Polymer floors with their own hands. The device of polymeric floors

Floors - this is the most exploited surface of the room. This part is subjected to loads and wear more than others. That is why, under conditions of increasing demands in the world, a new floor covering has been actively used. The polymer base is used today in industrial plants, railway stations, airports, offices and schools, hospitals and restaurants. It is also widespread in living quarters. Many use polymeric floors for a garage, veranda or terrace. To date, there are more than one hundred ways of mounting this material.

Primary requirements

If we talk about industrial enterprises, then the technological process depends on many factors. One of them is the state in which the floor covering is located. The polymeric base is considered today universal. Considering the load that the surface experiences, the material for its finish must be strong, durable, smooth. In addition, the coating must be resistant to aggressive media, mechanical stress. It is also important that the surface is easy to clean. All these qualities combine polymeric floors. The material has become widespread not only in industry, but also in everyday life. Many owners of residential premises carry out the installation of polymer floors in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the hallway. In addition to the qualities listed above, the material has excellent decorative properties. This allows the use of polymeric self-leveling floors in almost any interior. Next, we'll figure out what the material is.

Design features

Polymers form the basis of the coating. They are organic compounds with a very long chain length and molecular weight. As the links are certain fragments, which are repeated many times. "Poly" means "a lot." The components of the base possess certain properties, which are due to their structure. It is thanks to its qualities that polymeric self-leveling floors have found their application in the automotive, industrial and household sectors. The main properties of materials include chemical and mechanical strength in fairly thin layers with a relatively low specific gravity. In addition, polymeric floors, photos of which can be seen in the article, can contain various kinds of fillers. As a result, it became possible to create composite materials. They successfully replaced the traditional: metal, concrete, wood. The properties of the components of the material under consideration can be changed infinitely. To do this, special additives, plasticizers, fillers, diluents and so on are used.

Types of main components

Polymer floors can contain different compounds. As a rule, three options are used. In particular, methyl methacrylate, polyurethane and epoxy polymers are used. Let's consider the last two groups in more detail.

Polymer epoxy floors

These materials are characterized by a spatial branched structure. In them the cross-linking of chains of resin and hardener is carried out in all directions. It is thanks to this that such floors have greater compressive strength, chemical resistance and high adhesion (adhesion) to the surface.

Polyurethane materials

In them, the cross-linking occurs mainly linearly. In connection with this, such floors have greater elasticity, resistance to bending and shocks. In addition, the materials are practically not subject to deformation. If we talk about which floor is better: epoxy or polyurethane, then experts recommend focusing on specific requirements for the surface. Here it must be said that there are so-called "hybrid materials". They combine the properties of both of these elements. As practice shows, epoxy floors are the most popular today.

Main advantages of materials

• Monolithic with walls and base, no seams.
• High adhesion to the surface.
• Chemical resistance to aggressive compounds of various origins.
• High impact strength, bending, compression. Elastic coatings perfectly compensate for deformation and vibration.
• Water resistance. The polymer coating of the concrete floor will prevent leakage to the neighbors below. The material is considered ideal for premises in which the humidity is constantly high, and also the machine cleaning method is used.
• Simplicity of packing. Without special knowledge and without using complex equipment, you can mount polymer floors with your own hands. In this case, it is possible to use the heating of the substrate. For example, a "warm floor" system is installed under the cover.
• Application for a wide range of temperatures (from -40 to +100 degrees).
• Ideal smoothness and evenness of the surface.
• A wide choice of design and technological solutions, the uniqueness of options.
• Fire and explosion safety.
• Perfect transparency of finishing varnishes.
• Speed of application. All layers of polymer coating can be mounted per day. In this case, if the finishing is carried out in an industrial room, the production process can not be interrupted for the duration of the work.
• Durability.
• Anti-slip properties.
• Economical. Duration of operation at a low initial cost distinguishes polymeric concrete floors from other materials.

additional information

The cost of coverage is calculated in accordance with its thickness. It, in turn, is the determining factor of the duration of the operation of the material. The minimum thickness of thick-layer coatings is one millimeter. As a rule, consumers choose average values - 2-3.5 mm.

Decorative properties

There are different options for processing polymeric floors. They include:

• Use a certain color or combination, chaotic mixing of shades under the roller.
• Backfilling on an unhardened layer of "chips" (decorative flocks) of different nature. In particular, use acrylic paint particles of various shades, fluorescent, metallized, medium-sized glitter-glitters and the like.
• Adding a photographic image or a 3D image (3D effect).
• Artistic design of the pattern.
• Application of colored sands when creating a "stone carpet". In this case, you can choose the configuration of the pattern, the color of the filler, the size of its particles, the level of the surface varnish seal - from smooth to structural.
• Use of mortgage elements. They are dried leaves, pebbles, coins, coffee grains, flowers and so on. As a result, you can create a magnificent panel.
• Use of Venetian plaster. With its help, effects of volume and depth are created.

Important points

Choosing this or that variant of decoration, you can get a multidimensional three-dimensional drawing on the surface. It should be remembered that the design of the floor directly depends on the style of the environment. In the room in the end should be comfortable and comfortable to be. When choosing a picture or a photo image, you should consider the tastes and preferences of people present in the room. The picture on the floor should not frighten, repel or irritate.

On what grounds are the materials applied?

Polymer floors with their own hands can be mounted on leveling screeds, thick metal (previously covered with a primer). The base can be a solid sheet material. For example, it can be MDF, plywood, particleboard, GVL and other mineral and wood coatings. It is important that the base is firm and does not bend under loads.

Hardener

This component is an integral part of the polymer coating. The curing agent has an insignificant molecular weight. Due to this component, the neighboring elements of the structure are connected. The curing agent is able to interact with active resin centers. At the same time, a sufficiently strong chemical bond is formed and pure thermal energy is formed. The molecules are connected in all polyurethane or epoxy groups in different directions. At the beginning of the process, the reaction takes place fairly quickly. As energy is consumed, the process slows down. Finally, the acquisition of all its properties by the material occurs after a rather long period.

Polymer floors: application technology

The process of laying the material is divided into several stages:

• Substrate preparation.
• Application of a primer.
• Laying of the main layer.
• Surface decoration.
• Seal the finish layer.

Next, we consider the steps separately.

Treatment of the base

Before you mount the polymer floors with your own hands, you need to work with the surface. It should be noted that this stage is one of the most important. The final result of the installation will depend on the quality of the preparation of the substrate. First of all, the surface should be treated. In the course of this process, the base is leveled, the contaminants (oily stains, dust, entrained particles) are eliminated. Such processing can be carried out using tools such as milling, grinding and shot blasting machines. During the preparatory phase, it is also necessary to remove various surface defects. In particular, they include cracks, chips, and cracks. Practice shows that in about 90% of the cases of destruction and peeling of the coating, the reason was poor preparation of the substrate. The surface must be flat before applying the primer, without significant slopes.

Requirements to the base

After laying the concrete screed, the surface should be conditioned for 28 days. Directly before finishing, the moisture content of the substrate should be checked with a special tool (hygrometer). It should not be more than 4% by weight. In addition, the presence of migration of water vapor through the structure is checked. It must be kept to a minimum when applying a moisture-proof material. It also determines the strength of concrete for peeling and compression. For this, sclerometers are used. The compressive strength of the substrate is greater than 20 N / mm2, and the tensile strength is more than 2 N / mm2. Oil, grease stains and other joints should be absent on the surface, which may interfere with the bonding of the material.

Elimination of defects

This work is carried out with the help of various mixtures (putty, for example). On the concrete foundation, deformation and temperature-shrinkage seams and cracks of various kinds may be present. For their purification use a building vacuum cleaner. Seams are primed and filled with fillers. A polymer mixture is used to treat and fill cracks. If necessary, they are glued with fiberglass.

Surface priming

The composition is absorbed into the base and improves the adhesion of the polymer to it. To apply a primer, use a metal spatula or roller. You can use the sprayer. After application, the primer should dry thoroughly.

Base layer

Lay the polymer floors with your own hands can be approximately 15-20 hours after applying the primer. The material must be spread evenly and quickly over the surface. During the application temperature differences, drafts are not allowed. The direct sunlight on the surface of the coating should also be avoided. This is important not only during laying, but also during hardening. Since the polymer floors with their own hands are stacked in several layers, it is necessary to observe the time of interlayer drying.

Temperature-humidity regime

Great importance in the application of the coating has environmental conditions. The temperature in the room during installation should be at least 15 degrees. Otherwise, the chemical reaction will slow down and the polymer spreads over the surface. This, in turn, can cause an increase in consumption and a deterioration in appearance. At high temperatures, the hardening reaction will occur much faster. As a result, the "life span" of the composition will decrease. This, in turn, will not allow you to teach a flawless surface. If the relative humidity in the room together with the lowered temperature is high (more than 80%), condensation will form on the coating.

Decoration and finish layer

When stacking polymer floors with their own hands, many use "chips" to improve the aesthetic properties of a smooth surface. The materials used as these elements are indicated above. After the end of the decoration phase, the finishing coat is applied. As it can be used a polymer of the basic composition or varnish. The latter, in turn, is colorless or colored, matte or glossy.

Some peculiarities of composition preparation

The properties of the coating depend in many respects on the correct component ratio. A certain proportion is established for each solution. When mixing, make sure that component B (hardener) is completely poured from the jar. Also, special attention should be given to the very process of connecting the components. Effective mixing of components is achieved by choosing the right mixer with a certain power, size and configuration of the nozzle. When combining the components, the mixture must be directed from the bottom up, without capturing any excess air, as it will subsequently be difficult to eliminate from the material.