The outcome of your flooring project can be greatly impacted by selecting the appropriate sand concrete for your apartment or home’s floor screed. A smooth surface is only one goal; another is to guarantee stability and durability over time. With so many options on the market, it’s imperative to make an informed choice.
When considering sand concrete for floor screed, it"s important to understand the different types and their specific properties. Each type of sand concrete has unique characteristics that make it suitable for different situations. Factors such as the room"s usage, the underlying substrate, and even the climate can influence your choice.
One more important consideration is the screed’s minimum thickness. This may have an impact on the flooring’s durability and general performance. A screed that is too thick could be needlessly heavy and expensive, while one that is too thin could crack under pressure. You’ll get the best results if you know what the perfect thickness is for your particular requirements.
Whether you’re installing flooring in a busy kitchen or a comfortable living room, you can make sure that your floor screed will give your flooring a sturdy foundation by carefully weighing these factors. Let’s examine the best options for sand concrete and the minimal thickness needed to create a floor screed that is effective and long-lasting.
- What is the essence of sand concrete
- Features of the material
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Brands
- Manufacturers
- Consumption
- Stages of working with sand concrete for pouring screed
- Preparatory
- Installation of beacons
- Preparation of sand concrete
- Pouring the screed
- Video on the topic
- Thick sand concrete screed. 16 cm. All stages. Final load on the slab is 162 kg \ m2.
What is the essence of sand concrete
When doing repairs in a home or apartment, experts fill the floor’s base with sand concrete to speed up the process and increase quality.
This product is waterless, heavy-duty, gray in color, and contains cement aggregate, high-density sand, and mineral additives. It also does not shrink.
Plasticizers and modifying agents also help to improve the screed’s technical indicators. She
- Sold faster;
- more frost -resistant;
- has increased strength;
- wear -resistant;
- It has an improved consistency.
Features of the material
The following are the main components that make up the screed of sand concrete floors of various brands:
- river sand;
- Portland cement;
- hardeners;
- plasticizers;
- granite fractions.
Manufacturers can add specific additives that are different brands of the product to give the material unique properties.
The package will specify the appropriate amount of water based on the composition required to prepare the final solution. Cement to components and additives is calculated at a ratio of 1: 4.
The kind of additives used varies according to the mixture’s intended use and application. They impart distinct qualities, such as strength, temperature parameters, and wear resistance, to the finished surface.
You must be aware that cement should be the main component of the concrete structure in order to visually inspect the quality control of the products you have purchased. A high proportion of sand in the composition indicates the use of fake materials and dishonest behavior on the part of the supplier and manufacturer.
- Large – 2.5-4 mm. Moderate water absorption, high strength. Suitable for unlimited thickness of screeds if a reinforcing mesh is used. Also used for foundations and ceilings.
- Medium – 1.8-2.2 mm. Increased durability of concrete consisting of this fraction is needed for screeds over 100 cm or the production of masonry mortars, curbs, paving slabs.
- Small – 0.8-1.2 mm. Necessary to make a 50 mm screed or assembly mortars with increased wear resistance and strength.
Advantages and disadvantages
For floor screeds, sand concrete with modifiers and plasticizers is the ideal construction material.
- The surface is not subject to corrosion and is durable.
- High heat and sound insulation properties.
- Natural composition ensures the environmental friendliness of the product.
- The mixture is suitable for both indoor and outdoor work.
- The base obtained when using the mixture is characterized by increased strength, wear resistance and frost resistance.
- Due to the increased hardening rate, construction times are reduced.
- The screed interacts well with tile adhesive.
- The building material is easy to correctly calculate based on the consumption per 1 m² indicated on the packaging.
- Concrete is easy to prepare, you only need to add the appropriate amount of water to the mixture and stir.
- The packaging of the material is often excessively large.
- There are many low-quality fakes on the market.
- Increased cost compared to a standard solution of sand and cement.
Brands
You must be aware of the differences between various product types in order to select the best sand concrete for floor screeds in terms of composition, strength, etc. Sand, cement, and other components need to be of the highest caliber and dosed precisely.
The strength indicator and the number of days it must be withstood after pouring are indicated by the manufacturer on the material’s packaging, giving the concrete enough time to acquire it. For building materials of grade M300, it ought to be greater than 30 MPa.
Every batch of products is tested in a laboratory under factory conditions. Cubes made from the prepared mixture are used as special prototypes for this purpose. After being kept for 28 days, they are put through a hydraulic press test to determine their strength.
Another factor that affects the material’s range of applications is the final mixture’s mobility. The compositions that are most mobile are required for screeds and plastering. Solutions for masonry are made of stiff, low-mobility mixtures.
The characteristics of the final concrete are determined by the size of the sand granules contained in the product and the caliber of the cement used in its production.
A good sand concrete preparation also depends on the amount of water in the mixture. That’s what the packaging says.
The range of materials produced by industry is determined by the various areas in which concrete is applied; these materials are marked starting with M100. The number represents the allowable load value.
Maximum parameter material is not always required. The quality of the solution must match the operating conditions in order to save resources and distribute them rationally.
The M300 grade is most frequently used, however M100–M500 compositions are also utilized depending on the purpose:
- Blocks, slabs and other reinforced concrete products are made in industrial construction from M400, M500 compositions.
- To make "warm" floors, M200, M250 are recommended. The use of quartz sand in their composition increases the strength of the coating.
- The low cost and weight, which are typical for M150 concrete, are used in the repair of building facades and as masonry mortars.
- A thin layer of plaster that allows moisture to pass through can be made using sand concrete mixture M100.
Manufacturers
It is preferable to buy mixes from reputable suppliers who are well-known manufacturers in order to avoid fakes. If not, you will need to purchase cement separately in order to bring the solution’s density up to a respectable level.
The most well-liked brands in Moscow and the surrounding areas are "Rusean," "Deluxe," "Brozex," "Lux," and "Kamenny Tsvet." A few less common but nonetheless highly well-known brands are "Etalon," "Vilis," "Khoroshy," and "Master Garts."
Businesses primarily manufacture mixtures under the M300 brand, which have a two to three hour solution viability and a one to seven day curing time.
Selecting sand concrete for floor screeding in a home or apartment requires careful consideration of both minimum thickness and quality. To ensure longevity and a smooth finish, choose a mix made especially for screeding. A floor screed should have a minimum thickness of three to four centimeters to ensure adequate strength and a low profile. This balance adds to the overall stability and longevity of your floor by guaranteeing a level, even surface that’s prepared for flooring installation.
Consumption
Calculating the working composition in advance is necessary. Having an adequate amount of solution is preferable because it is not what you want to happen when the screed is being poured. Conversely, too much material results in wasteful expenses.
- layer thickness;
- building size;
- base preparation, presence of irregularities.
- Determine the top point of the screed using a level (laser or hydro).
- Calculate the average height from the base to the top.
- Consumption per 1 m³ of screed made of sand concrete M300 will be from 15 to 22 kg. For ease of calculation, take the weight of 20 kg as a basis. It is easy to find out the amount of material, knowing the perimeter and height.
Stages of working with sand concrete for pouring screed
The surface needs to be ready and beacons need to be used to indicate the necessary level before applying the composition.
Preparatory
The base needs to be solid, relatively flat, and clean. Damage to the reinforced concrete floor slabs must be removed; special attention must be paid to the corners and the locations where the walls and floor meet. No peeling or cracks should exist.
After the surface had dried, a deep penetration primer was applied. Bitumen or polymers are used to waterproof joints and corners.
Installation of beacons
At the fill layer’s height in the vicinity of the wall, a damper tape is installed. Using metal profiles placed atop mortar lumps and leveled, beacons are used to level the sand concrete M300 screed.
You can level the mortar by applying the 2 m rule because there is approximately 1.8 m of step between each beacon.
Preparation of sand concrete
Floor coverings require a level, pebble- and crack-free base. To do this, use a drill with an attachment to smooth out the mixture before pouring it with your hands. After 15 minutes of rest, mix the concrete once more.
You will need 150–200 ml of water for 1 kg of dry material (though the amounts may vary depending on a number of variables).
Pouring the screed
The floor screed should have a minimum thickness of 15-20 mm. But it’s advised to take 3 cm when placing beacons from the base’s highest point.
Using a rule, the solution is leveled after being laid out between the marks on the wall. You can start by using a trowel or float. The rule is upheld by the beacons, and "towards yourself" motions are used to level the sand concrete.
You can walk on the surface after three to four days. However, the solution will fully develop in a month.
Type of Sand Concrete | Minimum Thickness |
M300 | 5 cm |
M350 | 4 cm |
M400 | 3.5 cm |
For your home or apartment, selecting the appropriate sand concrete for floor screeding is essential to guaranteeing a long-lasting and smooth finish. The optimal choice is frequently determined by variables such as surface type, anticipated load, and ambient circumstances. Sand concrete with a strength class of at least M300 is advised for the majority of residential applications because it provides an excellent mix between workability and durability.
The minimum thickness of the screed typically varies depending on your project’s particular requirements. However, for residential floors, a thickness of at least 3–4 cm is typically recommended. This approach guarantees adequate durability to endure consistent domestic usage while circumventing needless surplus material and weight.
The quality and consistency of the sand concrete mix should also be taken into account. Choosing pre-mixed, factory-produced sand concrete can help guarantee a dependable and consistent end product. When compared to mixing on-site, these mixes are frequently simpler to work with and are made to fulfill specified standards.
The final steps in creating a level and long-lasting floor screed are choosing the proper sand concrete and applying it at the right thickness. Your home’s foundation can be strengthened with meticulous planning and attention to detail, giving it long-term support.