Correct Restoration Of A Self-leveling Floor

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

• Tools for repair
• Exfoliation
• Removing cracks
• Wear and loss of quality
• Plumping
• Bubbles and craters
• Cloudiness
• Chips and potholes
• Recovery features

Despite the huge number of positive qualities of self-leveling floors, over time or with poor-quality installation, various defects may appear. But not everyone at the same time has information on how to eliminate all this, the available recovery methods. The fact is that in certain situations this can be done on your own, without spending money on attracting specialists in this direction.

Tools for repair

First, you need to prepare all the necessary material and tools. Only a complete list will help to carry out the repair of self-leveling floors with high quality and in the shortest possible time. It is very important to observe safety precautions while using the solution. The process of its preparation, as well as until it dries completely, but releases a sufficient amount of harmful substances that affect the state of human health.

To make the finished mixture easy to mix with the addition of water and the necessary components, a powerful electric drill is used. It is unlikely that you can get a high-quality solution on your own. The electric method is the most optimal.

If the layer of the self-leveling floor was damaged or there is a need to give it a flat surface, a sander will come in handy. True, you also need to be able to use it. Subsequently, in order to remove any dust and dirt after work, a construction vacuum cleaner is required.

The self-leveling floor can be re-poured, or an additional finishing layer is simply performed. Thus, the editing process takes place anew. To ensure that the mortar is well leveled over the entire area, a notched trowel is used. The entire prepared mixture should be leveled over the entire surface so that it can be more evenly distributed. The optimal width will be 60-100 cm. The teeth should also be chosen correctly so that they are equal to half the thickness of the self-leveling floor screed.

Like a spatula, there is a tool such as a squeegee. The main difference is that the width of the teeth and their length are independently regulated by the performer. With its help, even a very thin layer of self-leveling floor of 2-3 mm can be made. During repair work, there should be no vibration from the tool. It should be approached correctly when choosing it.

When mixing the mortar for floor installation, bubbles may form. It is these that should be disposed of after pouring, for which the aeration roller is intended. It is used until the solution sets on the entire surface. This should be done within 40 minutes. The length of the studs should be chosen correctly so as not to damage the fill.

Situations of large area restoration may arise. Then you will need to install beacons and use the rule to level the solution. Its average length is usually 150-170 cm.

After purchasing any new instrument, it should be placed in solvent for 3-4 hours. This will remove the preservative grease, which, during the restoration of the self-leveling floor, can create additional defects if it hits the base.

Exfoliation

When such a process takes place, people say that the floors have been raised. Swelling can be in a specific place or over the entire area. There are main reasons for this:

• The base for the pouring was not well prepared. There was no priming, cleaning from dirt and dust. The adhesion of the mixture to the surface was low.
• The humidity of the base where the self-leveling floor is poured. Wait until, for example, the concrete screed is completely dry, and only then carry out the installation.

Many believe that a large amount of water only helps the finished solution to be distributed over the area in the room. Some even fill in puddles (water and primer). As a consequence, this leads to the appearance of defects.

The potting surface is weak

It is very easy to determine the places of peeling - to knock on the self-leveling floor with a semi-solid object. A booming sound indicates the need for repair. If you do not pay attention, then over time, the floor in these places will begin to crack. Minor damages are removed with a chisel or bumper, after which special repair mortars are used, as well as grinding. It will not be superfluous to run liquid glass along the edges (under the layer of the self-leveling floor). This will allow the new solution and the old one to bond well.

There are cases that the floor has such defects in almost the entire room. It will be easier in this version to open the bulk floor to the base and carefully examine it for errors. After completing these measures, the filling is repeated from the very beginning.

Removing cracks

Cracks in the self-leveling floor are the most common defect. It is safe to say that the installation technology was not performed or was not known at all. Insignificant ones, up to a millimeter, will not play any role, but larger defects should be removed immediately. There will be little work and no special experience is needed.

The cracks that appear must be widened, cleaned and treated with a strengthening primer. As soon as the surface dries up, special repair concrete is poured into it, after which it is ground.

Cracks in the self-leveling floor may appear periodically, even after they have been eliminated. This is indicated by the slump of the poured solution. It will not be superfluous to check the base for defects: the floor slab "walks", the formation of shrinkage cracks in it. In this form, the repair will take much more time and money. Otherwise, it will not be possible to get a perfect self-leveling floor. Localized elimination of surface cracks will not give any result.

A large number of cracks cannot be repaired. You should contact specialists who can dismantle the self-leveling floor and replace the concrete screed, if the reason is in it.

Wear and loss of quality

Over time, the self-leveling floor begins to lose its appearance and original qualities. In this case, there is no need to spend too much money, but it is enough to fill in a new finishing layer, choosing the appropriate option for combination with the design. Constant loads are among the main reasons for the appearance of such a defect. In addition, such areas may appear not over the entire area, but only in certain places. To get the best quality, it would be better to completely eliminate the old layer of the self-leveling floor, and fill in a new one instead.

Before applying new polymers, the old substrate should be thoroughly cleaned from possible irregularities and defects. This will give you the best result. This is how the surface is updated when the interior changes in the room. The screed layer is insignificant and does not in any way affect the distance from the floor to the ceiling in the room.

Plumping

Some defects in the surface of the self-leveling floor can be combined with each other. After being flooded, the floor cracked in certain places. This can still be complemented by delamination. This phenomenon is commonly called "boozing". In addition to the fact that the self-leveling floor cracked, it began to flake off, which leads to a creak. There may be several main reasons for this:

1. The moisture content of the surface where the self-leveling floor is poured is more than 4%.
2. The surface was not prepared for work (dust, dirt). There is no good adhesion.
3. No waterproofing layer on the base. Even if it is present, there may be cracks that are transferred to the ready-made self-leveling floor solution.

To get rid of such a negative phenomenon, you should remove the area that has moved away from the base, and then carefully clean it from possible dust and dirt. Additionally, you can wipe the area with a damp cloth. Then a primer is applied in 2-3 layers. All that remains is to pour the self-leveling mixture into one level with the entire surface.

For best results, an additional finish coat is poured over the entire area.

Bubbles and craters

For such a defect, the following actions are preceded:

1. Poor mixing of the solution (more often with one's own hand or using high rotations of the drill). All possible bubbles in the process of drying will move to the top of the surface. As soon as they dry, craters and bulges will appear in their place.
2. High humidity during work (more than 60%) and the room temperature was below +5 degrees.
3. Implementation of the thickness of the self-leveling floor that does not meet the minimum parameters from the manufacturer.
4. Drop of oil droplets into a solution that did not have time to solidify.

5. The mixture is of poor quality used in the work.

   

Bubbles can be easily avoided by walking with an aeration roller after pouring. He will eliminate them and will not allow subsequent defects to appear on the surface of the self-leveling floor. But if there are already difficulties, they should be dealt with.

A small number and size of craters can be eliminated by "burying" them with a solution. When the areas are large, it will be easier and more profitable to fill in a new screed layer. If the self-leveling floor cracks, or other defects appear, you should immediately look for ways to get rid of it.

Cloudiness

The work is over, the surface of the self-leveling floor has dried, but there is a cloudiness in the form of a whitish shade. This deteriorates the decorative qualities of the mixture, dullness, weak clarity appears. Any pictures or drawings will not look natural. However, all the performance characteristics remain the same. The elimination of such a defect occurs on polyurethane or epoxy floors. There are the following main reasons:

• Drops of fat and other aggressive chemical compounds got on the filling.
• The mixture used for work is poorly mixed.
• Large amount of added water.

• The components are not mixed in proportion.

  

You will have to try very hard to repair the self-leveling floor with quality. The best option is to make another finishing layer. It is very important to pay attention to the pouring technology. All proportions and recommendations will be reflected in the instructions.

Chips and potholes

When exposed to sharp or blunt objects with sufficient weight on the surface of the self-leveling floor, not only cracks may appear after pouring the floors, but also chips. Areas can break off together with the polymer composition and the concrete base. Everything will depend on the degree of impact. The very process of surface restoration will take a lot of time and effort. Sand it and then apply a coat of primer and putty if necessary. In the end, it remains to fill the layer of the finished solution.

When it is not possible to independently repair self-leveling floors in an apartment, it is best to contact a specialist. They will be able to do everything efficiently and in the shortest possible time.

Saving the floor surface after pouring helps to save money. But no one is immune from this and potholes can occur at any time and under any circumstances, when you yourself do not expect it.

Recovery features

If a self-leveling floor is cracked, all exhaustive measures must be taken to eliminate this defect. Filling can be done over the old layer, or with a separate area. In any case, you will need to clean the surface, in the right places - a primer, completely dry before pouring.

Epoxy compositions of the mixture require the use of similar compositions (based on epoxy resins) in the repair of cracks in the self-leveling floor.

The study of all sequential stages will be better done on video. All these subtleties will help you find the primary source of why the self-leveling floor cracked after pouring. Even in such a situation, before doing the repair yourself, you should calculate your strengths and capabilities. When this is nothing, then there is a direct road to a construction company dealing with this direction. By paying the amount for the service, you will be provided with the really desired result.

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