Recently, self-leveling mixtures have been increasingly used to level the floor. They are suitable for laying topcoats. Plaster and cement mixtures are currently on the market. Before you begin work, you must figure out which composition is better to get.
Varieties of levelers by ingredients
Cement mixes are used to level the floor in rooms for various purposes. It can be residential, public or industrial buildings. The composition is suitable for outdoor use. The thickness of the stacked layer can vary from 2 to 50 mm.
The cement leveler dries quite quickly, so you can start laying the finish coating in a short time. The mixture becomes stronger when it draws moisture from the air, so these levelers are well suited for rooms with high humidity.
Gypsum compounds
Gypsum floor levelers can be used in rooms with low or medium humidity. This is due to the fact that gypsum does not tolerate the effects of water. The material absorbs water and increases in volume, losing its original shape. Such mixtures can be laid with a layer of 20 to 100 mm. However, this thickness will dry out rather slowly.
Gypsum is environmentally friendly, so mixtures of it can be used in the repair of residential premises. This composition has excellent thermal insulation properties. Turning to specialists for help, you can note for yourself that they usually advise using cement mixtures, because the level of humidity in the room is quite difficult to determine.
Classification of levelers by purpose
The floor leveler can be designed for rough leveling or finishing work. The first version of the material is used to eliminate rough chips, deep pits and elevations. Such mixtures usually contain coarse fraction ingredients. As soon as the components are mixed with water, the leveler can be applied in a thick layer. However, with its help it will not be possible to derive the level of the differential by 0.
Typically, the basic component is cement, and it allows you to achieve adhesion and strength. A rough leveler cannot lie perfectly smooth and even, so it is usually used as the main layer. Before applying the topcoat, allow the starting coat to dry well.
Material for final leveling
The leveler for the floor can be the finish. It has a finer fraction of materials. The main advantage is that after mixing with water, the components form a homogeneous composition. So only a similar mixture will be laid on the surface, the base will find smoothness and evenness. Such levelers are more complex in composition, because they provide for the presence of polymer and mineral additives, which allow to achieve:
- perfect smoothness of the floor;
- increased strength;
- high resistance to physical influences.
The finish leveler is more elastic. It fills in small level differences and defects. It is also important to know that levelers differ in their properties. For residential premises, traditional mixtures are usually used, while for kitchens, showers and bathrooms it is customary to use special-purpose levelers, which include polymers that do not allow water to pass through.
Varieties of levelers by manufacturer: mixture "Eunice". Composition for creating a thick layer
In order to prepare an even, solid base that acts as a screed for laying decorative coatings, you can use the thick Eunice. It is suitable for applying thin layer filler levelers. You can use the mixture not only for internal, but also for external work.
The material is suitable for dry rooms and is actively used in conjunction with the underfloor heating system. The leveler for a floor "Unis" can be used even for damp and freezing rooms. The mixture is high strength and can withstand a load of up to 2000 tons per square meter. The thickness of the stacked layer can vary from 10 to 120 mm. The solution remains viable for 120 minutes after mixing.
additional characteristics
Before walking on the surface of the floor it must be kept up to 12 hours, which is true with a layer thickness of 10 mm. The leveling agent consumption for the floor is 19 kg per square meter, this figure is relevant at 10 mm thickness. The adhesion to the base is 7 kgf / cm².
You can purchase the mixture in a bag, the volume of which is 25 kg. Frost resistance of the floor reaches 50 cycles of freezing and thawing. For 25 kg of dry mix, approximately 4 liters of water will be needed. This rough floor leveler can be poured onto a cement-sand or concrete base. Its age should be 28 days or more from the moment of pouring.
Characteristics of the finish floor "Eunice"
If you need to finish the alignment, then you can use the appropriate composition “Eunice”. The thickness of the layer can vary from 1 to 30 mm. Subsequently, it will be possible to lay another floor covering on the surface. Suitable material for heated rooms where high or moderate humidity is stored. In this case we are talking about bathrooms or kitchens.
This leveler is suitable for use with the underfloor heating system. It has increased crack resistance, is suitable not only for manual but also for machine application, and also allows you to create a perfectly smooth and even surface. The temperature of the work varies from +5 to +30 ˚. With a thickness of 10 mm, the consumption of the composition will be equal to 13 kg / m 2 .
The leveler for the floor "Horizon" after mixing must try to work out within 40 minutes. You should also be aware of the compressive strength characteristic, which is 200 kg / cm². 4 hours after pouring should be kept until walking. Further finishing is possible after 14 days maximum. The time will depend on the thickness of the laid layer and the type of coating. Professionals are usually also interested in adhesion, in this case it is 10 kg / cm².
Characteristics and reviews of the Hercules leveler for rough work
The leveler for a floor of "Hercules" GF-27 is intended for rough alignment and has high durability. Great for use with a warm floor system. The material is moisture resistant. Suitable for machine and manual application. The thickness of the stacked layer can vary from 10 to 100 mm. This material is made on the basis of cement and is used to create seamless floors on different types of substrates, including:
Using the composition, you can create a surface with a slope of up to 10%. The bases may be inclined. Suitable material for interior use. Finishing decorative coatings may be:
- laminate;
- parquet;
- porcelain tile;
- ceramic tile;
- textile carpets;
- linoleum.
After reading reviews of the floor equalizer, you can understand that its consumption is quite low and is 1.81 kg per square meter with a thickness of 1 mm. Laying is recommended to be carried out with a layer of 1 to 5 cm. The material is highly durable, and remains viable after mixing for 30 minutes. After 24 hours, you can move around the surface. Further work is recommended to be done in three days.
Consumers quite often consider Hercules to be the best equalizer for the floor. This is due to the versatility of the composition, because it can be used in almost all rooms, namely:
- Bathrooms
- Warehouses
- basement;
- garages;
- bedrooms;
- kitchens;
- living rooms.
Among the ingredients are polymers, as well as fractionated quartz sand. Consumers like the polymer-reinforced composition, which eliminates cracking and shrinkage. If the room has a rather high level difference of up to 50 mm, the described mixture is perfect for leveling, which consumers also like.
Reviews and characteristics of the primary leveler "Kreps RV"
Among other market offers, it is worth highlighting the “Craps” floor leveler. It is a dry building mixture consisting of coarse sand, cement and modified special additives. The composition has a quick set of strength, is universal - you can use the mixture not only for internal but also for external work.
This self-leveling leveler for the floor, according to consumers, has a fairly low consumption, which is 16 kg per square meter. With this flow rate, you can lay a layer up to 10 mm. It will be possible to walk on the floor 12 hours after laying. You can mount the tile in two days.
At the age of 28 days, the material retains compressive strength within 30 MPa. Frost resistance is 50 cycles. You can apply the mixture at a temperature of +5 ˚. The base must be prepared before application, it must be durable, free from dirt and dust, and also solid. The surface is recommended to be cleaned of old paint, loose particles of finish and oil stains. Local defects should be cleaned and filled with the described solution.
If you have to work with concrete or an existing screed, then you need to tap it to detect and remove old weaknesses if necessary. If damage is more than 30%, the screed is completely removed. A floor leveler is recommended to be applied on a primed base. If the preparation is applied in 2 layers, then the second layer should be applied after the first after 2 hours. The perimeter of walls and partitions should be protected from contact with the solution.
Characteristics and properties of the self-leveling mixture Ceresit CN 175
According to consumers, one of the best self-leveling levelers for the floor is a mixture from Ceresit. The composition mentioned in the subtitle is a universal material, laid in a layer from 3 to 60 mm. The mixture is suitable for indoor screeds. The material is non-shrinking, during operation it remains resistant to cracking, suitable for the manufacture of floating screeds. You can use the material on heated screeds.
The composition is environmentally friendly and has high strength, which is 20 MPa. Finishing coatings may be:
- linoleum;
- PVC
- carpet;
- laminate;
- ceramic tile.
The leveler is designed for repairing defects and manufacturing screeds. On the floor during operation should not be exposed to high mechanical stress. In one pass during application, the thickness of the mixture should not exceed 60 mm.
Customer feedback on the features of the work
The base must be prepared before applying the leveler. Its strength should be approximately 10 MPa. If we are talking about cement-sand screed and concrete, then the first should be at least 28 days old, the second - three months. Humidity should not exceed 2%.
Consumers emphasize that the base should be cleaned of impurities and must be dedusted. The mixture is closed with water at a temperature of +15 to +20 ˚. A dry composition should be gradually added to the liquid, achieving a homogeneous mass. Mixing is carried out by a mixer. You can use a drill with a nozzle. Home masters note that the rotation speed should not exceed 800 revolutions per minute.
With thin-layer leveling, the material is poured and distributed over the surface with a smooth squeegee. Buyers emphasize that with a layer thickness of 5 mm or more, it is recommended to control the level with point portable beacons.
Finally
Followers in a short time can achieve the desired results. With their help, it is quite simple to eliminate defects and prepare the surface for laying finish coatings. They are good for their restlessness and ease of work. To prepare the mixture, it is only necessary to combine the dry composition with water, and then distribute it on the surface.