Features Of Leveling The Base Of The Floor When Using Expanded Clay

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Properties and qualities
• Pros and cons of expanded clay
• Markings and beacons
• Semi-dry screed
• Concrete screed
• Dry screed

To carry out a quality repair of the subfloor, it must be carefully leveled. In this case, the floor screed technology must be observed at all stages. If mistakes are made, then in the future it will be problematic to expose doors, partitions, and so on. For this purpose, the screed is being installed using expanded clay. In addition to all this, the base will acquire additional qualities.

Properties and qualities

There are certain conditions under which it is best to use expanded clay to fill the screed.

• Large differences in floor height by approx. 100 mm.
• Floor laying is based on concrete or reinforced concrete slabs.
• To increase the level of sound insulation.
• Allows to reduce cement consumption. This also manifests itself with a large thickness of the future floor.
• Use for decking flooring that does not allow the manifestation of any even minor imperfections in the subfloor. These are mainly ceramic tiles, parquet boards, floating floors made from natural materials.
• Various heating systems (warm floor).
• Concealment of existing communications in the room.

In addition to the lightness of the entire surface, the result is excellent quality. The load on the floor slabs is reduced by the low weight of the material itself. Moreover, it is able to withstand external influences, including static loads. Over the entire period of operation, the base practically does not change its properties and qualities.

The specificity of expanded clay comes from the production process. The main material is finely dispersed clay, which is fired at high temperatures. As a result, we get light granules that do not allow moisture to pass through, and are very durable.

It is also worth noting that, depending on the size of the granules, expanded clay sand, gravel or crushed stone are emitted. The sand fraction is usually up to 5 mm. Diameter of gravel - up to 40 mm, having a rounded shape, and crushed stone - also up to 40 mm, but with the presence of corners. Its application will depend on the floor covering, which will subsequently be laid on the floor screed.

If the area for leveling the floor is very difficult and there are a lot of shortcomings, then it is best to buy expanded clay sand. Its shrinkage is not significant and is able to hide all problem areas.

Pros and cons of expanded clay

This floor screed material has a huge number of positive features. Among them, the most prominent and basic ones can be distinguished:

1. The duration of the operational period.
2. Ecological cleanliness.
3. Sound and heat insulation qualities.
4. Strength. Do-it-yourself floor screed with expanded clay turns out to be reliable and capable of withstanding external pressure, both in statics and in dynamics.

5. Availability in purchase, reasonable cost.

   

Markings and beacons

Before starting work on leveling the floor with expanded clay, a number of preparatory measures should be taken. To do this, the floor surface is thoroughly cleaned from debris and dirt, old screed. The best option is to clean the base down to the floor slab. An electric jackhammer or rock drill will help here. Each of the tools will have a price. The first is more expensive, even if rented, but has better efficiency.

After that, work begins on the marking device. This stage is necessary to ensure that the floor level remains the same in each of the premises of the apartment. In addition to the level, a marker is also useful.

To begin with, the line of the finished floor is determined, which often coincides with the bottom of the door frame. The line is connected to each other by a stretched cord or using more modern means - a laser level.

Next, the marking of the screed itself begins. It will be enough to measure the thickness of the fill from the line of the finished floor down. The resulting points are connected to each other. As a result, we will get one more line, which will be a reference point for placing in the subsequent beacons.

But to expose beacons for screed with expanded clay in an apartment, you should remove all debris and dust from the base. The existing gaps must be repaired. If this is not done, then there is a high probability that you will have to carry out repeated repairs. After all, moisture can make its way through the cracks.

The highest point on the floor area is where the minimum height beacons are installed. Usually they are taken in 6 mm. At the same time, we must not forget about using the level for work. Subsequent beacons are similarly set at a level that must be at least 2 meters long. The tops of the lighthouses must align along the marked marking lines.

Various objects of the environment can be used to adjust the beacons in height. But it should be remembered that not everyone can act as a screed element. This applies, for example, to fragments of fiberboard, as they will begin to swell from moisture.

If the time allows, then a cement-sand mortar can be mixed to fix the beacons. But it is best to use alabaster.

Semi-dry screed

Almost the only option where little effort is made to prepare the base is a semi-dry screed. It is enough to remove all debris and dust, as well as excess moisture. The rest can be fixed by pouring the floor with expanded clay itself. If there are wires on the base, it is best to place them in a corrugation, and then carefully fix them to the surface.

For the waterproofing layer, you can use a regular PVC film. There is also an alternative - a special vapor barrier (glassine). In this case, the expanded clay floor screed will not receive excess moisture from below. Moisture can appear on the floor for various reasons. The film is fastened with tape. We must not forget about the overlap of each subsequent flooring by about 10-15 cm.

Next, the marking for the screed is set using a laser level. Instead, you can take a rack level. To keep warm, the material is inserted along the walls in the room. It also contributes to excellent sound insulation. The gap is usually 10 cm. When all this is done, expanded clay under the floor screed scatters evenly over the entire surface. Not everyone knows about what kind of expanded clay for floor screed will be the best solution. Everything will depend on the conditions and the choice of the screed, as well as on preferences. It will not be superfluous to consult with a specialist on this matter.

After that, two options for pouring the floor screed are selected:

1. Pour the floor with expanded clay with your own hands, directly, without additional layers. Here you will have to pre-fill the material with cement milk. If this is not done, the granules will absorb moisture from the solution. Therefore, negative consequences will definitely manifest themselves. A little moisture can still leave the solution into expanded clay granules, but not in such an amount.

2. Use a waterproofing layer between fillings. Even ordinary plastic wrap will not let moisture into the bedding. The most important thing is to ensure that it does not tear on any part of the floor in the room.

   

For screed floors with expanded clay, the instructions must be followed immediately. If you deviate from one of the points, then in the end you can encounter negative qualities, both mortar and expanded clay for floor screed for underfloor heating.

Concrete screed

The concrete screed, together with expanded clay, was named "expanded clay concrete". But to begin its implementation, it is very important to inspect the base and determine the evenness of the surface. First, the height is set throughout the room, and only after that - in individual sections. It is the curvature that will show how thick it will be necessary to fill the screed with expanded clay. After that, the solution itself is prepared for work, so that it would be possible to level the floor with the help of expanded clay.

Granules are poured into a prepared container or bath. As for the amount of water, it should be about half a palm more than the level of expanded clay. Due to the porous structure of the material used, water is absorbed in the required amount. While stirring the resulting mixture, you need to monitor the change in shade. As soon as it has changed, you can add cement and sand, depending on the proportions. Floor screed with expanded clay and cement is of high quality.

There are some subtleties of how to fill the floor screed with expanded clay. The prepared solution is evenly distributed over the surface between the beacons. Drying should be done within the first two days. If necessary, after this, another layer of screed is poured or finishing is carried out. Everything will depend on the requirements and choice of flooring for decking.

When it is difficult to find an answer how to fill the floors in an apartment with expanded clay on your own, having prepared a solution, it is best to contact the store to buy ready-made mixtures. They are called peers. Leveling the floor with expanded clay in the finished mixture allows you to bring unevenness to the level of up to 30 cm. In addition, the drying time of the screed is slightly less time than ordinary expanded clay concrete. Therefore, this option will be beneficial with a limited amount of time.

Contacting specialists will allow you to get an answer on how to properly fill the floor with expanded clay, if there is no such experience. Any type of filling can be done independently without spending money on calling construction teams.

Dry screed

A floor screed with expanded clay can also be formed using a dry method. And it is this method that has recently been in great demand and interest among apartment owners. Its essence lies in the fact that expanded clay is backfilled onto a lined polyethylene film, after which GVL boards are laid. Some may find it very simple. But still there are subtleties of how to properly level the floor with expanded clay. There is a sequence of actions in this case:

1. Preparation of the surface for subsequent pouring, on which the film is laid, which serves as a layer of waterproofing. The entry of each subsequent row of polyethylene should usually be 15-20 cm. We must not forget about the overlap on the walls, by about 6-10 cm. In the future, excess fragments are very easily removed and cut off.
2. At the joints with the walls, a damper tape is laid.
3. Next, the beacons are installed according to the marked markings inside the room. There are several options for this procedure. Everyone can choose the most suitable option. If a mortar mixture is poured under the beacons, it must dry completely before the next stage of work.
4. It is worth noting that expanded clay for dry floor screed can have a completely different fraction. Everything will depend on the chosen flooring, as well as the conditions for the pouring. In any case, the granules must be filled in portions. The installed profiles (beacons) should not bend after that. This is all checked.
5. For compaction of expanded clay, a polyurethane foam grater is used.
6. Having leveled the surface, the sheet material is laid. As for the layers, two layers are generally recommended for reliability and strength. GVL sheets are fastened not only with glue between them, but additionally with self-tapping screws. This is very important to do in the event that the sheets themselves are purchased thin.
7. The existing joints are sealed with putty. If there is a need, then an additional waterproofing layer is arranged. For this, the coating of GVL sheets with bituminous mastic is suitable.

8. Any protruding elements that are of no use should be trimmed. This applies to plastic sheeting and damper tape.

   

When all the actions are organized and completed, you can think about how to carry out the finishing.

Do-it-yourself dry pouring of a floor with expanded clay has a number of advantages. The result is a really flat surface without defects, if the technology is followed. Each square meter of floor space is capable of withstanding loads of about 500 kg. What significantly differs from a conventional screed is the complete absence of possible cracks, subsidence, chips and other negative manifestations.

This “pie” contains no harmful substances for human health. No volatile matter gets into the air. As soon as the editing is completed, you can immediately begin all subsequent actions. There is no need to wait for the surface to dry for a long time. A room with a large area by a team of specialists can be completed within a few hours.

In addition to obtaining a warm floor, even without a system with a similar name, an excellent soundproofing effect is obtained.

Having studied all these points, there will be no questions about how to make a screed in an apartment with expanded clay. The main thing is to strictly observe the technology for creating such a surface. Having made the flooring of the floor covering, the surface will remain perfectly flat and will be able to serve for a long time. And this is regardless of what kind of leveling method is chosen with expanded clay.

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