Leveling the floor before laying panels is a very important step that ensures not only an aesthetic appearance but also stability and durability of the surface. Many people, including professionals, claim that the only good way to level a floor is to use a screed.
In this article, we prove that there are alternative methods of leveling a floor that are just as effective and less time-consuming.
Discover proven ways to level a floor without using screed, and what materials can be used instead of it – today, we will particularly focus on the underlay prepared for vinyl panels, which you can find in our offer at mexen.pl.
Can you level a floor for panels without a concrete screed?
When laying floor panels, you must ensure that the floor surface is as smooth as possible. This will allow you to lay the panels perfectly, which will ensure comfort of use and longer durability. In the case of finishing an apartment, screed is usually perfectly smooth, but the situation is slightly different during renovation, especially if you had to remove previously laid cladding before laying the panels.
The easiest way to level the floor is, of course, to use a self-leveling screed. However, this can greatly increase the cost of laying a new floor, and it also requires time — the drying time of the screed depends on its type and the temperature in the room.
Fortunately, there are not only concrete self-leveling screeds, but also other ways to level a floor for panels. Some also suggest laying panels on an old floor, after leveling and plastering any deficiencies, but this is not always a good idea.
What materials to use instead of screed?
Instead of traditional concrete screed, you can use polyurethane resins or epoxy resins, which will allow you to quickly level the floor and achieve a perfectly smooth surface.
Epoxy resin is characterized by high resistance to mechanical damage and resistance to atmospheric agents — it provides excellent insulation and does not allow moisture penetration. However, leveling the floor using resins is quite a time-consuming task.
If you are wondering how to level a floor for panels without screed, you should get acquainted with the following proposals:
- OSB boards (Oriented Strand Board) - are an excellent leveling material. They will work well for eliminating various sizes of floor unevenness. An advantage of these boards is that they are easy to install and available in different thicknesses.
- Gypsum boards - this type of board is also a good choice, especially for floors with greater unevenness. The boards are easy to process, making them easy to fit to the floor shape.
- Extruded polystyrene underlays - are very effective as a leveling material, especially for concrete floors.
- Special underlays for floor panels.
As you can see, a traditional self-leveling screed is neither the only nor the best way to level a floor for floor panels.
How to quickly level a floor?
Special underlays are perfect for leveling the floor surface before laying vinyl panels. Various types of underlays for panels are available on the market, as depending on the material they are made from, they may have slightly different properties.
For example, underlays with a breathable membrane are perfect for areas with high humidity, and underlays with an aluminum foil layer can be used with underfloor heating.
The type of underlay for vinyl panels you choose also depends on the installation method. Panels glued down must have a perfectly smooth surface; otherwise, they can crack during use. On the other hand, floating panels allow for slight unevenness, as they "work" differently than those glued to the floor.
After leveling the floor and laying the underlay, you can proceed to install the panels. Make sure the floor is completely dry and clean, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to lay vinyl panels.
How to make a floor without screed – summary
Before installing panels on the floor surface, you should ensure it is maximally smooth. A leveled floor ensures that the laid panels lie perfectly flat, providing optimum stability during use. Panels adapt to the shape of the floor - if it is uneven, cracks may appear on the panels' surface.
As you can see, finishing the floor is also possible without using traditional concrete screed. There are many other solutions that allow you to achieve a level surface where you can conveniently install vinyl or laminate panels. Choose the floor leveling method best suited to your individual needs