DIY bathroom floor repair

In detail: DIY bathroom floor repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Bathrooms are more exposed to higher temperatures and humidity than any other room. Sooner or later, this leads to the destruction of finishing materials. Unappealing cracks, chipping of material and other unaesthetic signs appear that it is time to renovate the bathroom floor. It is worth mentioning that cosmetic work may solve the problem for some time. However, you need to understand that it is very difficult to stop the destruction process, and if it is already running, large-scale events cannot be avoided.

First of all, you need to outline an action plan, and for this - to assess the scale of the upcoming work. Most often, floor repairs are carried out in conjunction with the general repair of the room and, accordingly, the replacement of plumbing. If so, then it is better to inspect the base after dismantling the old equipment. We carefully inspect the old floor covering or screed, tapping all suspicious places. It is worth noting that, most likely, her condition will not be the best. We'll have to dismantle it.

All old flooring and screed must be removed. It will not take much effort to remove linoleum or boards. But in order to get rid of the tiles, you need a puncher. We also remove the old screed with it, especially carefully processing the joints of the floor and walls. We try to completely remove all the remnants of our old coating. After removing the debris, we examine the base. Most likely, it will have defects: cracks, cracks, dents, etc. They need to be carefully repaired, otherwise the new screed may "leak out" over time. For sealing we use a solution of inexpensive glue.

Video (click to play).

The bathroom is a potentially dangerous room. At any time, pipelines supplying and discharging water may leak or leak in plumbing fixtures. Nobody is safe from elementary carelessness. To protect yourself from problems, be sure to take care of high-quality waterproofing of the bathroom floor. In addition, wet areas are an excellent environment for the growth of fungi and mold, which are very unsafe for human health. A competently waterproofed room does not leave them a chance for survival.

There are several types of insulation materials:

  • Oleechnye. They are roll coverings glued to the base. They can be self-adhesive, with an adhesive layer applied, or conventional, when the adhesive is applied during installation. They are very sensitive to the degree of leveling of the base and are rather difficult to install.
  • Coating. Most often, they are based on bituminous mastic mixed with a variety of rubber and polymer fillers. The main advantage is the extreme ease of use and excellent adhesion to almost any substrate.
  • Concrete floor impregnations. They penetrate deep into the screed, clog the natural pores of the material and thereby block the path of moisture.

The simplest and most commonly used method of waterproofing is the application of coating materials. Let's take a closer look at the whole procedure:

  • For better adhesion of the composition to the base, apply a layer of primer. We carry out the procedure carefully and accurately, without missing dry areas. Dry the primer.
  • If necessary, we dilute the insulating compound, having carefully read the instructions on the package.
  • Apply the prepared solution with a brush or roller to the base. We especially carefully work out the joints of the floor with the walls and various hard-to-reach places.They can use a rectangular trowel to facilitate the application of the composition. The solution must be applied to the wall, at a height of about 20-30 cm. This is necessary to form a so-called waterproofing trough, which retains all unwanted moisture. Let the material dry.
  • Depending on the coating used for waterproofing, it may be necessary to apply 2 to 5 coats of mortar. The exact information can be found on the packaging of the composition. We fully comply with the manufacturer's instructions, maintaining the pauses in work necessary for the previous layer to solidify.
  • After applying the last layer, let it harden for at least 12 hours. We put a special waterproofing tape on the joints of the walls and floor, which will additionally protect this potentially dangerous area. Once again we prime the surface under the screed.

Before laying the screed, it is necessary to prepare the material. This can be a store-bought composition or a material “collected” according to a traditional recipe. The main thing is that it is of high quality and has all the necessary properties. Subsequent work is carried out in the following sequence:

Image - DIY bathroom floor repair

Image - DIY bathroom floor repair Image - DIY bathroom floor repair
  • Dry the screed. This is a very important operation. It will last for several days, depending on the composition of the solution. Builders call the first days of the process critical, since the quality of the screed depends on them. You need to know that drafts or forced hot air drying are unacceptable. Otherwise, the moisture removal process will be uneven and the concrete will crack. To avoid this, some experts recommend covering the finished screed with polyethylene in the first days or slightly moistening its surface. A well-dried and well-filled screed is an excellent base for any floor covering.

You can proceed to the final stage of repair work. Its features will depend on which coating is chosen as the finish. For bathrooms, these are most often ceramic tiles, a moisture-resistant, durable and beautiful material. However, despite its prevalence, it is not the only one. You can decorate the floor in the bathroom using the following coatings:

  • Linoleum. The material does not transmit moisture, is resistant to temperature extremes, and is easy to install. High quality blades are durable, safe and have a long service life.
  • Mosaic. Glass, stone and ceramic materials are excellent in appearance, easy to install and wear resistant. With their help, you can easily create an original attractive interior.
  • Laminate. Only a special waterproof coating with special markings is used. Durable, beautiful and inexpensive.