How to level a concrete floor. How to level an uneven concrete floor - three ways to a perfectly horizontal surface How to level a concrete floor in a house

Basically, the concrete floor in an apartment or house is far from ideal, which means it must be leveled. This material will cover the question of how to level a concrete floor, how to level it and what materials should be used.

Why level a concrete floor

Concrete flooring is found almost everywhere. It is endowed with a whole range of unique parameters, but it will only be possible to fully apply them if the base is even, or the concrete floors have been leveled.

The following deformations of the base are widely encountered:

• Slight waviness resulting from incorrect rule processing.
• Wave-like bends placed on the entire base.
• Partial surface changes caused by mortar sagging.

During long-term operation, an improperly executed floor in an apartment is destroyed. Cracks, depressions and various chips are born on its surface. Such violations can lead to the destruction of installed equipment and furniture, as well as personal injury.

In addition to negative technical aspects, the appearance of the floor also deteriorates. To level these shortcomings, proper repair of the base is necessary. In addition to a leveled floor, you can also purchase an insulated and well-insulated surface. A similar process is carried out by performing a screed, which can be “wet” or “dry”.

In the initial case, leveling compounds are used. And dry technology uses loose mixtures. And this means that how to level the concrete floor depends entirely on the initial state of the coating.

Preparing the concrete floor for leveling

Before you level the floor, you need to perform a number of preparatory activities. They will give answers to questions on how to level, as well as how to level a concrete floor.

The main stages of preparation:

1. Removing the old base. Eliminate all bumps using a perforator to achieve the most leveled surface.
2. If there are significant gaps, then they should be widened, covered with a primer of strong penetration, filled with a solution of the treated areas.
3. The next step is waterproofing the floor. To do this, you can use a plastic film, roofing material or liquid waterproofing materials. The main condition is that the insulation goes on the walls above the future screed. If repairs are made in the bathroom or bathroom, then this stage should be taken seriously.
4. Calculation of the existing level difference. A similar stage will accurately indicate,. If the height difference does not exceed 3 cm, then self-leveling mixtures are used. With a value of 3 to 10 centimeters, the usual wet concrete screed is implemented for everyone. And if the differences exceed the above values, dry equalization is applied.
5. Finding the level of the performed floor. The search for the highest point is performed, the value of the future screed is added to this value. The resulting value is marked on the walls, connected by horizontal lines. Subsequently, beacons will be mounted along it. For such an operation, a laser level is excellent.

Leveling with cement mortar

This method is used when it is necessary to level a difference of 3 - 10 cm. Guides must be mounted on a pre-prepared base. In the role of beacons, you can use any available material, it is better to use a perforated profile. They are fixed with the help of pyramids from the solution, and then aligned according to the level found.

The distance between the installed guides is chosen according to the size of your rule so that they are somewhat narrower. But at the same time, the distance should not be more than a meter.

You can make your own mix or purchase a pre-mixed mix. For the manufacture of cement class M 400, sifted sand and water will be required. Dry ingredients are mixed in the ratio: one part of cement to three parts of sand. Mixing is done with a drill with a nozzle, and so much water is added to make “thick sour cream”.

The prepared mixture must be poured within 120 minutes after preparation. If you do not meet the time interval, then the solution will begin to solidify, which means it will lose its properties. You also need to fill the entire floor area entirely.

The prepared composition is poured from the far corner from the located door. At the same time, the composition is aligned according to the installed beacons. After leveling, it is desirable to pierce the solution in several places with a thin rod. This action will remove possible air "pockets".

If a screed of 5–10 centimeters is performed, then the structure can be further strengthened through the use of reinforcing materials. For these purposes, a reinforced metal mesh is used, which is laid on the prepared surface, or microfiber, which is added during the preparation of the solution, when it is stirred.

A day later, the flooded floor is moistened with water with their own hands, covered with a film. Wetting is performed for several days in a row, then the surface is left until it fully matures. This period is four weeks.

During the drying of the surface, avoid drafts. If this moment is neglected, then the surface will dry out unevenly, which will lead to its deformation.

After waiting for the necessary time, you can proceed to further repairs.

The main advantages of the dry method:

• This type of work is carried out very quickly and further repairs can be started immediately after the completion of this stage.
• The use of water is completely excluded.
• Easy implementation of communications inside the screed.
• There are no restrictions on the implementation time of the basis.

In addition, such a screed creates an additional heat and soundproof layer.

The algorithm of the necessary actions is as follows:

• A pre-prepared dry mixture is poured onto the prepared base.
• Then sheets of chipboard or gypsum-fiber boards are laid, which are fastened with self-tapping screws or special locking joints of the plates.
• The resulting base is primed.

This process is very fast. In this case, the only essential requirement is a ban on the movement of already laid slabs.

The use of self-leveling floors

How to level the concrete floor in cases of small drops. If, after checking the base, it was found that the difference does not exceed three centimeters, then in this case it is advisable to use specialized mixtures, which, after application, spread on their own and take a perfectly even position.

Now such materials are widely distributed. The main ingredient of such a composition is cement with the inclusion of plasticizers that improve the fluidity of the solution, as well as its strength characteristics.

The main disadvantage of this cut is its impossibility of application without the final layer. Without alternative, you need to lay, for example, porcelain tiles, parquet, linoleum or laminate.

The algorithm of actions in this case is as follows:

• The base must be cleaned with a construction vacuum cleaner from all contaminants.
• Without fail, we perform surface treatment with a primer of strong penetration. It is necessary for better adhesion of the base to the screed. We also glue the film along the wall to create a thermal seam.
• We perform mixing of the dry mixture with the required amount of water according to the algorithm indicated on the container.
• We splash out the prepared mass on the floor. Level the spilled mixture over the surface using a rake. Filled areas must be treated with a spiked roller to eliminate air bubbles. You can move around in special needle shoes.

The period of complete drying of such a solution is always indicated on the packaging. After the set time has elapsed, you can proceed to laying the final layer.

In the described material, the important question of how to level the concrete floor was considered. After studying it, you can implement such repairs in your own home without outside help.

A flat floor is essential in any room. Laying various floor coverings is possible only on a smooth surface, in addition, due to unevenness and slope, there will certainly be problems with the installation of doors, furniture and equipment. That is why no major repair is complete without leveling the floor.

In apartments, offices, garages and even some private houses, the floor is based on concrete slabs. They are not even in themselves, and besides, they can lie with a slope, so it is customary to start repair work by leveling this concrete base. There are quite a few ways. The choice depends on the condition of the coverage, the magnitude of the differences and the wishes of the developer himself.

Before you start work, you need to prepare the base. This, by the way, will help determine the choice of alignment method.

1. if it has become unusable: knock down the detachment and individual bumps with a perforator. The smoother the base, the easier it will be to work with it.
2. After getting rid of cracks and significant protrusions, you need to take care of waterproofing. In the future, it is possible to use additional insulation, especially in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen, where there is constant contact with water. At the same time, the level of insulation is always higher than the level of the future floor. The remains of the film or other materials are cut off and hidden under the plinth at the end of the work.
3. By the way, the method of leveling the floor will depend on it. Differences of no more than 3 cm are successfully leveled with leveling solutions. With values ​​​​from 3 to 10 cm, it will be appropriate to make a cement-sand screed, and more serious irregularities are “treated” with dry bulk screeds or floor extensions.
4. , that is, the plane of the future floor. To do this, the highest point is found, and the minimum thickness of the selected screed is added to it. The height calculated in this way should be marked on the walls in the form of a line along which the beacons will subsequently be placed. It is best to carry out such measurements using a laser level.

This leveling method is good when you need to bring an almost flat floor to perfection. The height difference should not be more than 3 cm.

Video - Leveling the floor with self-leveling mixtures

Pros: the method is relatively inexpensive, easy to perform, does not require any special skills and special tools. The finished coating is durable, smooth and dries quickly. It does not need to be leveled, as the liquid spreads itself.

Cons: perhaps there are none, except for the fact that such mixtures cannot be used to level floors with a large height difference.

Process Technology

1. , which will bind sand and dust particles to the surface and improve the adhesion of the fill and base. Another plus of the primer is that it reduces the moisture permeability of concrete, and this allows the screed layer to dry more slowly, and, accordingly, more evenly, preventing cracking.
2. which acts as a shock absorber.
3. Prepare the leveling mix. This is done exactly according to the manufacturer's instructions. You need to mix the solution with a drill with a mixer nozzle, manually the result will be worse. The liquid should be homogeneous, without lumps and clots.
4. Apply the mixture to the floor. If the room is large and you can’t fill it in one portion, you should start from the far corner. A liquid is spilled on the floor, which can be spread with a spatula to speed up the spreading process. Then the leveler layer is rolled with a spiked roller - this will help get rid of air.
   You need to do this work together: while one is leveling and rolling the mixture, the second is preparing the next portion. The solution begins to set after a few minutes, and you need to pour the floor at a time, so you need to work quickly.

The oldest and most popular way to achieve a flat floor. It allows you to smooth out height differences from 3 cm, but at the same time, the thickness of the screed itself must be at least 3 cm, otherwise the coating will not be strong enough. This alignment can be used for large rooms.

Pros: with the correct execution of all stages of work, you will get a strong, even screed that is suitable for any coating.

Cons: this method is the dirtiest, most time-consuming and longest of all, besides, it does not give the right to make a mistake - you have to redo everything again.

Process Technology

This screed, with a large thickness, will have significant weight, therefore it is not recommended to do it with a height difference of more than 10 cm. However, for those who still chose it, there is a way out: the use of expanded clay. It can be added to the solution and put on the floor first with a mixture of expanded clay, and then spread a thin layer of the usual solution on top of it over the lighthouses.

The second method consists in laying out an expanded clay cushion, which is then poured with cement milk, dried and covered with a layer of mortar.

Both methods are good when you want to make a cement screed without creating a significant load on the floor slabs. There may be such a situation when the base has a significant slope, and the cement-sand fill will have not only significant weight, but also its uneven distribution, which is not very good for load-bearing structures.

The best way to level even the deepest holes and large slopes without overloading the base. Recommended when the height difference exceeds 10 cm.

Pros: such a screed is easy to do with your own hands, even without special skills, and you can take breaks in the process of work. The screed does not require drying time and will be ready as soon as the last sheet of coating is installed in its place. It is lightweight, insulates the finished floor and does not create dirt.

There are no disadvantages to such a screed, with the exception of perhaps a greater rise in the floor compared to the previous screed. The minimum thickness of the filler layer is from 3 cm, and the thickness of the rough coating sheets must be added to it.

Process Technology

Leveling the floor with plywood along the logs

Pros: this method is most suitable for apartments on the first floors, since a layer of insulation can be placed between the lags. With this leveling, there is no dirt, moreover, it does not require time to dry and will be ready for use immediately.

Cons: the method is quite time consuming, and also significantly raises the floor. In apartments with low ceilings, this will narrow the space.

Video - Leveling the floor with plywood along the logs

Process Technology

Leveling the concrete floor is mandatory for all rooms where it is necessary to get rid of the slope and irregularities. Depending on the wishes of the developer, the available materials and the condition of the floor, you can choose the best way. All available options are quite accessible to anyone who wants to do such work on their own, and the efforts will pay off with a durable and beautiful floor.

This is a step by step guide on how to pour and level concrete. Therefore, you need a few tools that you can buy or make yourself. Generally speaking, there are many finishes you can use with your concrete slab or foundation, but the simplest is to use a large formwork made from 2x4 boards. However, make sure you finish pouring the concrete slab or foundation as soon as possible, otherwise the concrete may dry out and you won't be able to smooth the surface. Finishing a large span of concrete is a more complex project, it needs a few friends to help you and a few techniques to get the job done right.

For concrete slab finishes, you need the following:

• concrete
• formwork boards
• 2×2 boards for attaching molds

Instruments

• protective gloves
• protective glasses
• roulette
• mop brush for leveling concrete slabs

Adviсe

• before work, put on special clothes and shoes so as not to get dirty in concrete
• thoroughly clean your tools after work is completed

Time

• several hours to a day, depending on surface area

How to pour concrete

In order to pour the slab of the desired level, it is necessary to create a basic formwork. The formwork is usually made from planks, but you need to make sure the structure is strong enough to support the weight of the concrete.

When building formwork, you must make sure it is level. It is important to make it level on all sides, as in most cases you must use zip ties (long straight pieces of wood or metal) to keep the concrete surfaces flat.

If your yard is large, then a concrete machine can pour concrete directly into the formwork. However, there are cases in which the truck cannot reach a particular location, so you must use a 4” hose. If this is the case, make sure you pour the concrete as evenly as possible over the entire surface, otherwise you will have a hard time leveling it.

Remember that actually pouring concrete into formwork from a hose is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. On the contrary, the person who is engaged in this operation must have experience in such work, otherwise he may even be injured during the process.

During the pouring of the concrete slab, the hose will be very heavy, so you can use the help of friends.

Remember to wear rubber boots and protective gloves otherwise the concrete may irritate your skin.

Smart Tip: make sure you pour the concrete as evenly as possible so that the job of finishing the concrete slabs is easier. Usually, if the concrete has the right mix recipe, you will notice that the concrete tends to level itself. However, you will still need to level the surface.

How to level concrete

You can make a simple concrete leveling tool out of a long stick and a wooden plank. Tip: the board should be 1.2 - 1.5 m wide, but it should not be very heavy. In hot weather, you must hurry, otherwise the concrete may dry out and you will not be able to finish the job.

Smart Tip: to level the concrete, you can use a flat-bottomed shovel or a homemade tool. Just lay it on the concrete, holding it at a 15º angle from the surface, start to gently pull towards you.

Continue pulling the concrete until you get a smooth, beautiful surface. As you can see in the photo, you still need to wear rubber boots to be able to reach the furthest parts of the surface.

Smart Tip: for a final finish, you can use a trowel or a large brush all over the surface, just don't press too hard or you risk damaging the concrete.

Thanks for reading our article.

If you have become the owner of an apartment in a new building or have purchased a home that needs major repairs, then be sure to ask yourself about leveling the concrete floor and installing a high-quality finish floor covering that will last a long time.

Among all the options for uneven concrete floors that need to be eliminated, the following are distinguished:

• cracks, minor chips, roughness;
• mounds, significant influxes and pits, visible to the naked eye;
• differences in height, bevel of the floor towards one of the walls.

Depending on the defects and their number, the method of leveling the concrete floor will be chosen. Before starting work, do not forget to clean, dedust, and, if necessary, cover the radiator and external heating pipes with foil. In the case of the presence of paint, oil or grease on the concrete, the top layer of concrete is removed with a mosaic-grinding or shot-blasting machine. After that, it is more efficient to remove dust with a construction vacuum cleaner.

Cracks may appear in an old screed or in a recently filled one, but with technological errors. It is also not uncommon for cracks to appear between concrete slabs, resulting in a difference in floor height. These defects cannot be missed.

Step one. We visually inspect the room, using the level, we check the horizontal position. It is important not only to close the cracks, but also to create the most even floor.

Step two. We prepare a chisel and a hammer. Each crack will have to be tapped, driving the chisel as deep as possible. This is necessary to expand the gap under the leveling compound and detect possible hidden chips. We remove all the dirt and pieces of broken concrete.

If the cracks are dynamic, it is worth making their transverse reinforcement. Across the crack in several places we hollow out narrow grooves and lay dowels or short pieces of metal rods in them.

We fill the floor with water, removing the last dust, wait for it to dry, treat the inner surface with a primer (for example, from Grund) and proceed to prepare the mixture.

Step three. We mix water and cement M 400 (dry powder). To stir the mixture, use a drill with a mixing nozzle. In a solution of cement (medium liquid), we add an equal amount of PVA glue or liquid glass in volume. Mix the ingredients until smooth.

Step four. A homogeneous and sufficiently liquid solution is poured into the crack. The adhesive composition should protrude slightly above the floor surface, as shrinkage will occur during the drying process. We work through each crack and wait for drying.

Step five. It remains only to wipe the poured cement to hide all traces of the repair. It is most convenient to use a grinder, but in the absence of such, grouting is done with an abrasive wheel. Press the abrasive with your hand to the floor and make circular motions, removing excess cement.

Similarly, it is worth wiping the existing roughness on the concrete floor. Quite minor microcracks can simply be worked out with a deep penetration primer and tile adhesive.

Removing bumps from concrete floors

An uneven uneven floor will lead to instability of subsequently installed furniture and a break in the interlock of the laminate, as well as to other defects in the finish coating.

To get rid of bumps, you will need a diamond end mill and, accordingly, a milling machine. We process the concrete floor, simultaneously checking the horizontal level.

Note! The inclusions of crushed stone or reinforcement present in the bumps cannot be removed with a milling cutter. The rebar is cut off by a grinder, and pieces of rubble are beaten off with a hammer and chisel.

Leveling a concrete floor with pits

If there are visible local holes in the screed, they must be repaired. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to build up the screed over the entire area (provided that the surface is sufficiently horizontal).

We eliminate the difference in floor heights with a self-leveling mixture

It happens that visually the concrete floor does not have defects and irregularities, but, nevertheless, when checking with a laser level, differences in height are revealed towards one of the walls of the room. In this case, the difference between the highest and lowest points can be up to 5 centimeters. In this case, it is more convenient and faster to level the concrete floor with a special self-leveling mixture.

If the height difference is significant (over 3 cm), you will need a mixture for rough leveling. It is better to fill a screed of small thickness with finishing self-leveling mixtures, which are distinguished by a smoother finished surface and an attractive appearance.

Stage one. We dedust the rough concrete floor with a construction vacuum cleaner, removing all particles of dirt and debris. Using a laser level, we make markings on the walls in order to fill in the layer of a new screed as efficiently as possible.

Stage two. We treat the entire surface of the concrete floor with a deep penetration primer to improve the adhesion of the old concrete floor and the poured screed. In addition, the primer has a positive effect on the quality and speed of drying of the leveling mortar. It is recommended to glue edge tape up to 8 cm wide on the walls around the perimeter of the room.

Stage three. We mix the solution by combining the powder with water according to the instructions that each manufacturer attaches to the product.

Note! Start work early in order to flood the entire area in one day. Self-leveling screeds do not allow the presence of technological interruptions in work.

Stage four. Pour the solution from the bucket onto the floor. We move from the far corner of the room, gradually pouring the mixture onto the floor (in a strip up to 30 cm wide) and leveling it with a doctor blade or a rule. Don't wait for the mixture to spread on its own. Align according to the marks on the walls. Each flooded area must be processed with a spiked roller. Choose a roller according to the thickness of your screed. A thin layer of self-levelling compound is processed with a roller with the shortest plastic spikes.

If you plan to walk on a floor that has not yet dried out, put on special shoes with spikes.

The drying time of the mixture is always indicated on the packaging. After the stated period of time, the even surface is ready for the installation of a fine floor covering, such as ceramic tiles.

If the existing concrete surface is too uneven, then it is better to pour a new screed over it. However, this option is not suitable for those who are in a hurry to finish the repair and do not have enough time. Filling a new screed is optimal for the first floors of buildings, garages, private houses, the coating is the most durable and durable.

The technological process is simple, however, the work of mixing and leveling cement is not easy.

Step one. We examine the old concrete floor. We remove all impurities, expand large cracks with a chisel.

Step two. We use a laser level to mark and level the concrete floor horizontally. We stretch the beacons threads across the walls for the convenience of installing profiles.

Step three. We cut perforated corner profiles, based on the length of the room. We place profiles along the room. We maintain a distance from the walls of 30 centimeters and between the corners of 100 cm or equal to the length of the rule. We fix the corners to the floor with gypsum or thick cement mortar. We use the level so that the profiles are located strictly horizontally. We wait until the fixing mixture hardens at the corners.

Step four. We prepare and pour the mixed cement mortar between the perforated profiles. We move from the far corner towards the door, usually shifting the excess mixture (we make movements along the rails and around the circle, filling all the voids).

Step five. We are waiting for the screed to dry, moistening the coating with water in the first three days after the work. When the monolithic screed hardens, all that remains is to pull out the beacons and close up the voids using a primer and a liquid cement mass in combination with a plasticizer.

Video - How to level a concrete floor with a cement-sand screed

Other ways to level a concrete floor

You can level the rough concrete floor by laying a dry screed, which is additionally a sound and heat insulating material. This option is applicable if there is a significant horizontal difference. The thickness of the dry screed can be up to 7-10 cm.

Surface preparation of concrete is reduced to its cleaning (sweeping) and sealing excessively large cracks. Next, polyethylene is laid, guide profiles-logs are installed according to the level, between which granular material (for example, expanded clay) is poured. As a rule, excess bulk material is shifted from walls and corners to the exit.

Superpol sheets are laid on the covered expanded clay

A perfectly flat surface is ready for laying any finishing coating, whether it be carpet, linoleum, parquet or tile, etc.

Video - Leveling a concrete floor with a dry screed

If you are leveling the concrete floor on a glazed covered loggia, pay attention to the option of leveling the concrete base with plywood sheets on logs that are attached to galvanized beacons. Between the lags, you can lay a layer of insulation, and on top of the plywood - any finishing coating.

Leveling a concrete floor without the help of hired specialists is not such a difficult matter if you approach it "armed" with certain knowledge. Let's figure out how you can perform this process yourself.

Why is floor leveling required?

Today, concrete flooring can be seen in commercial premises, industrial facilities, and living rooms. It has a lot of useful characteristics, but it is possible to use them only when the concrete bases are qualitatively leveled. The most common defects in concrete floors are:

• shallow "waves" called chills that appear after the rule;
• smooth repetitive changes in the level of the floor - wave drops;
• raising (local) floor level - influxes.

With prolonged use of poorly equipped concrete bases, cracks often form on them, as well as cavities and lenses - lowering (local) floor level. Sometimes protruding pieces of crushed stone filler appear on its surface, which indicate the destruction of the coating. All voiced defects lead to unevenness on the floor, which can cause injury to a person, the impossibility of reliable installation of equipment used in everyday life and in the kitchen, furniture.

And from an aesthetic point of view, uneven flooring, you see, does not add beauty to the room. To avoid these inconveniences, competent leveling of the floor with your own hands is required. Such a procedure, carried out qualitatively, in addition, will achieve a high level of noise, hydro and thermal insulation of the floor covering. The leveling of the concrete base is carried out by arranging the screed, which can be done wet or dry.

In the first case, it is mandatory to use a special leveling compound with the addition of water. With the dry method, dry mixtures are used. The choice of the optimal technology for each specific case is based on the condition of the initial floor covering and the height differences present on the floor of the room. Usually, cement-sand compositions, “dry” compositions and self-leveling mixtures are used for screeding. We will talk about them further.

Cement-sand composition - a classic leveling

Sand and cement screed is considered a classic and very effective way to give floors the desired “evenness”. It is recommended for rooms where the level difference of the concrete base is five or more centimeters. The cement-sand screed technology is characterized by certain difficulties and high labor intensity of the process.

But on the other hand, you can do it yourself in any living space - in the bedroom, corridor, in the kitchen, and be sure of the strength and excellent reliability of the resulting coating. It is only important to remember that the thickness of the prepared mixture must be at least three centimeters. With a smaller thickness, the strength indicators of the completed screed will be unsatisfactory. We will tell you how to level a concrete floor with a mixture of sand, cement and water.

First you need to remove all dirt and accumulated dust from it, wipe off stains from oil solutions that were used in construction or repair work. Then a waterproofing material is laid on the floor - it can be anything. At this stage, it is important to glue the joints of the waterproofing well, and leave allowances near the walls. Further, with the help of the level, beacons are installed. For their installation, metal profiles are used, fixed to the floor by means of gypsum hardening solutions.

Between the guides of the performed "frame" the distance is taken up to one meter, no more. At a greater distance, pouring the mixture and leveling it will be difficult. The sand-cement mixture is prepared from M-300 cement, ordinary sand and water. Now no one makes such a solution on their own. It is much more convenient to buy dry ready-made mixtures and add water to them in the proportions recommended by the material manufacturer.

It is necessary to stir the composition very carefully. It is best to do this with a construction mixer. The finished solution should not spread, but at the same time on a flat base it should be slightly blurred. Please note - the mixture is applied after stirring for 60-90 minutes (otherwise it will simply harden). And you need to cook it immediately for the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

Pouring a cement-sand screed - we work carefully

The prepared solution begins to be poured from the far corner of the room between the beacons. It is necessary to immediately level the composition after applying each individual portion of it, using the rule. Move it towards you, not away from you. Also, the rule should be to “scatter” the mixture on the sides (some level it exclusively along the guides, which is wrong) in order to achieve a good compaction of the screed layer and fill the existing voids.

Professionals also advise piercing the applied composition with a metal bar of small diameter. Such a simple action will avoid the risk of air voids in the screed. If the mixture of sand and cement is made of great thickness, it is advisable to strengthen the screed with reinforcement from a convenient (at hand) material. In addition, it is recommended to cut special seams in it (they are called shrinkage) every 250-300 cm. Long breaks when laying the cement-sand composition should be avoided.

If you hesitate, "cold seams" are guaranteed to appear on the surface. They will significantly reduce the strength characteristics of the finished layer. For this reason, do-it-yourself floor leveling should be done not alone, but with an assistant. After laying the entire cement-sand mortar, it is left for 24 hours, and then thoroughly moistened with a spray gun or a paint roller. After 48-60 hours, you will need to check how well she grabbed.

After that, the screed is moistened again and a plastic film is placed on it. It protects the floor from rapid drying, which is fraught with the appearance of cracks. Over the next 7-8 days, once a day, it is required to moisten the screed with water. And then the film is removed and the floor is left to dry in natural conditions for another 1-2 weeks. On the completed screed in the kitchen or in another room, you can safely lay the floor covering that you have chosen. But first, make sure that the screed is of high quality.

If everything has been done correctly, the floor surface has a uniform gray color, and when tapped with a block of wood, it makes the same sound in all parts of the room. We hope that we have explained clearly enough how to level a concrete floor using a wet mixture of sand and cement. This technique can be used in all areas of housing, including the kitchen and even on the street (on open verandas, terraces). We add that the finished surface can be further polished. It makes no sense to carry out such a procedure if the coating was done on the street. But for living rooms, it will not be superfluous.

Grinding is carried out with a special unit (machine), which quickly and efficiently smooths out all minor irregularities.

Dry screed - how to level the floors without water?

Do-it-yourself “cleaner” leveling of the floor is carried out using mixtures consisting of granulate, quartz sand, expanded clay or expanded polystyrene, and fiberboard, chipboard, moisture-resistant gypsum-fiber sheet materials or ordinary plywood. Such a screed additionally soundproofs and insulates the room, so it is used in the kitchen or hall in the apartments of high-rise buildings. It is not difficult to independently make such an alignment even for a person very far from building wisdom.

Advantages of dry screed:

• fast execution of work and the possibility of laying the selected floor covering immediately after the completion of leveling operations;
• no need to use water to mix the solution;
• installation of utilities inside the screed is allowed;
• work can be done without assistants, performing them gradually on small areas of the room.

In addition, a dry screed makes it possible not to worry about the need for additional arrangement of sound and heat insulation systems for the floor.

The scheme for leveling a concrete floor using this technology is as follows:

• the base is thoroughly cleaned;
• a waterproofing material is laid - a 50-micron polyethylene film (before that, it is desirable to prime the surface);
• scatter the dry mixture over the film and evenly distribute it;
• lay plywood, sheets of gypsum fiber or chipboard, fastening them together with glue and self-tapping screws;
• the resulting screed is primed and the excess film is removed (its protruding parts are cut off).

The work is done fairly quickly. You may only have a problem with the fact that it is forbidden to move sheets over a layer of dry leveling material. So, it is required to put them on the planned place from the first time.

Self-leveling floors - an affordable and convenient leveling method

If in your kitchen or in another room the difference in floor levels is relatively small - up to three centimeters, it is recommended to level them with special mixtures that themselves diverge over the surface. Such compositions are very popular these days. They are made on the basis of cement, to which modifier additives are added that increase the fluidity of the solution.

Such self-leveling coatings cannot be used "naked" - without laying ceramic tiles, PVC materials, linoleum, cork or carpet on them. If you decide to use, for example, in the kitchen, be sure to finish them with the specified materials. Otherwise, they will actively absorb oils and various liquids.

How to level the floor with your own hands using a self-levelling compound? Quite easy. Stick to this pattern:

• prepare the base - remove dirt from it, vacuum, close up even the smallest holes and cracks;
• clean the surface with a primer (special primer composition);
• prepare a small portion of the mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions (it becomes unusable after 15–20 minutes);
• Apply the self-levelling mortar in strips 30-50 cm wide on the floor and spread it with a spatula.

Now just wait until the mixture is completely dry (6 to 24 hours).