Sequence Of Performing Mechanized Semi-dry Screed

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

• The need for a machine method
• Machine method advantage
• disadvantages
• Technology
• Care after work
• The cost

An even floor is very important for any room. Not only the quality of the flooring will depend on it, but also the location of all pieces of furniture. In addition, there is no need to carry out any additional leveling measures (grinding, polishing). Accustomed to all options for flooring does not always give the desired result immediately. In this case, a mechanized semi-dry screed will come to the rescue, which has a sufficient number of positive qualities. It differs markedly from the "wet" screed due to the reduction in the number of persons involved and the time spent.

The need for a machine method

A mechanized semi-dry floor screed is useful when the final covering of the "rough" floor needs to be made really final. It can also be used for subsequent decorative finishes. Thanks to this option, the floor becomes not only even across the entire plane, but also very durable.

For floor coverings such as laminate or parquet flooring, mechanical floor screed is very important, since a sufficiently flat surface is required. There will be no special labor costs, and the result will delight everyone. This option of a semi-dry screed will have to be used to obtain an additional soundproofing layer. The floor becomes hard and strong, allows you to hide the existing communications in the room, the wiring of electrical wires or pipes. The floor screed is indispensable in a mechanized way under a warm floor, whatever type it may be.

The components of a semi-dry screed of this design are cement-sand components. They have a variety of additives that are responsible for certain qualities of the future solution. Here they distinguish modern material fiber, as well as granulation. As a basis for such semi-dry screeds, a concrete floor slab, as well as tamped gravel, is suitable. A special screed project involves the use of a bedding layer.

Its main difference from the classic version of the screed is the lower use of water. It is enough for the cement to fill. You cannot overdo it here. Due to this, less shrinkage of the finished solution appears after installation, the appearance of cracks is minimized. The technology must be followed at all stages of work on the device of a semi-dry screed.

Machine method advantage

The technology of semi-dry screed in a mechanized way has its own characteristics, which show certain positive features. Of course, disadvantages cannot be ignored. True, the latter most often arise due to the fact that the whole process is not carried out in full, without adhering to the advice of specialists. The advantages include:

1. Fast installation. After laying a semi-dry screed in this way, the water evaporates very quickly due to its small amount. Even after 1-2 hours, when using special equipment, you can move around the surface of the poured screed. This is necessary in order to grout. The entire technological process directly before laying the floor covering takes a very short time.
2. In the process of installing a semi-dry screed, a special technique is included in the work, which includes high-performance machines. There is no downtime here. A working team for one working day is capable of filling about 200-250 square meters of screed. That is, the preparation of the base for tiles or laminate is carried out throughout the apartment within one day. In this case, a manual screed has disadvantages in spending time - mixing the solution, transporting it, subsequent installation, removing beacons and much more.

3. No cracks after shrinkage. The screed hardens better and its quality only increases due to the small amount of water. Shrinkage cracks are most typical for the "wet" version. A special material is also used to fight cracks - fiber. Polypropylene in the form of fibers is added to the dry mixture and then a solution is prepared. They "scatter" over all components of the mixture, creating a single whole.

   

4. Lack of additional surface leveling. Thanks to disc trowels, the screed goes through the sanding procedure when wet. The result is a perfectly flat surface that can be easily used under any floor covering. For every three meters of area, a height difference of 2 mm is permissible.
5. All work on the preparation of the solution is carried out on the street. In this case, there will be no dirt and debris in the room.
6. Lack of flow of the finished solution to the lower floors.
7. Automated stacking process.

disadvantages

We must not forget about the possible disadvantages of using a machine semi-dry screed. And the most important thing here is that the work will require the use of expensive equipment. So this method will not be very beneficial for a single installation. This is more true for construction firms. Even the rental of equipment will require decent financial costs.

It is very important to handle the equipment. If there are no skills, then the result is unlikely to be positive. Firms will not always be able to undertake the implementation of a machine floor screed in a small room of 30-50 square meters. Most often, their minimum order should be 100-150 m2.

So it will not work to perform this option of a semi-dry screed in a separate room (room, kitchen). In this case, it remains only to find companions for yourself. These can be neighbors in the house. Several apartments can easily fit into such areas.

The cost of work will be higher due to the operation of expensive equipment. The manual version will be much cheaper here.

Technology

Pouring the screed in a mechanized way is carried out by specific construction firms. They have a sufficient amount of technology. At the initial stage, the base is prepared for work: all existing debris, dust, everything that may interfere is removed. It will not be superfluous to treat it with a soil solution. Subsequently, a layer of noise and waterproofing is arranged. For this, a polyethylene substrate is laid. Its thickness will be sufficient in 5-10 mm.

A damper tape is attached along the walls. The main thing is that each element is larger than the layer of the future "rough" floor. After installation and solidification of the solution, the weight of the excess elements can be easily removed.

Leveling is carried out along the entire perimeter. To facilitate the work, a laser level is used. The zero level should be at the highest point of the floor level. It is already measuring the required layer of the future "rough" floor.

Next, you should prepare the mixture itself for work. This is all done in the hopper of the pneumatic blower. The minimum temperatures should not be below -5 degrees. When it is not enough, it is frosty outside, then you can build a heating room. There are many ways to do this. It is also necessary to adhere to the sequence of feeding the necessary materials into the bunker:

1. Sand;
2. Fiberglass;
3. Cement;
4. Water with plasticizers.

Three minutes will be enough for mixing. The pneumosupercharger is used later to deliver the ready-made solution to the place where all the installation work will be carried out.

Compressed air is the main component of the equipment operation. The solution is received in a damper. Just connect it to the transport hose.

Using the working mixture, beacons are built around the entire perimeter of the room. Mechanical semi-dry screed must be performed at a room temperature of at least +5 degrees. There should be such a distance between the beacons, which will be equal to the existing rule. Based on this, the number of required beacons is also determined. Pouring a ready-made solution for a semi-dry screed from a hose, it should be evenly distributed over the entire plane in the room.

Care after work

A few hours after the above steps, the screed is sanded and grilled.

In this case, a disc sander is used. Any irregularities, pits, bumps can be easily eliminated. As a result, you will get a really flat surface on which you can lay absolutely any floor covering.

After another three hours, expansion joints are made. Here the fugel will come to the rescue. The depth of the joints should be within 10-18 mm, and their thickness should be 4-6 mm. In the absence of a room project, they are performed in the door openings, where it is adjacent to the columns, in the presence of a height difference.

When the room temperature and all other indicators are constant, then practically no action will be necessary. But if drafts appear, the sun shines brightly or low humidity in the room, then the surface is covered with a polyethylene film. Everything about everything takes about 1-2 days.

Experts generally recommend waiting for the final drying time of the semi-dry screed solution. It takes almost 4 weeks after installation. When the deadlines are not being driven anywhere, it is better to wait, and only then proceed with the flooring flooring.

The cost

Machine semi-dry floor screed has a price. It will depend, among other things, on the screed itself (gypsum concrete, sand concrete, mosaic, underfloor heating, etc.). Also, the thickness of the layer, the poured area, does not affect the price. This also includes the use of specialized equipment.

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