Mechanized floor screed
Laying the finishing coating, whether it is tile, laminate, parquet or linoleum, requires a flat surface, which, in turn, is provided by screeds. Today there are several technologies for applying this coating, the most traditional of which is a wet screed made of liquid cement-sand mortar. However, it has a number of significant drawbacks. For example, it dries for a long time, can change the geometry during shrinkage, and eventually crack. It can only be applied manually, which greatly delays the process of work.
To speed up the procedure of leveling floors, walls and ceilings, builders began to use mechanized or, as it is also called, machine screed. Its basis is a semi–dry cement-sand mixture.
Semi-dry screed and its advantages
One of the main advantages of mechanized (semi-dry) screeds are a high speed of work. Due to the presence of a minimum amount of water, a semi-dry screed dries much faster than a wet screed and it will be possible to lay the finish coating in 4-5 days. The surface screed work itself lasts no more than a day – and this includes surface grinding (for comparison, work with a wet screed lasts 5-7 days).
The second advantage of using this type of mixtures is to achieve a flat surface. The minimum amount of water allows you to prevent uneven drying of the screed, which can subsequently lead to cracks, swellings and irregularities. In addition, the device for applying a semi-dry screed additionally seals it, automatically leveling the surface. Note that water can leak to the lower floors and cause the destruction of floors and the appearance of fungus in wooden houses. A semi-dry screed will avoid these consequences.
Another important plus is the cost. Semi-dry screed is cheaper than wet by an average of 10-15%. Plus, for mechanized work, a smaller number of actors will be required, and this means a reduction in the cost of paying workers.
Disadvantages of the mechanized screed
The most important disadvantage of the semi–dry screed technology is the difficulty of carrying out work in subzero temperatures. The fact is that the mechanized screed is carried out as follows: all the equipment, and, therefore, the solution itself, are located outside and are fed into the room via a hose. In the cold season, the components will freeze quickly, not "rise" to the apartment, forming cement plugs. Therefore, it is preferable to carry out such work in the warm season.
Equipment for mechanical laying of floor screed
The following components are required for a semi-dry screed solution:
- sand
- cement
- plasticizers
To increase the strength, the solution is additionally reinforced with fiber. Also, ready-made floor screed mixes are available everywhere.
Since a semi–dry screed assumes a minimum amount of water, a high-quality mixing of the solution is carried out by special equipment - a pneumatic supercharger. After kneading, the solution under compressed air pressure is fed through the concrete guide directly to the surface.
Concrete pumps are used for the "wet" method of laying the screed.
Mechanized floor screed by yourself
Semi-dry plaster is impossible to make independently due to the use of specialized expensive equipment and the requirement to know all the subtleties of performing these works. To perform this task, you will have to hire workers with equipment and relevant experience. What our team can help you with.
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