To hide communications, the elimination of local defects in the base, the overall alignment of the surface of the floor horizontally and give them the necessary rigidity in the construction use different kinds of screeds, which include and floating screed, whose name should not be taken literally, because it does not move anywhere. Floating screed is a kind of continuous cement screed, which differs only in the principle of installation. Classic solid cement screed is always rigidly linked to the floor slabs and bottom of the walls, and floating is located on the insulation layer and is not associated with the foundation. When properly executed, such a design allows you to obtain a coating with high waterproofing and thermal insulation properties. The advantages of floating screed and the scope of its application:

Pros of floating construction

1. The technology of such a screed is simpler than a classic screed, so it can be laid in less time.
2. Floating construction improves the quality of sound insulation and saves heat.
3. The laying of this screed does not require much experience from the performer, to cope with the work on its arrangement can a person who has only initial skills to perform construction operations.
4. To create a floating structure requires less cement, which at its high cost, provides significant savings.

Where it is advisable to lay it

1. In rooms where the rough pouring of the floor base was carried out directly on the ground.
2. In rooms on the first floors of buildings with unheated basements underneath them.
3. In buildings with weak floors, in order to reduce the load on them.
4. Outdoor porches, terraces and other areas where floors regularly come into contact with rainwater.
5. Bathrooms, laundries, showers and other constantly wet areas.
6. Premises in which all kinds of communications (pipes, cables, air ducts, etc.) are laid in the floor.

Laying technology

Depending on the materials used, the number and order of operations may vary somewhat, but in general the floating screed is laid in accordance with a single algorithm.

Step 1 – Preparation of the substrate

Before installation, the floor slabs are swept, washed and dried. Potholes, holes, and cracks in the foundation are filled with filler. The lower edges of walls and substrate are treated with fungicides and antiseptics.

Step 2: Level the structure

Two continuous horizontal lines are marked on the walls along the entire perimeter of the room near the floor. Their correctness is checked with a water level or a laser construction level. The lower contour means the boundary of the insulation layer, the upper one – the level of grout pouring.

Step 3: Laying the waterproofing

The floor slabs and wall bases up to the upper edge are covered with bitumen mastic or covered with vapor-proof membrane film.

Step 4: Creating a layer of damping membrane

To cut the screed off from the walls and to prevent the formation of acoustic bridges, a damping strip is glued along the entire perimeter of the room above the floor. Its height should be a few millimeters greater than the distance from the base plate to the upper loop.

Step 5: Laying the thermal and acoustic insulation layer

Spread a layer of expanded clay on the base plates up to the bottom contour or place foam polystyrene boards of the required thickness butt to butt, and seal the seams with strips of tape.

Step 6: Laying the upper vapour barrier

Lay sheets of metallized polyethylene foam on the sound-proofing layer and glue them with scotch tape.

Step 7: Reinforcing the base

Strips of metal reinforcing mesh with a cell size of 10×10 cm are laid overlapping on low plastic footings. The strips are fastened to each other with a tying wire.

Step 8: Positioning Screeds

Beacons (perforated profiled metal strips) are set horizontally with a spirit level so that their ridges are at the level of the upper contour line.

Step 9: Casting the screed

The mortar for pouring is made on the basis of sand and cement, or prepare it from a special calcium-sulfate mixture. The mass is poured on the individual sections of the foundation and level it with a rule that moves along the screeds. To prevent cracking, damp, but has “seized” screed cover with p / e film, which is not removed the first 5-6 days. (1 ratings, average: 5.00 из 5)