Primer for floors - features of application
Whatever the finish of the floor, careful preparation of the foundation is necessary to ensure its strength and durability. It necessarily includes priming the surface.
If the contractor will do the work, make sure that the flooring in the estimates is taken into account. If you decide to cope on your own, the information in this article will come in handy.
The content of the article
The need for priming
Not everyone understands why a primer is needed before pouring, laying tiles or other coatings. After all, the base is completely hidden under the finish, and all the load and all external influences are already on it.
This is true, but not quite. The fact is that the quality of this coating largely depends on its adhesion to the base, on the strength of their adhesion.
If it is not enough, then screed, tile adhesive or bulk floor Over time, they will begin to lag and deform. To avoid this, the base material must have good adhesion (the ability to adhere to other materials), which gives it a primer.
In addition to this main function, it also performs additional functions, depending on its composition and purpose:
- Strengthens the structure of the base. For example, if it is loose, layered or porous, the primer on the floor before the screed is used to fill all voids and bond the layers together, creating a monolithic structure.
For this purpose, primers of deep penetration are used, which can penetrate to a depth of several centimeters; - Dusts off the surface. Small particles of dust create a layer between the materials to be glued and interfere with their adhesion. The ground binds them;
- It reduces the permeability of the base, its ability to absorb liquids. This allows you to reduce the consumption of glue, leveling mortar, paint;
- Protects the base from moisture and the appearance of fungal mold (seeAntifungal primer - purpose and characteristics of the material) This is very important for the floor in humid rooms or those located outside the heated building - gazebos, summer kitchens, terraces, balconies, etc.
Such a protective property is given to primers by special water-repellent or fungicidal additives.
All this applies primarily to glued and self-leveling coatings, as well as preparation of the base for painting, when it is very important to ensure normal adhesion of materials. Therefore, the question naturally arises: is it necessary to prime the floor before laying linoleum or laying laminate and other wooden panels?
Under the laminate and linoleum, the base is primed if the coating will adhere to the surface so that it does not absorb all the glue.
It is advisable to do this if linoleum is spread on a cement screed - to strengthen the surface and not allow it to crumble due to mechanical stresses. Of course, wooden substrates (plywood, chipboard) also need to be treated with antiseptic compounds, especially when it comes to wet rooms, in which linoleum is usually used.
If the primer of the floor before laying the laminate is not always required, then before leveling the base with a solution is necessary. The durability and quality of the flooring depends on how firmly the leveling mixture adheres to concrete.It will be especially offensive if it crumbles under the parquet or a massive board, causing its deformation. The price of such materials does not allow taking their installation lightly.
How to choose a primer
First, let's look at the classification of primers, and then we will decide which one to use for what purposes.
Types of soil
According to the mechanism of action, these agents are divided into primers for surface application and primers for deep penetration. You already know about the action of the latter - they strengthen and make stronger the unreliable loose surface of the base.
And surface products are designed to give it good adhesive properties. Many of them contain fine sand, which gives the base the roughness necessary for normal adhesion.
The composition of the primer is classified as follows:
- Acrylic (the most common, universal) is suitable for different surfaces - mineral, wood, brick, drywall, etc. Easy to apply with your own hands, dries quickly, has no smell, can be diluted with water;
- Alkyd - a specialized primer for wood and metal surfaces only;
Note! Alkyd primers must not be used on concrete substrates, cementitious screeds and other mineral surfaces.
- Epoxy primer for floors is designed for the treatment of concrete substrates, especially those that require moisture protection. It is diluted with solvents, has a high chemical resistance, can be used even on a slightly damp surface;
- Polystyrene primer is used for wood. It is toxic, therefore the safety instructions require work with it only in well-ventilated areas;
- Shellac soil is a special composition for impregnating bases of fresh coniferous wood. It prevents the resin from escaping to the surface.
Features of choice
It is clear that, first of all, the primer is selected to the material on which it will be applied. But at the same time, it is necessary to take into account both operating conditions and the state of the surface.
For instance:
- Primer for screed on a concrete base - suitable acrylic and epoxy. If the base is weak, it should be deep penetration.
If at the same time the screed is carried out in humid or unheated rooms, then the composition must contain water-repellent and antiseptic additives.
- If you are going to glue the floor tiles, you must ensure low surface absorption so that it does not take water from the glue. The primer for the floor under the tile is selected depending on the base.
If it is a cement screed, the options listed above will do. If a chipboard or OSB plate, acrylic or alkyd soil is suitable;
- Wooden floors for painting are best treated with an alkyd or polystyrene primer. And do not forget about protecting the tree from moisture and mold.
Tip. Try not to use polystyrene primer for interior use, leave it to handle exterior structures.
As you can see, in each case, the composition is selected individually. If you get lost, consult a store consultant or just use universal primer. Even better - carefully read the recommendations on the packaging.
Application Rules
If you know how to use a primer for walls, then there will be no difficulties with floors. On the contrary, it is much easier to process horizontal surfaces.
But first they need to be prepared:
- To dry;
- To clear of garbage and dirt;
- If necessary, grind, removing deposits and sag;
- Degrease oil stains;
- Vacuum.
Immediately after this, until the dust settles on the surface again, a primer is applied before pouring or other kind floor finishes. As a rule, this is done in two to three doses, depending on the degree of absorption of the base. Moreover, for the first layer, the primer is diluted so that it penetrates into all pores and microcracks.
For reference. If you want to save money, you can use PVA instead of a primer. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 2, i.e. two liters of water are added per liter of glue and mixed vigorously until a homogeneous composition is obtained.
The second and subsequent layers are applied after the first has dried. Drying time is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging, and it must not be reduced, even if the surface seems completely dry to you. But do not arrange too large breaks between the layers to prevent dust from settling.
It is most convenient to process the floors with a flat brush or a roller on a long handle.
Conclusion
Whatever flooring you choose for laying in your home, it should be pleasing to the eye for a long time and remain durable. And this largely depends on how responsibly you approached the preparatory work and the priming of the base as well.
If you want to get more useful information on this topic, we suggest you watch the video posted on this page.
