Often people are faced with a problem such as gaps between the floor and the wall. They appear with time or due to the unfair approach of the finishers in the repair of an apartment. Eliminate such spaces as soon as possible. It is worth asking in advance how to repair the gaps between the floor and the wall. In addition to spoiling the appearance of the apartment, damp and drafts penetrate the house through cracks. The presence of voids can contribute to the appearance of cockroaches. They penetrate through all kinds of gaps. How and by what means can the gap between the wall and the floor be eliminated? About it further.
Work stages
Filling up the cracks will not require much time and effort from the residents. There are several stages of work:
- The size of the space, its depth and length are determined.
- Material is selected for work. It all depends on the size of the gap.
What materials can be used?
To close up a small gap, the size of which is not more than one centimeter, it is permissible to use such building materials as putty and cement. Mounting plaster is also suitable for use.
If the gap is from two to five centimeters, then it is better to seal it with mounting foam. If it is more than five centimeters, then the work will be complicated. I will have to buy other materials.
What needs to be done at the preparatory stage?
The sealing of the resulting voids can be attributed to cosmetic repairs. How to close the cracks between the floor and the wall depends on the type of damage, as well as on the interior decoration of the room. All preparation will depend on whether the walls and floor of the apartment are decorated. The baseboard is removed, as well as the wallpaper. If the baseboard for the floor is high, it is worth attaching it back, then the seam will be completely invisible. When there is a layer of paint, it must be removed by stripping. Whitewash is washed away by water. Before starting work, the wall must be completely dry.
Around the workspace, all accumulated dirt must be removed. When the gap is closed in an already renovated room, the wallpaper must be partially removed. If the coating allows, only the strip above the floor is removed. You need to buy a film and close all the places where dirt can get from work. Protective coatings will “save” the floors from mounting foam. It is difficult to wipe off the paint from the surface; precautions should be taken when painting. When water works are planned, it makes no sense to close the space around newspapers or papers.
What to do to remove a large gap?
If you need to seal the cracks between the floor and the wall and the voids are very large, then you can use polystyrene or plastic. When at hand there are unnecessary pieces of brick, then they are ideal for repair work. Break large parts into small components. The smaller the parts, the smoother they will "settle down" inside the gap. The entire cavity as a result will be filled. An important point will be the accurate filling of the voids. The task is to prevent further expansion of the resulting void.
Some use alabaster in their work. This material is cheap and economically consumed. Beginners in the repair business are asking about how to breed alabaster. The main thing is to follow the recommendations on the packaging and not make the solution completely liquid. How to breed alabaster? It should resemble thick glue in composition.
The above materials significantly save the budget. How to close the gaps between the floor and the ceiling? Polyurethane foam will cost you dearly, and after “clogging” the slots with improvised materials, you will spend a maximum of one spray of foam on the top layer. Such a consumption of foam goes even to large cavities.
Experts advise choosing Technonikol polyurethane foam. She has established herself in the market for a long time. A distinctive feature of Technonikol polyurethane foam is quality and quick coupling.
It is necessary to fill the void for one third, a maximum of 50 percent. Foam is allowed to be applied only in a thin layer; several layers can be applied. It is worth waiting until the past dries before applying the next. With this filling method, there will be no excess foam and no flakes will fall out. Significantly reduced material consumption.
How to close a small or medium void between the floor and the wall?
Often the question arises as to how to close the gaps between the floor and the wall, if the space is small. To fill a small gap, you need to have precise movements and dexterity. Soft materials are suitable for work. They must be flexible. It is important that the cavity aggregate has a high density. These materials include building felt. Often used tow. To avoid settling insects in the cracks, they are treated with sprays against insects.
The material at hand should be twisted into rolls of small diameter, which is not much larger than the size of the gap. The desired filler is hammered into the gap with a hammer. It is better to take a rubber construction hammer. It will help to smoothly fill the resulting void. It is necessary that the material is solid and there are no small parts. Usually cracks form in them.
If the cavity is very small and the tow does not fit in it, then a gypsum solution helps in this matter. He quickly fills all the cracks with himself. The solution fills the space as much as possible. You can also process the surface of the walls.
In order not to stain the surface near the place of work, you can purchase a self-adhesive building fabric. When the cavity is clogged, you can begin to work on decorating the seam.
What to do when cracks form in the process of fixing walls?
When the house becomes old, the walls become deformed. Curvature begins, and also high skirting boards for a wooden floor dry up. How to be in this situation? Professionals advise to close the cracks between the floor and the wall. The faster the better.
There is acrylic sealant. They work with the help of a special device in which the cylinder is placed. The sealant processes the spaces between the elements.
How to work with polyurethane foam?
In most cases, you have to use mounting foam, even if you need a little. You need to know how to use it correctly. Fill the gaps between the floor and the wall immediately after the detection of the defect. Here are some suggestions:
- Before filling the space, you need to wet it with water. For this, a special spray gun is suitable. At home, you can take a bottle, make holes in the lid. After spraying, the foam is better fixed inside the cavity.
- Do not forget that the foam tends to expand after filling the space. The moisturizing effect enhances the expansion. Gently apply the foam in small portions.
- The most favorable conditions for filling slots with foam are the temperature from plus five to plus twenty-five degrees of heat. First you need to warm the cylinder in water with the desired temperature.
- Before starting work, the foam packaging must be shaken.
- You can work only with specialized glasses and gloves. It is important to remember that the foam is quite caustic in composition. It settles firmly on the surface and on clothing. If contact with open areas could not be avoided, then it is worth waiting until the material dries, after which it is easier to remove. If the foam does not harden, it can only be removed with a solvent. It is possible to remove the foam after drying with a construction knife.
How to repair a wall after fixing defects?
Ideally, after removing excess foam, a small depression remains. What do they do in this case? It is usually covered with a thin layer of putty. Spatula evenly distribute the mass. Plaster work is allowed. When the mortar layer hardens, you will get an even seam. It can be covered with a plinth or taped over the seam with wallpaper. It is good to choose a baseboard with a cable channel, it is convenient to mount it. Tiles or woods are allowed, depending on the design of the room.
When is the best time to start repair work?
It is worth checking the presence of damage between the floor and the ceiling before starting the finishing work and quickly repairing them. In this case, damage to already repaired surfaces can be avoided. Adhering to these recommendations, you can save money that are spent on finishing materials.
If you had to grout a seam in an already repaired room, then you need to follow all safety measures and try to keep the repair in its original form. Particular care must be taken when using polyurethane foam. After all, it can expand.
Conclusion
So, we figured out how and how to close the gaps between the floor and the wall. As you can see, the operation can be completely done with your own hands. But for the work to be of high quality, you should adhere to the recommendations of specialists and correctly prepare the solution.