Primer of the floor: how to use, application features, types and recommendations

Without this material today, no finishing work is necessary. Primer is a liquid formulation designed to improve the adhesion of various materials. This adhesion is called adhesive.

Adhesion is the ability of various building materials to firmly bond with each other. If we talk about the primer of the floor, this composition improves the adhesion of the screed to the base, strengthens the laying of tiles, etc. Primer also prevents the absorption of moisture in the substrate, as a result, the screed dries more evenly, thereby reducing the risk of cracking.

And that's not all the primer's uses. It strengthens the surface, enhances vapor permeability. Another important purpose of this material is to remove the surface from building dust. Priming the floor is necessary for different surfaces. Which composition is suitable for this or that surface, we will tell in this article.

Is a primer necessary?

Not all people, far from construction work, understand why a floor primer is needed, for example, before laying the tile, creating a filler, etc. It would seem that the finishing layer completely hides all the disadvantages of the base, and all the load eventually comes to him.

This is true, but only partly. The thing is that the quality of the finish coat depends on the strength of its adhesion, the quality of adhesion to the substrate. When it is not enough, the screed, the floor, tile glue and other coatings will eventually lag behind and, most likely, deform. To prevent this from happening, a floor primer is required. Let us consider in more detail what other functions this material performs.

Strengthens the structure

For example, if the floor foundation is loose, porous, laminated, before the screed, the floor primer is necessary to fill all the existing voids, creating a continuous, uniform structure. For this, deep penetration primers are produced, which are designed to strengthen the base to a depth of several centimeters.

Relieves of building dust

It's no secret that a lot of dust is formed during the construction work. Its small particles create an interlayer between the surfaces to be glued, preventing their adhesion. The primer of the floor connects them.

Reduces the permeability of the substrate

In other words, does not allow the substrate to absorb moisture. This, in turn, reduces the consumption of the leveling solution, paint, glue.

Protects against the appearance of fungal mold

This is important when creating a quality floor covering in rooms with a high level of humidity or for unheated buildings - arbors, summer kitchens, terraces, balconies, etc. Such protective properties are applied to primers by fungicidal and moisture-repellent additives.

All this applies mainly to liquid and glued coatings, as well as when preparing the substrate for painting. In these cases, it is important to ensure good adhesion of the materials. A natural question may arise: "Do you need a floor primer before laying linoleum, laminate or wooden coatings?"

Under the linoleum and laminate the base is primed if the coating is to be glued to the surface so that it completely absorbs the glue. This should be done if the linoleum is placed on a cement screed - to strengthen the surface and prevent its destruction under mechanical influences.

Priming for a wooden floor (plywood, chipboard) is also necessary. It should have antiseptic properties, especially in damp areas, in which linoleum is often used. Before laying the laminate floor primer is not always necessary, but before aligning the base it is necessary. It depends on it, how firmly the leveling mixture will combine with concrete, and as a result - its durability and the quality of the coating.

Types of primers

These materials on the mechanism of exposure can be divided into compositions for surface application and deep penetration. About the latter you already have a general idea - they make a more solid loose surface of the base, strengthen it. Surface primers are designed to give good adhesive properties to the substrate.

Most of these compounds contain very fine sand, which gives a roughness to the base: it is necessary for normal adhesion. Consider the classification of primers by composition.

Acrylic

This is the most common, universal primer - for concrete floors, wooden surfaces. The material is very easy to apply, dries quickly, does not have an unpleasant, pungent odor, dilution with water is permissible. It is used for repair in new buildings. This is a primer for the floor under the tile, gypsum board. The most popular among these compounds are mixtures from the producers Ceresit, "Elf", Olympic.

Alkyd

Primer intended for the treatment of wooden and metal surfaces. There are several types of such compounds:

• On zinc phosphate - excellent and, according to experts, the best anti-corrosion primer for coating surfaces before applying alkyd paints.
• On zinc chromate, which has similar properties, but it has an extended spectrum of application. Excellent primers of this category are produced by Lazur, PoliFarb, Belinka.

Epoxy

This is a primer for screeding floors and processing concrete floors, especially when protection from moisture is required. Compositions can be diluted with solvents, they have high chemical resistance.

Polystyrene

The compositions are used for wood coatings. Primer of this type is toxic, therefore it is necessary to strictly follow the safety instructions and to ventilate the room well.

Shellac Soil

This is a special composition, which is designed for impregnating the floor, made of fresh softwood. It does not allow resins to protrude to the surface.

Multigrants

Reliable compounds, which are produced in a small series - Evro Primer Multi, Forbo 044, Uzin Pe 260. Primer for the floor, screeds made of cast asphalt, stone and ceramics, mineral slabs impregnated with bitumen, etc.

Features of choice

From all of the above it becomes clear that the primer should be selected in accordance with the characteristics of the material on which it will be applied. But in doing so, it is necessary to take into account some factors - operating conditions and surface conditions.

Primers for concrete floors

Monolithic concrete poorly absorbs water. This is evidenced by a brilliant film on its surface. You can not put a solution on it. For this reason, it must be sanded or (preferably) covered with a primer designed for slightly absorbent surfaces. As a rule, they have a milky color.

Sometimes the finishers for substitution are replaced with the composition "Betonokontakt". It is different in pink. This is a very popular primer. Under the floor, it can also be successfully used, since it forms a waterproof film that provides waterproofing of the base, which is very important in creating liquid floors, which are very liquid.

Primer for polymer screeds

For epoxy self-leveling floors , polyurethane or epoxy primers are used. When buying, be guided by the recommendations of the manufacturers of the floors. When purchasing a filler, read the manufacturer's recommendations for a floor covering primer. This is especially important for polymeric floors.

For cement-sand bases

Such bases, as well as cement-based screeds, are primed with deep penetration compounds. They are almost colorless and slightly cloudy. Inflexible bases and old screeds are covered with such materials.

Compositions for tiles

Do you need a floor primer before laying tiles on it? Specialists answer this question in the affirmative. The alkyd primer in this case is a universal compound. It is used for application to concrete, wooden and other substrates. In this case, one of two types of compositions can be used:

• Perchlorovinyl - when dried, it creates a film that has moisture-repellent properties. The composition prevents the appearance of mold, reproduction of the fungus inside the concrete.
• Glyftalovaya - primer for general use, has excellent anti-corrosion properties. Good adhesion and significantly increases the strength of the base.

Rules of application

Usually, with the application of a primer for the floor, no difficulties arise. Processing of horizontal surfaces is much easier. But before starting to work, they must be prepared:

• Dry well;
• Clear of dirt and debris;
• If there is such a need, polish;
• Degrease oily stains (if any) with a solvent;
• In conclusion, vacuum it.

After doing this preparatory work, immediately proceed to the primer before the finish of the floor with the selected material. Usually this is done in two or three stages. Their amount depends on the degree of absorption of the base. When coated with the first layer, the primer is bred to fill the microcracks and pores.

The second and third layers are applied only after the previous one has dried completely. Usually, the manufacturer indicates the drying time on the packaging. It can not be reduced, even if, in your opinion, the surface is completely dry. However, do not overstretch the breaks between the application of the layers, so that the dust does not settle on the surface. Apply a primer to the floor more conveniently with a roller on a long handle or a flat brush.

Primer floors: prices

Perhaps you can do it yourself, but if you seek help from professionals, they will evaluate their services as follows. In Moscow, the price range for this service is from 15 to 500 rubles per square meter, depending on the condition of the floor and the composition used. The average price is within 65 rubles per square meter.

Let's sum up the results

Whichever flooring you choose for your home, you certainly want it to please you with beauty and strength for many years. Such a result can be achieved only with a responsible attitude to the preparatory work, in particular to the choice of composition and priming of the substrate.