Dry mixes for floor screed: an overview, characteristics

Previously, a standard mix of cement and sand was used to level the roughing floor . So, one part of the M400 cement was taken, as well as three parts of quartz sand. As a result, after pouring, a classical screed with good characteristics was obtained. But it can not be considered the most qualitative. Cons - difficulties in the alignment process, as well as a strong "dustiness".

For the last few years, ready-made compounds have been used to level the roughing bases. It is worth considering what building mixes for the floor exist, to learn their characteristics, as well as the pros and cons.

Advantages of ready mixes

Many home masters often ask one question: "Why overpay and purchase a dry screed, if you can prepare a traditional solution?" The thing is that the factory compositions have a lot of advantages.

There is no longer any need for self-dosage of all the ingredients for the solution. Manufacturers have already made every effort to ensure that the proportions are correct. In order to get started, you just need to add water according to the instructions and mix thoroughly.

Often in order to level the floors, we had to find the necessary components for the solution. And if the cement of any brand could be easily purchased in any construction shop or specialized supermarket, then here to buy 100 kg of the same sand in a big city was a problem. Often it is brought in much larger quantities.

Modern dry compounds have less weight, unlike a fairly dense cement-sand screed. This means that the overlap will be affected by much lower pressure, as well as reduced labor costs, and significantly.

To prepare a solution based on such solutions, neither a concrete mixer nor a mixer will be needed. The necessary volume of mass for leveling floors can easily be kneaded in a large plastic container. For stirring, there will be enough nozzle for the drill.

According to construction standards, the minimum size of a conventional cement screed should not be less than 30 mm. If you use a smaller layer, then this base will simply collapse during the drying process. With the help of a dry set of materials, you can make a screed, the thickness of which is not more than 5 mm, while the characteristics of it will not be inferior to the traditional solution.

Finished screeds have in their composition various additives and substances that accelerate the drying time. Also, these modifiers make the layer more durable and give it self-leveling properties.

The market offers the widest choice of any mixtures. Available products for dry or damp rooms, fast drying compounds, self-leveling and finishing.

Types of mixtures

Conditionally, all existing dry solutions are divided into two large groups. So, the first ones are created on the basis of cements, and the latter - on the basis of gypsum. Many wonder whether there is any difference in the characteristics between these two types of screeds, and which ones are more suitable for leveling the roughing base. It is necessary to understand this question.

Cement-based mixtures

In such building materials, finely dispersed cement is used as a binder. As fillers and modifiers used a variety of both natural and artificial additives. Additionally, plasticizers are added to the formulation. All screeds can also be divided into several types.

Cement floor screed for rough work

Filler in such materials is either expanded clay, or granite crumb. These compounds can be used if the floors are required to be made higher than 30-40 mm. Further on the resulting base, it is necessary to lay the finishing leveling layer, since the rough mix does not give the required evenness for laying, for example, a laminate.

Finishing mixtures

Here the basic fine-dispersed material and modern plasticizers are included. With the help of such solutions it is possible to obtain the most smooth and perfectly flat base, which is suitable for the installation of various floor coverings. Often enough that the layer was no more than 10 mm thick.

Self-leveling materials

Very fine filler is used here. The diameter of one fraction is not more than 0.3 mm. Also in the composition there are special substances that give such screeds a leveling characteristic. The material layer should not be more than 5 mm thick.

Screed for underfloor heating

This is a special dry mix for floor screed. They are characterized by high plasticity, thermal conductivity, inertia. Such products are in high demand among consumers.

Gypsum-based materials

The main advantage that this product has is a fast drying process and affordable cost. Such compositions have excellent characteristics for heat and noise insulation, and also do not create dust.

In the composition - fine fraction filler, as well as a variety of mineral fibers. They help to increase the strength of the solution by 50%. However, with a mass of merits, these dry mixes for floor screeding have a significant disadvantage - they are not recommended, and even forbidden to use in rooms with a high level of humidity.

Dry screed

Now, for the arrangement of the floors, it has become increasingly common to apply a dry screed instead of the traditional wet one. These materials are more practical. Use dry mortars for wooden and concrete bases. The main advantage - in the case of installation, there is no need for any wet work, and the floor is ready for use immediately after the finished floor mix is covered.

It is worth noting that the standard wet solution is in the process of drying for about 25 days. For complete drying of gypsum materials, no more than 15 days are required. During this period it is strictly forbidden to install the finishing coatings - moisture, which is contained in a still not dried screed, simply can not go out. As a result, putrefactive processes will begin.

Market overview, prices, manufacturers

Dry mixes for floor screed have long been appreciated by construction specialists and home masters. But do not forget that all the advantages and characteristics that these materials possess are characteristic only of quality products.

Acquire only products of well-known brands. You should not economize on this issue categorically. Dry mix for floor screed, the price of which is slightly below average, can be a fake - in the modern market there are many low-quality materials.

Knauf

This is one of the most famous companies on the construction market. The manufacturer makes a lot of different building mixtures. The goods of this brand are known and used all over the world, the products enjoy a good reputation. In the range of Knauf - compositions on gypsum and cement basis.

UBO - cement floor screed. As a filler, granular expanded polystyrene is used. The product has high thermal insulation characteristics, as well as excellent sound-absorbing properties.

Boden 15 - gypsum mixture with polymer additives. Among the main advantages - the possibility of pouring ultrathin bases with a thickness of 2 to 15 mm. The same composition has dry mixes for screed floors of the brand Boden 25 - the difference lies in the thickness of the surface. So, it is possible to level the floors, where the height differences reach 35 mm. Boden 30 with polymer components allows you to equalize the differences up to 80 mm.

Ceresit

This is also a well-known brand. In the range of products - various materials for the arrangement of floors.

Ceresit CN 80 is a screed with a thickness of up to 80 mm, and you can walk on the base after 8 hours of drying. CN 88 is a very strong building compound, which is used both in internal and external works. The surface has a high level of wear resistance and can do without the need to lay the finishing coat.

CN 175 is a universal construction screed, which allows the alignment of bases up to 60 mm thick. It is also possible to use the composition as self-leveling mixtures.

"Establish"

This is the leader among Russian manufacturers of various building materials. Specialists highly appreciated the quality of products. For the arrangement and alignment of rough floors, the company offers two options:

- "Establish Staroline T-41" is the best way to work with warm floors.

- "Establish Mixline T-44" - this is an opportunity to fill screeds up to 150 mm thick. The solution is suitable for manual and mechanized technology.

Apparently, there is a choice, and it is quite large, and the cost is very affordable. So, a good dry mix for floor screed, the price of which - from 300 rubles. For a bag weighing 25 kilograms, is available to most consumers even when carrying out budget repairs.