BASE LEVEL
Behind every quality floor lays an equally sound base – it would be impossible to achieve one without the other, says Michael Hooper, National Flooring Manager at Sika.
A detailed assessment of the subfloor is essential to successful floor installation. This will ascertain its compatibility with the covering surface. Wood, for example, can cup or warp if too much moisture is present in the subfloor, similarly bubbles can appear in sheet vinyl.
PREPARE TO SUCCEED Before any levelling compound materials are applied, the floor itself must be thoroughly prepared, cleaned and free from dust and debris. All porous substrates should be primed with an acrylic/water solution to help consolidate and seal the surface, as this will reduce the amount of imperfections in the cured levelling material. Similarly, any old bituminous layers or existing adhesives must be completely removed to ensure the best possible bond is achieved with the parent substrate and provide a finished surface that is flat, even and defect-free throughout.
Once the parent substrate has been prepared, if it is established that no DPM or underfloor heating is present and the subfloor’s moisture content >75%RH and is too high, a surface-mounted liquid DPM must be installed prior to applying the levelling screed.
The use of a high-quality, self-levelling screed is essential to ensure that subfloors can be quickly and professionally prepared and are in a fit state to accept the chosen flooring product once dry and fully-cured.
Supplied as a powder in easy to manage bags, many self- levelling screeds are mixed with water before simply being poured or pumped onto the prepared and primed surface. From a practicality perspective however, it is important to first identify the areas in which dips and valleys occur in order for the levelling screed to be poured accordingly.
On smaller areas using a straight edge, such as a level, it is easy to see where these occur and can be marked accordingly so that they can be worked on first to bring the room to an even level. On larger projects, a level survey should be carried out to ascertain the degree of levelling required.
Working in this way, it is possible to keep waste to a minimum, which can further help to keep all important costs down. Once applied, the screed should be left to cure completely before being opened to traffic, with some screeds this can be in as little as 60 minutes.
The next stage in the process is to lay the chosen flooring material. However, it’s vital to test the moisture levels in the floor to ensure it is dry enough to take the covering. By definition, a dry reading should be below 75% RH or 2.0% CM (carbide method) depending on the type of test carried out. By adhering to these simple procedures, it is possible to ensure flooring projects become error-free.
SCHÖNOX SOLUTION To make the process as straightforward as possible, the use of specially-designed, self-levelling screeds, primers, DPM’s
20 | SCREEDS, RESINS & COATINGS
and adhesives such as those available from Sika Schönox, eliminate substrate concerns whilst providing reassurance to the professional floor layer and the end user that the floor will take any dynamic loading placed upon it, without adverse effects further down the line. Schönox HS 50 is the latest addition to Sika’s H-levelling compound range; the ‘H’ standing for Hybrid incorporating ActiveDry Technology. This patented technology not only provides Schönox HS 50’s fast-drying properties, it allows the screed to be pumped at an impressive thickness from 3mm to 50mm and is largely unaffected by low temperatures and high humidity making it the ideal choice for use during the colder months in winter.
The availability of high-performance, cost-effective, self- levelling products such as Schönox HS 50 has helped simplify the installation process without compromise to performance. However, durable flooring requires more than first-class materials; it takes careful planning and a keen eye to scrutinise even the most minor detail to produce a surface that stands the test of time. Get the basics right, and a flawless floor is there for the making.
www.sika.com
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