What key points should be noted during self-leveling floor installation?
Release Time:
2016-07-06
Source:
What key points should be noted during self-leveling floor installation?
Self-leveling process
Inspect the ground conditions:
1. The cement-sand mortar surface must be free of sand particles and kept clean. If sand particles appear on the floor, self-leveling compound shall not be used.
2. Strike the existing cement floor; there must be no hollow sounds between the cement mortar and the floor.
3. The substrate must be dry, with a moisture content no higher than 16–20% as measured by a dedicated testing instrument. If the substrate is not yet dry, it must be dried before self-leveling can be applied.
4. The compressive strength of the cement-based base layer shall not be less than 10 MPa.
Base surface cleaning:
1. Clear the site; do not place anything on the ground.
2. Use a surface scraper to remove obvious residual paint and other construction debris from the floor. Then, use a floor grinder to smooth out any prominent bumps, minimizing height differences on the surface as much as possible.
3 Clean up edges and corners, removing residual construction dust and mortar from the corners.
4. Remove all impurities, dust, and sand particles.
Apply interface agent:
Perform surface preparation according to the primer application instructions. It is recommended to apply the primer twice. The primer enhances the bond between the self-leveling cement and the substrate, thereby preventing delamination and cracking of the self-leveling cement. It is also recommended to apply the substrate treatment agent twice.
Top-grade flowing cement:
1. Select an appropriate mixing bucket and prepare the self-leveling cement according to the water-to-cement ratio specified by the manufacturer. While using an electric mixer, gradually add the self-leveling cement to the water. Mix for a slightly longer period to allow the chemical reaction to occur. The mixture should be completely fluid, with no remaining powder or lumps. Use the mixed material within 30 minutes.
2 Pour the self-leveling cement onto the floor. Use a toothed self-leveling screed rake to spread and level the material over the designated area as required.
3 After self-leveling, use a notched roller to roll in both longitudinal and transverse directions to release trapped air and prevent bubbling. Pay particular attention to ensuring smoothness at the overlaps of the self-leveling layer.
Fine polishing treatment
After the self-leveling compound has dried, the surface may exhibit small pores, aggregate particles, and loose dust, and there may be height differences at doorways and in hallways. Therefore, once the self-leveling layer has dried, a fine grinding operation can be performed. This fine grinding should be carried out while the self-leveling cement is still partially set but has already developed sufficient hardness. Following grinding, use a vacuum cleaner to thoroughly remove any remaining airborne dust.
