Knauf superpol complete set. Knauf super-floor system: dry screed according to German technology

In most cases, the floor structure is a screed. The most familiar and popular is the "wet method" based on cement-sand mortar. But dry (prefabricated) technology, although it is used much less often, is a much more economically attractive way. The bulk floor can be used both for construction and repair work in residential and non-residential premises. The German company Knauf rightfully occupies the leading position in the dry screed flooring market.

Characteristics of the bulk floor Knauf

Knauf company is widely known in the construction market and has been maintaining high quality their materials. It produces gypsum plasterboards, tongue-and-groove plates, hypo-filled sheets and many liquid building mixtures, including primers, putties, adhesives, etc. But their calling card in our country is Knauf bulk floors, which will be discussed in this article.

Knauf Superlist

It is a high quality environmentally friendly material. Perfect for rooms with increased fire safety requirements. Possesses good sound and heat insulating properties. It is used as a compensating layer if the backfill thickness does not exceed 15 cm. Sheet dimensions are 250x120x1 cm and 250x120x1.25 cm.

Features:

• high fire resistance;
• high laying speed;
• there is no need for "wet" stages of work;
• creates a good indoor climate;
• meets high international standards.

Moisture resistant Knauf superlist

Retains all the advantages of conventional Knauf sheets, but at the same time is highly moisture resistant. Sheet dimensions 250x120x1 cm and 250x120x1.25 cm.

Knauf superpol floor elements

Produced at the plant from moisture-resistant gypsum-fiber Knauf-superlists. In their manufacture, two sheets of 150x50x1 cm are glued together, resulting in a total thickness of 2 cm.Around their perimeter, there are folds 5 cm wide.

The Knauf bulk floor consists of a layer of PVC film, expanded clay for leveling and the floor elements themselves. The main advantages are the short terms of work, the absence of "dirty" work, the creation of a perfectly flat base of the floor and the convenient location of all communications. This floor is not only suitable for laying on a flat surface, but also for uneven substrates with cracks, depressions or bumps.

Benefits:

• an absolutely flat and solid floor base is created that can withstand a load of 500 kg / m2;
• hypoallergenic material;
• throughout the entire operational period, no faults appear and there are no squeaks;
• after installation, the floor is immediately ready for use;
• any plasterboard partitions can be installed on the Knauf bulk floor;
• excellent sound insulation (especially important for residents of multi-storey buildings) which cannot be said about cement screed or self-leveling floors;
• there is no risk of pouring the neighbors from below, because water is not used during work;
• knauf floor is much warmer concrete screed;
• all work is done quickly and without loss of quality. It will take no more than 3 hours for professionals to make the floor in a room of 18 meters, with all the materials and tools available. And this is especially important for those who make repairs in the apartment in which they live;
• you can fill the floor in the rooms one by one without losing the level.

Any floor covering is mounted on the resulting flat surface of the bulk floor: parquet, laminate, tile or porcelain stoneware.

The only thing that is prohibited is the installation of a warm water floor, they are replaced with electric ones warm floors... Thanks to the layer expanded clay backfill, the floor has excellent thermal insulation.

• If the floor is being repaired or reconstructed in older buildings or in houses with timber joists. Since it can significantly reduce the load on bearing structures houses.
• In the case when it is required to prepare the base of the floor as soon as possible.
• In the cold season, when there is no way to make a cement-sand screed.
• If necessary, the arrangement of an electric underfloor heating in wooden interfloor ceilings.

Do-it-yourself bulk floor Knauf

There is nothing difficult in making it yourself. The main thing is to purchase materials, prepare tools and follow step by step instructions.

Substrate surface preparation

If repair work is carried out, the old floor covering is removed first. Perfect leveling of the surface is not necessary, but all debris should be carefully removed, including from the cracks.

Construction of a vapor and moisture insulating layer

This is an important stage of work, on which the duration of the floor's operation depends. The fact is that moisture for bulk floors is destructive, under its influence slabs swell and the front covering deteriorates. A layer of PVC or vapor barrier film, laid under the backfill, will protect it from the effects of moisture, which will inevitably form on the floor.

Using a level (best of all laser or water), marks are made on the walls of the upper level of the backfill.

Its height depends on the unevenness of the base of the floor, and varies from two to six centimeters. To the resulting height, another 2 cm of the thickness of the prefabricated base will be added - just that much the floor level will rise as a result. Then the film is laid on the floor with an overlap of at least 20-25 cm and glued with construction tape. On the walls, it must necessarily go up to the previously set marks and be fixed with tape. Modern vapor barrier materials can be used as a film, also for concrete floor a plastic film with a thickness of 200 microns is suitable, and for wood it is bituminized paper or glassine.

Tip: Before laying the moisture-resistant film, all holes and gaps in the surface of the base should be sealed with a fast-setting alabaster. If there are wires, they are placed in the corrugation in advance and pressed to the floor. It should be noted that the minimum layer of expanded clay above corrugated pipe is 2 cm.

Arrangement of soundproofing

This stage allows you to completely eliminate sound bridges and protect the floor from deformation during thermal expansion. To do this, along the perimeter of the entire room, a gap is left along the walls equal to 10 cm, in which thermal insulation material.

You can restrict yourself to a foam rubber edge tape, which has a thickness of 1 cm and a width of 10 cm. On sale they are self-adhesive and simple, which are attached to ordinary tape.

Backfill of expanded clay

Loose material, in the role of which expanded clay acts, is necessary to create a flat surface, as well as for heat and sound insulation. Expanded clay is poured onto the film and leveled according to the marked markings by the rule. Silica or quartz sand, expanded perlite sand, fine-grained slag or screenings from expanded clay production can be used as a filling material. All these materials have low hygroscopicity, practically do not settle, have high porosity and good flowability.

The thickness of the backfill layer directly depends on the degree of unevenness of the floor slab and on the need for installation in it engineering communications.

On average, a layer thickness of 3-5 cm is sufficient, but if it exceeds 6 cm, then reinforcement of the screed with an additional layer of plates is required.

How to properly fill a dry screed

• The first profile is installed near the wall, and all subsequent ones are at a distance of 1.5 m from each other (rule length). They should be located parallel to each other;
• then the height of the profile points is determined and the thread is pulled. To change the height of the profiles, the remnants of slabs or planks are placed under them;

• after completing all work, you should again check the guide profile with the level. To avoid its deflection, the supports under it are located at least every 70 cm;
• expanded clay is poured along the prepared guides and leveled with a rule or a wide spatula. These works are carried out in a respirator due to the large volume of dust;

• when the layer is leveled, the profile is taken out together with the supports, and the resulting holes are filled with expanded clay and leveled. After which everything is rammed;
• if in the future you have to lay the prefabricated floor from the door opposite to the entrance, then you should take care of the "islands". They are made from squares of chipboard, gypsum fiber board or plywood and stacked on a layer of expanded clay;

With a perfectly flat base surface, there is no need for dry backfill; it is replaced with sheets of extruded polystyrene foam. Also, thermal insulation materials (EPPS, mineral wool, glass wool, etc.) are also used together with dry backfill when it is necessary to strengthen the thermal insulation of the floor. Insulation plates should fit snugly together, excluding even small gaps. Edging tape is placed along the walls.

Laying gypsum fiber sheets

Laying sheets on a dry screed begins from the door so that there is no need to walk on it during work. For dry screed can be used chipboard sheets, moisture resistant plywood, OSB, moisture resistant drywall or asbestos sheets. But the most durable and durable material is prefabricated floor elements. knauf company... It can be simply gypsum fiber sheets glued in two layers or with an additional polystyrene foam layer.

The assembly of the first row is very important, as it is decisive for the further course of work.

Better to do this work together. Since the weight of one sheet is 17 kg, it is very difficult to hold it on outstretched arms. On the first sheets, folds are immediately cut off, this is done so that the sheet lies flat on the surface and does not sink into the expanded clay backfill when stepping on it.

Sheets are stacked according to the principle brickwork, that is, with an offset of the joints.

Thanks to this arrangement, a place is formed for fixing adjacent sheets. Self-tapping screws should be twisted through the folds along the perimeter of each sheet at a distance of 15 cm from each other. For extra strength, all seams are glued with PVA glue.

Bulk floor Knauf video

The technology of bulk floors Knauf. How to avoid mistakes during installation

Despite the fact that Knauf superpol is a proven high-quality technology for installing a bulk floor over the years, it also has drawbacks.

The first drawback concerns not so much technology as the lack of professional tool for its device on the territory of Russia. Officials provide training videos for all stages of work, but there is simply no equipment for work in their catalogs.

The fold at the sheets extreme to the wall is permanently cut off, which is the gravest mistake that will surely lead to subsidence of the floor in this place.

Beacons left in the backfill will deform the prefabricated floor covering. Expanded clay will shrink over time, and the beacons will remain in place, which will cause problems in the future.

Particular attention must be paid to the moisture content of expanded clay. If it is not dry enough, deformation of the floor cannot be avoided.

When correct installation bulk floor Knauf has only positive reviews... It is durable, strong and safe for human health. Excellent for use in residential premises and in areas with high traffic.

Price for bulk floors Knauf

The formation of the cost of Knauf bulk floor depends on several components. With a floor thickness of 5-8 cm with installation work, a square meter of floor will cost 1300-1500 rubles.

To hide engineering communications, a total floor thickness of 7-8 cm will be required. The price will be about 1,500 rubles, of which materials - 900-1000 rubles, and everything else is for work. Doing all the work with your own hands is much cheaper, but without sufficient experience it will take much longer. So, for professionals, it will take only 1-2 days to install a floor on 50 square meters, and if you do it yourself, then at least twice as long.

Approximate prices for materials for Knauf bulk floor:

• moisture resistant sheets - 320r / m2;
• expanded clay - 1500r / m3;
• moisture resistant film - 20r / running meter;
• edging tape - 180r / roll;
• self-tapping screws - from 200r / package.

Is it possible, after completing the floor screed in one day, to start laying the topcoat the next? Not so long ago it seemed unrealistic, because a "wet" cement screed requires at least 28 days for final drying. But already about 15 years ago, the revolutionary Knauf screed technology appeared, which turned the idea of \u200b\u200bthis process upside down. One of the names that stuck to it for this reason is “ superpol Knauf».

Today, probably, there is no person, one way or another, connected with the construction industry, who would not have heard about this company, which produces a variety of finishing and building materials, as well as paints and varnishes, system components false ceilings, hydro, heat and sound insulating materials, fasteners, various tools.

But most of all, this company is known for its technology of plasterboard, perfected to the smallest detail. facing materials, being its ancestor. Founded by the two Knauf brothers in 1932 as a manufacturer of gypsum building mixtures, already in the 50s the company began producing the first plasterboard materials, soon becoming the undisputed leader in this technology. And today we can confidently say that Knauf and drywall are two inextricably linked concepts.

The Knauf method of bulk floors is, in fact, a long-known technology of semi-dry or dry prefabricated screed, when sheet panels of the rough covering are installed on a substrate made of a thin layer of finely dispersed bulk material. The soft and seemingly loose backfill pressed by them becomes strong and solid, capable of withstanding sufficiently large loads.

In the Knauf method for this, expanded clay sand of a very fine fraction is used with a granule size not exceeding 4 mm according to the standard. After leveling the backfill with the right "along the beacons", it is covered with sheets of gypsum fiber material. The backfill thickness should be between 30 and 100 mm.

Gypsum fiber sheets (GVL) differ from gypsum plasterboards by the absence of a top paper coating and are a uniform mixture of gypsum and cellulose fibers reinforcing it. Having high strength and fire resistance, they are at the same time quite environmentally friendly and chemically safe.

Structural elements of the Knauf superfloor are produced in the form of panels glued from two GVL sheets with dimensions of 1200 × 600 × 10 mm with an offset relative to each other to form folds with a width of 50 mm around the perimeter, along which they are fastened together during laying with adhesive mastic and self-tapping screws ... The total thickness of the resulting superfloor coating is 20 mm.

Advantages

1. The main advantage of this technology is the absence of "wet" materials and operations. This is especially valuable not so much in the process of construction of new buildings, as in the implementation of repair work in existing ones, since it excludes possible leaks and the penetration of moisture and dampness into adjacent rooms.
2. High speed of installation work. There is no need for special mechanisms. Installation of a Knauf superfloor in a 20 m² room by a team of two during a working day, along with delivery and unloading work, is quite common.
3. Immediately after installation of GVL panels, the floors are ready for laying the topcoat and receiving workloads.
4. In addition to the speed of installation, Knauf floors are distinguished by their high speed and ease of dismantling work in case of dismantling. GVLlists are removed using a conventional jigsaw, then backfill is collected with a shovel or scoop.
5. The small overall thickness of the entire dry screed "pie" - from 50 mm with a backfill layer thickness of 30 mm - results in very low loss of height and volume of the room.
6. The total total weight of the floor structure is significantly less than with traditional ways screeds. This significantly reduces the load on the supporting elements of the floors and the structure of the entire building.
7. Low thermal conductivity makes it possible to refuse additional layers of heat insulators for thin top coatings such as laminate, linoleum, cork, etc.
8. High sound insulation properties of Knauf floors are significantly superior in this parameter to wood and parquet flooring.
9. Excellent fire safety.
10. Possibility of installation at any time of the year.
11. Also Knauf floors are highly environmentally friendly and chemical inert.

Main technical characteristics:

• dimensions of panels with folds 50 mm wide - 1250 × 650 × 20 mm;
• area covered by one element - 0.75 m²;
• weight of one panel - no more than 18 kg;
• brinell hardness - 22 MPa (220 kgf / cm²);
• compressive strength of expanded clay backfill - not less than 10 MPa;
• thermal conductivity - 0.25 ~ 0.35 W / (m2 × ° K);
• sound insulation: 58 dB - from air and 55 dB - from impact noise;
• fire safety in terms of flammability, flammability, smoke generation and toxicity of gases - G1, B1, D1, T1;

disadvantages

If we talk about the shortcomings of Knauf technology, then they are practically nonexistent, although many people here call the "fear of water" of this material, but leaks and flooding can thoroughly ruin any kind of floor. Even if the consequences of such accidents do not appear immediately, after a while they will certainly make themselves felt in the form of fungus, mold and decay. But the convenience of dismantling Knauf floors allows you to replace them with the lowest labor costs compared to other types of coatings.

Many homeowners and builders, for reasons of economy, believe that on the upper floors of buildings and structures, it is possible to neglect the installation of a moisture protection film under the base of a dry screed. This is a gross mistake, since moisture can flow through the floor slabs from adjacent rooms. In addition, such a film also performs the function of a vapor barrier, protecting materials from condensation.

Laying method

In the considered here the simplest method of constructive technology of dry screed, which has the designation "Alpha" in the terminology of Knauf, a single-layer installation of gypsum fiber board is used, but there are other options for it, implying a more complex "cake" with the use of additional layers of expanded polystyrene or porous fiber sound and thermal insulation materials of this company.

Required materials:

Required tools:

• drill, screwdriver;
• jigsaw;
• drywall knife;
• measuring instruments: tape measure, meter, square, level;
• metal profile for the installation of "beacons";
• the rule for aligning the backfill layer with the beacons.

Step by step guide

1. The surface of the floor slabs under the base of the floor must be well cleaned of debris. The protruding ends of fittings, wires, nails, screws must be carefully cut and removed. Large irregularities and pieces of rubble sticking out of the concrete should be carefully knocked down with a chisel.
2. On a prepared base the vapor barrier film is spread with overlapping adjacent sheets at least 200 mm on top of each other. Its edges along the perimeter of the room should go over the walls above the level of the future floor.
3. Then, along all the walls, an edge tape is installed vertically, designed to compensate for the thermal deformations of Knauf superfloor panels. The compensation gap at the edges is a very important condition for this technology. It prevents the floor from swelling when the room temperature changes.
4. Along the line of the proposed installation of metal profiles of the lighthouses, expanded clay is poured along the length with a small hill. From above, beacons are pressed into it with adjustment to the level, based on the total thickness of the backfill not more than 10 cm. If the floors are replaced only in one room of the house, the level of the future flooring should "come" to the corresponding level in the rest of the rooms.
5. In the space between the lighthouses, the expanded clay layer is backfilled, which is then leveled with the right. One of the advantages of a Knauf floor is the ability to backfill and lay the flooring not completely in the entire room, but in parts.
6. Then beacons are removed, and traces of them are poured with a small amount of expanded clay. To the corner from which the installation of GVLlists will begin, a "path" of several free panels is being laid, along which it will be possible to move without damaging the rest of the filling.
7. The folds of GVL panels adjacent to walls and partitions must be cut so that their thickness in these places is double. The first row of panels is laid out along one of the walls. Work should start from the opposite wall of the room, gradually moving to front door. Before laying the next row, the folds of the previous one are lubricated with glue or mastic.
8. Laying of sheets of each next row is made with their displacement relative to the previous one at least 250 mm. The formation of cruciform joints is not allowed. Then the glued joints are fastened with screws with a pitch not exceeding 300 mm.
9. After the floor has been laid in the entire room, all the joints between the sheets should be putty with plaster putty Knauf.
10. Before laying the topcoat, knauf Superfloor must be primed with deep penetration.

To significantly increase the strength of the coating, you can lay the second layer of GVL panels by changing the direction of laying perpendicular to the sheets of the first layer.

findings

Knauf superfloor technology is the best fit for the underfloor heating systems so popular today. And the high heat-insulating properties of bulk floors significantly reduce the heat loss of the room through its base, which significantly increases the energy efficiency of any heating systems. We can confidently say that the cost of installing Knauf bulk floors with good overall thermal insulation of the house will pay off within 2-3 years due to savings on heating.

The design of any floor assumes the presence of a rough covering, which is done with a screed in apartments in multi-storey buildings. The screed can be done wet or dry. The second method of creating a rough base in the form of a bulk floor is becoming increasingly popular due to the short installation time of such a coating. The concrete screed takes a long time to dry completely. A leader modern market this segment of building materials are German Knauf floors. Do screed floors Knauf disadvantages and when can such a coating be used when renovating an apartment?

Main characteristics

Knauf floors are very popular due to their high technical characteristics. The dry screed of this German brand can be used in the most different conditions... Screed floor is suitable as a sub-layer in floor construction multi-storey buildings and office buildings, it can be used in cottage buildings, as well as in the reconstruction of Khrushchev houses and buildings with timber floors.

German-made dry screed works well in non-standard conditions. It can be used at low temperatures when pouring a concrete screed is impractical. A rough floor from Knauf backfill is done quickly enough, which is another of its indisputable advantages over grouting. When repairs need to be done in the shortest possible time and time of several weeks, which are required for complete drying of the cement, no, Knauf bulk floors can save the situation. A dry screed of this brand can also be used when arranging warm floors with electric heating elements.

Floors made on the basis of dry screed do not creak or crack over time, and are also characterized by excellent sound insulation qualities. Such a coating creates a feeling of coolness in the summer months, and in winter time - heat.

The use of bulk Knauf floors can be considered optimal solution for arranging flooring in a residential apartment. The screed does not require drying, is almost immediately ready for further processing, and also allows you to level the floor level between rooms. With dry floors, you can smooth out any differences in the base and easily hide the existing surface irregularities.

The scheme for creating a dry screed using Compavit Knauf backfill.

Pros and cons of dry screed

Knauf dry floor has its advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages of the coating should be noted the excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics. Using dry backfill of the German brand as a rough layer, you can be sure of its quality: the floor in your apartment will correspond to all heat-insulating parameters, and also perfectly protect against indoor and indoor noise.

The Knauf bulk floor is installed in the shortest possible time, the coating is ready for further work immediately - there is no need to wait for the floor to dry or shrink. "Wet" stages of work are completely absent, the floor can not be laid all over the apartment at once, but one by one. With alternate filling of the screed, you can not be afraid of differences in floor level in different rooms: Knauf floors can be easily mounted on the same level without any additional problems.

Among the important positive qualities dry screed experts note high stability to fire and hypoallergenic - qualities necessary for living quarters... Dignity knauf screeds is the final flat base, ready for the installation of any plasterboard partitions and any floor decorative coating... The finished screed floor withstands distributed load up to 500 kg per square meter, and also successfully resists the appearance of cracks and creaking sounds during the period of operation.

The Knauf coating has earned positive feedback from specialists. But dry backfill also has its drawbacks, which you should pay attention to when choosing a floor screed in your apartment. German floors are characterized by low moisture resistance. A dry screed absorbs water well, therefore, if water gets inside the coating, the floor will have to at least be opened to dry, at the most - to completely replace the rough layer. This disadvantage makes it impossible to floor from Knauf backfill in basements, basements, rooms without heating.

Such a floor would be an impractical solution for rooms with high humidity: for the bathroom and kitchen, it is better to choose another screed option. Knauf dry backfill is not suitable for the installation of warm water coatings. Leaking one of the heating elements will render the entire floor structure unusable.

Another of the disadvantages of Knauf floors, experts call the high dustiness of work: when filling expanded clay, builders will have to work in respirators so as not to damage the respiratory tract. Finished coating does not differ in dustiness and does not pose a threat to the health of household members.

The height of the backfill layer can be a serious problem when installing German brand floors. Minimum thickness coverings cannot be less than 4 cm, but this value does not guarantee the high quality of future floors. Knauf bulk floors will fully comply with the declared characteristics if the bedding is from 6 to 8 cm in height. In apartments with low ceilings, this floor thickness can be critical, since the thickness of the decorative top coat must also be added to it.

Knauf floors are quite expensive compared to other floor screed options, but with proper installation at maximum short terms ensure smooth and high quality coverageready for decoration.

Installation technology

Knauf floors can be assembled with your own hands, for this you need to stock up on tools, time and step-by-step instructions. Work begins with the preparation of the working surface. This requires opening and completely removing the old coating. You don't need to level the surface, if possible, obvious irregularities should still be removed, the main thing is to clean the floor of construction debris. The rest of the drops will be hidden with backfill.

The screed floor requires steam and moisture insulation. The better this stage of repair work is carried out, the longer the dry screed will last. As insulating materials, you can use PVC or a special vapor barrier film - laying such materials will protect the dry backfill from moisture and protect the topcoat from damage. The film is overlapped on the surface and glued with construction tape. The edges of the canvas should go to the walls to the level where the floor structure will end - the material in these places should be properly fixed.

Bulk floors Knauf are filled up at a certain level, which must be determined in advance. For these purposes, there are special laser levels that help to establish the most accurate marks on the walls. The screed filling can have different depths depending on the presence of sharp changes in the working surface, but the upper level of the coating must be made exactly according to the marks.

Additional sound insulation is laid along the perimeter of the room along the walls: for this, special gaps must be left near the walls. If the insulating material does not have an adhesive layer, then it can be fixed with ordinary tape. Laying the material along the walls is a mandatory procedure, as it provides high level noise insulation of the future floor.

How to make Knauf screed floors? The technology of their installation is not complicated. Expanded clay is usually used as a bulk material for a dry screed. It can be replaced quartz sand, perlite sand or slag from particles of fine fractions. Any of these materials are characterized by flowability, good porosity and resistance to shrinkage. Expanded clay or other bulk material fits up to the upper mark of the floor level.

The thickness of the backfill may vary. It will depend on the presence of elevation differences on the working surface, as well as on the need to lay utility networks. If the wires are initially located on the working surface, then they must first be removed into the corrugated tubes. The presence of any communications means that you will also have to follow the thickness of the embankment above the corrugated tube - the thickness of the expanded clay layer should not be less than 2 cm.

The bulk floor is mounted at the level of 4-5 cm - this thickness of the dry screed is often enough. If, for some reason, the expanded clay layer will exceed 5-6 cm, then for the strength of the future floor it is necessary to provide an additional layer of slabs.

Knauf floors are mounted quite easily, you can make such a floor yourself without the involvement of qualified specialists. To get a good coverage, you should know a few rules that will help you avoid the most common mistakes.

The installation of the profiles must be started from the wall, the main thing is to observe their parallel relative position. The optimal distance between the profiles should not exceed one and a half meters, ideally equal to the length of the rule with which you are going to level the backfill.

Installation of bulk Knauf floors requires precise marking of the profile points. After finishing work on marking the surface, the guide profile must be checked with a level for deflection. Expanded clay is poured in accordance with the established guides and carefully leveled with a rule. Instead of a rule, you can use a wide spatula - as you like. Before backfilling, experts recommend protecting yourself with a respirator.

The finished screed floor is cleaned of profiles and props. The voids left after them are filled with the same expanded clay, after which the surface is compacted. Then the installation of gypsum fiber sheets begins. Their installation should start from the door, so that there is no further need to walk on the finished dry screed, violating its structure.

Installation of sheets is convenient for two people. GVL sheets should lie flat on the surface and not go deep into the screed when stepping on them: for this, it is better to immediately cut off the folds on the first sheets. The Knauf bulk floor must have a top layer assembled according to the principle of brickwork. GVL sheets are mounted with some offset, due to which the quality of the final coating increases and a place is formed for mounting the following parts.

The final stages of work are gluing all joints between sheets with PVA glue. Such a measure will increase the strength of the assembled floor and ensure its readiness for further decorative finishing.

Dry floor screed is one of the main technologies used in modern construction for construction and repair work aimed at leveling the floor. Along with the "dry floor screed" method, which demonstrates a modern approach, there is a more traditional option called wet or cement screed.

The idea of \u200b\u200ba wet screed has been known for a long time and involves the use of such building materialslike concrete or cement-sand mortar... With considering modern development building technologies, this approach turns out to be irrational due to its economic impracticality. In addition, the use of a wet screed, in contrast to the "dry floor" technology, is associated with a number of inconveniences and may cause undesirable consequences. These disadvantages are associated with the peculiarities of the processes for the preparation and implementation of measures for the application cement screed, as well as some of its tactical and technical characteristics. The work itself on the use of a wet screed can be characterized as time- and labor-intensive, as well as dangerous from the point of view of sanitary and epidemiological standards.

The dry floor screed, being a modern development, is devoid of all those drawbacks that we described for the wet screed. In addition, dry screed has a number of additional advantages and positive characteristics, which will be appreciated by both the builders themselves and their clients.

Dry backfill (dry floor)

The process of manufacturing floors, where a dry screed is used, is performed in accordance with certain rules, which includes the following steps:

1. 1. Surface preparation.

Surface preparation includes removing old floor structures (if any), cleaning debris from floors, removing gaps, grooves and crevices.

1. 2. The device of a moisture-proof layer.

The device of a moisture-proof layer involves the use of polyethylene film, glassine, batuminized paper or other waterproofing materials. This procedure is mandatory in the case of using the dry floor technology, as it protects it from moisture and steam, which can cause it to swell and deform.

1. 3. Soundproofing device.

For sound insulation, a special tape made of polyethylene foam, mineral or glass wool, and other similar materials can be used. For its installation, a small gap of up to ten millimeters is left along the entire perimeter at the base along the walls, in which the installation of the soundproof tape is performed.

1. 4. Application of backfill.

Backfill application is necessary step when installing floors based on dry screed. This process involves the use of bulk material, which creates a flat surface for installing the flooring, as well as performing the role of additional sound and heat insulation. For this, materials are used that are characterized by such properties as low shrinkage and hygroscopicity, increased flowability and porosity. Quartz and silica sand, expanded perlite sand, screening of expanded clay production, fine-grained slag, etc. are often used as backfill. Dry backfill must be performed on a film and leveled out. As for the thickness of the backfill, this parameter is selected depending on the conditions for laying dry backfill of the floor, the condition of the base, height differences, etc.

1. 5. Installation of GVL (gypsum fiber sheets).

The final stage of flooring using the dry screed technology is the installation of gypsum fiber board. At the same time, as stacked sheets, they can be used as asbestos cement sheetsand chipboard, OSB, as well as waterproof plywood, etc. The sheets themselves are laid in one or two layers. The sheets are fastened to each other using self-tapping screws and special glue.

As a result, we get a finished floor using dry screed technology. Further manipulations with the dry screed directly depend on the type of coating under which the floor is being prepared. So, in the case of using a linoleum coating, it is necessary to carry out the operations of filling the seams and sanding the surface. In the case of choosing a laminate, no further processing of the dry screed will have to be done.

Today the Knauf system is the only one in the world that does not use wet processes. But the most main drawback concrete screed - absolutely all of its types - in the fact that you can start living in a room with such floors only on the 28th day, and not earlier. While prefabricated floors are ready for use on the second day. Such an interesting technology was offered to the whole world by a German manufacturer. You can easily master it!

So, the KNAUF OP 13 floors are void-free and easily assembled dry-assembly structures intended for installation in public and residential buildings, where there are:

• Increased requirements for the sound insulation of the floor.
• There is no possibility to carry out "wet" finishing processes.
• Limited time frames for all works.
• A serious rise in floor level is required.
• It is important to reduce the load on the floor.
• It is necessary to cover technical networks in a dry way.

Moreover, Knauf floors can be arranged both on concrete and on wooden surfaces. But they also have their own requirements for premises according to SNiPs:

1. Dry, normal and humid conditions.
2. Non-aggressive environment, with moderate and low intensity of mechanical stress.
3. There are no restrictions on fire resistance and number of storeys of the building, as well as geotechnical and climatic conditions.

Also, the Knauf superfloor is officially allowed to equip in wet rooms, like showers and bathrooms, but only with proper waterproofing. In this case, lay a Knauf or Flechendichtband waterproofing tape at the junction of the floor with the walls, and cover the entire surface with waterproofing.

All prefabricated floor bases using KNAUF technology are divided into the following types: Alpha, Beta, Vega and Gamma. Let's take a closer look at their differences:

• Alpha - construction on flat floors.
• Beta is a construction on a substrate made of heat-insulating porous-fiber materials, but also on even floors.
• Vega is a construction on a substrate, which is a leveling layer of dry backfill.
• Gamma - a construction of a combined substrate made of sound and heat insulating porous fiber materials, also along the leveling layer of the backfill.

But remember the main thing: Knauf-floors are designed for indoor use, where the temperature is not lower than 10 ° C and the humidity is about 60-70%.

If you are just going to do a floor screed and want to know more about different kinds materials and methods of work, we advise you to read a short educational program on the construction of screeds with your own hands:.

What is the advantage of this technology?

Here are the main advantages of Knauf's "super floor":

1. Excellent speed and quality of work at home.
2. No awkward wet processes.
3. Considerable savings due to the fact that the structure of the building can be made lighter.
4. The ability of a structure to "breathe", absorb moisture in case of excess and give back in case of a deficiency.
5. There are no limitations of imagination in different architectural solutions.
6. Ecological cleanliness and favorable microclimate.
7. Full compliance with stringent international standards.

So, just one square centimeter of Knauf floors can withstand up to 360 kg of weight. But in the garage, such a coating is impossible - heavy moving equipment is capable of moving and breaking sheets.

Installation of Knauf floors - from A to Z

Preparatory work

So, first of all, let's prepare the old foundation. Under the Knauf floor elements, you can also install plumbing communications - but only before backfilling expanded clay.

Before making Knauf-floor, it is necessary to carefully prepare the concrete surface. So, all cracks and gaps between the plates must be repaired. cement mortar M500, and then thoroughly clean the entire area from debris.

If there are minor irregularities on such a floor up to 5 mm, then such floors must be leveled with the same corrugated cardboard. But it is better to fill in local irregularities up to 20 mm with special "repair" mixtures. For example, Vetonit 4000 has proven itself well.

You need to beat off the level, but there is no level in the farm, and you don't want to buy an expensive tool for one-time use? We will tell you how to make a laser level with your own hands from inexpensive and affordable parts:.

If there are even more potholes, then it is better to fill them with fine expanded clay. You can also align the slope of the base with it, if any. But, if you are going to insulate the floors before installing a dry screed polystyrene foam plates, then you need to level it with a putty or a sand-cement mixture.

After preparing the floor, it is imperative to lay a waterproofing layer - after all, expanded clay does not like to come into contact with moisture. Therefore, cover the prepared base plastic wrap with an overlap on adjacent strips of at least 20 cm. At the walls, the edges of the film must be at least 2 cm higher than the future prefabricated floor. This is important to ensure vapor barrier. Instead of film, you can also use corrugated or waxed paper, glassine or modern vapor barrier "Svetofol".

For concrete base the film is more suitable, and for wood flooring - only overlapped liner paper. If on the base you have laid communications in corrugation or pipes, then also put a film under them - so that there are no empty cavities left.

How to fill and level dry backfill?

Expanded clay itself, which is used in a prefabricated screed, is a wonderful thermal insulation material. It is necessary to take it in a small fraction, 2-4 mm, but you cannot take a dump from a large one - such floors will sag.

Before laying expanded clay sand, set the beacons to the laser level, after which you can use the trapezoidal rule.

It is important that the dry screed does not touch the walls, and therefore a contour line is still laid along the walls along the perimeter insulating tape 10 cm wide and 10 mm thick made of mineral wool or polymeric at least 8 mm thick. Edge band will have to compensate for deformational expansion.

Just pour the backfill insulation onto the floor and align it with a rail along the beacons - as in the photo instructions. Start from the wall opposite the entrance. You need to ram the expanded clay manually.

To get a perfectly flat floor when leveling, various beacons are used. Read more about this in the analysis of all possible options for any screed:.

Which sheets are best to cover?

Let's immediately figure out how the gypsum boards differ from GVL. We are talking about two materials that are successfully used today for.

So, GKL is gypsum plasterboard... All its edges are lined with cardboard, except for the end part. In order for such a material to be strong enough, binders are added to the gypsum. And the cardboard itself is adhered to gypsum thanks to special adhesives. It cuts well and bends well. Although it is used in prefabricated floors much less frequently than other types.

But GVL is a gypsum fiber sheet, absolutely homogeneous in its composition. It is considered stronger than gypsum plasterboard and more suitable for arranging a prefabricated floor. Unlike gypsum plasterboard, GVL is produced not by pressing gypsum, but through reinforcement with cellulose from grinding waste paper, and with special additives. Such material is more durable and more fire resistant. But the GKL will cost you less.

The manufacturer himself today offers only two sheet formats for a prefabricated floor: floor elements with dimensions 1200x600x20 and small-format GVLV litas. The first type consists of two moisture-resistant gypsum-fiber sheets glued together with folds and a thickness of as much as 2 cm. But GVLV is a small-format high-quality and environmentally friendly material for rooms with high requirements for sound, thermal insulation and fire safety. It is much more convenient to work with such sheets due to the light weight of the sheets, and for home use you can't think of a better one.

And - this is already a new product from the KNAUF company. Such material is also impregnated with a moisture-repellent hydrophobic substance that protects well against steam and water. Distinctive feature such sheets - green color... Therefore, if you make a dry screed where there is a risk of water ingress, take this material:

What pleases, the surface of such floors is absolutely suitable for all existing types of flooring. You can even install an underfloor heating system. But on GVL plates it is better to put only a water-heated floor.

There are different Knauf-sheets along the edge - with a straight line, PC, and with folded FC. You can understand what exactly you are buying by the special marking on the back side: the type of sheet, type of edge, standard and parameters are indicated.

Knauf sheets are treated with a water repellent agent, well polished and impregnated from chalking. When installing such sheets, the manufacturer himself is advised to put the material in advance in the room where the floor will be filled up. And you can cut it for convenience. And when making a seam, be sure to chamfer from the sheets - 1/3 of the sheet thickness.

And now let's clarify in more detail how exactly the sheets of gypsum fiber board are attached. So, the laying of the first layer is carried out from the doors, with a gap in the joints of no more than 1 mm. But if you use thermal insulation boards, then - from opposite wall, with a joint offset of at least 20 cm.

Now we cover the entire first layer with adhesive. Apply glue sequentially to each sheet without gaps. In total, you will need about 400g / m2.

Lay the second layer across the first layer, with a gap of no more than 1 mm. It is important that the upper sheets cover the cross-shaped joints of the lower ones. Remove glue protruding from the seams with a spatula. Also fasten each sheet of the 2nd layer as it is laid with special screws for GVL. Use screws with anti-corrosion coating.

But pay attention: for sheets of gypsum board there are some screws, and for gypsum plasterboard - completely different. The latter have a double thread and a self-centering device, which helps the screw to penetrate 12 mm into the sheet and not to twist out more from there due to some unexpected operating loads.

Checking finished floors

After installing the superfloor, trim off any excess film and tape.

The minimum thickness of the leveling layer should be about 2 cm. And usually the floors in the room using this technology are raised by only 4-5 cm.

How flat the floor is, check with a level and a two-meter control rail. In total, you need to make at least 5 such measurements.

An example of a strength test:

What problems can arise?

So why, with all the advantages of such a floor design, did not all builders switch to it? Because there are often rumors that such a floor sagged, caved in and generally collapsed after a couple of years. Like, it's all about the central vibro-shock load, while the walls have almost none. And supposedly then there is a noticeable "bunching", because expanded clay as a bulk material over time will still be compacted.

But even those who have been professionally dealing with prefabricated floors for quite a long time still do not advise laying on prefabricated floors. ceramic tiles or install a heavy cast iron bath. But, at the same time, such people categorically do not accept the comparison of Knauf floors with a conventional screed - the former should be used where there is expediency, and ordinary concrete they will not replace them with all their strength advantages.

In addition, if there were no technological violations during the laying of Knauf floors, then neither sagging nor coiling will occur in twenty years. Here, for example, is a rather subtle point: if you use expanded clay backfill of the wrong calibration, then, of course, subsidence can occur. That is why the stories that somewhere Knauf floors caved in at someone's place are just evidence of the fact that the laying technology was violated. After all, expanded clay, like any bulk base, must not only be thrown with a shovel, but compacted, tamped, as sand is tamped when filling the foundation.