In the late nineties of the last century, adjustable floors began to be used in domestic construction. Moscow became one of the first cities where designs were widely used.
General information
This completely new foundation construction method competed with traditional concrete screeds used in residential and industrial buildings. What did adjustable floors deserve so much popularity? Reviews of many consumers describe the advantages of this design. What attracts them? About it further.
Design Benefits
Many doubt whether it is worth building adjustable floors. The reviews of those who already have such designs in their home help to make a choice. One of the most important advantages of this finish is the users themselves called the ease of installation. In addition, as owners of residential premises say, such designs are durable. This opinion is also confirmed by experts, according to whom, the service life reaches 50 years with proper care. Users note another advantage that adjustable floors have. Installation of structures takes quite a bit of time. So, for example, one installer can finish the base in a day. The simplicity of the technology allows you to build adjustable floors with your own hands. Moreover, no special knowledge or sophisticated equipment is needed. Unlike concrete screed, adjustable floors can be operated directly after installation. When constructing the structure there is no dirt, no need to knead the solution and get dirty.
Finishing Features
By what principle is the action of the structure carried out? First of all, it should be said that an adjustable floor is being constructed on logs or bushings with plates. The design provides a simple mechanism. Due to the adjustable rotation of the logs can fall or rise. Thanks to the free movement on the thread of the bolts, they are aligned exactly horizontally. Adjustable floors allow for a perfectly flat surface. Alignment is accurate to the millimeter. Such designs do not "swim" and do not creak underfoot. In addition, the surface does not bend or deform under load. Wooden logs can be fixed on any base. Plywood is laid on top in several layers. Adjustable floors are excellent for rooms such as gyms, offices, shops. In residential buildings, such structures are mounted where the base is experiencing severe loads: in corridors, children's rooms.
Adjustable lags
This type of design can be used in any room on a variety of grounds. At the same time, such adjustable floor supports are the best alternative to concrete. In accordance with the technology, the surface should be at least five centimeters from the base. In a long lag holes are provided. The bolts are screwed into them. Installation of the log on the base is carried out using dowels, nails. Such fasteners provide durability and structural strength. Lowering and raising to the required height is carried out by bolts-racks. After the adjustable floors are leveled, the installation of the finish coating is carried out. As it can be a laminate, parquet and other materials. Thus, mounting the structure is as easy as adjusting. Warm flooring is today a fairly common method of heating a room. Such a system can be installed under the flooring - the height of the coating can be adjusted.
Slabs
In this case, raising the floor will be carried out by three centimeters. Such designs are used where there is no need for the arrangement of additional communications below the surface. Moreover, a distance of three centimeters allows you to lay wires or cables (telephone, electrical, for the Internet and others). As an addition, thin heat insulators can be used. If you plan to install the flooring in the form of plates, then holes are made in the material (plywood or other). Threaded bushings are inserted into them from the back. Bolts are screwed into them, with which, in fact, the regulation of the floors is carried out. The assembled structure is also mounted on the base using dowels and nails. In this case, alignment is carried out similarly to lags. Bolts rotate up and down along their axis.
Construction application
As mentioned above, adjustable floors are often installed in office and residential premises; they can be found in classrooms, classrooms, laboratories, production halls and warehouses, in conference rooms, and television studios. The structures are built in server rooms and at transformer stations. Adjustable floors are designed for:
- Leveling the base in new buildings.
- Raising the floor. This is especially true in cases where additional load on the surface is not allowed.
- Leveling the floor during reconstruction of premises.
- Laying of engineering communications.
- Devices of multi-level floor structures.
Some features of use
If necessary, level or replace the floor in a room with a low ceiling, experts recommend installing an adjustable design. In this case, there is no need to fill in the concrete screed, which significantly raises the level of the base. In addition, at least a month should pass before complete hardening and acquisition by a solution of all its properties. With the device of an adjustable floor, the base will rise only a few centimeters. Such designs are perfectly suitable for rooms in which more than 15 cm were left under the floor during construction. To fill such a volume with concrete mortar is very problematic, and in many cases it is not possible. This is because the screed will be too heavy for the old building. With the device of an adjustable floor, the surface can be raised up to 20 cm. At the same time, the weight of the structure will be almost invisible for the building's bearing elements. Adjustable floors are often used for redevelopment. The design features of the flooring allow you to hide under the surface of the communication. When transferring, for example, a toilet bowl or water pipe, you do not need to hide the pipes in a screed. Perfectly adjustable floors for country cottages. So, under the surface, you can have a pipe wiring. This is a very convenient, safe and economical option for laying communications. So heating, water supply, sewerage are mounted, cables are laid. The latter, by the way, is also relevant for an ordinary comfortable apartment. If, for example, there are a lot of household appliances in the house, then numerous wires and cables will look very unaesthetic. They can be completely hidden on the floor.
Mounting technology
Screw the rack bolts into the lags. Elements are laid out on the base at a certain distance. The step between the lags is selected in accordance with the requirements for surface strength in bending. For example, if parquet or laminate is used as the finish coating, then the distance between the elements is about half a meter. Between the walls and the logs there is a gap of a centimeter. Due to it, free ventilation is carried out. On the lags placed on the base through the existing holes drill the surface of the floor. In these places, the elements will be attached. The depth of the holes for the lag fasteners is about 40 mm. Further, the elements are aligned at the required level. This will help the rack bolts. To raise and lower them turn in the right direction. An appropriate key is used as a tool. When leveling, the height difference should be no more than a millimeter. After giving the elements the necessary position, the lags are fixed to the base with the help of dowels-nails.
Flooring
As a coating, waterproof plywood is used. Laying sheets in two layers. The coating should have a total thickness of the order of 20 millimeters. Using screws, the first layer is screwed to the lags. Between the flooring and the wall also leave a gap of a centimeter. When laying the second layer, the sheets are slightly shifted so that the joints do not coincide. In some cases, instead of plywood, waterproof plasterboard is used. So the second layer is done, for example, under the tile. Centimeter gaps between the flooring and the walls are subsequently covered with skirting boards.
Some design guidelines
Elements of the adjustable floor must be of high quality. In many respects, the final result will depend on the condition of the materials. For more accurate alignment, experts recommend acquiring a laser level. Before the construction of the structure, it is necessary to check the condition of the base - it must be durable and not crumble. It is recommended to leave gaps for ventilation of the coating. To prevent dust during installation, make sure that it does not remain on surfaces. After drilling the holes, as well as fastening the fasteners, everything should be vacuumed. You can also prevent creaking by hammering the dowel-nails all the way. In this case, the racks will not be loose.
During operation, when the flooring is in a high position relative to the base, the floor may “sound”. For example, when walking in heels, strong voiced or, on the contrary, deaf sounds can be heard. To avoid this, experts recommend laying additionally between the base and the flooring of heat or sound insulation materials. They fill the space between the lags. As a rule, tiled materials are used as insulation.