8 tips for choosing self-leveling floors

Contents

1. №1.What to focus on when choosing?
2. №2.Cement self-leveling floors
3. №2.Plaster self-leveling floors
4. №3.Polyurethane self-leveling floors
5. №4.Epoxy self-leveling floors
6. №5.Methyl methacrylate self-leveling floors
7. №6.Type of coating composition
8. №7.Design of self-leveling floors
9. №8.Which manufacturers can you trust?

• The best global manufacturers of self-leveling floors
• The best domestic manufacturers of self-leveling floors

Self-leveling floors appeared in the construction market not so long ago and managed to seize several applications. They are widely used as a finishing decorative coating, as well as the base and as a durable industrial coating. Naturally, the composition of the mixtures and their properties, depending on the intended purpose of use, will differ greatly. How to understand such a rather big assortment for a beginner and choose self-leveling floors with an optimal set of characteristics?

# 1.What to focus on when choosing?

Despite the variety of self-leveling floors, all types are characterized by the following advantages:

• ideal smooth surface and seamlessness;
• high level of moisture resistance is typical for most types of self-leveling floors;
• durability and strength;
• fire safety;
• no harm to human health.

The main disadvantage of coverage is the high price of some types of self-leveling floors, but if it doesn’t bother you, then you need to be prepared for thorough surface preparation and strict adherence to the coating instructions.

Focus on the choice of a certain type of self-leveling floor need to a number of factors:

• specificity of the room , where the floors will be poured: technical or residential premises, inside or outside the house;
• main goal. Self-leveling floors can be used for leveling the floor or as a topcoat ;
• material and quality of the original surface;
• operating conditions flooring, the probability of mechanical stress, direct contact with liquids, aggressive agents;
• need for additional properties such as anti-skid, etc.

Self-leveling floors are represented by the following main types:

• cement;
• plaster;
• polymer. Used as a finishing coating and are divided into polyurethane, epoxy and methyl methacrylate.

№2.

Cement Self-Leveling Floors Self-leveling floors of this type are most often used simply for leveling the surface for its further finishing. In fact, it is an alternative to the usual cement screed. The appearance is as simple as possible, which makes it impossible to use such self-leveling floors as a finish. However, in some cases they are used independently, when there are no special requirements to the quality and decorativeness of the coating.

The mixture for self-leveling floors is sold in bags and diluted with the required amount of water before pouring. The mixture is based on cement and sand. High quality cement - a pledge of strength and hardness of the coating after drying. To make the solution plasticity and fluidity, plasticizers, acidity modulators, antifreeze additives, components that retain moisture, and other substances are used. Due to such additives, the finished mixture spreads evenly and forms a smooth surface.

Among the advantages of the are versatility, affordable price, strength, durability, resistance to low temperatures. Work on the installation of cement self-leveling floors can even be performed by beginners. In addition to not very decorative appearance, to the minuses can be attributed to a small resistance to aggressive substances.

№2.Plaster bulk floors

Such floors will cost even less, and in composition they are very similar to cement self-leveling floors, only as the main component there is gypsum, which follows from the name. Such mixtures are used only for leveling and as a basis for further finishing.

The properties of the gypsum self-leveling floors are due to the characteristics of the main component of the mixture. Gypsum quickly hardens, allows you to make a thicker screed, dries quickly, but is afraid of moisture, so you can only use such floors in dry rooms, and even a small load on the floor. To take advantage of such advantages as low price and quick drying , experts recommend using a gypsum floor only under the tile, which absolutely does not let moisture, but even in this case it is not recommended to use it in the bathroom.

№3.Polyurethane self-leveling floors

This coating has received widespread and is used almost everywhere : in shopping centers, swimming pools, medical facilities, in warehouses, as well as in residential areas where the floor covering requires the best performance( kitchen, bath, but can be usedand in the rooms).

The mixtures based on polyurethane compound possess an impressive set of positive qualities :

• elasticity and resistance to mechanical stress. Sharp heels and most falling heavy objects are not at all terrible to the coating;
• moisture resistance;
• resistance to aggressive substances, so this coating can even be used in chemical laboratories and factories;
• strength and durability;
• good indicators of heat and sound insulation;
• ease of cleaning and hygiene;
• ability to withstand temperature extremes;
• easy repair. Even if you manage to damage the coating, the place of scratches or cracks can be sanded and varnished;
• original appearance, the ability to create a bright individual design. The coating can be matte or glossy

. Among the minuses of the you can note the high price, cold surface, the complexity of installation and disassembly, if necessary.

№4.

epoxy self-leveling floors The basis of such floors is epoxy resins, as the name implies. Besides, hardeners and some other additives are a part. Epoxy self-leveling floors have a lot of advantages, among which it is worth highlighting:

• hardness, rigidity and strength;
• resistance to moisture, household chemicals, most aggressive substances;
• abrasion resistance;
• resistance to temperature extremes.

The coating has an obvious minus - fragility and inelasticity. If a more or less heavy object falls, the floor may be damaged.

The combination of characteristics of epoxy floors allows their use in rooms where there are no shock loads, but humidity can be increased. These are swimming pools, pharmaceutical industries, laboratories, hospitals, car washes, childcare facilities and residential buildings.

A variety of coatings can be called epoxy-urethane floors , which combine the hardness of epoxy self-leveling floors and the elasticity of polyurethane. Such coverage is distinguished by phenomenal durability and is used at stations, airports and subways, where the flow of people is very large.

№5.Methyl methacrylate self-leveling floors

These floors are used mainly for industrial premises, as they have a lot of amazing qualities :

• high wear resistance, even higher than that of polyurethane floors;
• fast freeze. The coating hardens in an hour, and after an hour it fully gains strength characteristics, and you can walk, ride or even lay a finishing layer on it, if necessary;
• moisture resistance;
• chemical resistance;
• high speed installation work.

The main disadvantage of coverage is a strong odor during drying, but this problem can be solved with adequate ventilation. After drying, there will be no unpleasant odors.

№6.Type of coating

Self-leveling floors can be:

• thin-layer;
• self-leveling;
• highly filled.

thin-layer floors are most widely used, as they can be used in residential buildings and in public buildings, and the price is the most acceptable. Such compositions are applied with a layer of a few millimeters on the prepared substrate, while maintaining maximum durability.

self-leveling floors have a thickness of 4-5 mm, due to which they can withstand solid mechanical loads. They are characterized by high durability, strength and ease of installation, because they easily spread over the surface without forming tubercles.

Highly filled floors have increased strength, resistance to wear, withstand shocks that are therefore used in industrial premises. Such properties are achieved due to the increased amount of quartz sand.

№7.Design of self-leveling floors

Cement and methyl methacrylate floors cannot boast of brilliant decorative qualities, which is not the case for polyurethane and epoxy self-leveling floors. They can be painted in any of thousands of colors or have an interesting coloring. To obtain the most interesting and original solutions, uses the following methods:

• adding to the mix of decorative chips - paint particles of different shapes and sizes, which makes it possible to achieve imitation of marble, granite or other materials;
• on the base layer can be applied drawing with polymer paints , and then fix it with varnish. Drawing can be done both independently and by stencils;
• look great transparent floors with interesting filling .Coins, shells, pebbles or any other small items are used;
• self-leveling floors with 3 D effect is the most impressive way to decorate self-leveling floors. In this way, volumetric and highly realistic images are obtained that completely change the perception of the room. The effect is achieved through the use of images with a suitable image, over which a transparent polymer coating is poured.
  
  

№8.Which manufacturers can you trust?

Self-leveling floors today are represented by a huge number of domestic and foreign manufacturers.

The world's best manufacturers of self-leveling floors

Knauf

The world-famous German company initially produced building materials from gypsum, later expanded its activities, and today production and representative offices are located in dozens of countries. The company's products are well represented in Russia, where they have already appreciated its high quality. The manufacturer offers plaster self-leveling floors, for which the highest quality plaster is used, therefore the coating has superior strength to cement self-leveling floors. There are in the range and polymeric self-leveling floors, but they are represented in our market is not so extensive.

SIKA

This Swiss company offers mainly compounds for industrial and public premises. The range includes self-leveling floors of all types, and our own research centers allow you to produce coatings with specific properties by adding the necessary components.

Ceresit

Ceresit is a trademark used for a wide range of construction mixes from the German company Henkel. Production of this giant are located in several countries, there are representative offices in 120 countries, and products are in constant demand for many years in a row. The assortment includes self-leveling floors designed for leveling the surface for further installation of cladding.

Weber

An international company that is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain. Manufacturing located around the world, products are widely represented on all continents. Self-leveling floors are produced under the brand name Vetonit, there are mixes in the assortment for leveling and finishing, for residential and industrial premises.

The best domestic manufacturers of self-leveling floors

LLC "TeoHim"

The company manufactures self-leveling floors under the brand name "Elakor" and today is confidently leading in this area. Offers self-leveling floors for residential and industrial premises. Product ranges include polyurethane and epoxy floors. The assortment has transparent floors to create a 3D effect, antistatic compounds and floors that are most resistant to burning.

IVSIL

A large company that once produced only cement-sand mixtures, and now is the leader in the domestic market for the production of innovative multi-component compositions. Self-leveling floors are represented by compositions for leveling and finishing works.

UNIS

The company has been on the market since 1994 and today is among the leaders in the number of sales of dry building mixes. Products are in demand not only in Russia, but also in the CIS countries. Production areas are located in five cities of the country, for the manufacture of products gypsum is used from its own quarry, which allows you to control the quality already from the stage of extraction of raw materials. The company includes a powerful research laboratory. In assortment the bulk floors intended for alignment of a surface.

Bolars

This domestic company boasts a modern factory, the presence of research and control laboratories and the latest equipment. Product quality is not much inferior to European counterparts, and the emphasis is on dry mixes. In the range there are self-leveling floors on a cement and plaster basis.

Industrial floors

The company has been operating since 1995 in the field of flooring and dry mixes. Self-leveling floors are presented under the trademark PRASPAN, these are polymer coatings

flooring