Putty - a material used to smooth and smooth surfaces of various kinds. With its help, you can perfectly smooth out irregularities on the concrete ceiling, pre-plastered wall, sheets of drywall or on wooden surfaces.
The use of putty provides an ideal result for the final finishing work. That is why it is important to choose the right material suitable for the surface, as well as the most accurate calculation of the putty consumption per 1 m2.
What are putties
Putties differ from each other in the basis of the fact that it is used as a binding component. Basically, astringent elements are divided into cement, gypsum and polymers. There are a number of special putties on a glue or oil basis.
The polymer-based putty is the most flexible and practical; it dries quickly, is easily rubbed, does not shrink and does not crack. The price of polymer putty is quite high, and the range of applications is mainly limited to internal finishing work.
A cheaper material option for interior wall decoration is a gypsum-based putty. Flexible, easy to apply and non-contracting, it also dries quickly and is easy to sand, even dry. The disadvantage of gypsum is poor water resistance. In a damp and humid environment, it is best not to use this material.
Cement putty has high water resistance and resistance to temperature changes. This material has the highest consumption per 1 m 2 , but it is great for facade work, decoration of rooms with high humidity and unstable temperature, for example, bathrooms, cellars, saunas or summer houses.
What determines the consumption per 1m2
The instruction on the packaging of the material usually includes an approximate consumption of putty per 1 m2. However, it does not always take into account various characteristics that may affect surface treatment.
Putty consumption per 1 m2 depends on a number of conditions and characteristics, among which:
- The level of surface preparation - plastered and primed walls require less material, while smoothing uneven surfaces with a large number of flaws will take much more putty.
- The nature of the surface - putty consumption per 1 m2 of drywall differs from the consumption of the same material per square meter of concrete surface. The tree does not tolerate a thick layer of putty.
- Types of finishing work - starting puttying of the walls usually requires more material and almost doubles the consumption of finishing putty by 1m2.
- Level of work - a professional has an almost intuitive knowledge and understanding of the nature of the surface, as well as the quality and quantity of the required material. A beginner or an amateur will need not only more time, but more effort and building materials.
How to correctly calculate the putty consumption per 1 m2
The approximate consumption of a cement-based mixture with a coating layer of 1 mm is from 0.8 to 1 kg per 1 m 2 . The gypsum-based putty, due to its greater elasticity, is consumed with the calculation of 0.5-0.6 kg per 1 m 2 with a millimeter layer.
To correctly calculate the amount of the required mixture, you need to carefully examine the surface, roughly determining the required layer thickness; then calculate the surface area to be treated. The approximate amount is calculated by the formula:
- surface area * layer thickness * material consumption.
For example, it is necessary to fill a slightly uneven wall with an area of 12 m 2 , for this purpose covering it with a layer of 5 mm thickness, using a mixture of cement-based. With such data, the formula for calculating the material will look like this: 12 x 5 x 0.9 = 54 kg.
The consumption of some ready-made mixtures
Ready-to-use material is sold in plastic buckets and does not require prior kneading. Among the brands popular today are Knauf, Shitrok, Vetonit and Ceresit.
The basis of the Shitrok putty is gypsum; moreover, it contains a certain amount of polymers and vinyl, which makes it very flexible, with a layer of 1 mm per 1 m 2 it takes about half a kilogram of the mixture. Consumption of Vetonit putty per 1 m2 is more than a kilogram; by virtue of natural but heavy binders such as cement, sand, limestone and minerals, approximately 1.2 kg of putty is required per 1 mm layer.
When calculating the amount of the mixture, it is worth considering the small amount of material that will remain on the walls of the working tank, on the rule and spatula. Just in case, it is better to purchase a few pounds of putty more than in the initial calculation.