The floor in the house should be, first of all, reliable and warm. This is especially true for those who have small children. If the ceiling height allows, the best option there will be a wooden floor installation, but if the space is limited enough, then the undeservedly forgotten expanded clay comes to the rescue. Consider the features of this material.

General information about expanded clay

The history of expanded clay goes back to the Middle Ages. At that time it was one of the most affordable building materials. Today the situation has not changed much. The material is produced by firing shale in special furnaces. Since expanded clay consists of 95% clay at the output, it has all its advantages:

• resistance to mechanical damage;
• high levels of sound insulation;

• very high thermal insulation performance;
• resistance to low temperatures;
• incombustibility;
• resistance to chemical influences;
• long service life;
• environmental friendliness;
• low cost.

1. The volumetric weight of expanded clay ranges from 320 to 650 kg/m³. At the same time, the material is porous, from 60 to 20 percent of the granule falls on the body of expanded clay. Relative lightness and the presence of voids do not affect strength in any way. Inside the granules, clay particles under the influence of high temperatures create stiffeners. As a result, expanded clay is very durable and is not inferior to silicate brick in this indicator.

2. The presence of pores in the granules explains the high noise absorption. Sound is a wave, falling on expanded clay granules, it scatters over their surface, penetrates inside and is gradually muffled. The thicker the expanded clay layer, the higher the sound insulation performance. For example, to suppress noise of 25-30 dB, you need a 3-4 cm expanded clay damper.

3. The same pores explain the thermal insulation properties of expanded clay. Although the thermal conductivity of clay is quite high, it not only keeps heat for a long time, but also keeps cold for a long time, the presence of cavities in the structure ensures the constant presence of warm air in the upper layers of the bedding. The lower layers of expanded clay are filled with cold air. As a result, due to the pressure difference, a circulation system is created, which ensures the preservation of heat in the room. Warm air lighter than cold air, so it cannot sink down and let in cold air.

4. Clay practically does not wear out either when exposed to heat or from cold. The minimum wear resistance at -300C was 300 cycles, i.e. in the open air expanded clay is able to lie for up to 300 years without visible destruction of the structure.

5. Fire is chemical reaction to release a large amount of energy. Since the clay is chemically inactive, and all third-party components and slags burn out during the firing of expanded clay, the material is not subject to combustion.

If the task is to make a high-quality, inexpensive, warm floor, filling the floor with expanded clay is optimal solution. Consider technological moments.

Expanded clay flooring technology

In construction, it is customary to distinguish two fundamental floor installation techniques:

• bulk;
• typesetting.

Expanded clay is appropriate to use in both cases, so let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each variety.

Other advantages include:

• installation speed;
• durability;
• wear resistance;
• high resistance to mechanical damage;
• rich assortment finishing materials and finishing fills.

Of the shortcomings:

• lack of natural insulation;
• minimum soundproofing.

2. The type-setting floor is somewhat more complicated. For its installation, a frame is first assembled, which is subsequently covered with expanded clay or other insulation, on top of which a finishing screed is poured. Although the process is more time consuming, the results are worth it.

• high noise protection;
• the presence of natural insulation;
• reducing the cost of a rough screed;
• resistance to temperature changes.

Disadvantages:

• lengthy installation process;
• the thickness of the frame, together with the fill, reaches 10 cm;
• poor resistance to mechanical damage.

From an aesthetic point of view, the choice of floor type depends solely on the height of the ceilings. From a practical point of view, it depends on the desired result. If the goal is to make a really warm floor, which is especially important for private houses, you should choose the installation of a stacked structure.

Filling the floor with expanded clay scheme

Since all work must be done in turn, we divide them into stages:

• preparatory;
• pouring a rough screed;
• pouring the finishing screed.

1. Preparatory stage starts with inventory selection. For work you will need:

• shovel;
• concrete mixer or trough;
• cement;
• sand;
• expanded clay;
• rule;
• level;
• metallic profile;
• rammer or roller.

For pouring, it is necessary to make expanded clay concrete. We mix in a trough or concrete mixer 3 parts of sand, 1 part of cement and 1 part of expanded clay. This solution has the highest strength indicators. If you add more expanded clay, the floor will become a little warmer, but will quickly crack and crumble. This is also the case with sand. Since the task of the rough screed is to fill all the voids and uneven floors as much as possible, we make the solution rare.

To make the floor even, you need to install beacons. The easiest option is to install a metal profile. Reiki are installed from wall to wall at a distance of the length of the rule. The angle of inclination is set according to the level. If the floor difference is noticeable, it is placed under the base of the rail wooden plank or stone.

A more economical option is to use nails and twine as beacons. But in this case, it should be noted that the solution should be as liquid as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to achieve a smooth surface.

2. The next step is to fill the rough screed. The prepared solution is poured onto the floor in the sections between the iron slats. Then we tamp it down and level it with the rule. For convenience, the floor is always poured from the extreme wall to the exit. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to work.

After leveling the floor, it is necessary to let it settle for at least three days. In this case, the screed must be watered at least once a day. This is done so that the cement dries evenly and does not crack.

3. Filling the finishing screed is needed only if it is planned to use bulk self-leveling floors. As a rule, they are sold already in ready-made, so all the work comes down to carefully extracting the contents of the bucket to the floor.

The described rough screed technology allows you to create enough even coverage, without noticeable differences or defects. Therefore, instead of a finishing screed, tiles, parquet or laminate are often placed.

Instructions for installing a type-setting floor with expanded clay

Stages of work:

• floor preparation;
• frame assembly;
• backfilling with expanded clay;
• fill.

1. When it comes to the use of bulk insulation, it is very important to properly prepare the base. First of all, we are talking about hydro and vapor barrier. For these purposes, special protective films are excellent. In private homes, they are replaced with roofing material. It is not advisable to do this, since the material passes steam very poorly, as a result, moisture forms inside the bedding, accelerating the wear of expanded clay and reducing its thermal insulation qualities.

Another important point- trash. It should not be, since the backfill in without fail consists only of homogeneous material. Uniformity is required not only in composition, but also in the thickness of the backfill. Therefore, it is desirable to level the base as much as possible.

2. A frame is installed on the laid insulation. For installation use wooden beam with a section of 5x5 or 5x10 cm. At a distance of 1 m from each other, beams are laid from one wall to another. Attached between them cross beams, also at a distance of 1 m. The result is even squares.

Important: the frame must be installed strictly at an angle of 90 degrees, otherwise the floor will be uneven.

3. Expanded clay is poured into the resulting boxes. There must be at least 1 cm between the top edge of the backfill and the top edge of the timber free space. AT this case the beam serves as a beacon. Filling thinner than one centimeter is not considered high-quality and reliable. After that, a reinforcing mesh or pieces of reinforcement is laid. For the viscosity of the structure, pins 3-4 cm long are welded to the edges of the mesh. These pins firmly fix the mesh in the box. The more of them, the stronger the screed will turn out. In the case of reinforcement, it is cut into small pieces, 4-8 cm, depending on the width of the beam, and stuck into expanded clay.

4. After completing all preparatory work screed is poured. The technology is no different from that described in the previous section. The only thing to pay attention to the composition. Use 2 parts cement and 4 parts sand. If for some reason the thickness of the screed is less than 1 cm, use 2 parts of cement and one part of sand.

Tip: in order for expanded clay not to collapse under mechanical stress, sprinkle it with sand. This will not affect the thermal conductivity in any way, but it will prevent excessive friction of expanded clay particles against each other.

Filling the floor with expanded clay price

An important part of any construction project is budgeting. Let's look into this issue.

1. To begin with, it is worth noting that expanded clay can be of different fractions and purposes:

• construction, granule size 10-20 mm;
• garden, granule size 20-40mm;
• basic, granule size 5-10 mm.

In this case, you need to buy specifically building expanded clay, since other varieties do not meet the necessary requirements.

2. Since expanded clay is sold by volume, it is necessary to calculate it correctly. According to the formula V=S*h or width*height*long. Let's look at an example:

• total floor area = 60 m2;
• bedding height = 0.06 m;
• volume \u003d 60 * 0.06 \u003d 3.6 m3.

The average price of 1 m3 of expanded clay is at the level of 1,800 rubles. Thus, floor insulation in an apartment of 60 m2 will cost 6,500 rubles, only for expanded clay. To this amount should be added more cement, sand and expendable materials. Consumables will cost 2,000-3,000 rubles, and a cube of cement mortar will cost about 1,500 rubles.

We calculate the cubature of the fill in the same way as the formula for the volume of expanded clay:

• total floor area = 60 m2;
• pouring thickness = 0.01 m;
• volume \u003d 60 * 0.06 \u003d 0.6 m3.

Based on the data obtained, a bulk floor with expanded clay in an apartment of 60 m2 will cost about 8,000 - 9,000 rubles.

3. If, nevertheless, it was decided to use a self-leveling floor, then the calculation is made according to the following formula: V * 1 800/3 + V * 1 500.

In this context, average price indicators are taken. The number "three" is a percentage expression of the ratio of parts in the mixture for pouring.

Let's look at an example:

• total floor area = 60 m2;
• pouring thickness = 0.05 m;
• volume \u003d 60 * 0.05 \u003d 3 m3;
• total cost of work \u003d 3 * 1,800 / 3 + 3 * 1,500 \u003d 6,300 rubles.

As can be seen from the example, pouring a floor with expanded clay, the cost of which is lower, is the use of expanded clay concrete technology.

Important: the amounts indicated in the examples consist solely of the cost of materials, if it is planned to invite a specialist to perform any of the stages of work, the costs will increase significantly.

Another one interesting technology pouring the floor with expanded clay on the video:

Floor screed with expanded clay according to all the rules of technology

To make the floor look neat and beautiful, you should think about a screed with expanded clay. Many professionals assure that it literally works wonders. Today we will talk about the subtleties and nuances of the technology for implementing this important process.

Large differences in the floor surface are quite common. "Steps" between the floor slabs in height can reach ten centimeters. concrete mortar leveling such floors is inefficient for the following reasons:

• the screed is very massive. This puts an extra load on the floor slabs.
• high material consumption, which means a powerful blow to the budget.

The subtleties of applying expanded clay

Often low-density ingredients are added to the screed to reduce the weight of the entire structure. Often this ingredient is expanded clay. Depending on the size of the granules, the thermal conductivity of this material varies from 0.07 to 0.16 W/m. You can equip an excellent one if you know the rules for forming a expanded clay screed.

Also read articles:

The site recommends using this material for leveling the floor if the level differences exceed five centimeters. However, keep in mind that expanded clay granules are low in density, so they often float to the surface in solution. Of course, it is difficult to determine by eye what layer of screed should be poured onto expanded clay so that it does not crack and eliminate irregularities. It would be wise to heed the advice of professionals and make a concrete layer three centimeters thick. The technology for performing such a screed can be divided into stages:

• Definition of "horizon line"
• Installation of light fraction
• Installation of beacons
• Leveling fill

Best choice for restoration

The best option for repairing a surface is a screed when:

• all communications that are on the floor are hidden;
• there are differences (everyone) in level;
• in home iron concrete floors;
• , parquet, are planned as a finishing coating.

Now the question becomes, what is expanded clay? It is a light, durable, porous material made of baked clay. In addition, it is undeniably environmentally friendly. Expanded clay resembles outwardly granules of various calibers, either oval or round.

The strength of expanded clay is provided by the outer sintered shell. The "merit" of the porosity of its structure can be considered low weight and low thermal conductivity. It is the combination of these characteristics that prompts many craftsmen to use expanded clay for floor insulation. This, by the way, is very reasonable. Indeed, in addition to all the above advantages, expanded clay is considered an excellent sound insulator.

A well-made cement-sand screed with such a filler will last a long time. At the same time, regular repairs or painstaking maintenance are not required.

But in order to make it, you need to carefully study the technology and use it correctly.

Preparatory work

The screeding process can be divided into several successive stages. The first is considered a set of preparatory work: dismantling the old coating and bringing the base into proper form. You can check out.

First thing:

• Rip the floor down to the ground.
• Clean the surface of dirt, all kinds of debris and dust.
• Clean the surface thoroughly (use a vacuum cleaner).
• Wrap communications in polyethylene and wrap with tape.

To create a waterproofing layer, craftsmen use liquid mastic or waterproofing. Mastic should not only be applied with a brush on the floor base, but also on the walls. The operation should be repeated after three to four hours.

We expose lighthouses

The floor without drops, even throughout the apartment looks very nice. Installation is best carried out immediately in all rooms. Alternate with a significant time gap is not recommended. To ensure that the floor level is the same in all rooms, a zero horizon line is determined on the walls.

When the waterproofing layer is ready, beacons can be set. By the way, polyethylene film can also be used for waterproofing. The main thing is to overlap the joints between the canvases (with a minimum of ten centimeters) and glue them with moisture-resistant (“silver”) adhesive tape. Expanded clay spread on top of the film.

Mark the upper border of the future screed on the walls. To do this, you can use a water or laser level. In this way, you will divide the base of the floor with beacons into cards - sections with a meter wide.

Reiki beacons must be leveled. This will allow once again check the correctness of the marks on the walls and (if necessary) correct them.

The markup is done like this:

• From the floor surface, retreating one and a half meters, make a mark on the wall.
• The second level of the horizon is planned in sixty centimeters.
• Draw a zero level on the marks with a straight ruler.
• Step back seven millimeters from the highest point, mark the risk of finishing pouring on the wall.
• The screed mark must be applied to all walls and draw a smooth continuous line. For the installation of beacons, it will be orienting.

Excellent insulation (video)

Filling expanded clay screed. First way

• between the lighthouse rails, fill in a uniform layer of expanded clay;
• pour cement milk over the entire expanded clay layer. The resulting film will provide the necessary opportunity for spatial movement along the set screed;
• take a break for a day or two;
• start screeding the floor.

If you want to save money, you can do it yourself. You only need to stock up on Grade 400 cement and sea sand. You need to mix them in a ratio of one to three. If you don’t want to mess around, you can find a wide selection of dry mixes in hardware stores. You can read the material about.

Further actions:

• knead (in a concrete mixer or a chopper in a trough) several buckets of mortar and fill the base floor with it;
• pull the solution along the beacons. It is handy to use the rule;
• make a screed of the entire area;
• reinforce the expanded clay screed, if necessary;
• the screed must dry completely. You will have to wait about a month, during which it must be regularly moistened.

We understand that constantly moistening the screed is very tiring. If such chores do not appeal to you, add a plasticizer liquid to the solution (dissolve it in water). This will prevent the screed from cracking.

You already know that when the work is over, the screed will take a lot of time to get stronger. You can move on the floor in eight days. It will take about three weeks for the solution to completely harden.

How can you check the strength of the resulting floor? Normal wooden beam. Install it on the screed with a neck. If after a while the beam fogs up, then the surface of the screed has not yet dried. .

Filling expanded clay screed. Second way

Using this method, you will form a screed of two layers. It is noteworthy that this is not a particularly long procedure.

The sequence of work is as follows:

• Mix the solution with expanded clay. The consistency should be thick and smooth, but not overly dry.
• Fill the resulting material with a continuous strip along any of the walls in the map. The layer must be leveled with a trowel.
• When the first sand-cement layer is ready, proceed to the second.
• When the first strip is aligned, you can proceed to the second. The main thing to remember is that the expanded clay layer comes first, then the screed. Do this until the space is completely filled. Puddles and pits that have appeared on the surface of the screed are easy to eliminate: add the solution to problem areas.
• Carry out the contraction, wielding the rule, until the surface becomes rectilinearly flat.
• For the screed to dry completely, you will have to wait about a month.

Usually, the material that facilitates the screed (expanded clay) is classified depending on the shape and size of the fractions:

• Expanded clay gravel. These are granules of rounded shape, brown in color. Gravel according to GOST can be divided into fractions of 5.0-10.0, 10.0-20.0 and 20.0-40.0 millimeters in size. The material facilitates the construction of the screed, often used as an insulating material.
• Rubble. The grains are 5.0-40.0 mm in size. The shape is angular. Obtained by crushing pieces of foamed clay.
• Expanded clay sand. Fired clay granules are crushed into small particles. Their size does not exceed five millimeters. Such material is suitable for the device of thin light screeds.

Expanded clay screed can be arranged in one of two ways: laying out ready solution or pour a dry mixture and pour it with cement milk. Please note that the granules are of low density, so they need to be fixed, otherwise they will float on upper layer, due to which irregularities form on the surface of the screed. Expanded clay will be more securely fixed in a single mass if it is kneaded in a solution. We recommend reading the article about .

Floor insulation with expanded clay (video)

Attaching guides

To fill the layer was even, use beacons. Space them 15.0 centimeters apart. The initial guide should be mounted, stepping back from the wall by 25.0-30.0 centimeters. To fix the beacons, they usually use self-tapping screws. They need to be screwed into expanded clay concrete. The screws allow you to adjust the height of the bar as needed.

Screw in the screws so that the top point of the lighthouse is on the same level with the horizon line. Place the screws along the entire length of the plank. The distance between them is 35.0-55.0 meters. In order not to be mistaken in this matter, use a two-meter building level.

With the increase in the cost of utility bills, homeowners are increasingly trying to insulate their houses using alternative ways. The floor screed with expanded clay is gaining popularity.

The thermal insulation properties of expanded clay are very high. Screed layer only 20cm this material will replace the wooden floor, 60 cm thick. It can be used not only in the foundation, but also for attic insulation, floors, as it also has soundproofing properties.

Modern construction market offers a wide range of new thermal insulation materials, which great amount both pros and cons. But I would like to consider not at all new, but already tested building materials.

Expert opinion

Sergey Yurievich

Expanded clay is obtained by firing certain types of clay at high temperatures.

This simple process gives a quality material that has high strength, sound and heat insulation, it is environmentally friendly, durable.
Reasons for using expanded clay for screeds with a thickness of more than 5 cm:

• Financial savings. It's cheap construction material will make it possible to level the floor at the lowest cost.
• Reducing pressure on concrete floors. This lightweight raw material allows filling large areas foundation.
• The different diameter of the pebbles of the material prevents large shrinkage of buildings.
• Having a low degree of deformation is perfect option under the floorboard.
• The porosity of expanded clay grains retains heat, reduces audibility.
• Expanded clay is not subject to corrosion, does not burn and does not rot.
• It is very convenient to place the sewer system.

Expert opinion

Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

In no case should such a screed be made over a warm flooring, since expanded clay will not let heat through.

The disadvantages include:

• Moisture resistant. This should be taken into account with some technologies.
• This material is afraid of heavy loads. Therefore, the floor of expanded clay screed in a large warehouse will quickly become unusable.

Expanded clay technologies for different types of screeds

When laying under the screed, two sizes of expanded clay should be used. This will increase the density, strength of the floor.

Most often, three main laying technologies are used.

Semi-dry expanded clay screed

This technology is the simplest. Here it is important to sweep all the debris well (pay attention to the corners) and dry all the moisture. Then you should lay all the planned communications, tightly pressing to the base. To avoid the ingress of moisture from damp earth, a vapor barrier is laid, securing with adhesive tape.

It is necessary to measure the height of the floor along the walls. Before filling expanded clay, insert thermal insulation near the walls, approximately 10 cm thick. If this is not done, then moisture will flow from the walls directly onto the expanded clay. It will spoil him.

The next step is to pour expanded clay and uniform distribution it around the perimeter. Then you can pour the solution directly onto the expanded clay, or after laying a waterproofing layer.

Expert opinion

Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

To avoid uneven shrinkage, before pouring the mortar, it must be well moistened with cement milk. Because expanded clay pebbles quickly absorb moisture.

In the process of pouring concrete, check the height and horizontal. Then you need to level and sand the floor well. And leave the finished screed to dry.

Screed using expanded clay concrete

The preparation of the base is the same as with the first technology. It should be well swept, remove moisture, measure the height of the floor on all walls.

It is necessary to properly prepare expanded clay concrete.

Pour expanded clay granules into a metal container and add water so that it pours expanded clay on half a palm. Stir until the claydite changes color. This will absorb some of the water. Next, you need to add cement and sand, also mixing.

Ready expanded clay concrete is poured onto the surface, leveling well. Do not forget to follow the thickness and horizontal. Since expanded clay granules will not make it possible to make a perfectly flat surface, after drying the floor (about two days), cover it with a thin layer of concrete or special mixtures.

Screed using dry expanded clay

First you need to cover the surface with a film overlapping approximately 20 cm on each other and 7 cm on the walls and seal the joints with construction tape.

The joints of the walls with the film should be closed with a damper tape. In order for expanded clay to lie flat, it is necessary to install profiles around the entire perimeter of the room. To do this, it is necessary to put a cement mortar on the screws at a distance of about 20 - 25 cm from each other. And lay beacons on them.

After the mixture dries, you can pour out and level the expanded clay.

Expert opinion

Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, outbuildings, terraces and verandas.

Profiles should not sag after backfilling with expanded clay.

Well tamping expanded clay granules, cover the floor with sheets, fastening them with glue and self-tapping screws. And then you need to seal the seams with putty. After this, trimming the remaining film at the walls, the screed will be ready for laying the finish coat.

When repairing a floor, a screed is a must. This type of screed, like everything else, can be prepared using sand obtained from expanded clay, which is a fine building material, the particles of which are up to 5 mm.

Lightweight expanded clay concrete, like expanded clay screed, can be made at home.

Especially if the manufacturer of concrete and screed mortars is located far from the construction site. Do-it-yourself preparation of environmentally friendly and warm expanded clay concrete will allow you to obtain the necessary building material not only in the right amount, but also with the required structure and the correct composition.

Expanded clay is one of the most popular materials used for floor screed. You can prepare a solution of expanded clay concrete with your own hands, using the recommended proportions.

The proportions for a solution of expanded clay concrete are as follows: 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand and 8 parts of expanded clay. Concrete can be made from such types of expanded clay as sand, gravel and crushed stone, which are most adapted to the production of concrete blocks and coatings.

Preparation and transportation

Solution making process

To make a high-quality mortar using expanded clay concrete, you must adhere to the recommended proportions. With the correct dilution of the mixture, the screed will turn out to be of high quality and durable.

Tools and fixtures that will be needed in the process of preparing a solution of expanded clay concrete:

1. Pneumatic blower with a mixing hopper or a 200 l concrete mixer with a construction trough (200 liters).
2. Flexible hoses for transporting the mixture or a shovel with a bucket for pouring the floor.

Scroll necessary materials should include the following components:

1. Cement (M400 or M500).
2. Washed quarry sand.
3. Expanded clay (fraction 5-10).
4. Water, from 200 to 300 liters per cubic meter, which is determined by the moisture content of the materials.
5. Plasticizer - laundry soap or washing powder.

Before mixing the claydite-concrete mixture, mixture, expanded clay granules must be moistened with water in order to improve the adhesion properties of the solution.

Preparatory work for the installation of expanded clay concrete in the formwork is reduced to preparation. Before starting to knead the expanded clay concrete mixture, expanded clay granules are moistened with water to improve the adhesion properties of the solution with the addition of sand and cement.

Instructions for preparing one batch of expanded clay concrete include the following steps:

1. Turn on the concrete mixer or pneumatic blower.
2. Fill with water.
3. Add cement.
4. Pour sand, observing the necessary proportions.
5. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
6. Pour expanded clay into the solution, observing the correct loading of the tank.
7. Get a homogeneous mixture of expanded clay concrete with a volume of 200 liters.

The whole process of preparing one batch of expanded clay concrete will take about 3-4 minutes. In the process of performing work, carefully monitor the consistency of the composition. A high-quality solution can be in the form of plasticine or sour cream of a thick consistency. If necessary, add water to reduce the density. Upon receipt of a more liquid consistency than provided for in the instructions, such concretes are simply mixed after a short settling. To obtain more homogeneous concrete, dry mixing is used, that is, only dry components are taken, and then water is added and mixed.

The use of ready-made expanded clay concrete

After the laying and leveling of the claydite concrete solution is completed, it is necessary to allow the surface to dry for 1-2 days.

To start pouring concrete, after the preparation of the mixture is completed, buckets with shovels are prepared, or flexible hoses to transport the solution. ready mix expanded clay concrete is transported using hoses through which the solution enters under the influence compressed air. Small portions of the solution are fed through a rubber hose under pressure to the place where the layers of expanded clay concrete are laid. In the presence of an extinguisher, the working pressure is reduced and the solution is poured in small portions onto the floor inside the room.

After completing all the work on laying and leveling the expanded clay concrete solution, the surface is left for a day or two, then it will be possible to walk on the hardened surface, but the longer the surface dries, the more reliable and durable the floor covering becomes.

Expanded clay will not only improve the quality of the floor screed, but is also an excellent material for insulating floors in the room.

The solution that came from the extinguisher must be evenly distributed over the entire floor of the room to the required mark. With the help of light tamping, each irregularity is filled with expanded clay concrete, while providing additional thermal insulation for pipelines and heating.

Since the claydite-concrete solution retains the required viscosity for a short time, it is used in the process of pouring floors immediately after the preparation of the mixture. In this case, a sealed formwork for pouring is pre-mounted.

For the manufacture of expanded clay blocks using special molds for pouring concrete, they are installed on pallets, and shovels or buckets are used in the pouring process. It is impossible to apply any mechanical influences to the poured concrete, therefore it is left until completely hardened for a day or two, and then the formwork is removed from the blocks. When all the work on expanded clay concrete preparation has been completed, preliminary work is carried out on the preparation of a cement-sand screed.

For leveling expanded clay, it is necessary to use a dry mix. To do this, add water to the mixture until the solution becomes viscous and homogeneous.

For high-quality compaction and leveling of expanded clay, it is used dry, not wet. Water is added to the prepared solution with expanded clay until it becomes viscous and homogeneous. The M100 solution is taken in the ratio of one part to three to four parts of expanded clay. When kneading, it is necessary to monitor its fraction. This brand of mortar will prevent the appearance of cracks as a result of an excess of cement. To prevent the appearance of splits in the screed, take water in not very in large numbers. In this case, the size of the calculated pie of the cement screed should be more than 10-12 centimeters.

The implementation of a two-layer screed is necessary if large differences are found on the base where the future screed will be laid, if the horizontal is observed over the entire area at the level of ten centimeters or more. In order to qualitatively carry out all work on the installation of a floor screed with expanded clay and normal cement mortar, you must follow the instructions below, carefully observing all proportions:

1. Mix expanded clay with mortar using a mixer or an electric drill with a mixing attachment.
2. Starting the preparation of the second layer of the screed, knock down all the protruding sharp parts on the floor. The recesses are compared with the common base of the floor.
3. Lay polyethylene film for waterproofing. You can use waterproofing or liquid mastic.
4. To produce isolon flooring, fixing it with adhesive tape around the entire perimeter. You can raise the material higher than the level of the screed.
5. Lay, if necessary, masonry nets.
6. After filling with expanded clay and leveling, wait two or three hours until all the water is absorbed into the expanded clay, and start installing beacons, which are metal slats or profiles.
7. Pour the base layer with a finishing solution of a leveling cement-sand screed, add a plasticizer to prevent cracking for strength. The layer thickness should be about 40-50 centimeters per mixture gypsum plaster and tile adhesive.
8. Leave the finished screed to dry for a month.
9. Wet the floor surface regularly with water to prevent cracking.

In this way, you can save money by reducing the overall load on the base of the floor slabs. This technology with its exact observance, it allows not only to make the floor new and of high quality, but also to get a lighter screed, compared to other types with high sound and heat insulation.

Screed - a layer of the floor that precedes the floor covering.

From the purpose of the room, the condition of the base, what material is chosen for flooring, determine the type of screed.

The screed levels the surface under the floor, insulates the floor if necessary, makes sound insulation, and provides the last layer of the floor with a design mark.

Properly selected screed makes the floor strong and durable.

The screed has a height of 3 to 20 centimeters, so it is used when it is necessary to level the base under the floor with a height difference of more than four centimeters.

The same feature makes it possible, if necessary, to make, or improve, by arranging such a screed under the floor on the interfloor floor.

In no case should such a screed be used over a warm floor, as you know, and its use will lead to thermal insulation and the screed will simply not let heat through.

If the base under the floor has a mark much lower than the design mark, the expanded clay screed makes it possible to raise the layer to the desired height.

Apply this type of screed before, parquet, tiles. Used indoors and outdoors.

Peculiarities

The popularity of using this type of screed is due to a number of positive properties of expanded clay - the main material of the layer:

1. Small specific gravity expanded clay on average 0.95 g / cm3 makes the screed light. In cases where a thick underlayment is required, expanded clay screed is indispensable.
2. The moisture content in the room is regulated, because expanded clay, having a natural origin, breathes as part of the screed.
3. It is not subject to corrosion: it does not burn, does not rot, is not afraid of chemical attack.
4. The porosity of expanded clay gives the screed a weak thermal and sound conductivity. Therefore, it will insulate the floor and protect against noise.
5. Expanded clay has a heavy-duty shell and delegates strength and reliability to the screed.

For the screed take expanded clay fractions from 5 to 20 millimeters. It is recommended to take two different sizes grains for greater backfill density.

Device

1. Foundation preparation.

You will need: hydraulic level, building level, broom, scoop, trowel.

The old floor is being dismantled, if any. The base is cleared of debris, concrete flows. If there are holes, rusts, they are filled with a cement-sand mortar. If on the floor of communication, then they are wrapped plastic wrap, securing with adhesive tape.

The foundation needs to be waterproofed. There are several options for doing it:

• Hydroisol is applied with a blowtorch.
• With a brush, coat the base and part of the wall with waterproofing mastic in two layers to the height of the marks on the wall plus five centimeters. The second layer of mastic - three hours after the first.

It is possible to perform waterproofing with polyethylene film, 2 mm thick or more. It is laid on the base and brought to the walls 10 centimeters above the level of the planned screed. The joints of the film are glued with a wide adhesive tape.

1. We install beacons, perform a screed

A very important question: How is the floor level in different rooms combined?

For example: the thickness of the layer of laid parquet is 30 millimeters, the thickness of the tiles is on average 9 millimeters, which means that the height of the screed in the room where the tiles are planned to be laid should be 21 millimeters higher than in the room where the parquet is planned.

This is done in order to avoid thresholds and make the floor at the same level in adjacent rooms.

Before backfilling expanded clay, the thickness of the layer is determined: from the base and two centimeters below the upper edge of the lighthouses, this difference will then be filled with a cement screed.

Expanded clay falls asleep between beacons, leveled with a rule, focusing on a previously determined mark.

The surface of expanded clay is lightly tamped with a pusher or feet, walking back and forth, and spilled with “cement milk” - equal parts of cement and cement-sand mixture are diluted with a large volume of water to the consistency of milk.

Thanks to this, the surface of the expanded clay layer will become hard, and it will be possible to walk on it.

A day later, a screed is performed on the basis obtained. The composition of the cement sand mortar:

• sand - 3 parts,
• Portland cement 400 - 1 part.

Cement-sand mortar is poured to the upper edge of the lighthouses, leveled with a rule. The solution dries for 14 days until completely solidified:

• A day later, when it seizes, the beacons are removed, traces from them and other irregularities are filled with cement-sand mortar and rubbed with a trowel.
• After two weeks, you can lay the top coat on the screed.

And the screed will be ready to carry full loads after 28 days.

Another way

Expanded clay screed, as in the previous case, has two layers.

The main difference is that the first layer does not consist of dry expanded clay, subsequently poured with a weakly cement mortar, but a mixture of expanded clay with a cement-sand mortar, that is, expanded clay concrete, is immediately used.

The proportions of the components of expanded clay concrete:

• 8 pieces of expanded clay,
• 3 parts sand
• 1 part cement.

This method is convenient in that it is possible to make expanded clay concrete directly at the site of the floor installation, on any floor.

1. Expanded clay is poured into the container, water is poured in enough to wet all the expanded clay. You will need a mixer for mixing.
2. Sand, cement are added, you can take the finished mixture.
3. Stir again.

The mixture is kneaded correctly if it is thick, homogeneous and without lumps. If the mixture is too dry, not enough water has been added.

Spread the mixture between the beacons to the calculated mark: leave two centimeters for the second layer to the top of the beacon.

The second layer, the usual screed, as in the first method, is applied immediately to the first without a technological break for drying. This is the advantage of the second method and its main feature.

Fill the strip between the beacons:

• the first layer is expanded clay concrete,
• followed by the second - a screed, then the next strip between the beacons is also filled, and so on.

It is important to make the alignment of the second layer very carefully. Expanded clay screed will acquire the necessary strength, as in the first method after 28 days.

Practice tips: some nuances and possible errors.

Cement-sand screed (second layer) after completion of work and until completely dry, it needs to be moistened with water to avoid cracks.

If liquid is added during the preparation of the cement-sand mortar, then moistening the surface of the screed during hardening is not necessary.

A glass jar will help to establish whether the screed has gained strength, whether it has dried out enough:

Turn the jar upside down and put the neck on the surface of the screed, if the jar fogs up, it means that the screed is not ready for use, it has not dried out yet.

Neglect of exact observance technological process production of expanded clay screed, violation of the technological breaks for hardening layers - can lead to irreversible consequences.

The floor screed device with expanded clay is a reliable basis for any type of floor covering, it will improve the ecological climate in the house.