Level the base with a grinder;
Then check the evenness of the floor using a level.

To level the surface, it is best to use leveling mixtures, which are made on the basis of special binders. And remember that any coating must be strong, dry, clean and solid, without any cracks. If you pour the polymer composition on a flexible base, the self-leveling floor will not last long.

Padding

Before you make a polymer floor with your own hands, be sure to prime the surface. This will increase the adhesion of the base to the polymer. To close all the pores on the coating, it is necessary to apply the primer several times. handle concrete surface best of all two-component mixtures with mineral fillers.

Priming rules:

The base must be impregnated with a primer in a well-ventilated area;
The composition should be applied with wide brushes or rollers;
The next layer of primer must be applied after the previous one has completely dried;
You can pour the polymer mixture onto the base one day after pre-treatment floors with a primer.

Dilution of dry polymer mixture

Typically, polymer floor mixtures are divided into two components, which are in two containers. To dilute the composition, you need:

Take a deep container for mixing the components;
Mix the compositions according to the proportions indicated in the instructions;
To obtain a homogeneous mass, mix the emulsion well using a construction mixer;
Since the polymer begins to harden very quickly, it must be used immediately after dilution.

Important! Please note that during the mixing of the components, a reaction occurs, as a result of which heat is released. So that the quality of the self-leveling floor does not change, be sure to place the container with the composition in another container with cold water.

Filling the floor

Now you need to mount the bulk polymer coating on the floor. This process is very responsible, so try to clearly follow all the steps:

Pouring composition on small plot straighten it out immediately. To do this, use a doctor blade;
When you apply the emulsion, go over the surface with a spiked roller, then no air bubbles form on the floor;
The layer thickness should not be less than 1 mm, otherwise the surface will be fragile;
When the coating is completely dry (from several hours to several days), treat the surface with polyurethane varnish.

Important! To produce a high-quality fill, it is desirable that there is no draft and temperature difference in the room. These factors can further affect the life of the coating. It is desirable that the temperature in the room was not lower than 10 degrees.

The video shows in more detail all the stages of the work on pouring the polymer floor.

Installation of a polymer coating is a labor-intensive process that requires high-quality performance of all stages of work. If you manage to competently implement the entire range of work in compliance with the pouring technology, the appearance of the floor covering will not change even during long-term operation.