In modern civil and industrial construction, self-leveling mixtures are widely used for flooring. All of them have the property of spreading under the action of gravity and creating a perfectly flat and strictly horizontal surface. There are pros and cons of self-leveling floors: the owners' reviews on this matter are ambiguous. In order to decide on the device in your house of such a floor, you need to study them all. In addition, you should familiarize yourself with the process of pouring the self-leveling floor, consumption per 1 sq. m. of material, as well as the rules of operation and maintenance of this type of coating.
Self-leveling floors are suitable for any type of premises
Content
Types of self-leveling floors and their characteristics
Self-leveling mixtures are used in buildings for any purpose. Industrial enterprises, warehouses, trade pavilions and supermarkets, residential buildings and apartments: everywhere you can find floors made using this technology. The whole variety of mixtures can be grouped into 4 large categories:
Glossy white floor
- cement-acrylic formulations include polyacrylate copolymer, cement, high strength aggregate, sand, lime and plasticizers. The floor from such components can only be rough. It is used as a base for a topcoat of linoleum, laminate or tiles... However, such a floor was originally developed for use in food production facilities. It is not afraid of spilled liquids, rolling of heavy carts and disinfection with caustic substances;
The self-leveling floor is very resistant to mechanical stress
- polyurethane mixtures are very resistant to mechanical stress. Thanks to the polymer components included in their composition, such floors are elastic and resistant to abrasion. Floors made from such mixtures can be installed in rooms where there is frequent vibration or other floor movements. However, the most common area of their application is in private construction. The reason for this is elegance, lightness and durability combined with hygiene and resistance to stress;
Self-leveling floors in the living room
- trains from epoxy resin solid and chemically neutral. At the same time, they have a rather low elasticity, which is why the reviews of the owners are so contradictory. self-leveling floors... The pros and cons of such mixtures must be thoroughly studied before use. Such floors can be poured onto any base: wood, metal or concrete. The layer is very thin, free of seams and wear-resistant. Chemical properties epoxy resin suggest greater resistance to alkaline and acidic compounds, as well as salts. They are used in the food and chemical industries.At facilities related to the repair or parking of vehicles, they are simply irreplaceable, as they are not susceptible to leaking liquids. Due to their environmental friendliness, such floors are widely used in residential premises;
Self-leveling floor - environmentally friendly
- methyl methacrylate floors have truly unique properties. These mixtures are based on resins. In the process of mixing the resin with the hardener, the entire composition polymerizes. Basically, such floors are made in industrial facilities. They can be found even in the open air, as they are not susceptible to sudden fluctuations in temperature and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Applied additives of various types can greatly change the physical properties of such floors. This applies to heat resistance, hardness and resistance to adverse environmental influences.
Self-leveling floors are great for living rooms and dining rooms
Useful advice! As many owners say, for arranging a rough base under a laminate or linoleum a self-leveling floor made of a cement mixture is quite suitable. It will fully fulfill its purpose at a much lower cost.
Each of these types has its own pros and cons. Reviews of the owners of self-leveling floors, for all their inconsistency, converge to some indisputable facts.
Self-leveling floors with geometric patterns
Pros and cons of self-leveling floors: owner reviews
If we summarize all the reviews of the owners of self-leveling floors, we can highlight their following advantages:
- excellent wear resistance and low impact resistance. If you put heavy furniture on it or drop something massive, nothing happens to the self-leveling floor;
- long operation. In addition to a wonderful appearance, decorative self-leveling floors delight with their practicality;
Practical filler kitchen floor
- the absence of toxic components is well suited to allergy sufferers, and the non-susceptibility to fire indicates their additional safety;
- excellent tightness, water resistance and dust protection. They are very easy to clean, the floors do not have any cracks or cavities where dust can accumulate. Absolute moisture resistance makes them a good solution when installing a bathroom floor;
Due to its moisture resistance, self-leveling floors can be installed in bathrooms and kitchens
- the choice of self-leveling floors suitable for the price. Consumption per 1 sq. m. they are also different, which greatly affects the cost;
- the subfloor does not need long and thorough preparation. This reduces the overall cost of repairs, which is also important;
- simplicity and convenience in carrying out work on the installation of floors.
Self-leveling floors in the bathroom
Separately, it can be noted, according to the reviews of the owners of self-leveling floors, the pros and cons of each type of self-leveling mixtures.
So, the plus is that methymethacrylate mixtures polymerize very quickly and can be installed even at negative ambient temperatures. At the same time, there is a minus. They require quick and professional installation due to instant hardening, as well as ventilation of the room due to the strong smell.
Self-leveling floor looks beautiful in the interior
The advantages of epoxy mixtures are their resistance to chemicals and the possibility of creating a decorative layer. The disadvantage is poor elasticity, which makes it impossible to use them in places with impact and other types of deformation.
Polyurethane mixtures are durable, durable and lightweight - this is a plus. However, it is difficult to mount a floor made of such mixtures, due to the need for careful leveling of the base and the presence of little moisture - let's write it down.
The self-leveling floor is easy to care for and keep clean
The advantages of cement compositions are: good adhesion to the base, impressive coating thickness, which can reach 12 mm. This floor is not slippery.Moreover, it is quite laborious to install, which can be attributed to the disadvantages.
Useful advice!Experienced builders believe that the pouring of the self-leveling floor should be done by at least two people. This is necessary not only for convenience, but also to avoid drying out of the mixture. After all, this will take only 20 minutes.
The process of pouring the self-leveling floor: consumption per 1 sq. m
In order to avoid high consumption per 1 sq. m. self-leveling floor, it is necessary to prepare the base. As a rule, there is no need to carry out any special actions here. It is enough to thoroughly clean it from dust and dirt, to putty large potholes and cracks. For better adhesion, it can be primed. If the surface is smooth, then add quartz chips or other similar material to the primer.
Self-leveling floor with a volumetric 3D pattern
Then you need to read in detail the instructions for preparing the mixture and make the kneading exactly according to it. It is important to correctly assess your strength, as the mixture dries quickly. Therefore, its amount should be small. The solution is stirred with a construction mixer or a drill with a nozzle in a bucket until it becomes a homogeneous mass, both in consistency and in color.
Self-leveling floor - a practical and durable coating
When everything is ready, the mixture is poured into the far corner of the room, with a roller. Under the influence of gravity, it spreads over the room in a thin layer. As the leveling progresses, the amount of the mixture is added until the entire room is filled with a layer of the required thickness.
Related article:
Leveling the floor with a self-leveling mixture: process technology. Types of mixtures for self-leveling floor, tools. Leveling wooden floors.
Then the mixture is rolled out with a special roller with needles, which allows air to be removed from the bulk of the self-leveling floor. After the floor has hardened, it is necessary to apply a finishing coat. It can be just protective, or it can be decorative, with various patterns and textures. Many formulations do not need to be applied as a protective layer, as the mixture already contains such components.
You can add various color dyes to the self-leveling floor
Useful advice! When diluting the mixture, you must strictly observe the proportions with water. If there is more of it than is needed, the floor may crack. Less water will prevent the mixture from spreading freely over the entire surface.
According to the owners, the pros and cons of self-leveling floors do not prevent their increasing distribution. This is more true for decorative coatings. However, they require some care and proper use. This will allow you to admire the modern floor with design solutions for a long time.
Using self-leveling floors, you can create a perfectly flat and smooth surface
- It is necessary 5 days after pouring a self-leveling floor with a decorative coating to apply a protective film on it in several layers.
- Wet cleaning should be done in any commonly known manner.
- During general cleaning, which must be carried out at least once every six months, the coating must be cleaned with detergents.
The correct design and operation of the self-leveling floor create comfort and coziness in the living space, and at industrial and commercial facilities, they allow you to use a durable and durable floor without problems.
