People often buy apartments in houses of the old type. Khrushchev’s are in great demand, attracting young families at a low price, as well as the opportunity to redevelop at their discretion. Repairing an apartment in Khrushchev is easy to do. People also like the high ceilings that characterize 5-story buildings of this type. Of course, there are some difficulties in the repair process. One of the difficult moments is the replacement of the old floor in Khrushchev. The flooring can be changed with your own hands. For this, it is necessary to draw up an algorithm of actions and adhere to it clearly.
Reasons for sex change in Khrushchev
Usually, after twenty years of operating a building, floor changes are not bewildering.
It happens that people do not know where to start the overhaul of an apartment. Professionals advise - from the floor. Over the years, they dry out, exfoliate. The material may absorb moisture and swell. Often wooden floors begin to creak, which is very annoying to residents.
The reason for such problems lies in the lack of waterproofing slabs during construction. In some cases, the installation of plates of not the highest quality is obvious.
What are the features when replacing?
Before replacing the floor in Khrushchev, you should understand what preparatory work needs to be done, as well as which materials to purchase.
Modern floors are made up of several layers. They include:
- Concrete base, sometimes you can find wooden.
- Must be waterproofing. For it, you will need a bitumen-coated roofing material. Such material is not often found in stores, but it is considered the best option for this type of work.
- Thermal insulation, it will require glass wool. When the desired material cannot be found, construction waste is used. In a similar way, noise insulation is carried out.
- It is important to qualitatively make a cement screed.
- In all rooms, except for the bathroom and kitchen, it is optimal to make wooden floors. It is recommended to lay tiles in the bathroom and in the kitchen.
In old buildings, you can find a concrete base, and immediately a wooden flooring is laid on it. Maximum, in those days they could make a layer of construction waste. Such floors were cold and wore out pretty quickly.
Defects to be repaired when replacing
The replacement of the wooden floor in Khrushchev with their own hands involves the elimination of many shortcomings. Usually in apartments of this type, the condition of the floors is poor.
They have a neglected appearance, the boards are often rotten and partially dried out. Cracks are clearly visible in the flooring itself, as well as in the skirting boards. Slots reach large sizes. The coating itself begins to creak constantly.
The above defects require replacement of the floor in Khrushchev. It is important to determine the front of work correctly. Then it will be easier to calculate how much the reconstruction of the floor covering will cost.
Repair Options
There are several options for repairing floors in the apartment:
- A complete replacement of the flooring is possible. Valid options for both cosmetic and overhaul. The landlord solves this issue based on his preferences and financial capabilities.
- When redecorating an apartment in Khrushchev, minor defects are removed. When capital is done differently. There is a complete replacement of the floor in Khrushchev.
- It happens that the floors are in a completely "deplorable" state. For example, if the apartment has parquet, then it is very difficult to restore it. It is recommended to remove and remodel the coating. It will require the dismantling of the wooden floor. It is necessary to make a concrete screed, change the old logs.
Ways to make a floor in Khrushchev
There are several options for repairing floors in the apartment:
- It is possible to carry out work to strengthen the wooden structure. It will be necessary to putty all the cracks, timely change the rotten boards. The last step will be coating painting. You can use special paints or varnish on wood.
- Dismantling a wooden floor consists in replacing all of its elements. In this case, it is necessary to fill in a new concrete screed and be sure to make a layer of thermal insulation. As a flooring, gypsum boards are perfect.
- It is permissible to use plywood or particleboard for a new floor covering. This method is suitable for those whose floors do not fail. They should not rot, otherwise they will have to completely replace the structure.
How to redecorate the floor?
Cosmetic repair of flooring in Khrushchev allows:
- Close up large gaps. To do this, it is necessary to putty on the problem area, after cycling the floor. There are times when you need to put a board under the bottom layer. After such a small repair, the floors will last at least another five years.
- Close the gaps between the floorboards. In order to qualitatively remove a gap of this type, it is necessary to remove the skirting boards and floor boards. If the lags rot, they will have to be replaced with new ones. After this work, each coating element must be put in place in the same order in which it was removed. It is necessary to move the boards together as tightly as possible. Problems of this kind are usually observed in the kitchen. Since water often falls on the floor, gradually the boards deteriorate, cracks form. If there is a small gap between the floor and the wall, then it will be possible to remove it with the help of mounting foam. After it has completely dried, attach the baseboard.
- Eliminate creaking while walking on the floor. When the lags become loose over time, the creaking sound of the floorboards appears. In some cases, the floors begin to creak if the boards are loose. To carry out repair work, it is necessary to install and tighten the logs firmly with anchor screws. All boards must be securely fixed with self-tapping screws.
- Remove boards that spring. It happens that such a defect manifests itself over time. The reason for it lies in the purchase of an unsuitable board. It is also possible that the person who carried out the work set the lags far apart. The optimal distance for the lag will be approximately 60 centimeters. It is important to try not to exceed this value. If you get a step larger than the established norm, then you will need to install additional lags. When this stage of work is completed, the floorboards are returned back.
How to make major repairs?
Professionals believe that the replacement of the floor covering should be carried out if 60 percent of the boards are damaged during operation. Also, the replacement of the floor in Khrushchev is carried out if, after redecorating, problems with lags and with the coating arose again. If it is impossible to completely replace the lags, you can use a sheet of plywood to lay it on top of the old ones. In this case, there is no need to dismantle the past flooring.
The first step is to remove the baseboard. The next step will be laying out plywood sheets on the floor. The gap from the wall should not exceed one centimeter. The plywood must be securely fixed. For this, it is better to use self-tapping screws. The next step will be the priming of the surface. Be sure to use a special composition that has water-repellent properties. When the work is finished, you can proceed to the final finishing of the flooring.
Replacement Methods
Many do not know how to remove the floor in Khrushchev, as well as how to install a new one. It is worth paying attention to three proven methods. They are used for overhaul:
- It is necessary to buy a self-leveling mixture, make a new screed out of it. At the end of the work, you can begin assembling the flooring.
- It is required to install new logs, and then lay the wood coating.
- There are adjustable lags. You can install the floor on them.
If the room has flat floor bases, then it is better to use the new screed method. It will help to hide minor defects.
In what sequence is it best to do the work?
Professionals advise to adhere to a certain algorithm of work:
- The old flooring is being dismantled.
- Removing all possible contaminants.
- Timely diagnosis of floors between floors.
- If there are cracks, they are filled with plaster.
- After each work, it is necessary to remove construction waste in a timely manner.
You can start repairing the floor base:
- You will need a plastic film. It is cut into strips and overlapped. Thus, a waterproofing pad is obtained. The film is best fastened with masking tape. If it is not at hand, then you can use the usual clerical.
- You will need to install height beacons. This must be done in advance, before screed flooring. They can be removed three days after pouring. It takes about a month for the screed to dry completely. It is important to wet the top layer with water.
When can I start installation work on the floor?
Installation work can begin four weeks after the screed has dried. Any material is acceptable to choose. The owner of the apartment can rely on his own taste and acquire the desired coverage. In the kitchen, it is best to buy tiles. The bathroom and toilet are also most often tiled. The remaining rooms are laid parquet, laminate. Some can not live without carpets, so choose a soft carpet. Others opt for linoleum.
How to make waterproofing under the screed with your own hands?
It is believed that the screed is the most difficult thing in the repair work. This process requires a lot of time and attention. First you need waterproofing the floor under the screed. In this case, mistakes cannot be made, therefore preparation is necessary so as not to redo the screed again.
Waterproofing the floor under the screed is necessary in order to protect the floors from leaks. If an accident occurs with a pipe in the apartment, then the water will not reach the neighbors. Apartment owners do not have to pay for repairs to the injured party. It happens that water goes inside the house. This happens in private homes. This may damage the foundation. Waterproofing also protects against this problem. It helps improve the quality of the new screed. Concrete dries slower with it than before. But it is with the screed that it becomes strong and durable. Therefore, they try to slow down the drying process by all means. People add water to the surface of the floor. Some completely cover the screed with polyethylene. This method helps prevent cracking. When the solution quickly sets, the appearance of cracks cannot be avoided. It is believed that waterproofing is especially important in the bathroom and in the kitchen. In these rooms the highest probability of flooding, so the floors must be reliably protected.
Do not think about waterproofing only residents of the first floors in apartment buildings, since they have no risk of flooding other people living below. They need waterproofing if they want to extend the life of the floor in their apartment. Cold air comes from the basement, and concrete, as a rule, absorbs moisture. Therefore, the coating collapses faster than on the upper floors.