Removing uneven floor defects is a common operation before laying decorative coatings. Sometimes you can do with a light priming putty, and sometimes you have to make a cement screed to smooth out all the flaws of the surface. An intermediate and partially universal solution is to level the floor with tile adhesive with the formation of a thin layer. It turns out the same screed, but with a different methodology for the production of work.
How justified is the tile adhesive as a screed?
Dry mixes with the effect of an adhesive component are used for delicate finishing work. This is an extensive group in which you can find compositions for leveling - another thing is that we are talking about the floor surface, especially demanding on the technical and physical qualities of the coating. So is it worth it to use such mixtures to correct the floor?
According to traditional practice, self-leveling and cement-sand mortars are used to eliminate defects, as the most practical. They are delivered in volumes sufficient for the installation of screeds with a thickness of about 4-6 cm. However, in local areas, cement with a polymer self-leveling mixture is less effective than adhesive compounds. Therefore, alignment of the floor screed with tile glue, for example, will have a number of advantages from both a structural and a functional point of view. Indeed, the coating is formed not just for the sake of disguising or sealing holes with other defects, but with the aim of preparing the floor for the subsequent installation of decorative flooring. One way or another, each case should be considered separately. We can only schematically note situations in which it is advisable to refer to this technique.
When to use tile adhesive for leveling?
Dry mixes for laying tiles in the line of each manufacturer have a clear segmentation by purpose. Depending on the specific modification of the composition and its properties, the use of glue in the following cases may be justified:
- If, after laying a new screed, subsidence or cracks in certain areas of the coating were found. That is, we are talking about a mortar that has not yet solidified, which is too late to level with a tool, but can be corrected with a building mixture.
- The formulation of the mixture was disrupted, due to which deviations in the technical and physical properties of the coating are observed. It is pointless to pour a new layer of cement on top, however, finishing leveling the floor with tile glue can prevent cracking and delamination.
- The old screed is being destroyed, and in some places. It is not planned to dismantle the structure, since at the base it still retains the bearing qualities, but individual upper zones require termination.
- Preventive reinforcement of the flooring or rough flooring is necessary. Perhaps as a temporary solution before laying a new concrete screed.
As you can see, in most cases, the glue will perform an auxiliary function - both alignment and means of strengthening. It may also have an independent role when increased requirements are imposed on the surface before laying decorative materials sensitive to the base.
Composition Requirements
In any case, the mixture must meet high requirements in terms of strength, wear resistance, adhesive ability and moisture resistance. These can be compositions on a polyurethane, epoxy or dispersed basis. For example, the practice of using elastic superpolymers is considered successful. But in this case, a lot will depend on the added additives that increase the individual properties of the glue.
According to a simple scheme, you can immediately focus on products intended for facade use. That is, for both internal and external use. Appointment for work with large-format porcelain stoneware tiles will indicate sufficient adhesive ability. Microclimatic protective properties will be important for leveling the floor with tile adhesive in the bathroom or in the kitchen. This also applies to resistance to humidity, and the ability to easily tolerate elevated temperatures. In this case, you should look for recommendations for use in heated rooms. And if the glue is recommended for outdoor use, then inside the house it will definitely retain its qualities under conditions of contact with water and at low temperatures.
Preparation for work
At the preparation stage, the main task of the wizard is to clean the working area as much as possible. This applies not only to garbage, but also to foreign objects. The site must be dust-free, free of grease, bitumen and glue stains. Weak areas should be treated with an abrasive and then dedusted again. Unstable foundations are strengthened only in extreme cases. At the slightest sign of chips and cracks, it is advisable to completely dismantle the site. If it is planned to level the bulk floor with tile adhesive, then serious damage can be repaired with a primer based on the same composition. Usually self-leveling solutions in one line have the same dry mixes especially for basic restoration. At the final stage, the surface is dried.
Alignment technology
Pure water with a temperature of 15 to 20 ° C is used to prepare the solution. It is important to emphasize that, unlike the proportions recommended in the instructions, laying a floor screed will require the use of a more liquid mixture. After pouring, it hardens in 30-40 minutes. For example, an optimal solution can be obtained by adding 10-15% more water than the manufacturer recommends. Again, this is due to the fact that the adhesive mixture is used for another purpose, not for laying tiles. Then the solution is mixed with an electric mixer and infused for 20 minutes. The filling is carried out from the center, after which the mass is leveled with a needle roller. In works with a large area, it is advisable to level the floor with tile glue in areas using beacons. The platform is zoned, after which beacons with a separating formwork are installed. Then, at each site, the adhesive mixture is poured from the center at individual points.
Coating correction
Leveling of the poured mortar should be done as quickly as possible, since the glue hardens faster than bulk and cement floors. In addition to the needle roller, you can use a spatula and a trowel. By the way, a liquid solution is made just to increase the ability to self-leveling. If necessary, re-align the floor with tile adhesive. Which layer can be considered the finish? It depends on the depth of the defects, which should be completely closed without a trace on a new screed. For a more reliable coating, you can use 2-3 layers. In finishing coatings with a thickness of 3-4 cm, you can also use a vibrating rail. This tool will not only contribute to an intense and uniform distribution of the composition over the surface, but also remove air bubbles from the structure of the mixture.
Features of work with wood
Floors with wooden logs are in principle not recommended to be covered with a screed. Nevertheless, there are designs when this is the only option for preparing the base for a decorative coating. And glue in this case will become a more attractive solution than traditional solutions for screed. If you plan to lay a hard coating on top, then the thickness of the cover should exceed 5 cm. For example, leveling the floor with tile adhesive under the laminate on wooden logs is done in 3-4 layers. Two conditions are also met:
- The wooden draft base should be isolated from the mixture, and the gaps between the logs should be covered with a primer.
- After pouring on the laid mass, reinforcing material is laid for reinforcement. You can use fiberglass or plastic mesh for this purpose.
It is important to emphasize that any restoration work on wooden logs is carried out only subject to the integrity of the elements. Boards must be non-rotten, dry and technically sound.
Features of work with a concrete surface
For such surfaces, complex alignment with glue is carried out in cases where there are many small and shallow defects. Moreover, filling as such does not always make sense. You can apply the technique of spot spraying or manual styling of the sealing compound. Defects are localized and eliminated zonally. Similar operations can be performed using a pneumatic spray gun or short-haired roller. How effective this leveling of the concrete floor with tile adhesive will depend on post-surface treatment. Even when the glue finally hardens, it will require light grinding of the coating.
Recommendations on the way
It is impossible to foresee all the intricacies of the work process without proper experience. But some of the universal useful tips should be considered in advance:
- In places of joints and joints, it is recommended to leave expansion joints. For example, if you plan to level the floor with tile adhesive under the tile, then in places of convergence with the walls, you can indent 5-7 mm. Free space is required in case of thermal expansion of the screed, and later on the tiled coating.
- It is advisable to use the tool only metal - with a corrosion-resistant coating.
- Already after pouring and leveling it is undesirable to add modifiers and plasticizers to the composition. Additives are added only before mixing the mixture with a mixer.
Care for adhesive screed
Like polymer bulk floors, high-quality tile adhesive does not require special care. After laying, its structure does not depend on external influences. The only thing that may be required to maintain the integrity of such a framework is periodic polishing. If the leveling of the floor with tile adhesive is carried out in order to arrange the decorative surface without subsequent laying of the decorative coating, then traces of minor mechanical damage will have to be regularly eliminated. This is done with a felt wheel grinder.
Conclusion
Improving the performance of a rough flooring will determine how durable the use of the decorative coating will be. Also, the restoration of the surface structure will positively affect the aesthetic qualities of the future flooring. This is especially true for elastic coatings - for example, if the floor is aligned under linoleum. Tile glue will help to form a thin layer of a smooth coating, optimal for a sensitive synthetic structure. Hard flooring, such as laminate or parquet, also organically interact with adhesive screed. The main thing is not to miscalculate in choosing the right composition and correctly fill.