An integral part of the overhaul of the sexes is their alignment. For finishes (parquet, laminate, tiles) require a perfectly flat floor. There are times when the level of the floor need to be lifted to a height of 20 cm If you pour the entire amount of concrete floors may not withstand such loads. In such situations the ideal solution is to make a screed floor with expanded clay.
What is Leca? ↑
Ceramsite – an artificial building material made from clay or shale by roasting in special stoves – drums. The size of the granules (fraction) expanded clay is from 0.5 to 40 mm. Light and porous, it has been applied not only in construction but also as a decorative material.
Expanded clay granules have high strength and durability, they are insensitive to temperature, have excellent noise and heat insulating properties.
Therefore, the expanded clay is used as insulation of foundations and floors, especially the first floor.
Training ↑
Before you do the cement screed expanded clay, you need to do some preparations.
The first stage ↑
You should first prepare the ground, remove the old flooring and remove the old cement screed (if applicable). Clear to the floor slab. In the presence of wires laid on the floor, they should wear groove. All joints, cracks and depressions should be sealed, for example, foam or plaster mixture.
The second stage ↑
You now need to complete the layout and installation of beacons on the premises, where will be screed. The most fast and convenient it is to make a laser level, but hydrolevel any. The location of lighthouses in each case is determined on the spot. Setting beacons on labels. The first beacon is placed on a small distance from the floor level, which is taken as a basis (zero), and not too far from the wall. The material for the lighthouse can serve pre-prepared wooden plates and other improvised material. Subsequent beacons should be set taking into account the size of the rules, that is applied to the screed. To set the beacons on a plaster solution, and the adhesive mixture. After installing the extreme beacons, the following can be set in level.
Some calculations ↑
Based on the recommended minimum height of fill for insulation, you can make a calculation of expanded clay for floor screeds.
For sale in DIY stores clay Packed in bags. Ordinary bag this material weighs about 20 kg, and 1 cubic meter weighs approximately 400 kg. it Turns out, in one bag 0.05 m³ (20 : 400). If you need to insulate the floor, for example, a room 15 m?, you will need 15 ? 0,1 = 1,5 m³ insulation, which is 30 bags (1,5 / 0,05). Of course, if you enlarge a layer of filling, increases the necessary amount of expanded clay.
Cement screed on a layer of expanded clay ↑
Now we have everything ready for the filling expanded clay. You need to plan the material evenly throughout the area so that the upper edge of the beacons remained space of approximately 2.5 – 4 cm.
After uniform distribution of the layer of expanded clay, it should be shed by the primary screed – cement milk is made from water and cement. You can add a little sand. The resulting mass must be fluid enough to freely flow, and at the same time thick enough to not seep through the clay pebbles. This shading is done in order to bond the top layer. First, it will be possible to go, and second, by pouring the solution the water will not go deep, and dries as it should.
Some artists do a bit differently. Gradually adding concrete block, also gradually filled with milk.
After the cement wash has dried, it is recommended to lay the fencing mesh for reinforcement. You can then proceed directly to the screed. You can use store-bought ready-mixed mortars or you can make your own hands out of the cement and sand ratio 1 : 3.
To start pour half follows from the far corner, gradually moving to the exit, levelling screed rule on beacons. After completion of the work throughout the area, the solution must be given time to come to grips, at least a day. After that, it is advisable screed occasionally wet during the week, then you can start finishing work.
It should be noted that the above method of screed floor with their hands with clay pellets refers to medium dry methods, and is not the only.
Add expanded clay to the solution ↑
Consider another method – wet screed with expanded clay.
The main difference between this method of pouring the floor in that expanded clay is mixed with a solution, preferably in a concrete mixer. This is won a considerable amount of time. Will understand gradually.
The first stage. Training grounds is no different from the previous method.
The second stage. Here begins the differences, as using this method requires waterproofing. Apply a few options.
- A sarking with a blowtorch.
- Special liquid mastic with a brush. Applied to floor and wall a little above the intended level of the screed. After drying, apply the second layer.
- The fastest and easiest method to cover the floor of a conventional thick polyethylene film with a margin on the walls and overlap between them. The joints of the foil should be wide seal tape.
Step three. Markings laser level, the installation of beacons on the labels and guides is no different from the usual way tie.
Step four. Preparation of concrete:
- expanded clay is poured into the mixer and is filled with water, thoroughly mixed;
- excess water result;
- in concrete block filled with cement – sand mixture and mixed until smooth.
The proportions of expanded clay and cement mixture are determined on the spot by experience. The ready solution must be sufficiently «fat», homogeneous and without lumps.
Prepared in this way the concrete is poured on the prepared surface and spread in the same way, not reaching 2-3 cm to the top of the beacons. The advantage of this technology floor screeds with expanded clay is the fact that concrete can be poured in small portions, and immediately on top of him to do «clean» screed mortar. This greatly saves the total time to complete the work.
If you fulfill all accurately and responsibly, the end result is a surface that is ready for any topcoat.
Dry screed ↑
Expanded clay is used for dry screed floor. This tie is made by experienced craftsmen in a matter of hours. Easy installation method will make it and with his own hands in the shortest possible time. In addition to the simplicity and speed of laying, this method has other advantages.
- When laying dry screed is not applied the water that removes the dirt in the apartment, piles of sand and puddles of water with the risk podtopit neighbors.
- Maximum ease of design. Because mortar is not used, this tie weighs a bit, which is important when insulation of floors in old houses with wooden interfloor overlappings.
- Hidden communications. The use of expanded clay as a dry filling perfect for hiding under the floor of the various pipes such as water supply and Sewerage system.
However, it was not entirely without disadvantages of this method of insulation. This design is recommended for laying in dry areas, as the fear of water – the main disadvantage of dry screed.
Learn more about the stages of laying of dry screed with expanded clay can from the video.
Reviews of the screed using expanded clay ↑
Victor, 40 years.
The mother in the village an old house with a cellar. Last summer, insulate one room to sample the concrete based on expanded clay. So the mother in this room all winter, and lived, says, immediately become warmer, on the floor pulls. This year I think more her in the kitchen pour half.
Andrew, 28 years.
Hired a firm for alignment and insulation of floors in the apartment on the ground floor there is a basement always wet. They recommended to make insulation concrete screed. Took, of course, expensive, but happy with the result!
