GVL for the floor: the pros and cons. GVL floor - an ideal way to arrange a subfloor GVL sheet on a wooden floor under a tile
The construction industry has undergone significant changes in recent years. New materials and advanced technologies have appeared. This equally affected the performance of work on the installation of floors. Since 2000, such a technology as a dry floor screed from the German company Knauf has entered the market of the CIS countries. It is now widely used in residential high-rise buildings, cottage-type houses and in various office establishments. The main advantage of a dry floor screed gvl is the speed of installation. It can be installed in one day and is immediately ready for use, unlike cement screed, which takes 28 days to fully cure. Also an important point is the complete absence of water during installation and a fairly low dust formation.
Types of floor screeds and their features
During construction or repair, an important element is the device of a durable rough coating of the screed, on which it will then be laid decorative coating such as laminate, parquet, linoleum or ceramic floor tiles. To date, there are several types of screeds. This is a classic cement or concrete screed, it is applied wet. There is also a semi-dry screed using a minimum amount of water. There is a so-called self-leveling floor, which serves to level the surface of the subfloor. And finally, such a view as, which is mounted from GVL slabs on a layer of expanded clay backfill without the use of water.
Tools and materials
For high-quality performance of work on the installation of a bulk floor made of expanded clay and gypsum sheets, it will be required necessary set tool:
- tape measure and marker;
- laser level;
- normal quality building level;
- perforator;
- screwdriver with nozzles;
- jigsaw;
- drywall knife;
- square or metal ruler;
- peeling planer for edges;
- construction stapler;
- guides for beacons made of aluminum or galvanized profile;
- rule or leveling rail;
- bucket and shovel;
- vacuum cleaner;
For the installation of a dry floor from GVL, materials will be needed that must be purchased in advance and delivered to the facility. For screed you will need:
- polyethylene film 80 microns thick for vapor barrier;
- edge tape 100 mm wide;
- PVA glue;
- drywall screws 19 mm long;
- expanded clay filling Kompevit with granule sizes of 1-4 mm;
- sheets of dry screed Knauf;
- putty Knauf
Quantity required material calculated based on the floor area of the room and the thickness of the backfill. Everyone can easily perform all these calculations for their own apartment, knowing the length and width of the rooms and the corridor. It is worth noting that the material must be purchased with a small margin, based on the fact that during the installation process there will necessarily be trimming of the plates and the thickness of the screed at different points may vary.
Dry screed technology
The laying technology of the Knauf bulk floor is quite simple, but even it requires sufficient experience and skills. Therefore, in order to perform the work quickly, efficiently and not to spoil expensive material, it is better to contact qualified specialists. The coordinates of such masters can always be found in construction supermarkets or on specialized sites, and customer reviews can also be found there.
The whole process of installing a dry screed can be divided into several stages:
- preparatory stage;
- markup;
- vapor barrier device;
- expanded clay backfill device;
- installation of knauf dry screed sheets.
Let's consider in more detail each stage separately.
Preparatory stage of work
Before starting work on the screed device, it is necessary to disassemble the old existing coverage floors - it can be parquet, wooden floor, old tiles. If this is an overlap, it is necessary to close up large dents and holes with mortar or putty. After the solution has dried, it is necessary to vacuum the floor surface, remove all construction debris, in some cases it is necessary to prime the surface. By this time, all materials must be purchased and delivered to the site. After that, you can proceed to the vapor barrier device.
markup
Before installing a bulk screed, it is first necessary to measure all the rooms using a laser level with markings of a horizontal plane on all walls of the rooms. In this case, it will be easy to determine the difference in the levels of the base in different rooms. Usually it does not happen more than two or three cm. However, if a significant difference in elevation is found, then this must be taken into account when filling the layer of expanded clay sand insulation. After measurements of all rooms, you can finally determine the thickness of the backfill and, therefore, its quantity in each room or room.
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Expanded clay insulation device
After completing all the preparatory operations, proceed to the vapor barrier device made of polyethylene film. To do this, use a film with a thickness of 80 microns. Lay in such a way that the film goes on the walls by 10 cm. When using a film of size less area rooms, it is laid with an overlap of 150 mm and all joints are glued with adhesive tape. Vapor barrier will not allow moisture to penetrate through the ceiling and damage the structure of the dry screed. All work must be carried out at a temperature not lower than 10 degrees Celsius and the humidity of the base is not more than 65%. After installing the vapor barrier around the perimeter of the room, an edge tape 100 mm wide is attached to the walls. It can be fixed with a construction stapler.
The next stage is the installation of expanded clay insulation. The best example for this purpose is the dry filling for prefabricated floors Compevit, which has been certified by Knauf. Until recently, this was the only backfill that met all the requirements. However, other fillings have now begun to be produced, including Knauf filling. Expanded clay insulation Compevit is characterized by high quality in terms of granulation composition, as well as the absence of dust, which is a very important indicator when working in residential premises. The thickness of the insulation layer can be from 20 to 100 mm. Usually this is determined at the very beginning and the volume of purchased material is calculated from this thickness and area.
After installing a vapor barrier and installing an edge tape, they begin to fill in dry expanded clay for prefabricated floors, while roughly determining how much to fill in a particular room. Next, it is necessary to compact and level the surface of the insulation, while ensuring the required thickness.
Leveling the surface of the insulation
Surface leveling is carried out using two beacon guides and one leveling rail. The guides are placed parallel to each other to the width of the leveling rail. The guides are installed on a layer of expanded clay, and the installation level is checked along the entire length using a laser level. In this case, the installation accuracy should be as high as possible. After the guides are set, expanded clay backfill is poured between them. Using a leveling rail or rule, the level of expanded clay is leveled to the level of the guides. At the same time, if necessary, add the missing or remove excess expanded clay. After the strip between the guides is aligned, they are rearranged further and the process is repeated. The result should be a flat surface of the insulation.
Installation of GVL plates from Knauf
The next stage is the direct laying of dry screed plates. The dimensions of the sheets of dry floors for dry floors are: 1500x800x12.5 mm; 1200x600x20 mm; 2500x1200x12 mm, there are other sizes. Typically, GVL boards are made by gluing two gypsum-fiber boards together. Installation of plates usually starts from the doorway from left to right. In the first slab adjacent to the wall, the extreme docking quarter is cut out with a jigsaw. The second plate is laid on the first one after coating the docking quarter with PVA glue. The third and fourth are laid in the same way. All sides that adjoin the walls are cut off from the docking quarters. The last slab in the first row is cut to the remaining size. The second row starts with the trimmed tile left over from the first row. In this way, maximum savings are achieved, and the seams of adjacent rows are displaced by at least 250 mm. After laying three rows, all connecting joints are fastened with self-tapping screws using a screwdriver with a pitch of about 300 mm.
Self-tapping screws are screwed strictly vertically with a slight drowning of the cap by about 1 mm. If the self-tapping screw went obliquely, it must be unscrewed and a new one screwed in next to it.
After all the plates are laid and fixed with screws, remove dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner. Depending on the type of finishing decorative coating such as linoleum or carpet, all joints and recesses from self-tapping screws are sealed with Knauf putty. After that, it is advisable to let the dry screed stand for about a day and you can proceed to finish coating gender. You can cut off the protruding edges of the plastic film and edge tape around the perimeter of the room with a knife.
Positive and negative qualities of dry screed
Knauf dry screed has become very popular due to its obvious advantages, which include the following:
- screed laying is carried out without water in an absolutely dry way, which allows it to be carried out in residential buildings without fear of leakage to the lower floors;
- the speed of the Knauf bulk floor is the highest compared to other types of screeds;
- after installing a dry screed, you can start laying a decorative floor covering almost immediately;
- the weight of a dry floor screed from GVL is much less than a similar cement screed;
- work on the installation of a dry floor from gypsum board can be performed at any time of the year;
- bulk floor Knauf has high thermal and sound insulation characteristics;
- the design of a dry screed allows you to hide various engineering communications and elements of a warm floor;
- considering that the laying of the Knauf bulk floor does not require special qualifications, all work can be performed by anyone who knows how to use power tools.
Despite the large number of advantages, the Knauf bulk floor has disadvantages that can be found among customer reviews:
- Knauf dry prefabricated floors do not like moisture very much, and can be deformed in case of flooding, this applies to the corridor next to the bathroom;
- such a floor is not recommended to arrange in damp rooms, bathroom, toilet;
- a high-quality gvl plate is expensive, so such a screed cannot be called cheap;
- if the screed is arranged in low rooms, then structurally it steals up to 100 mm of the height of the room.
The cost of dry screed Knauf
The cost of the Knauf bulk floor is determined by counting the amount of materials, taking into account their price, and the cost of work is added. The price of a screed with a thickness of about 80 mm will be approximately $ 15-16 per square meter. Of these, $ 9-10 is the cost of materials, the rest is the salary of hired workers. Now to calculate the cost of materials on the sites there are built-in
GVL floor laying
Gvl (gypsum fiber sheet) is a finishing material made of gypsum reinforced with various technological additives and loose cellulose. A feature of gypsum-fiber sheets is the homogeneity of the material, which does not have a cardboard coating (shell). Its density is significantly higher than that of drywall, which increases its strength. specifications. Depending on the field of application and properties, the sheets are ordinary (Gvl) and moisture resistant (Gvlv).
When repairing an apartment, it is possible to lay GVL on a dry floor, a wet screed is not always comfortable. It is necessary to wait until it gains sufficient strength, dries, and prevents moisture from entering the lower floors. Thanks to the sheets, the screed is made in a dry, clean way, you can immediately, without waiting, start laying a clean floor.
Gvl is a floor element, a compressed material, where fluffed waste paper plays the role of reinforcement, giving the sheets sufficient strength, and gypsum is a binding element. This combination has a number of advantages, both over drywall and fiberboard. In terms of moisture resistance, it even surpasses them. In addition, it is non-flammable and environmentally friendly.
Many topcoats require leveling the floor, preliminary preparation. In addition, not all of them have sufficient sound and heat-saving characteristics. In this case, you can use a dry screed based on Gvl, which simultaneously solves several practical problems. This is a substrate for carpet, linoleum, parquet, laminate, and a subfloor, and insulation.
Note that laying Gvl is possible on wooden and reinforced concrete structures. Placed on the base waterproofing material, sheets for dry screed will subsequently be assembled on it.
In this "pie", a prefabricated floor, a layer of sound or thermal insulation material such as polystyrene boards. It is possible to carry out installation of a warm floor on Gvl or water. Various engineering communications are easily placed under the sheets. Masonry processes take place on the principle of "dry operations", and this is a significant savings in financial costs and time for construction works. In addition, the base floor comes out not only smooth, but also insulated. It should be noted that this technology involves the use of gypsum-fiber sheets of small sizes (width -1.5X1 m, thickness - 1-1.2 cm).
The sheets are laid out in two layers or they are replaced with already factory glued double plates, equipped with folds at the ends. The last option is definitely better.
Before starting the assembly process, it is necessary to insulate the floor with expanded clay, which performs a leveling task. As a vapor barrier under expanded clay, a film of polyethylene is spread, with a thickness of at least 200 microns. Depending on the type of overlap, you can choose glassine or roofing.
floor laying
At the beginning of work around the entire perimeter of the room, fix the edge tape, the thickness of which is one centimeter. It will simultaneously act as a noise absorber for percussion instruments and a compensator for the resulting deformations due to temperature fluctuations.
After laying the tape, cut off its excess along the upper edge of the edge of the future floor. Then place a vapor barrier on top of the plastic sheeting. Lay each strip overlapping the previous one.
On the surface covered with a film, carefully scatter expanded clay with a fractionation of not more than 0.5 cm. Set the guides along the leveling bedding.
Leaning on the guides with the rule, level the floor.
After that, gently tamp the expanded clay. If its thickness is more than 10 cm, then this work must be carried out with special care. Pay more attention to places near walls, doorways and corners.
From the corner closest to the entrance, the installation of the very first of the layers of gypsum-fiber sheets is carried out.
After laying the first layer, apply adhesive mastic (or PVA glue). The second layer is placed on the first (required!) In the opposite direction.
The technology of this assembly implies that during the installation of the upper layers, fragments of the Gvl floor will need to be pulled together with fasteners and glued along the folds.
The fixing step for sheets should be no more than 30 cm. If you have sheets with a thickness of more than 1 cm, then the length of the screw should be 1.9 cm. 2.3 cm.
When mounting the base floor, pay attention to the fact that when gluing Gvl, it is necessary to remove excess glue protruding from the walls and at the seams. If you plan to lay carpet or laminate, then all attachment points, as well as seams, will need to be puttied.
After the second layer is laid, fixed, puttied, the surface should be primed. When purchasing a primer, pay attention to combine it with the adhesive with which you plan to work on laying the screed.
Some nuances during installation
Remember that the sheets are cut only after the last of the rows has been laid. In other words, at the wall opposite the one where the installation process was started. So you will be able to achieve a seam spacing of 25 cm (or more) in each layer. This is a prerequisite for quality installation. Between the seams, the width in the first layer should not be more than 1-2 mm.
Dry floors of double thickness, glued at the factory, are reminiscent of the principle of working with small-format slabs. Work moves faster. With the help of folds covered with adhesive, the sheets are joined. Cut the folds adjacent to the walls by tightening the plate with fasteners.
Our advice! As well as single sheets, adjust the finished plates to size by assembling the last row. Cut them with a jigsaw or hacksaw.
If the leveling bedding is obtained with a thickness of 10 cm, three-layer ones should be laid from Gvl. In the upper layer, the size of the material can be more than 2.5x1.2 m.
Equipping a warm floor on gypsum-fiber sheets, the assembly of a dry screed begins with the laying of expanded polystyrene plates.
When creating basic warm floors on the bedding, the material for insulation is laid out on the bedding (or directly on the film).
Types of gypsum board base assembly
There are only three options for a dry screed from Gvl:
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The main components of the combined screed
- Hydro and vapor barrier. Such material separates the floors and other elements of the "pie" of the floor. If the ceiling is reinforced concrete, then a dense polyethylene film - perfect option separating layer. If the sheets are laid on a wooden floor, then glassine is used.
- Soundproof and compensatory gasket. This is an edge tape that can be screwed or glued on. The material is fixed before laying the prefabricated screed around the entire perimeter of the room. Izolon tapes are produced, basalt wool, foam and other materials.
- Leveling layer. It is created according to one of the above principles of laying a prefabricated screed from Gvl.
- Gvl plates - industrial two-layer or single in two layers, tightened with self-tapping screws and glued by hand.
Remember! If you need to achieve a leveling layer height of 10 cm or more, then the gypsum fiber floor installation should include an additional structural fragment - the third gypsum fiber layer, which is the same thickness as the first two sheet layers.
Purchase of GVL slabs
When buying gypsum fiber boards, consider the following:
- for the floor, only small-format plates measuring 1.5x1 m, the thickness of which is 10 mm, are needed. You can also find a variant of plates with a thickness of 12 mm and a width of 1.2 mm in the markets.
- gypsum fiber boards are laid in two layers, which means that their area should be more area rooms twice.
- do not forget that these plates are of two types - for walls and for floors, which in turn are divided into moisture resistant and non-moisture resistant. The first go on sale with a water-repellent solution.
If you need to insulate the floor, then it will be useful for you to know that heat insulators are divided into 3 types - polystyrene foam, bulk and fibrous.
Fibrous heat insulators. These include glass and mineral wool. Outwardly, they are similar to cotton candy, but instead of sweet threads, glass or molten granite. If you decide to opt for heat insulators, it is better to purchase foreign-made materials, since domestic-made mineral and glass wool is not suitable for residential premises.
Expanded polystyrene heat insulators. Similar to polystyrene, have heat-saving qualities. Long service life. But there are also disadvantages - high cost and flammability.
Filling heat insulators. These include expanded clay sand, slag pumice, crushed stone from slag. Minus - low heat-saving properties. Plus - low cost.
In addition, it is very convenient to replace the old boring wooden floor in the country with Gvl material by laying tiles on it. High-quality tile laying is done on a prepared base, the surface of which can be Gvl. If the floor is without any particular errors, then the gypsum-fiber sheets are attached to the floor with a run-up of half a sheet (the first row is laid with a whole sheet, and the second with a half, etc.) With such preparation, tile laying is done regular glue on which the tile is fixed. But first, the floor must be prepared.
IN wooden floor it is necessary to drill holes so that the process of rotting of wooden raw materials does not begin and good ventilation. Loose and creaky floorboards are additionally screwed to the logs with self-tapping screws designed for woodworking. If the floorboards are completely rotten, replace them with new ones.
Then laid on the floor waterproofing film to prevent moisture from entering the gypsum fiber sheets. Moisture in the floor can come from the earth or concrete floor.
If you need to increase the rigidity of the floor, then lay the sheets in two layers. Here, the seams of the initial layer should be located in the middle of the sheets of the next layer. The grooves - the joints of the sheets - are glued with glue, which is sold together with the sheets.
When facing, ceramic tiles are laid using an adhesive designed for tiles, which, according to the description, is suitable for sticking tiles on GVL or GKL. Laying takes place according to the same principles as for a conventional screed.
Advantages of gypsum fiber sheets:
In conclusion, I would like to note the advantages of floors made of gypsum-fiber sheets.
- Such floors are universal. You can immediately install the "warm floor" system when laying them.
- They do not emit harmful substances, and the acidity level coincides with the acidity level of human skin.
- Light weight (more than 18 kg).
- Easily and quickly mounted.
- The “wet process” is not used, which is very convenient during the winter period of construction and repair.
- Durable: do not creak, do not bend, do not knock.
- Able to withstand large point loads and weights.
- They serve as an ideal barrier to the penetration of fire between the floors of the building.
- They are successfully used both in low-rise buildings and in high-rise buildings.
Gypsum fiber is a finishing material for laying on the floor. In the future, almost any topcoat can be laid on it without any problems.
This material is produced exclusively in the form of sheets. It is somewhat similar to drywall. However, its characteristics are somewhat superior. Its main composition is gypsum, which is used in construction. They are strengthened or reinforced with loose cellulose. Thus, the strength properties of the floor laying elements are increased. It is made from recycled paper.
GVL is not as widely used as drywall mainly because of its price. It is much higher than drywall.
Scope of GVL
Gypsum fiber sheets can be used indoors for various purposes: apartments and houses, public, administrative and industrial buildings.
The following surfaces can be finished with a similar material:
- rooms where the level of humidity constantly changes, and often reaches high levels. These are bathrooms, baths, saunas, kitchens and utility rooms. To do this, use moisture resistant GVL. It is recommended to additionally treat it with strengthening compounds, and tiles or tiles can be used as a finishing layer;
- they sheathe attics, basements and attics. However, in such rooms with GVL finishing, ventilation will be required;
- GVL sheathe garages and outbuildings. Because given material withstands large temperature fluctuations and retains heat;
- it is perfect for finishing children's sports and play areas. Since GV sheets are able to withstand point loads;
- they are also recommended to sheathe the shafts of all types of elevators because of the refractory properties.
Advantages of GVL floor
Gypsum fiber sheet has many properties that are not available to other building materials for such work. Before making the final choice of flooring, it is worth knowing about several advantages:
- its homogeneous structure helps to withstand various loads, including temperature. He will not lose his physical his under extreme conditions. This became known after numerous laboratory studies;
- the frost resistance available only to GVL is surprising. It is able to withstand as many as 15 cycles. This means that the researchers thawed and refrozen it 15 times. And the cracks appeared only for the last time. While a similar property of drywall sheets is calculated only 4 cycles. As a result, it has been established that this material is suitable for laying in poorly heated rooms, or where heat enters only occasionally;
- besides, its soundproofing properties are also excellent. Sound insulation with it reaches about 40 decibels;
- it is also customary to produce GVL sufficiently moisture resistant;
- it burns very badly.
In addition to the advantageous characteristics, GVL are increasingly being purchased for self-laying on the floor no problem. After all, it perfectly levels the floor. All work will take the shortest possible time, which is important when fast repair. Today it is not so difficult to find ways on the Internet how to easily lay sheets on the floor.
Installation of GVL is a dry and clean way of floor screed. Therefore, immediately after the completion of work, you can start laying the coating.
When buying building materials, you need to know exactly for what purposes they will be used. Since there are several types with different basic characteristics:
- simple;
- moisture resistant;
- fire resistant;
- moisture and fire resistant.
The method of laying and fixing GVL on the floor
This method of laying the floor avoids a huge amount of construction debris. No need to additionally buy and use concrete, sand or gravel. Dry screed saves repair time, no need to wait for the solutions to dry. You don't have to be a professional to know how to make GVL floors.
Many modern building materials for finishing flooring require an absolutely even preparatory coating. And not all of them have good heat and sound insulation. And GVL will be the best option.
When layers of other building materials under GVL are used for additional thermal insulation, you need to understand how much this will raise the floor and change the height of the room.
Another advantage is that "warm floors" can be laid on top of the gypsum fiber. And for such work, sheets of small thickness, only 1 cm, are suitable. This will be enough, the heat will remain in the room for a long time.
This is not such a complicated process, and it takes a little personal time that it is not even necessary to call professionals. However, it is important to strictly follow the unified laying procedure and know how to properly fix the GVL to the concrete floor. Otherwise, it will lose its operational properties.
GVL installation procedure:
- First you need plastic wrap. With its help, the floor is vapor-proofed, all unwanted joints will be hidden. It should go out on the walls, at the end it is easy to cut;
- next comes polymer tape. It fully compensates for expansions that may occur from temperature or humidity conditions. This will save the GVL;
- then expanded clay is poured onto the floor. It will become the foundation. Inexpensive material that easily retains heat, has soundproofing properties. It is durable and absolutely safe, it will not become a load on the main floor due to its low weight. It is recommended to use granules no more than 50 mm.;
- then some tweaking is required. After all, expanded clay must be leveled with a water level. Labor-intensive work that can take a lot of time;
- now you need beacons, which are easy to find in any hardware store. Their presence is mandatory. The first pointer is placed at the window, and it will determine the height of the entire floor in the room. These beacons will help determine where you need to add or remove expanded clay. Each subsequent one is equal to the previous one;
- the next item is the direct laying of gypsum sheets on expanded clay. Don't forget about offset;
- for the reliability of attaching them to each other, it is necessary to make the same offset then one sheet is sawn. For better strength, the fastening of the edges is smeared with glue and fastened with self-tapping screws. It is not recommended to save on these consumables.
Do not forget about some of the nuances. For example, if high thermal insulation is required and additional layers will be laid under the GVL. Then the floors must be prepared before repair work. For waterproofing, you can use PET film, roofing material, glassine.
Homemade can also be used as guides or beacons. wooden blocks. They will become a good guide indoors to accurately see the level of expanded clay. They will also help with laying and fastening sheets of gypsum fiber.
To simplify the installation of GVL, glued elements with the desired offset were invented. This increases the strength of the floor, saves time even more. And its styling is even easier even for non-professionals. However, these building materials are much more expensive than their counterparts.
Stackers recommend carefully monitoring the gaps. It is desirable that they be no more than 2 mm. If the finish layer is linoleum or carpet, then they will need to be puttied. All excess glue is also removed.
Before laying tiles on GVL, it is worth knowing a few nuances on how to lay them correctly. To begin with, a primer of gypsum fiber is required. In the building materials store you need to find a special glue for tiles. It is better to use a dry solution and already at home dilute it in correct proportions. The finished solution is applied to the surface, not to the tile. After each new tile, you need to check the evenness of the surface with a level.
The screed by laying GVL is modern in the world of repair. After all, it saves time, retains heat, does not let in extraneous noise, perfectly levels the floor and is an absolutely environmentally friendly material.
Gypsum fiber materials have proven themselves well when performing work on horizontal bases. Due to its stable characteristics, the resulting surface is suitable for cladding various products. Most often, the installation of GVL on the floor under the tiles in the house is complemented by the installation of underfloor heating. But in order to obtain a qualitative result, certain rules must be taken into account.
Gypsum fiber panels have a lot of parameters that distinguish them from other sheet products:
- Strength. Homogeneous structure provides high performance. This is due to the composition: gypsum and cellulose fibers, which give a reinforcing effect.
- Viscosity. Items can be processed different ways: sawing, milling, etc., it will not damage the structure and deform parts. It is due to this that a good result is achieved when installing a warm floor.
- Fire safety. The products do not support the spread of fire, which allows the boards to be laid on various systems communications.
- Low thermal conductivity. The resulting gypsum fiber surface can be used as an additional insulation. But this greatly complicates the process of installing a warm floor, since the system has to be literally built into the GVL sheets.
- Wide range of applications. The slabs are suitable for concrete and wood substrates, as well as for dry screeding. Sheets are relatively light weight, so they do not exert a significant load on the base. The material can be laid with your own hands without the involvement of specialists.
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Gypsum fiber includes two main groups of products used for flooring on horizontal bases: the standard version and moisture-resistant GVL for the floor - GVLV. The resulting flooring will be reliable and durable, but subject to the correct choice of variety.
On a note! Waterproof material is used for flooring in rooms with high humidity(bathroom or kitchen) and is best solution when laying the heating system.
Unlike conventional GVL, moisture-resistant sheets incorporate a fiberglass reinforcing mesh
Gypsum board floor installation
The technology assumes that special small-sized products will be used for installation: width - 100 or 120 cm, length - 150 cm, thickness - 12.5 mm. Working with such dimensions is much easier and more convenient, moreover, it eliminates significant trimming.
Initially, the surface must be prepared:
- The base is cleared of everything superfluous, the room should be free. To obtain a high-quality result, it is desirable to completely remove the old coating.
- The cracks are sealed with cement mortar. Special attention is given to the junction of walls and floors.
- The surface is cleared of construction debris.
Also, the sheets must be kept at room temperature for a day.
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Preparation methods
1. The dry method allows you to get the base in a pretty short term, work does not involve complex processes. There are several mounting options depending on surface defects:
- In the absence of deformations, GVL can be glued directly to concrete, but the surface must first be primed.
- With minor differences (3–4 mm), an intermediate layer of cardboard or foam is laid on the floor.
- With deviations of about 1 cm, a layer of expanded clay is poured. It is used when there is no need for additional thermal insulation of the base.
- If the blockage exceeds 20 mm, a prefabricated structure is created: an expanded clay layer, supplemented by a foam pad.
![](https://i2.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/6_result2.jpg)
2. In the wet method, specialized “repair” mixtures are used for leveling, which can be replaced with cheaper cement compositions with the addition of sand and modifiers. But this method is inferior to bulk options, since it takes more time to prepare.
Should know! The dry method is suitable not only for working with concrete floors, but also for wooden floors, which should be more carefully processed.
![](https://i2.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/7_result2.jpg)
Preparation of the base from the lag
This process will take more time than backfilling. It is necessary to accurately install the timber, which must be well dried and processed protective compounds. Logs are leveled with the help of substrates directly to the walls and floor, and the elements are connected to each other by jumpers. The peculiarity of this process is that the gypsum fiber must be mounted not on the base, but on the created crate. For this purpose, a beam of small section is used, fixed perpendicular to the lags. The resulting gaps can be used to place bulk or solid thermal insulation.
![](https://i0.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/8_result2.jpg)
GVL installation procedure
Regardless of the preparation method chosen, the slabs are laid according to the following scheme:
- As a waterproofing, a polyethylene film with a thickness of at least 0.2 mm is laid on the base, which must go over the walls. The material should be placed with an overlap of 15–20 cm to prevent the ingress of moisture and loose components. Instead of a film, you can lay a universal vapor barrier on a wooden floor.
- A soundproof tape is glued along the perimeter to prevent contact between the GVL sheets and the walls.
- The surface is leveled by a suitable method.
- Next, you can put gypsum fiber. It is recommended to lay it in two layers. To avoid unnecessary expenses, the first layer is created from large-format parts, and a floor GVL with special chamfers is mounted on top. Such a structure will achieve greater reliability. The process should start from the doorway. The layers must be glued together and fixed with self-tapping screws in increments of 20–25 cm.
![](https://i2.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/9_result2.jpg)
It is taken into account that the small-format panel is subjected to preliminary preparation: electric jigsaw it is necessary to cut the fold, which will be facing the walls.
Attention! Use an adhesive suitable for GVL and specialized double-threaded self-tapping screws. Ordinary self-tapping screws or options for gypsum boards have a high probability of twisting, which can damage the decorative coating.
![](https://i1.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/10_result2.jpg)
Laying tiles on plasterboard
To lay a tile, you must prepare in advance the right materials and tools. General order work is as follows:
- The room is being marked. To do this, lines are drawn from corner to corner and between the center of adjacent walls. This will allow you to stick products with a pattern fit.
- The base is treated with a primer in two layers to ensure good impregnation, and dried.
- The starting point of the installation is determined and the layout of the elements is created. Often pre-layout is required.
- Glue is applied to the surface. You can mix it yourself or purchase a ready-made composition. The mixture is spread over the base with a notched trowel.
- It is necessary to glue the parts in a clear sequence, for this the element is pressed and, if necessary, tapped with a mallet with a level adjustment.
- Parts are set at intervals, joints are formed using plastic crosses or a tile leveling system (SVP).
- The extreme fragments are trimmed taking into account the gap from the walls.
- The coating is left to dry, after which it is necessary to wipe the seams with a special mixture desired shade. The composition is applied to the joints and distributed with a rubber spatula, the excess is removed.
![](https://i0.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/11_result2.jpg)
If you do not violate the process technology, then the surface will last a long time.
Underfloor heating under tiles on GVL
The creation of such a structure has the following features:
![](https://i0.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/12_result2.jpg)
![](https://i1.wp.com/otdelkagid.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/13_result.jpg)
Regardless of the method, the resulting surface must be primed to ensure a secure fixation of the tile.
The correct implementation of all stages will allow you to cover the floors of gypsum fiber sheets with tiles without much difficulty.
Hello, friends! I have already told you how I discovered the possibilities of a dry floor screed. Not so long ago, I decided to introduce my cousin to technology: he is just doing repairs. When I told him that laying GVL on the floor could be an alternative to dirty wet method He didn't quite believe it at first. After all, people tend to stick to old methods, even if they are outdated. I had to explain the process step by step, but in the end the repair took significantly less time. If you want to learn new methods, let's figure out the intricacies together.
Pros and cons of GVL for the floor
The advantages of gypsum fiber floors include:
- installation is carried out exclusively using the “dry method”, which means that only dry components will be used in the work. The advantage, in this case, is that a comfortable macroclimate and humidity level will remain in the room, both during the repair and after it;
- the democratic price of the material itself and the repair as a whole, because it can be done by hand, I do not hire a team of professionals;
- the shortest installation time;
- no special knowledge and skills are required to work with drywall sheets, they are easily processed and cut;
- GVLV themselves are relatively light and perfectly even, which means that they are suitable for laying top floor coverings without additional processing surfaces of sheets with tiles, linoleum, carpet, etc.;
- drywall allows you to create additional sound and thermal insulation premises;
- the low weight of the product allows you to create such a two-layer floor surface that will not put much pressure on the plates overlapping the base.
Laying GVL on the floor: preliminary alignment
It should be noted right away that drywall can only be laid on the floor if the surface is perfectly flat. For leveling, you will need to use a screed, the craftsmen advise using dry bedding, which may include sand, perlite or expanded clay. Perlite bedding is the most effective, because it has a very fine grind, which allows you to create the most uniform and dense layer on the subfloor. Of the minuses, only its expensive cost can be noted, so experts recommend adding sand to it (3: 1). Expanded clay is its good analogue, firstly, it has a more affordable price, and, secondly, it has excellent heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties.
First you need to cover the base with a polyethylene film (preferably in 3 layers), it will serve as a barrier for the dry leveling mixture from negative impact moisture that will penetrate from below. Here it is very important to take into account that the film is sold in rolls, so its width may not be enough, in which case you need to put it in several strips (the edges should not be less than 20 cm), otherwise excess moisture spoil all bulk components. If the floor has a wooden base, then put need to better roofing material or special bitumen paper.
Very important property drywall sheets is porosity (it contributes to the fact that the material absorbs moisture very well), which leads to an increase in size, therefore, it was developed special technology, which consists in leaving small gaps between the sheet and the wall. They must be finished with waterproofing tape.
After the base is completely covered with film or paper, you can proceed to dry backfill. Here you need to take into account the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, if it is small, then you need to fill up the entire surface completely, but if the room is large, then to facilitate work and achieve best result you need to divide the floor into several sections using rails. The main thing at this stage is to achieve maximum evenness and smoothness of dry elements.
Laying GVL on the floor: material preparation
To achieve maximum service life, gypsum fiber for the floor must be subjected to the adaptation process, that is, left for 10-15 hours in the room where it will be used, therefore, they must be bought and delivered in advance. This is very important, because during this time the sheets will get used not only to the temperature in the room, but also to the level of humidity.
In this case, you need to pay attention to the fact that the drywall floor must be made using special sheets designed specifically for flooring. If you have any questions, be sure to consult with a specialist who will tell you which material is best suited and in what quantities.
How to lay GVL on the floor
You should proceed to laying only after all the preparatory work has come to an end. To do this, you will need to purchase and prepare a drill, a screwdriver and a jigsaw in advance.
Floors from GVL should be started to be installed precisely from the doorway, because the leveling dry components at the door are not protected by anything and it is strictly forbidden to walk on them. Its own weight will leave deep pits on the surface, which will later create voids in flooring, and they, in turn, form the effect of "playing plates", which will not allow the gvl for the floor to last for a long time. Therefore, when laying the plates, it is necessary to adhere to the principle - from the door and deep into the room.
In order to interconnect gypsum boards, it is necessary to use the adhesive composition, it is applied to the joints, after which they are connected. If there is uncertainty about the strength and uniformity of the GVL floor, or if there is a feeling that displacement may occur over time, they can be additionally fastened using self-tapping screws. In this case, the distance between adjacent self-tapping screws should not exceed 20-30 cm, and the distance to the edges should be at least 3 cm, this is necessary for a strong and reliable fixation of drywall boards.
The whole range of works on laying GVL on the floor can be done independently, but if possible, you can invite an assistant, with him work will go faster (this is necessary if the repair needs to be completed in the shortest possible time) and more efficiently, because its presence will allow you to better control the entire process of work, both in the process of leveling and preparation, and in laying. It is worth noting the fact that 1 GVL for the floor weighs about 18 kg, so it is better to get a partner to transport and move it.
Thus, you need to install all the drywall on the floor, but here it is very important to constantly use the level so that the entire coating is even and of high quality, without slopes and gaps. This is very important, because it is better to do everything right away according to the instructions than to redo all the work again, this will not only take a huge amount of time and effort, but also money.
Laying GVL on the floor: the final stages
After the GVL floor is completely laid, it will be necessary to cut off the remnants of the waterproofing tape and proceed to further design. To carry out the final finishing, it is necessary to choose the appropriate material, in this case it is better to refuse parquet boards and use laminate or tile (with a size of no more than 30 × 30 cm).
Gypsum boards for the floor will be an excellent solution for those who decide to make overhaul in the apartment, they create a perfectly flat surface, beautiful aesthetic appearance and serve for a decade.
- GVL for the floor before laying must be brought into the room to be repaired for a period of 10 hours or more, it is better if they lie there for a whole day.
- If it was decided to lay drywall in 2 layers, then the last of them must be installed with an offset of 40 cm.
- The optimal sheet size is considered to be: 1500x800x12.5 mm with a weight of 18 kg.
GVL laying on a wooden floor under a tile
Modern finishing works today cannot be imagined without a gypsum-fiber sheet (GVL). The popularity of this finishing material due to a number of its advantages, such as environmental friendliness, strength, fire resistance, affordable cost, easy installation. Laying GVL on any surface, as well as tiling it, makes this surface perfectly even, giving an aesthetic look to any room. Therefore this kind finishing works received the most widespread use. The technology of working with GVL consists of several successive stages.
Preparation of the room before laying on the GVL floor
The preparation of the premises includes work on the dismantling of existing equipment, the release of furniture, the dismantling of the old coating (paint, whitewash, linoleum and other types). Working surface(walls or floor) should not have large flaws in the form of cracks, crevices or voids. The screed must be strong, not have detachments. The surface must be flat to the light.
If the floor is concrete, it is cleaned, leveled and laid with plastic wrap. If the floor is wooden, it is treated with an antiseptic. The wooden floor is subject to rotting processes, the formation of fungi and must be protected as much as possible. Next, the tree needs waterproofing. Therefore, a roofing material should be laid on a wooden base, then a reinforcing mesh and a cement screed. As a waterproofing material, both ordinary film and bituminous mastic can serve.
GVL can be laid both on wooden and reinforced concrete structures, observing the features of each technology.
Tools and materials for laying GVL on the floor
Drywall tool.
- Hammer.
- Self-tapping screws.
- Mounting foam.
- Knife for cutting GVL.
- Hacksaw.
- Tile cutter.
- Screwdriver.
- Putty knife.
- Primer.
- grinding devices.
- Level.
- Rubber mallet.
- Roulette.
- Marking cord.
- Construction stapler.
How to lay GVL on the floor: step by step instructions
After all the preparatory work has been carried out, the remnants of the old coating have been removed, the gaps have been sealed, defects have been eliminated, the wall or floor has been treated with a primer, you should proceed to the stage of laying the GVL.
The flooring of gypsum-fiber sheets on a wooden floor, wall or ceiling has its own characteristics. So, when laying on the floor, it is necessary to file the doorway due to the rise in the floor level. In addition, it is better to first remove the wooden floor and make a screed. If it is not possible to remove the wooden floor, then the removal of rotten boards will be a prerequisite.
One of the installation options is as follows: GVL sheets should be laid on tile adhesive, fixed with self-tapping screws around the perimeter, while adhering to the following parameters: sheet thickness 10-12.5 mm; self-tapping screws 30-40 mm; step between self-tapping screws - 40 cm; the depth of fastening of self-tapping screws is 2-3 mm. Fastening sheets with self-tapping screws will eliminate cracks. After a day, you can proceed to the next stage.
Another option is the installation of GVL using metal guides (profiles). Alternatively, you can apply wooden frame from rails, but metallic profile more durable and reliable. The distance between the guide rails should be 40 cm. For structural strength, you can also use a plaster mesh fixed with glue and staples. Features of frameless wall cladding with a gypsum-fiber sheet consist in observing a certain gap width between the sheets (5-7 mm), sealing the joints with a special gypsum putty, and using special glue for GVL.
How to make floor cladding from GVL after laying
GVL cladding involves the use of paint, tiles. Speaking of tiled cladding, we can distinguish a general scheme of work, consisting of preparing tiles, marking the floor, preparing glue, laying tiles and grouting. First, you need to prime the sheets and, after complete drying, start laying the tiles. By taking measurements of the width and length of the room, dividing by the size of the tiles, taking into account the width of the seam, you can calculate the number of whole tiles in each row. And the remainder, divided by two, will indicate the number of incomplete tiles. wall and outdoor types tiles have a different degree of strength and are selected according to the required surface.
Using a special marking cord, you need to connect the middle of long and short walls. The lines will intersect at the center of the floor. Floor marking will avoid a large number cut tiles against the walls. When laying tiles on the floor, the technology is observed either from the corner or from the middle of the room. It depends on the styling pattern. Laying diagonally does not avoid cutting tiles. Laying along the walls should begin from the edge opposite the entrance to the room.
Glue (mastic or cement mortar) is evenly applied to the entire surface with a spatula and carefully leveled. Then a tile is placed on the floor (or other surface) and pressed down a little. You can use a rubber mallet to increase the strength of the fastening. The right choice plays an important role adhesive composition, since the quality of fastening depends on it. It is recommended to prepare a tile adhesive solution in portions, in the required amount for a plot of 1 sq.m. In addition, you should control the level of tiles in the course of work. Do not lay more than four rows of tiles on the floor at once and, if possible, take hourly breaks to eliminate stress in the base. Between the seams it is necessary to leave the same gaps, cleaning them from glue. After two or three days, the seams are rubbed with a special solution. And after 24 hours, the surface is thoroughly washed. When laying tiles on the wall, the seams are rubbed out in a day. It is recommended to ensure the minimum humidity in the room for the entire period of operation.
How to properly lay GVL on the floor: instructions with video
It is unlikely that anyone will deny that a warm and high-quality floor is important for comfort. After all, we have to walk on it every day. Every day, the use of GVL in flooring is gaining popularity, which has already become more popular than other methods of dry screed.
What is GVL? The answer is simple - it is a material for finishing the room, consisting of cellulose, additives and reinforced gypsum. He came to replace, first of all, drywall. Its difference is that the material is homogeneous and does not have a cardboard coating, it is denser and therefore more durable.
What should be a quality floor?
What we are used to seeing under our feet in houses is very rarely a floor in the understanding of building codes. If we look at them, we will see that the floor is a structure on which the life activity or work of people in the room takes place. It must dampen noise, be smooth, provide sound and heat insulation.
Almost always the floors are rented in a rough finish. Therefore, even if the plate is covered with linoleum or other coating, such a surface does not fully fulfill its functions.
The floor should consist of three elements:
- The base, which carries the function of overlap and base.
- The floor screed creates a heat-insulating and noise-reducing effect.
- Flooring. Finish coat with which people's feet come into contact.
The use of gypsum-fiber boards for screeding is becoming more and more popular, and this is explained by the fact that for a “dry” floor there are now no alternatives with the same indicators of environmental friendliness and moisture resistance. Now GVL is also used in cases where water heating is arranged.
Laying GVL when arranging a warm floor
If floor heating is required, then a “wet” screed is not always acceptable.
We note the reasons why it is better to create a warm water floor using a “dry” screed:
- The weight of the self-leveling screed is more than 300 kg per square meter. This is a significant load on the floor.
- Bulk leveling methods “steal” less height than their “wet” counterparts.
- Concrete mixing takes place in a concrete mixer. How to place it in a multi-storey building, especially on the upper floors, is a mystery. Therefore, the "dry" method is easier to apply.
- Installation by the "dry" method is less time-consuming and is noticeably faster.
The process of laying GVL: we equip a warm floor
If there is an old coating on the floor, it must be removed. After that, they begin to process cracks and irregularities with the help of cement or special mounting mixtures, if they do not exceed 5 mm.
In cases where the floor has large differences, it makes sense to use bulk material - expanded clay. Next, a waterproofing material is used (polyethylene or special paper impregnated with bitumen), which is overlapped.
Then, during the laying process, the insulating tape is glued. This is done, first of all, to reduce the risk of swelling and divergence of floors from seasonal temperature changes. Such sizing also has a soundproofing function.
The next step is insulation. The three main types of heat insulators that are currently popular are bulk, fibrous and polystyrene foam materials.
- Bulk materials. More often it is expanded clay sand, slag pumice or washed sand. Such material is cheaper than competitors, easier to use, but the level of thermal protection of expanded clay and sand is low.
- Fibrous materials. These include mineral and glass wool. The obvious disadvantages of glass wool include fragility and rapid wetting. Mineral wool is more versatile, although it also has disadvantages. Part mineral wool, especially domestic production, often contains toxic formaldehyde. Such materials are strictly prohibited for use in residential premises.
- Styrofoam materials. This option has high level thermal insulation than bulk counterparts, but the high cost does not always allow its use.
After the procedures described above, they begin laying the GVL boards, having previously glued them. If bulk methods are used as thermal insulation, laying starts from the door to prevent walking on the insulation. But if for one reason or another it is required from the window to start the laying process, take care of placing “islands” of slabs along which you will move around the room.
If the plates are laid in two layers, be sure to fasten them with self-tapping screws. After completing the laying of the layers, do not forget to seal the bonding points with putty material.
An obligatory element after the installation of the plates is the finishing of the joints. Having previously primed the joints, apply reinforcement with a tape intended for this.
In conclusion, we note that the creation of a flat floor is an important step in the repair of any room. Thanks to modern materials it will become as durable as possible and adapted to laying the final coating. Therefore, GVL slabs so quickly gained popularity in the building materials market and deservedly justify it.
Is it possible to lay GVL on the floor
Modern technologies make it possible to simply and quickly perform a dry screed, which involves the use of gypsum-fiber sheets. Laying tiles on GVL, as the final stage in creating a high-quality floor, can decorate the interior of a bathroom, corridor, kitchen. Such a floor has a good level of sound and heat insulation, does not allow moisture to pass through, and is resistant to high temperatures.
Advantages of GVL when laying on the floor
Gypsum fiber sheets are, in fact, improved drywall. These materials have a number of similar characteristics, but the difference is that GVL is not glued with cardboard on both sides and has a number of advantages. In terms of composition, GVL consists of the same gypsum, which is additionally reinforced with cellulose components. Plus components are added to it that make the material refractory and more moisture resistant compared to GCR.
Another plus lies in the fact that gypsum-fiber sheets are stronger than gypsum boards. Therefore, they are recommended to be used when creating a flat floor using the dry screed method. If we are talking about laying the floor in the kitchen or in the bathroom, then special moisture-resistant gypsum fiber sheets are used here - GVLV.
You can make a quality floor with your own hands. To do this, it is important to adhere to technology and have minimal experience in laying. When starting to create a new floor, follow this procedure:
- Dismantling the old coating and cleaning the base from debris and dust;
- screed device according to technology;
- Laying gypsum boards;
- Laying tiles;
- Grouting all seams.
GVL boards can also be laid on a wet screed. But such a process is more laborious and is rarely used in ordinary houses and apartments.
Standard gypsum fiber sheet 10 millimeters thick
Preparation for laying GVL on the floor
First, they get rid of the old coating, dismantle the old floor to concrete or wooden base. Removing the floor in the bathroom is more difficult, as you have to dismantle the plumbing. After dismantling, remove the remnants of old glue, screed, dust and other things.
Because perfect flat ground there is no floor, the next step will be a screed. If a dry screed method is used, lay the waterproofing before starting to backfill the material. For example, a polyethylene coating, which is laid in several layers, especially at the joints. This will protect the base from moisture, provide waterproofing.
The ends of the walls are treated with an edge film, after which they begin to fall asleep expanded clay. Fine-grained expanded clay is easy to level, so it is easier to make such a screed than concrete.
After tamping expanded clay proceed to the installation of GVL boards. They are laid in two layers. There are ready-made plates on the market that have folding at the ends. It is much easier to work with this type of GVL, so it will become the most preferred option. When laying the slabs, take care of high-quality gluing of the joints and each layer.
It is preferable to start laying from the corner closest to the entrance. Sheets are fixed in steps of 25-30 centimeters. After the base for future tiling is mounted, the joints are puttied, the edge film and excess waterproofing layer along the walls are cut off.
Laying GVL under the tile: instructions
Before starting the installation of tiles, GVL sheets are primed. This will increase adhesion and improve the setting of the adhesive. A day later, start laying the tiles. For quality styling it is necessary to draw up a drawing in advance, calculate how many rows will be solid, and how many from cut fragments. It is allowed to start laying both from the corner and from the center of the room.
This is what the process of installing a high-quality floor looks like
After diluting the tile adhesive, it is applied with a notched trowel to the floor. After that, the tiles are laid, slightly pressing down to the base. It is important to carefully check the process with a level so that the floor in the bathroom or kitchen remains flat. Gaps are left between the tiles, which are easiest to level with special plastic crosses.
Apply glue small areas, otherwise it will begin to set and harden even before the installation of the plates.
In the bathroom, where there are constant temperature changes, the seams at the joints are made about 10 millimeters thick. Control the level of the tiles together with the neighbors that were laid earlier! Clean the seams of excess glue, which is released when pressed on each tile.
After drying, it is very difficult to remove it. After completion of work, the floor in the bathroom or in the kitchen is left to dry for at least three days. Within three days it is recommended to reduce the humidity in the room as much as possible. Therefore, it is not recommended to use the room for its intended purpose at this time.
After grouting and cleaning the tiles, your floor is ready for use.
The final stage on the way to a new floor
After three or four days, the seams are overwritten with a special solution. Removing the plastic spacers, apply the mortar with a thin spatula. Excess mortar is removed from the tile with a damp cloth.