Floors made of foam concrete. What types are there and how are they installed

Foam concrete floors are a lightweight and adaptable choice for a range of construction tasks. Foam concrete is becoming more and more common in contemporary construction because of its superior soundproofing and thermal insulation qualities. Foam concrete floors offer practical advantages and visual appeal for any type of building, be it a commercial, residential, or office space.

We’ll look at the various kinds of foam concrete flooring options in this post. Every type, including in-situ pours and pre-cast panels, has a unique set of benefits and installation techniques. Knowing these choices will enable you to select the ideal option for your particular requirements and guarantee a seamless installation process.

We’ll also delve into foam concrete floor installation methods. To fully benefit from foam concrete’s insulating and durable qualities, proper installation is essential. You can create a high-quality floor that works well and endures over time by following the right procedures and using the right tools.

Foam concrete floors: is it profitable or not

Those who have dealt with foam concrete are well aware of the material’s "good" and "bad" qualities, as well as how they are intrinsically related. However, what role do they play in screeds and how much do they influence their quality?

Advantages and disadvantages

Starting with the well-known low thermal conductivity, let’s begin the "debriefing." This is what generates the heat in any foam concrete structure. It is made possible by the incredible porous closed structure. The micropores are airtight, making them a superb insulator. Foam concrete is therefore a very good choice when pouring a heated floor.

Counseling! Just be careful—when a water floor on foam concrete is advised, such infrared heating systems are not appropriate. This is because of the molecular characteristics of the foamed material, which can manifest "sideways" in the form of early destruction.

However, something must always be given up; in this case, the material’s density and strength. It is relatively small in both cases, and with a little effort, the foam concrete itself, which has a density of D800, can be pressed through with ease. Numerous issues result from this, such as shrinkage and the ensuing cracks and weakening of the load-bearing components of buildings.

These kinds of flaws show up in floors where heavy furniture and cabinets are located. Because of this, commercial foam concrete is gradually phased out as a material for load-bearing walls and used instead as insulation for monolithic pouring of houses.

Both the cost of hiring experts and the cost of commercial foamed mixture are reasonably inexpensive. Given that foam concrete weighs less than traditional screed and has superior soundproofing properties, these types of floors ought to be installed in multi-story buildings in addition to private homes. But with some disclaimers.

Installation difficulties

It is now my intention to discuss the quality of foam concrete. During production, feeding, hardening, and strength gain, it is influenced by numerous factors. And in actuality, the durability and compatibility of the foam determine how good the mixture will be. And achieving this isn’t always straightforward and easy.

Even experts frequently get slightly different density mixes when pouring them into a single screed. This leads to disparate densities throughout the whole region, which is undesirable. What should you do if the foam concrete you poured is too "light"? How can you walk on it when it becomes real oil after it hardens?

Let’s assume that the foam concrete itself is of good quality and produces a great mixture with minimal losses. But all the necessary conditions must be met for this solution to become hardened, high-quality foam concrete artificial stone.

• humidity of about 65% in the early stages of maturation;
• optimal temperature – +25 – +30 degrees.;
• no serious load;
• no drafts.

Yes, it is challenging to give such a floor the attention it deserves, and even a month’s worth of lost productivity at a building site can add up. Why, then, has foam concrete for flooring remained relevant for so long?

Optimal solution

Based on the experience of experienced builders, you can draw an intriguing and reasonable conclusion about the benefits of foam concrete for floor screed.

As an independent floor covering, foam concrete screed is only utilized in areas that are rarely used, like technical floors and attics. It is quick and affordable, but only if you pour a high-quality mixture and maintain the ideal conditions for the foam concrete coating.

If not, it would be a waste of money to tear up the floor and replace it with a more sturdy screed. Additionally, there are two costs.

The curious minds and endless curiosity of our talented countrymen never sleep.

Consequently, the device of a self-leveling floor made of foam concrete was given the following operating scheme:

• the first layer is heat-insulating – foam concrete grades D300 – D500;
• the second layer is operational – foam concrete grades D800 – D1200, but if the coating is intensively used, and it is supposed to place heavy furniture, a regular solution for screeds is used;
• facing – any variation from parquet to porcelain stoneware.

Nowadays, foam concrete floor screeds are manufactured using this principle. A high-quality floor base is achievable if all technological advice is followed when pouring foam concrete.

This is particularly satisfying when using economy-class foam concrete to create a self-leveling floor. You can learn more about each of the foamed mixture’s attributes in detail from the video included in this article.

Foam concrete floors combine strength and insulating qualities to provide a lightweight and effective solution for a range of construction requirements. This article examines the various kinds of foam concrete flooring that are available, along with their unique applications and methods of installation, offering a helpful manual for anyone wishing to use this material in their construction projects.

Where foam concrete floors are installed

Foam concrete is a universal material that can be used to fill an entire house, as was previously mentioned. At the same time, it is essential for every phase of construction.

When you take into account self-leveling foam concrete floors throughout the house, this becomes especially evident:

• foam concrete screed on any floor;
• installation of ceilings with subsequent cladding;
• insulation of attic spaces;
• thermal insulation of roofs with flat and pitched roofs;
• floors in workshops and utility buildings;
• installation of floor coverings on technical floors and premises.

How impressive is the breadth of applications for such material? However, it’s not always required to apply a two-layer coating using a floor screed solution.

• in attics that will not be used constantly;
• when insulating roofs;
• in technical rooms, provided that the floors are rarely used.

Foam concrete with a grade no higher than D600 is appropriate for coatings used in these circumstances. And given that these thermal insulation grades have a far higher heat capacity and are much lower than structural grades, this is already a huge plus.

Concrete volume calculator

Foam concrete floors are a flexible and effective option for a range of construction requirements. They are perfect for both residential and commercial settings because of their exceptional insulation qualities and lightweight design. The best kind of foam concrete floor to choose will depend on things like load bearing capacity and insulation requirements.

Though it’s not too complicated, paying attention to details is necessary during the installation process. To achieve a long-lasting finish, the subfloor must be properly prepared, and the foam concrete must be mixed precisely. Maintaining the integrity of the floor will be aided by following proper curing procedures.

In conclusion, foam concrete floors offer a useful choice for contemporary building that combines simplicity of installation with efficient thermal insulation. You can maximize the benefits of this cutting-edge material by being aware of the various kinds and using the right installation methods.

Video on the topic

Testing a screed made of our foam concrete😁 @DennyLGSF ##karkaslstk #foam concrete #screed #construction #

Warm floor made of foam concrete

Floor screed made of foam concrete on beacons

floor screed made of foam concrete D300