Everyone who knows at least a little in construction is known about pouring the floor with a cement mortar called screed and its significance for construction work. It is on how qualitatively this procedure will be performed by the further arrangement of the interior decoration of the room and the finish covering of the floor surface. The decorative flooring ideally fits on the base floor aligned with screed, while the screed itself should be made impeccably, for which in turn, a high -quality solution should be prepared. As a rule, when kneading the concrete mixture, the M400 cement is given preference, since its strength limit is the most suitable for this.
The cement screed as such serves as an excellent alignment for the surface designed to lay the finishing flooring, and also contributes to the uniform distribution of the load on the lower layers of the structure over their entire area and neatly masks the network of communications and pipelines. It should be noted that the quality and duration of operation of the concrete surface of the base floor directly depends on the correct calculation of the proportions in the preparation of the solution and observing the technology of the screed.
Mixtures for screed traditional
Basically, builders use mixtures from cement and sand in certain proportions, knowing which it is possible to make them on their own. The ratio of sand and cement as the main components of the solution depends on the planned load on the surface and other factors of its purpose:
The need to align the construction surface;
Creation of thermal and noise insulation;
Masking of water and communication networks;
Lifting the floor to the required level
The preference for a cement for a solution of screed is usually given to Portland cement M400, when it is required to fill the floor in the room where large loads of a mechanical nature are expected. Sand, being a different component of the screed, is certainly pure and river if possible.
Preparation of cement-sand mixture
To prepare this mixture, sand and cement in the required ratio are mixed and periodically added to certain portions of water. This whole mixture is thoroughly stirring to the density of sour cream and elastic state. In order for the elasticity of the solution to meet the necessary requirements, the additives of plasticizers are used, which contribute to the uniform distribution of the finished mixture on the surface and prevent the flooring and its deformation.
When working with the solution, it is necessary to take into account its fast hardening, so do not immediately swing to fill large areas. After all, it is known that any of the Portland cement will grab it in forty minutes as soon as water is added to it. Therefore, it is advisable to finish the work a day after the screed to clean it. This will save the finished surface from excessive influx of concrete mixture. The procedure, of course, is troublesome, but the result, when the floor surface comes perfectly smooth, is worth. In the form of improvised means for this work, you can use the usual rule.
Self -manufacture of a screed solution
It is not so difficult to prepare a solution for the floor screed with your own. The mixture will turn out to be of high quality, provided that it is clearly observed by its proportions.
It is recommended to use sand and cement in a ratio of 4: 1 when kneading. Therefore, taking a spacious container, you should load sand into it in the amount of four buckets and cement – one bucket. In the absence of concrete mixers on the farm, you can use the old trough. The manual regime of kneading the solution provides for dry mixing of the components and only after their homogeneous compound is achieved can be poured with water. It is advisable to cook the mixture not too thick so as not to create difficulties when pouring and aligning the surface. Such a consistency can spread itself, simultaneously filling each of the small voids.
Several practical tips on the implementation of the screed
One of the first and rather important steps when aligning the surface of the floor is the process of installing lighthouses. Their correct placement guarantees an excellent result.
The next stage of the screed provides for its reinforcement with a metal net, which is necessary in order for the integrity of the concrete surface to be preserved for a long time.
To test the screed with heavy loads, you should wait for time. But you can walk along it literally the next day after pouring. It remains to remove the beacons and fall asleep the trace of the semi -dry solution they left and wipe.
The finished screed must be checked for the presence of various flaws and clean them.