Fiber screed - what is it used for?
FROMThere are different technologies for arranging the floor in the house, but key requirements are always put forward to it. It should be smooth, warm and clean. An excellent basis for such a floor can be a semi-dry floor screed with fiberglass. This modern and convenient solution will prepare an excellent foundation for the future. laminate flooring, parquet, carpet or linoleum. On such a screed, the coating lays down evenly and will last longer. To make sense of this new material, you need to know a little more about it. To do this, we decided to put everything in its place in our review.
Fiber for floor screed
The content of the article
Composition and characteristics
Fiber is an artificial material polypropylene or polyamide, there can also be steel and basalt fiber. It has fibers with a length of 3 to 18 mm, a diameter of 20 microns. It has a low electrical conductivity, an oil base is applied to the surface, which contributes to better penetration and distribution throughout the building mixture.
Such fiber is kneaded directly into the solution, and it can perfectly reinforce screed... But it is worth paying attention: in some cases, physics cannot be trampled on, and it so happens that the floor is cracked. In order to avoid such troubles, it is better to use fiber in combination with welded steel mesh.
Fiber has a number of pros that make it more and more popular, namely:
- Even distribution over the mortar;
- Low price;
- The ability to use in any premises (subject to the purchase of a certified product);
- Compatible with all known concrete additives;
- Possibility of using different proportions of the material. For example, in order to facilitate construction work on filling the screed, it will be enough to introduce only 300 g per 1 cubic meter. m of concrete. If you use twice as much, then the strength of the coating increases significantly. The maximum result can actually be achieved using 800-900 g of fiber.
A Few Useful Facts About Fiber Window
What is fiber for?
Use in floor screed fiber allows you to get the following benefits:
- It prevents the mixture from spreading, keeping it "in a heap".Fiber allows to reduce the water content in the mixture, it is needed only for cement dehydration, this "option" does not allow the screed to crack;
- Increases service life;
- Improves the characteristics of the surface, it becomes reinforced;
- Increases resistance to abrasion and impact resistance;
- Reduces the level of water absorption, the floor with such a screed does not settle;
- Improves the characteristics of frost resistance and fire resistance;
- The screed price is competitive, regardless of its thickness. When using fiber fibers, steel reinforced mesh can be eliminated.
Tools for work
Before you start reinforcing the floor screed with fiberglass, you need to take care of the tools. In work you will need: cement, sand, fiber, aluminum profile, level and a ruler, usually a tape measure, putty knife, a tool for mixing a solution (drill, pneumatic blower), a knife, self-tapping screws, a screwdriver. You should use sea sand, size 2.6-3, cement grade 400 or 500. In addition to fiber, you need to use an additive that plasticizes the mixture.
Fiber-fiber screed tool
The technological process of using fiber
The technological process includes several important stages, we will deal with each of them in more detail. At the very beginning, you need to prepare the base for the screed. It is necessary to examine the surface for cracks, drops and other defects. If any are found, eliminate them using cement mortar. The floor surface must be dry and clean.
Floor surface preparation for screed
Next, you need to set the levels, for this, measurements are taken along the horizontal floor, while making marks on the walls. It is necessary to use beacons here, they can be made of wooden blocks, bricks or self-tapping screws. They need to be secured to the floor. An important point is waterproofing before pouring.
Level markings and beacons
When preparing the mortar, cement, sand and fiberglass are used to screed the floor. The ratio of the first two components is 1 to 3, fibers must be used in the amount that meets the requirements put forward (we wrote about this above). The dry components are thoroughly mixed, then diluted with water until the required consistency is obtained.
Preparation of mortar with fiberglass
If planned laying underfloor heating, then it is necessary to carry out insulation. When this is not provided, then you can immediately proceed to concreting. It includes pouring a solution with a thickness of 3 to 5 cm. It must be leveled with a rule. If you need to fill another layer, then you need to start this only after the first one has dried.
Filling and leveling screed with fiberglass
The last step is leveling the surface. A sander will help with this. This final treatment will flatten the surface and help increase its strength. Grouting should be carried out only 15-20 minutes after the end of the pouring. To get rid of dust after leveling, you need to cover the floor with a special primer designed for such work. It gives the surface antiseptic properties.
Surface Finishing Grinder
After completion, you need to give the floor "rest" and settle down. It is important to protect it from drafts; plastic wrap will help with this. To prevent the screed from drying out during the summer heat, it must be moistened from time to time from a spray bottle to create the necessary moisture.
We cover the screed with a film to maintain moisture
conclusions
Reinforcing the floor screed with fiberglass is very convenient. Firstly, it allows you to qualitatively strengthen it. Secondly, it is much more convenient, since the fibers are distributed over the entire surface of the solution. Most importantly, the cost of fiberglass is several times less than that of welded steel mesh, and it is more convenient to work with it.Fibers can be added in different proportions depending on the requirements for the screed; it is possible to carry out pouring work independently. In addition, it is not difficult to do this, the main thing is to withstand all the stages. This will allow you to get a good, strong and durable floor, which will cost "cheap and cheerful".
Video tutorial on the device of a semi-dry floor screed with fiberglass
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