Adjustable floors: reviews and installation technology

In the late nineties of the last century in the domestic construction began to use adjustable floors. Moscow has become one of the first cities where the designs have found wide application.

General information

This absolutely new method of foundation has competed with traditional concrete screeds, which are used in residential and industrial premises. What did the regulated floors deserve such popularity? Reviews of many consumers describe the advantages of this design. What attracts them? About this further.

Benefits

Many doubt whether it is worthwhile to build adjustable floors. The feedback of those who already have such designs in their home help determine the choice. One of the most important advantages of this finish is the users themselves call the ease of installation. In addition, as owners of living quarters say, such designs are longevous. This opinion is confirmed also by experts, according to which, the service life reaches 50 years with proper care. Users note another advantage that adjustable floors have. Installation of structures takes quite a bit of time. So, for example, one installer can finish the foundation for a day. The simplicity of the technology allows you to construct adjustable floors with your own hands. It does not require special knowledge or complex equipment. Unlike a concrete screed, it is possible to operate adjustable floors immediately after installation. When constructing the structure there is no dirt, it is not necessary to knead the solution and get dirty.

Finishing features

What is the principle of the design? First of all, it should be said that an adjustable floor is built on logs or sleeves with slabs. The design provides a simple mechanism. Due to the adjustable rotation, the lags can be lowered or raised. Due to the free travel of the thread bolts, they are set exactly horizontally. Adjustable floors make it possible to achieve a perfectly flat surface. Alignment is carried out to within a millimeter. Such designs do not "float" and do not creak under their feet. In addition, the surface does not flex and does not deform under load. Wooden logs can be fixed on any base. The plywood is laid on top in several layers. Adjustable floors are excellent for rooms such as gyms, offices, shops. In residential buildings, such structures are mounted where the base is experiencing serious loads: in corridors, children's rooms.

Adjustable lags

This type of construction can be used in any premises on a different base. At the same time, such adjustable floor supports are an optimal alternative to concrete. In accordance with the technology, the surface must be at least five centimeters from the base. There are holes in the long lag. They screw in the rack bolts. The lag is mounted to the base with dowel-nails. Such fasteners provide durability and strength of the structure. Lowering and lifting to the required height is done with bolts-racks. After the adjustable floors are leveled, the finishing coat is installed. As it can act as a laminate, parquet and other materials. Thus, mounting the structure is as simple as adjusting. Warm floor is today a fairly common method of heating the room. Such a system can easily be installed under the flooring - the height of the cover can be adjusted.

Plates

In this case, the floor will be raised by three centimeters. Such designs are used where there is no need for additional communications under the surface. In addition, a distance of three centimeters allows you to lay cables or cables (telephone, electrical, for the Internet and others). As a supplement, thin heat insulators can be used. If it is supposed to install the flooring in the form of plates, then in the material (plywood or other) make holes. In them, from the back side, threaded bushings are inserted. They screw the bolts, which, in fact, carried out the regulation of the sexes. The assembled structure is also mounted on the base with dowel-nails. In this case, the alignment is similar to lags. The bolts rotate up and down their axis.

Application of structures

As it was said above, adjustable floors are often installed in office and residential premises, they can be found in classrooms, offices, laboratories, production workshops and warehouses, in conference rooms, television studios. Constructions are built in server rooms and at transformer stations. Adjustable floors are designed for:

• Leveling of the foundation in new buildings.
• Raising the level of sex. This is especially true in cases where the additional load on the surface is not allowed.
• Floor leveling in the reconstruction of premises.
• Laying of engineering communications.
• Devices of multilevel floor structures.

Some features of use

If it is necessary to level or replace the floor in a room with a low ceiling, experts recommend installing an adjustable structure. In this case, there is no need to fill a concrete screed, which significantly raises the level of the base. In addition, until the full hardening and obtaining a solution of all its properties should be at least a month. At the device of adjustable floor the base rises only by several centimeters. Such constructions for premises in which under a flooring left at building more than 15 see are ideally suited Such volume to fill in with a concrete solution is rather problematic, and in many cases it is not obviously possible. This is due to the fact that the screed will be too heavy for the old building. With the device of the adjustable floor, the surface can be raised to 20 cm. For the load-bearing elements of the building, the weight of the structure will be almost invisible. Adjustable floors are often used for redevelopment. The structural features of the flooring make it possible to hide under the surface of communication. When carrying, for example, a toilet or a water pipe, the pipes do not need to be hidden in the screed. Perfectly suitable adjustable floors for country cottages. So, under the surface it is possible to have a pipe wiring. This is a very convenient, safe and economical way of laying communications. So heating, water supply, sewerage are installed, cables are held. The latter, by the way, is also relevant for a conventional well-equipped apartment. If, for example, there are a lot of household appliances in the house, then numerous wires and cables will look very unattractive. They can be hidden in the floor.

Mounting technology

In the lags screw in the rack bolts. Elements are laid out on the base at a certain distance. The step between the lags is selected in accordance with the requirements for the strength of the surface to bend. For example, if a parquet or a laminate is used as a finishing coat, the distance between the elements is about half a meter. Between the walls and lags a gap of one centimeter is left. Due to it, free ventilation is provided. According to the lags placed on the base of the holes, the floor surface is drilled through the holes. In these places, the elements will be fastened. The depth of the holes for the lagging is about 40 mm. Then the elements are aligned to the required level. This will help the rack bolts. To raise and lower them turn in the desired direction. The corresponding key is used as the tool. When leveling, the height difference should not be more than a millimeter. After giving the elements the necessary position, the lags are fixed to the base with the help of dowels-nails.

Flooring

As a coating, waterproof plywood is used. Laying of sheets is carried out in two layers. The coating should have a total thickness of about 20 millimeters. With the help of self-tapping screws, the first layer is screwed onto the logs. Between the flooring and the wall also leave a gap of a centimeter. When laying the second layer, the sheets are slightly shifted so that the joints do not coincide. In some cases, instead of plywood, a waterproof gypsum board is used. Such a second layer is made, for example, under the tile. Centimetric clearances between a flooring and walls subsequently cover with plinths.

Some recommendations on the choice of design

The elements of the adjustable floor must be of high quality. In many respects the final result will depend on the state of the materials. For more accurate alignment, experts recommend buying a laser level. Before the construction of the structure it is necessary to check the condition of the base - it must be strong and not crumble. It is recommended to leave gaps for ventilation of the coating. To prevent dust during installation, make sure that it does not remain on the surfaces. After drilling holes, as well as fastening the fasteners, all should be vacuumed. To prevent a creak also it is possible, having hammered djubel-nails up to the stop. In this case, the racks will not loosen. In the process of operation with a high position of the flooring with respect to the base, the floor can "sound". For example, when walking on heels, strong voiced or, conversely, deaf sounds can be heard. To avoid this, experts recommend to lay additional heat and soundproof materials between the base and the flooring. They fill the space between the lags. As a rule, tile materials are used as insulation.