In order to align the floor surface before laying the coating, you need to make a screed. It performs very important functions: distributes the load on the floor, gives it the necessary strength. The design of the warm floor is often installed below it. To the screed, especially if the concrete layer does not have enough thickness, did not crack and did not lose its form in the process of operation, the reinforcing mesh for a screed is applied.
Types and purpose screed
In essence, the screed is a transition layer connecting the floor with a coating. The purpose of its device can be both the usual alignment of the surface of the floor and sound insulation, waterproofing, thermal insulation of the room.
You can highlight such types of screed:
- Classic. For it, additional materials do not apply, and the mixture is poured right on the base. Such a coating dries out, becoming with the base one.
- Monolithic. For the organization of this type of screed, foam concrete, concrete with rubble, sand and others are used.
- Floating. When performing this screed between the mixture and the base of the floor, the material is made by the material: waterproofing, thermal insulation.
In order to achieve the same strength level of the screed, it is necessary to increase the thickness of its layer, and this is very uncomfortable, especially in the apartments of the standard building, where every centimeter of height is very important. Therefore, a special reinforcement grid is used for reinforcement.
Reinforcement with wire mesh
This version of reinforcement is one of the simplest. With it, you can achieve a good strengthening of the screed, the thickness of which is up to 80 mm. It must be organized in places, the surface in which is exposed to highly heavy loads: the kitchen, an entrance hall, a bathroom, a garage, or when installing a warm floor elements, when the thickness of the screed is important.
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The reinforcement process is the following: The mesh for the floor screed is set and fixed at a height of about three cm. From the floor, and then poured with a solution. Thus, the reinforcing mesh itself is in the thick of concrete.
The reinforcing mesh can be formed from wire elements twisted with each other or welded. If the wire in diameter is more than 6 mm, it is better to use a welding connection. But the optimal solution is to buy an already ready-made grid that is intended for reinforcing concrete. It is sold in a roll and you can find it in any big construction store. The reliability of such a material will be better, and the time for the laying you will go much smaller.
Mesh types for reinforcement
The reinforcing grid is made of two types:
- extended fittings (metal reinforcement grid welded, from roda, fiberglass, polypropylene);
- Dispersion reinforcement.
You can use several types of grid, combining them. Plastic reinforcing grid has resistance to corrosion processes and is cheaper.
Recommended tie thickness
When the floor insulation, its alignment or mounting of the warm floor, the layer of the concrete mix takes out some part of the room's height, creates an extra weight on the overlap. In this regard, the screed should be done as little thickness as possible and provide it with reinforcing elements.
What should be the thickness of this layer? It depends on the base. If its strength is not in doubt, and the surface is relatively smooth, then three centimeters are sufficient. For a warm floor system, it is better to use 5 cm and more. The same thickness is needed for a clay and wooden base. But such thicknesses will almost inevitably lead to the destruction of the integrity of the leveling layer and the appearance of cracks. Therefore, in this case, the reinforcing grid should be applied. Specialists recommend applying it always if the thickness of the concrete layer does not exceed 7 cm.
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For a warm floor of the residential premises, a reinforcing mesh of a wire with 4 mm diameter and cells of 100 per 100 mm is suitable.
The reinforcing grid should be inside the concrete and not go out. It is mounted on the stand, and then poured the mixture.
Several reinforcement councils
Regardless of the selected method of reinforcement, additional ingredients can be added to the concrete mixture: plasticizers, microfiber. But at the same time it is necessary to ensure that recommendations on dosage and application are performed.If you want to get a durable, reliable and serving reasons for many years - you need to know about the nuances of reinforcement and the floor screed device. The most difficult thing is the process of forming the surface and reinforcement of its soil. Here, even before the process of filling the mixture and setting the mesh, laying layers of sand, gravel, waterproofing and thermal insulation. If at least one condition of laying such a layer will be disturbed, then all the proceedings of the screed will be in vain.
Performance: Preparation
It is necessary to start, as always, with surface cleaning. Remove the plinth, remove the old coating. Remove all dirt, treat the plane of the floor with waterproofing and thermal insulation. To obtain an ideally flat plane, lighthouses are installed before the fill - these are guides made from profiles. When performing the fill, they are focused on these lighthouses. If you incorrectly install them - the surface may not be high-quality.
Using a level, find the floor point that is the highest: here the thickness of the screed should be at least 4 cm. On the walls, we set the markup in the level, set lighthouses.
Lighthouses set at a distance of 1.5 meters from each other. There should be about 30 cm to the walls. Make more than 30 cm Specialists are not recommended, as an uneven surface can happen.
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Laying grid
Now the reinforcing grid is stacked. It can not be put directly on the heat insulating layer or on the design of the warm floor. Be sure to put on it specially carved for this purpose a plate of plasterboard or plastic stand.
Lighthouses are laying out so that they are parallel to the longest wall. To make it easier to work, tension between the walls of the Capron thread, and already orient the strips of the guides. Align the planks in a thread with threads and secure them in this position by building plaster or alabaster.
Wait until the gypsum is dry. It will take about 30 minutes. Then knead the cement mortar and pour it between the beacons. Note that the mixture should not be too liquid. It is impossible to cook a lot of solution, since after a couple of hours it is not suitable for use. Using the rule, crumple the mixture moving the tool along the lighthouses.
Completion of work
The layer of concrete must relax a few days. At this time in the room it is necessary to maintain high humidity. It is necessary to periodically pour the concrete surface with water. Try to exclude drafts in this room. So you will save the surface from cracking.
After 4 weeks the layer will completely dry. In order for the surface to be perfect, from above, you can pour a self-leveling mixture.
Where the reinforcing mesh is still applied
So, the main use of the reinforcing mesh is for the reinforcement of concrete flooring. So we make the design more durable and extend the life of the floor in places with an increased load.
The reinforcement grid is relevant when installing a warm floor. But there are other ways to apply such a grid. It is needed when the foundation and installation of the scene is needed. In this case, it is placed between the layers of sand and gravel, which adds the stiffness of the structure.
The reinforcement grid is also used to fencing the territories, places that produce repair and construction, playgrounds, residential areas.