How to carry out construction to produce a high-quality self-leveling floor
Release Time:
2016-04-08
Source:
How to carry out construction to produce a high-quality self-leveling floor
How to carry out construction to produce a high-quality self-leveling floor:
I. Requirements for the Base Floor:
The base cement floor must be clean, dry, and level. Specifically:
There must be no hollows between the cement mortar and the floor.
The cement mortar surface must be free of sand particles, and the surface must be kept clean.
The cement surface must be smooth and level, with a height difference of less than 4 mm within a 2-meter span.
The floor must be dry, with a moisture content no greater than 17% as measured by a dedicated testing instrument.
The compressive strength of the base-layer cement shall not be less than 10 MPa.
II. Pre-Construction Preparations:
Prior to applying self-leveling cement, the substrate must be thoroughly ground using a floor grinder to remove contaminants, loose dust, and sand particles. Any locally raised areas should be smoothed out. After grinding, sweep away all dust and then vacuum the surface clean. Once the substrate is properly cleaned, apply a bonding primer in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, ensuring even coverage across the entire surface. It is essential to achieve uniform application with no gaps or missed spots. Following primer application, allow the specified curing time—depending on the product’s performance—before proceeding with the self-leveling cement installation. The bonding primer enhances adhesion between the self-leveling cement and the substrate, thereby preventing delamination and cracking of the self-leveling layer.
III. Construction Environment
Slight ventilation is permitted in the work area; however, doors and windows must be tightly closed to prevent air drafts during and after construction. During construction and for one week thereafter, indoor and floor temperatures shall be maintained above 10°C. The relative humidity of the floor concrete shall be less than 95%.
4. Self-Leveling Construction:
Prepare a measuring bucket, add water strictly according to the water-to-cement ratio specified by the self-leveling compound manufacturer, and thoroughly mix the compound using an electric mixer. The mixing should be carried out in two stages: typically, the first stage lasts about 2–3 minutes, followed by a 2-minute pause to allow complete dissolution, after which the second stage of mixing continues for another approximately 3 minutes. The mixture must be thoroughly blended, with no lumps or dry powder remaining. The finished self-leveling cement should have a fluid consistency. The mixed self-leveling compound should be used within half an hour whenever possible. Pour the self-leveling cement onto the floor, then use a notched trowel to spread and level it, adjusting the coverage area and thickness as required. Once the material has begun to flow and level naturally, roll a notched roller over the surface in both longitudinal and transverse directions to release entrapped air and prevent bubbling. Special attention must be paid to ensuring smooth transitions at joints between adjacent areas of self-leveling compound. Depending on ambient temperature, humidity, and ventilation conditions, the self-leveling compound will require 8–24 hours to fully cure; no subsequent work should be undertaken before it is completely dry.
