Alignment of floors is the main step when laying a new floor covering. And one of the most optimal options is the installation of a cement-sand screed, which is quite possible to perform and do it yourself. We will talk about the nuances and stages of this type of work below. According to the method of construction, a cement-sand screed can be monolithic and floating.
The main difference is that the floating one does not have direct contact with the walls of the building and is used when additional floor insulation is required. The main difference from the monolithic one is that the floating screed does not have a rigid connection with the walls and the base of the floor.
Starting to do the screed arrangement with your own hands, first of all, you need to determine its thickness. For an apartment or a country house, the thickness should be at least 50 mm. This is quite enough for household loads. Of course, performing home repairs, you can increase the thickness of the screed. But this will lead to additional costs and an increase in floor height. In the event that 50 mm is not enough to provide the required floor level, then the missing thickness can be added with a mixture of cement with expanded clay. In addition to thickness, this will provide additional heat and sound insulation.
Then we continue the repair by laying a reinforcing mesh with a cell of 10x10 cm. The mesh should be laid in an overlap of 20 cm and connected by a knitting wire. Note that the mesh should be in the middle of the thickness of the screed, for which plastic supports should be used. It is undesirable to use a tree, as the formation of mold and fungi is possible. In places of increased load, you can lay a metal bar by linking it to a reinforcing mesh.
We continue laying the screed according to the principle “do it yourself”And the next in line is the installation of beacons. This is a very important point, since it is with their help that you will provide the required flatness of the floor. Lighthouses are guides along which the plane of the screed is aligned. It is universal fixturesthat you will need and when you will spend construction cottages and for repair in a city apartment. As beacons, profiles or metal pipes are usually used. The main thing is that they do not bend and provide the necessary rigidity.
You can install beacons on a slide of thick solution or attach them to the base with adjustable screws. The basic rule is to enable fine adjustment and tight fixation. The distance between the beacons should be 30-40 cm less than the length of the tool (rule) with which you are going to level the surface. The extreme lighthouse should be approximately 20 cm from the wall.
After all these preparations, direct construction begins, that is, the laying of a cement-sand screed. The solution is neatly laid out between the beacons and aligned with the rule at a predetermined level. The brand of mortar is selected depending on the required strength of the screed. It can be purchased ready-made in the form of a dry mixture or made independently. After 2-3 days, the beacons are carefully removed, and the remaining recesses are treated with soil and rubbed with a fresh solution. After hardening, you can continue to repair the apartment, having under your feet a solid and durable base, suitable for laying various floor coverings.