Adding Plasticizers And Fiberglass When Making A Floor Screed With A Semi-dry Leveling Method

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

Possible additives
Benefits of specialized mixes
Fiber use
The use of plasticizers
Types of plasticizers

Laying the floor screed cannot do without the driest mixture, on the basis of which the solution itself is subsequently prepared. But in addition to this, various additives are provided that can give additional qualities to a semi-dry screed under certain circumstances. In addition, specific plasticizers are provided for a specific type of warm floor, which cannot be dispensed with. To begin with, it is worth deciding what are the positive features of "applications" for a semi-dry mixture.

Possible additives

The quality of standard cement is not always at the required level. Average indicators are equal to M150 - M180. But sometimes you should use more durable compounds.

In addition, it will not be superfluous to protect the coating without using floor material. This often happens in the case of a screed in basements, in the garage, on the basement floors.

Antifreeze additive. Winter time is not scary now. You can safely carry out the work, the main thing is that all other components can deal with subzero temperatures. If this additive is used for a semi-dry floor screed, then the solution is not afraid of temperatures up to -15 degrees. In addition, brand strength, ductility, moisture resistance and other qualities are increased.
Impregnation. It can be applied with a roller or spray. But not immediately after the installation work, but after at least a week. The top layer becomes more durable, and the surface itself repels moisture with ease. Under certain circumstances, a waterproofing layer that could have been added is not necessary. True, in the future it will be problematic to apply tile glue, any types of paints and putties. Impregnation under parquet or laminate will be an excellent option.

Additives in the mix
There are impregnations for concrete floors that have the same qualities but do not reduce adhesion to paints or adhesives.
Polyurethane based paints. In order for the floor surface to be ideally smooth and durable, such components are used after the finished solution has dried. If the mixture contains fiberglass, a plasticizer for floor screed, then the paint can be applied to a semi-dry screed.

But this is only the minimum number of those on the market. Each of the additives performs a specific function that improves the quality characteristics of ready-made solutions.

Benefits of specialized mixes

All the advantages of using mixtures with nested additives lie in the name, since it is in it that the qualities are reflected. For example, a reinforced mixture no longer requires a semi-dry screed made of additional reinforcing elements. It can be easily diluted to the desired consistency and used.

The high-strength mixture has a minimum grade strength of M-250. As a result of its application, a really high-quality coating for a "rough" floor is obtained. A semi-dry screed with your own hands comes out very durable. If a solution is needed that can withstand high humidity, then a moisture-resistant mixture is selected. In this case, the final ready-made solution is denser.

Laying a semi-dry screed is almost always accompanied by even slight, but subsidence of the finished base. If, in this case, a non-shrinking mixture is applied, then we get an excellent positive manifestation of the solution.

Everyone knows that it is very problematic to level the solution for a semi-dry screed over the surface of the floor, base. To facilitate this process, you should purchase a plastic mixture. It already contains all the components that allow the solution to spread independently over the area of the room.

Plasticizers are also necessary to obtain the uniformity of the finished solution. All performance characteristics in this form make it possible to use them for warm floors. The density of the screed becomes higher, and, therefore, its thickness is reduced by about 10-15%. This is important if necessary to maintain a floor-to-ceiling distance. All heating elements are well protected from different sides due to the high density of the solution. There is no need to make final alignment, since the ready-made mixture for a semi-dry screed becomes perfectly flat along the plane.

The use of such dry mixes for semi-dry screeds makes it possible to carry out work even in the winter season, on the street, on sites. That is, in addition to internal work, they apply to external ones. At the same time, it is important to observe the technology by which the semi-dry screed is performed manually.

Fiber use

Currently, there is no need to purchase an expensive steel mesh and lay it in a poured semi-dry screed. This causes additional costs of workers' energy, as well as time. Now a great option is fiberglass, which gives the screed plasticity, resistance to impacts, bends, cracks.

A solution with such a filler becomes more resistant to external mechanical influences, absorbs less water, and such qualities as fire resistance and frost resistance increase. The service life of the product is increased, but the quality remains the same. The likelihood of cracks appearing on the finished canvas at each stage of solidification is practically excluded. Any possible, even minor cracks, thanks to the fiberglass, are connected to each other, creating a single whole. Laying a semi-dry floor screed is much easier due to the plasticity of the material itself.

Any additive to a screed for a warm floor, including fiber, does not have any negative impact on human health. There are no harmful impurities here.

The use of plasticizers

It is worth dwelling in more detail on the addition of plasticizers for semi-dry screeds to dry mixtures. The main thing is to ensure that they are added correctly, which will depend on the specific species. In any case, the manufacturer will advise you on the correct proportions to be followed. Regardless of the state (liquid or dry), a plasticizer for underfloor heating screed must be prepared.

After adding it to the solution, time should be allowed for infusion. This will take approximately 30 minutes. Re-mixing the finished solution will allow the larger particles to grind. After another 30 minutes of infusion, you can start working on pouring a semi-dry screed.

If we are talking about the liquid version, then one and a half liters will be enough for each ton of cement. Before adding to the solution, it should be thoroughly mixed so that each particle is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Types of plasticizers

A semi-dry floor screed with your own hands should be performed step by step not only according to technology, but also by adding various components to the mixture. A plasticizer for a semi-dry floor screed can be created not only by foreign, but also by domestic manufacturers. There are many of them, but the most optimal options are distinguished:

Premium products bearing the "P" designation. It has no toxicity, flammability. At the same time, it improves the thermal conductivity, reliability and durability of the final version of the "rough" floor.
Superplasticizers. Most often they are used when installing a warm floor in a room. It was for them that this plasticizer model was created. The most popular is the Ukrainian manufacturer Sanpol. Cement sets more slowly due to 20% less water used in mixing.

additives for semi-dry screed
There is a plasticizer for underfloor heating based on liquid rubber. Environmental friendliness is at its best here. When using it, the compensatory characteristics of the warm floor are absorbed, and the room itself receives the maximum amount of heat from the source. The adhesion is increased, which allows the use of various means for fixing the floor covering. The cost is of course very high, but it perfectly protects against the appearance of corrosion on structural elements.
Thermoplastic. It is based on a complex of salts, each of which is responsible for a certain quality. Positive features include: low cement adhesion, low air entrainment, high level of waterproofing, frost resistance.

Each of the manufacturers tries to show something special to the market in order to attract buyers to their side. Due to this, the technical characteristics of the additives for mixtures are also increased.