Modern living quarters can not be imagined without the presence of a traditional concrete floor. However, the concrete surface has a number of properties that, to put it mildly, spoil our lives. In what ways can and should the quality of the concrete floor be improved before painting?
Content
What is the complexity of painting the concrete floor
Painting a concrete floor with your own hands always presents some technical complexity. This is due to the porous structure of the concrete base, which has pronounced insignificant defects: cracks and shells, as well as caverns and chips.
Therefore, the main goal achieved in the treatment of concrete floor can be called:
• ensuring the protective functions of the concrete surface from destructive factors (the effects of aggressive reagents and components, abrasive and mechanical wear)
• providing a concrete floor surface with decorative qualities
• giving additional improved characteristics and performance properties (anti-slip, antistatic, deactivating).
What should be done to create favorable conditions for the implementation of these functions?
The most effective way of leveling the floor surface can be called a screed.
The main stages of the organization of concrete floors
Screed
A screed is a constructive layer of mass located under the floor covering. The most common types of concrete floor screed are:
• monolithic
• Dry.
The traditional monolithic form of the screed is based on the use of fast-setting and self-leveling mixtures. This is a cement-sand and gypsum mixture.
Dry screed is organized according to the principle of laying a layer of granular backfilling on the floor, followed by laying on top of the sheet material.
To improve the quality of the concrete surface, special formulations - plasticizers are introduced into the dry mixture. Plasticizers give concrete greater mobility and viscidity, thereby reducing the likelihood of cracking and increasing the strength and frost resistance of the concrete floor.
From the qualitatively produced initial leveling of the concrete floor, the possibility of subsequent painting of the concrete floor depends.
The use of a screed allows to eliminate visible irregularities and defects with insignificant thickness of a layer of a material of a dry screed mixture. Screed is considered to be the simplest and most affordable way of leveling the surface, so you can make it yourself.
How to produce a floor screed is shown in the proposed video.
A professionally produced floor screed is the first step in the preparation of a concrete floor for painting. However, such a process can not be carried out without grinding and impregnating the concrete floor.
Grinding
Before applying impregnation and dusting the surface of the concrete floor, grinding is carried out. The grinding process represents a kind of surface treatment. Grinding is necessary for:
• leveling of the base and screed
• Remove the old coating layer.
As a rule, grinding is carried out on 3-5 days after carrying out work on casting. Therefore, having made a screed of a concrete floor independently, it is necessary to wait some time. Finishing is carried out after the final hardening of the concrete base. Sanding the concrete floor is done in a wet and dry way. For a concrete floor in an apartment, it is preferable to use a dry method.
True, dry grinding takes a lot of time, but the quality will be guaranteed. For grinding, special equipment is used - grinding machines. Professional grinding equipment is equipped with a system of planetary gear with diamond nozzles. A complex path of movement of the nozzles and wheels ensures a smooth and smooth surface of the concrete floor. For grinding the floor, it is preferable to choose diamond disks with a grain size of 40.
Impregnation
According to the structure of the components, concrete floors are subject to mechanical abrasion and dust formation. To prevent the occurrence of such processes and to provide increased performance characteristics, as well as properties of the concrete floor, polyurethane impregnations are used. Impregnation for the concrete floor is primer polyurethane impregnation and impregnation of deep penetration.
The main purpose of impregnation for a concrete floor is to create an upper protective layer, leading to a significant reduction in the penetrating power of concrete. Applying impregnation before painting the concrete floor is a prerequisite to ensure a smooth, dust-free working surface. In compliance with the rules and instructions for use, impregnation for the concrete floor has the ability to penetrate deeper by 8 mm, providing complete dust removal of concrete.
Impregnation is applied to the concrete substrate in the same way as applying primers. For these purposes, use a roller with a long handle and a shallow container for impregnation.
Conducting a succession of works "screed" - "grinding" - "impregnation" you can safely start painting the concrete floor with your own hands. Rhetorical question: "What to paint the concrete floor" modern construction industry is solved with lightning speed. For this it is enough to go into the crowded building supermarket.
Painting
Used for painting concrete floors epoxy suspension gave way to paints, forming high-strength coating for a long process of operation. There are the following types of paints for concrete floors:
• Acrylic
• epoxy
• polyurethane enamels
All paints and enamel for concrete floors have a number of advantages, among which it is necessary to note:
• Significant waterproofing properties
• Excellent adhesion to a fresh concrete surface
• Rich color scheme.
For acrylic paints intended for application to the surface of concrete, the component composition is characteristic. This is an aqueous composition based on acrylic resins with the addition of polymers.
Acrylic paint creates a kind of protective film, which hinders the effects of chemical or mechanical nature. This prevents the destruction of the top layer of the concrete floor. Painting the concrete floor with the use of paints and enamels is done in several layers, more precisely in 2 layers. To create a decorative effect when painting the concrete floor, use decorative elements: flocks, chips and glitters.
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