Sooner or later, a terrible word arises in the life of any person - “repair”. Very often, even small changes last for weeks and months, and the estimate is growing inexorably. But if you approach the matter responsibly, then remodeling your home can bring pleasure and reveal creative potential. Change is always an inspiration for a person, and repair is always a way out of one’s own comfort zone.
First difficulties
The first serious difficulties arise already at the design stage. What floor coverings and wallpaper should I choose so that everything works out beautifully, combines with each other, is practical and does not cost a fortune? With a huge variety of materials, you can get confused very easily.
Types of flooring
First of all, as a rule, they are determined with the floor and are repelled already from the selected material. For floors, you can use parquet, laminate, tile, carpet, 3D flooring and others. In order to make a competent choice, it is necessary to take into account the features of the purpose and the material itself. Parquet is a rather expensive and capricious material, so it is perfect for a business office, an elegant living room or bedroom.
In rooms with high humidity, in the bathroom, shower or restroom it is better to use tiles. In workrooms, it is quite possible to use a laminate or even linoleum, they are now being made efficiently, and there are a great many variations. 3D polymer bulk floors (photo below) are almost universal and suitable for almost every room. It is important that the selected coating is fully consistent with the interior design.
3D bulk floors
Polymer resin is considered one of the most versatile materials, regardless of location. A correctly selected version of this coating is perfect for the kitchen, bedroom and any other room. Also, the polymer is widely used for flooring industrial premises. Bulk epoxy floors are not afraid of moisture, temperature changes, chemical effects and are absolutely harmless to health. Thanks to the gapless construction, polymer floors are perfectly protected from harmful organisms such as mold and dangerous fungi.
3D bulk floors withstand loads and vibrations, making them ideal for production and public spaces. Very often they can be found in clubs and museums. The thickness of the 3D decorative bulk floor ranges from 0.4 to 9 mm, depending on the load or type of room. The life of such floors reaches fifteen to twenty years, if the technology has been correctly observed. High-quality 3D bulk floors are made by real professionals.
Pros and cons of polymer floors
The undoubted advantages of 3D polymer bulk floors include:
- strength;
- environmental friendliness;
- fire safety;
- resistance to pollution and fungi;
- they are not afraid of chemistry;
- glossy surface visually makes the room larger;
- long service life (up to twenty years);
- cost;
- people are increasingly interested in how to make a 3D self-leveling floor with their own hands, since there is a huge field for creativity.
This list is not a complete list of the advantages of a polymer coating. In general, polymer floors are becoming increasingly popular. They are environmentally friendly, beautiful, stylish and allow you to show creativity. Polymeric bulk floors are an excellent choice, but here, as elsewhere, there are drawbacks.
There are much fewer minuses than pluses:
- If you cheapen or choose the wrong material, the floors will quickly lose their appearance. From exposure to light, they simply turn yellow.
- Dismantling of epoxy floors is almost impossible. Most likely, you will have to mount a new coating right on top.
Classification of polymer floors
There are a lot of types of polymer floors, they can be divided according to several criteria. Mainly distinguished:
- epoxy bulk floors, which are most often chosen;
- polyurethane;
- floors based on methyl methacrylate, this is most often chosen in industrial production;
- polyester solutions - a low-quality type of polymeric materials and the most short-lived (cheaper than the rest).
Depending on the filler contained, a polymer coating for the floor can be:
- with a smooth or rough surface;
- plain or textured;
- self-leveling (contains particles of minerals);
- highly filled (includes large particles);
- combined.
Mixtures themselves may consist of one or more components. Unicomponent contain only the base, they can immediately be applied. Two-component ones consist of a base and hardener, which are mixed before you start working with them.
Such floors can be diverse, even interspersed with different materials. Everyone saw in childhood amulets made of epoxy resin with beetles or flowers. Epoxy works well with different materials: wood, organics. The material allows you to brick up and preserve anything for many years.
Polymers in the decor
Production of bulk floors is not the only industry using this technology. The idea of using polymer compounds in the decor quickly grew and became popular. For example, due to its unique properties, epoxy is often used in a wide variety of applications. It is often used in the manufacture of furniture, both partially, combining with various materials, and completely from resin.
Epoxy jewelry and various decorative elements are very popular. Creations of eminent designers from polymer materials often win all sorts of prestigious awards and can cost a lot of money.
Various combinations
Designers often combine laconic fundamental materials, such as metal, wood and stone, with certain epoxy elements. The epoxy itself looks elegant and holistic, so do not overload the interior with bright, sticky details. If only, this is not the designer's idea.
History of polymer floors
Today bulk floors are very popular both in Russia and abroad. But there is no exact data when they have captured their niche. According to legend, the Queen of Sheba, famous for her beauty, never showed her legs. Rumor had it that she had hoofs instead of legs. The brave and daring king Solomon ordered the creation of a hall with a glass floor, similar to water. Queen of Sheba went into the hall and thought that she was walking on the water, and instinctively lifted the hem of the dress so that it would not get wet. Her legs were quite ordinary, and what happened next, everyone knows. That was the first mention of bulk floors.
Much later, the American brand Ardex Inc. (Ardex Inc - Eng.) First announced the revolutionary new polymer coating in 1972. The first bulk floors were made of cement, gypsum and polymeric substances. Later, technology has been improved and improved to this day.
The roots of the bulk floor with a 3D effect are also interesting. In 1978, new street artists appeared in Italy (Street Painting). Their work was notable for the fact that from a certain angle, the image on the asphalt looked surprisingly realistic and deep. This idea was quickly picked up by eminent interior designers and brought to their craft. So there was a technology of a bulk 3D floor.
How much are bulk floors
The cost of the bulk floor per square meter is not very high and varies from 200 to 700 rubles per square meter per work. When choosing a floor covering, you must first look at the manufacturer’s reputation and market position in order to have confidence in the selected product. The same applies to the contractor - performer. The wizard must be tested and know exactly how to make a 3D bulk floor.
It’s difficult to independently mount epoxy floors, but it’s quite possible
3D floor materials are relatively inexpensive. A square meter will cost about 150-200 rubles. So, consider the sequence of work:
- First you need to prepare the foundation. A concrete floor pretreated with a grinder is best, but this is not a prerequisite.
- Elimination of dust and pollution.
- After preparing the floor, it is necessary to apply a primer layer and allow it to dry.
- It's time to fill the floor with a base layer of epoxy.
- If the floors will be with a pattern or interspersed, lay out the filler.
- After we put on the floor the final layer of varnish, the finish layer.
This is a brief guideline to give you a general idea of what work to do. It seems that everything is simple, but it is a very painstaking work requiring maximum concentration. Otherwise, the floor will simply lose its valuable properties and turn out uneven.
It is worth considering in detail the complete installation process of epoxy floors:
- At the first stage, you need to prepare the basis. It can serve not only concrete, but also, for example, wood and ceramic tiles. It is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of dirt, grease and dust. This moment is the most important. If you follow the instructions carefully, defects may develop in the future. The floor may swell, become cloudy or rough. Humidity during operation should be in the range of 4-8%.
- The second stage is the application of soil by roller. Its main properties: increased adhesion, elimination of concrete porosity, elimination of the possibility of air penetration. All this can cause floor deformation. It is necessary to act very carefully. Quartz sand should be added to the ground to increase adhesion to the substrate. Sand must first be dried and sieved. The procedure can be repeated for the best result. In this case, it is necessary to go through the grinder again.
- The third stage is the application of the main layer, that is, the base. First of all, remember that epoxy floors are sensitive to temperature differences during installation. The maximum difference should be no more than 2 degrees. The base is applied by filling. That is, the composition is poured onto the floor and evenly distributed. For work using a doctor blade, putty knife and aeration roller. With it, you can get rid of air bubbles. The base should dry for a day or more, depending on the manufacturer's instructions.
- The fourth stage is the application of various additives or a pattern: chips, glitter and in general everything that your heart desires. Very popular is the option with laying out coins for varnish. This step is optional.
- The fifth stage is the application of the finish layer. This is done on the third day after applying the base. The composition is distributed in a thickness of 1-2 mm. He needs to be allowed to dry thoroughly. At the end, the surface should be washed carefully with a damp cloth.
It is always worthwhile to carefully study all instructions for the use of materials, as there are significant individual differences.
Conclusion
Many doubt whether it is worthwhile to opt for polymer floors. But the end result will certainly be pleasing to the eye for many years. So try, and you will succeed!