How to make a floor screed with your own hands on the ground in a private house

With the appropriate advice, many homeowners can successfully complete the task of installing a floor screed on the ground in a private residence. In order to create a level, smooth base for your flooring, this process entails spreading a layer of concrete over the ground. It not only offers durability and stability, but it also aids in floor insulation and moisture protection for your house.

It’s crucial to gather all required tools and materials before beginning. Sand, gravel, water, concrete mix, and reinforcing materials like rebar or steel mesh are required. The task will be considerably simpler if you have a concrete mixer, trowels, a level, and a tamping tool.

The secret to a successful floor screed is preparation. Start by removing any loose soil, roots, or debris from the ground. After that, compact the ground to form a firm foundation. By taking this step, you can be sure that your screed will remain stable and less likely to break over time.

After preparing the ground, you can begin screeding. Pour your concrete over the prepared ground after mixing it to the proper consistency. Utilizing a level to ensure a level surface, distribute it evenly. Concrete can be strengthened further by adding mesh or rebar reinforcement, particularly in areas that will support heavy loads.

It’s important to give the concrete enough time to cure after pouring and leveling it. Over the course of a few days, the concrete will solidify and attain its maximum strength. To get the best results, keep the surface damp and shield it from harsh temperatures.

Step Description
1. Preparation Clear the area of debris and vegetation. Level the ground using a rake and remove any large stones.
2. Create the Base Lay a layer of gravel about 10-15 cm thick. Compact it well to create a stable foundation.
3. Install a Waterproof Membrane Lay a waterproof membrane over the gravel to prevent moisture from rising into the screed.
4. Set Up Formwork Build formwork around the perimeter of the area to contain the concrete. Ensure it is level and secure.
5. Mix and Pour Concrete Mix the concrete according to the manufacturer"s instructions. Pour it into the formwork, spreading it evenly.
6. Level the Surface Use a screed board to level the surface of the concrete. Work from one end to the other, maintaining a consistent height.
7. Cure the Concrete Cover the concrete with a plastic sheet to retain moisture. Allow it to cure for at least 7 days before use.
8. Final Touches Remove the formwork and smooth any rough edges. Your floor screed is now ready.

Floor screed scheme on the ground

There are eight steps involved in ensuring that the floor screed in a private residence is accurate and satisfies all SNiP requirements. Consequently, the following layers come together to form a "pie":

  1. Prepared clay. This layer must be poured to create a barrier for groundwater.
  2. Sand cushion. In this case, any sand can be used, even unwashed.
  3. Crushed stone with fractions of 40-60 mm.
  4. Polyethylene film that does not allow the solution to be poured onto the cushion. The material is laid without cutting it, a kind of sleeve, so in fact, two layers of polyethylene will be obtained.
  5. Rough screed, at least 80 mm thick. For the solution, a mixture of washed or quarry sand, crushed stone (fraction size 10-20 mm) and cement-powder mixture, grade not lower than 300 is prepared. Reinforcement for this layer is not necessary, it is enough to add steel fiber to the solution.
  6. Waterproofing roofing felt.
  7. insulation. As a thermal insulation of the screed in a private house, it is necessary to use only EPS (extruded polystyrene foam) with a thickness of at least 50 mm.

  1. Finish concreting. For the final pouring of the floor screed, a mixture is used that includes only river sand and concrete of a higher grade. Also, this layer must be reinforced.

Crucial! It is best to leave the layers in their original order because if you add sand on top of crushed stone, it will eventually start to sink, causing the floor to eventually collapse and be destroyed.

You can stop the water’s capillary rise by removing the top three layers. The "main blow" is initially taken by the clay, which is followed by the crushed stone, which completely prevents the rise, the sand, which lessens the pressure and weakens the water rise. Apply a layer of screeding material to the ground that is at least 100 mm thick for each of these layers if you want to know how to do it right. Additionally, the tamping must be considered. Typically, this is accomplished with handcrafted tools that can weigh as much as 80 kg.

Any "floor" material can be placed on the resulting slab if you create a floor screed for a house using this method by hand.

To learn more about screed layers, view the following video:

Crucial! The height of the entire pie needs to be increased by an additional 50 mm.

But before you physically create a floor screed in a private home, you must make clear the steps involved in making the ceiling.

Preparing the base

Making the base is the first step in the preparation process. To accomplish this, the floor’s finishing layer level must be established. In this situation, they typically follow the doorways of a private residence while keeping in mind the floor’s coating thickness. Additionally, mark the level of the future screed on the walls in 50 mm increments using chalk before removing the floor.

Following this, DIY concrete floor screed is carried out as follows:

  1. Cut off the fertile soil from the soil and generously moisten the surface with liquid glass and water, in a ratio of 1:4.
  2. Lay a layer of clay.
  3. Level, moisten with water and tamp the resulting area. For tamping, you can use a 200 x 200 mm bar with a length of about 1.5 m. It is even better to make a homemade device from a piece of pipe (sand must be poured into the pipe), to which the channel is welded. The lower zone of the channel should be 200 x 300 mm.
  4. Wet the clay layer with concrete milk (2 kg of cement-sand mixture per 10 liters of water).
  5. Wait a day until the clay reacts with liquid glass.

In a private home, laying a floor screed is an easy and affordable way to create a level, long-lasting base for different kinds of flooring. You can save costs and guarantee a superior finish by taking the necessary steps to prepare the ground, lay the required layers, and apply the screed mix yourself. Any homeowner who is willing to put in the work can complete this process because it consists of simple tasks that can be completed with common tools and materials.

Rough screed, hydro- and thermal insulation

It is advisable to postpone further tasks for a period of 10 to 15 days, as this is necessary for the solidification of liquid glass.

  1. Pour sand in several layers (approximately 200 mm) and thoroughly wet and compact each of them. It is advisable not to walk on the first layer.
  2. Lay out crushed stone (expanded clay can be added to it) and also compact it.
  3. Lay polyethylene with a 20-30 mm bend on the walls. It is not worth walking on the film boots with hard soles.
  4. Perform a rough screed. Before pouring it, prepare a "weak" concrete solution from cement-sand, sand and crushed stone, in a proportion of 1:3:4. It is also recommended to add steel fiber to get reinforcing to it. 1 kg of fiber will be required for 1 cubic meter of concrete.
  5. Wait 48 hours and “light up” the hardening concrete with liquid glass and water, in a proportion of 1:10, as well as cement, which must be practically rubbed into the plate with a thin layer.

  1. Process the surface with liquid bitumen and put a roofing material with a 30-50 mm allowance.
  2. Plunge the joints of the roofing material with a construction hairdryer.
  3. Take EPPS 30 mm thick to create a thermal insulation layer and glue the joints with specialized tape. It is better to lay two layers of material at once.

Keep in mind that the room can lose up to 35% of its heat through the floors, so extra care needs to be taken with the heat-insulating layer. You will ultimately overpay for home heating if you drive for savings.

Finish screed

The floor screed should be completed in the manner listed below:

  1. Along the entire perimeter of the room, glue a special damping tape with a thickness of 1.5-2 cm so that it "hooks" the EPS slabs.
  2. Using a mesh with 10 x 10 cm cells and a wire thickness of about 3 mm, lay the reinforcing layer. In this case, it is laid on supports (corks from ordinary plastic bottles will do).
  3. Dilute the solution of CP M 500 and sand (ratio 1:3).
  4. Pour the finishing layer and level it using a rule or trowel.

The layer will then need to "mature" for about 35 days, during which time it must be kept wet every day to prevent cracking.

There is no step for installing guides in the above-described process of creating a screed. The truth is that building a floor screed with beacons will require building a clumsy and unstable structure. Furthermore, because of the reinforcement, the beacon may move. Consequently, when the "pie" is forming, it is easiest to navigate along the chalk marks on the walls. Once the concrete has fully set, cover the floor with a self-leveling compound.

In a private home, installing a floor screed on the ground can be a satisfying project that significantly raises the value of your house. By taking a methodical approach, you can create a smooth, level, and long-lasting surface that is suitable for any kind of flooring.

The secret is to prepare. Make sure a suitable moisture barrier is in place and the ground is compacted properly. This stops problems down the road, like uneven settling or moisture leaking through your floor.

For a strong screed, the proper ratios of cement, sand, and water must be used. To ensure a consistent, workable texture, take your time and thoroughly mix the ingredients. To achieve a consistent finish, carefully spread and level the mixture using a straightedge and guides.

Permit the screed to adequately cure. Although frequently missed, this step is essential to the durability and strength of your floor. During the curing period, keep the surface moist and steer clear of heavy traffic.

You can confidently produce a high-quality floor screed by following these instructions. It will give your flooring more stability and appeal while also serving as a strong foundation for many years to come.

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Marina Petrova

Candidate of Technical Sciences and teacher of the Faculty of Construction. In my articles, I talk about the latest scientific discoveries and innovations in the field of cement and concrete technologies.

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