How long does a semi-dry and dry floor screed dry: is it possible to dry with a warm floor - Setafi

To the question of how long a semi-dry screed dries, only an approximate answer can be given. As a rule, the process takes 2-3 weeks, but sometimes there are delays of up to 1 month. About what affects drying, and whether it can be accelerated, is described in detail in the presented material.

Drying speed

It is difficult to say how long a semi-dry floor screed dries, because various factors influence this process. One of the main ones is the layer thickness:

• if it is 40-50 mm, which is the standard value for many cases, you need to wait 14-18 days;
• if the layer is 70-80 mm, you will have to wait 3 weeks, i.e. 20-24 days;
• if 100 mm, i.e. 10 cm, it is optimal to wait 4 weeks, i.e. whole month.

The layer should harden gradually. Therefore, there is no doubt whether it is possible to dry the screed with a warm floor. In fact, it is better to wait until the moisture evaporates naturally. Optimal conditions are the usual room temperature of 20-24 degrees and moderate humidity up to 60%. It is for these parameters that the drying times are described.

When planning the installation of a warm dry floor, you need to take into account that its complete hardening is achieved in 2-4 weeks, depending on the thickness of the layer, temperature and other conditions. And the process goes in several stages:

1. After 12 hours, the layer begins to dry and harden. This is already enough to withstand foot loads, i.e. this floor can be walked on if necessary.
2. After 2-3 days, the surface becomes durable by about 70%.
3. Further drying is slower, as moisture evaporates from the deep layers. Therefore, the remaining preparation takes several weeks - on average from 2 to 3, i.e. 15-20 days.

What determines the rate of drying

Knowing what a dry screed for underfloor heating is, and how it works, you can guess what exactly determines the rate of evaporation of moisture. Several factors influence this process:

1. Base - the fastest coating dries on a wooden base.
2. The method of preparing the solution - it is necessary to carefully observe all the proportions according to the instructions and do not pour too much water.
3. The microclimate in the room - the less humid the air and the higher the temperature, the faster the process. Drying the screed with a warm floor is carried out only in a natural way - the use of additional equipment is undesirable.
4. The number of layers - the smaller it is, the faster the process. But in any case, the screed should be at least 30-40 mm to ensure sufficient strength. Therefore, you will have to wait at least 10-15 days for it to dry completely.

Is it possible to speed up the process

Dry underfloor heating can be made in many ways. For example, if a purely dry screed is used, it is not worth waiting until it dries, since such a coating is ready almost immediately. If we are talking about semi-dry technology, the terms will be, as mentioned above, about 2-3 weeks or a little longer.

Therefore, the question arises as to whether it is possible to speed up the drying process. It is possible to do this, but it is better to use the natural way. Otherwise, moisture evaporates unevenly, which can lead to several negative consequences:

• cracking of layers;
• lack of sufficient strength;
• irregularities and other surface defects.

But if you want to speed up the process, it is partly possible to do this if, for example, heat guns are used. The main goal is to warm the air and dry it out so that the floor gives off as much moisture as possible. Moreover, the guns can only be directed upwards, and not at the surface itself. They should work no more than 8-10 hours a day.

You should also think about whether it is possible to fill the floors in winter. In fact, you can work at different temperatures, but not at negative ones. So, already at -6^OFrom the sand begins to freeze and essentially turn into stone. Drying in such conditions will also go very slowly. It is best to start laying in the warm season, and then wait a few weeks until it hardens completely.