Advantages of Self-Leveling Cement for Floor Leveling
Release Time:
2020-11-30
Source:
Self-leveling cement
Advantages of Self-Leveling Cement for Floor Leveling
Generally, floor leveling is categorized into two types: traditional cement-sand mortar leveling and the now widely used self-leveling cement leveling. The former uses ordinary cement-sand mortar, which has significant drawbacks: first, it is difficult to achieve precise control over surface flatness, and the required leveling thickness tends to be relatively high; second, poor construction techniques on the part of the contractor can easily result in a substantial increase in the finished floor height—yet the surface still remains uneven. As a result, this conventional cement-sand mortar method has largely been phased out. The latter is self-leveling floor leveling, a newer technique that began to emerge in China’s flooring industry around 2005. It employs high-performance polymer-modified self-leveling cement for floor finishing, offering numerous advantages: it can achieve a minimum leveling thickness of just 3 millimeters and is suitable for residential flooring, various sports venues, hotels, office spaces, precision electronics workshops, and other applications with stringent floor-quality requirements. Self-leveling floor leveling is also an ideal choice for preparing the substrate before installing wood flooring in home renovations.
Advantages of self-leveling products:
a. Does not segregate, exhibits excellent flowability, and can self-level within a specified thickness, with good thickness control.
b. Possesses reasonable workability and self-leveling time
c. Possesses rapid curing properties
d. By adjusting the mix design, the bearing capacity can be tailored to meet different design requirements, resulting in high pavement strength.
e. Exhibits excellent adhesion and does not delaminate or develop hollows.
f. Possesses appropriate flexibility (bend resistance).
g. Exhibits good cohesion and wear resistance.
h. Low shrinkage, environmentally friendly characteristics
i. The levelness is far superior to that achieved with cement-sand mortar screeding.
When it comes to home renovation, floor leveling is typically undertaken when installing wood flooring or applying an epoxy floor coating—and the need arises because the existing floor is uneven. We usually use a two-meter straightedge to conduct a grid-like measurement, taking readings in at least two perpendicular directions at each location. If gaps exceeding 3 millimeters, or even 5 millimeters, are found beneath the straightedge, this indicates that the floor is uneven and no longer meets the installation requirements for wood flooring. Such unevenness can lead to hollow-sounding floors, damage to the locking mechanisms, dust seeping into wall corners, and a seesaw-like sensation underfoot. Therefore, whether you’re installing solid wood, engineered, or laminate flooring, proper pre-installation floor preparation is crucial; hence, applying a self-leveling compound is an excellent choice.
