Mosaic floors. Installation of concrete mosaic floors Preparation of the base for mosaic floors

Natural marble is a natural rock that has high density, beautiful granular-crystalline structure, low water absorption, resistance to aggressive conditions, and also lends itself well to mechanical processing.

Thanks to these qualities, marble has become widespread in construction work as high quality, durable, environmentally friendly construction material. Possessing high aesthetic properties and the ability to deeply convey the natural texture of stone, it is widely used as a natural decorative finishing material.

Marble chips in the manufacture of floor coverings

One of the most common ways practical application of this natural stone, is the production of floors from marble chips, which consist of a cement-sand mortar, and contain crushed fine marble rock as a filler.

After manufacturing and final processing, such floors have very high performance and aesthetic qualities. Adding marble chips to mosaic floors contributes to their high wear resistance and durability.

Due to this, for many years, concrete floors with marble chips have been used as flooring in rooms designed for large gatherings of large numbers of people, for example, at train stations, airports, concert halls, etc.

Another of the undeniable positive qualities of this floor is its price. Since marble chips for the floor are used for its production, obtained from substandard waste from the production of natural marble, which are crushed and sorted into fractions, the cost of such a floor is significantly lower than the price of a coating made from monolithic marble slabs.

The photo shows fragments of the marble covering. http://mozaika61.narod.ru/bet_moz/bet-moz-shlifovannye-4.jpg

Technological features of making mosaic floors

Currently, thanks to large assortment marble chips of various sizes and colors, this technology is widely used as large construction companies, and by private developers, for laying mosaic floors, equipping sidewalks and garden paths, creating landscape design elements.

Having dealt with everyone positive qualities the use of this simple, and at the same time, technology that allows you to realize all your imagination, will probably be used by many owners suburban areas It will be interesting to learn about it in more detail.

In this article, the reader is invited step by step instructions, which will describe the technology for making floors from marble chips, as well as useful tips and recommendations that should be followed.

Preparatory work

Like any event, the technology of mosaic floors made of marble chips requires certain preparation, with which you need to start working:

Surface preparation, which consists of leveling the floor and clearing its entire area of construction debris. After this, using a hand or electric tool, you need to give the entire surface a rough structure. If the floor has been painted, it is imperative to completely remove all old paint. Then, using a vacuum cleaner, carefully remove all dust from the floor surface. (See also article.)

Determining the zero point is necessary to ensure that the new mosaic floor covering has a strictly horizontal surface in all directions. To do this, determine the highest point of the subfloor, from it at a height of 40-45 mm. the zero mark of the new floor being manufactured will be located. Using a water level, this mark is transferred to the walls, evenly placing the zero point marks along the entire perimeter of the room.
Installation of dividing veins, which are provided for by the technology of constructing floors made of marble chips. They are designed to divide the entire area of the room into separate areas, the so-called cards, into which a mixture of cement-sand mortar with marble chips will be supplied. The veins are strips, 4-5 mm thick, usually made of aluminum or brass, less often of plastic or glass.
To begin with, you need to mark the floor with maps of the room, according to the project. The dividing veins will be installed according to this marking.
After this, at the level of the zero mark, a construction cord is pulled tightly, along which, using a small amount of thick cement-sand mortar, dividing veins are installed so that their upper plane is at the level of the zero mark of the future floor. Thus, they need to be placed over the entire area of the room, according to the markings made.

Advice! If the floor in the room has significant differences in height, it is recommended, as a preparatory operation, to make a leveling screed from concrete mortar. This will improve the quality of the final result of the work.

Pouring the preparatory layer of a mosaic floor

The technology for flooring made from marble chips involves filling the floor with two layers of mortar, which, firmly adhering to each other, after curing, form a solid monolithic coating. Thus, the whole process can be divided into two stages.

The first stage contains the following technological operations:

Preparation of ordinary construction cement-sand mortar grade 150. Its consistency should not be very thick so that it evenly fills all the unevenness and voids of the subfloor.
Before laying the bottom layer of mortar, the surface of the sub-concrete floor must be very wet liquid solution cement diluted with water, and evenly distribute this liquid with a broom over the entire area of the room.
The solution is placed in cards and leveled using a wooden or plastic trowel until a uniform layer 20 mm thick is formed. (See also article.)

Advice!
It is recommended to thoroughly rinse marble chips with water before adding them to the solution.
Otherwise, the adhesion of the stone to the cement mortar will be insufficient, as a result of which it may chip from the surface and form voids and cavities.

Applying the top layer of the mosaic floor

You can proceed to the second stage immediately after the bottom layer has set to such a state that you can walk on it, but without allowing it to completely cure.

To properly make a mosaic floor from marble chips, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

The basic composition of the mortar for the top layer of the mosaic coating is a mixture of M500 cement, clean sand, marble chips, and water in the ratio indicated in the table below.
The consistency of the composition should be quite thick, so much so that the mixture, clenched in a fist, is not squeezed out through your fingers.
For a more uniform distribution of stone chips throughout the entire volume of the solution, you need to take the same amount of chips of different fractions. For example, half a portion with a grain size of 5-10 mm, and half with a grain size of 10-15 mm.
To ensure uniform wear of the floor covering, it is necessary to maintain the correct ratio of aggregate and cement-sand mixture. For 10 parts of solution there should be 8 parts of marble chips by volume.
To lighten, or give a given shade to the finished floor, brighteners and pigment dyes are added to the solution. Whitener is a finely ground stone flour made from white marble or other stone. To give the coating the desired color, it is recommended to use mineral-based dyes, for example, ocher, red lead, ultramarine, chromium oxide.

Mass ratio components solution.

After preparing the solution for the top layer, you can start laying it in the cards. This operation consists of uniformly laying the mortar, followed by leveling it using impact translational movements ironers. The filling level is determined by the level of the upper plane of the dividing veins. After filling out all the cards, the coating should be left alone for 6-7 days.

Note!
Be sure to adhere to next rule: the mass part of the dye in the solution should not exceed 15% by weight of the cement, and the mass part of the whitener should not exceed 20% by weight of the cement.

Surface finishing

After 6 days from the moment of laying the solution, you can begin further processing of the mosaic floor. First you need to scrub the surface with a coarse-grained abrasive tool in order to remove the top layer of hardened cement. To facilitate this process, it is recommended to moisten the concrete floor with marble chips with water and sprinkle with a layer of quartz sand. If, after scrubbing, potholes or cavities are found on the surface, they are filled with cement mortar and rubbed over with marble blocks.

After this, you can begin sanding the coating using a special grinding machine with a fine-grained abrasive stone. This process is carried out until a uniform, uniform coating is achieved, free of ridges and potholes.

If increased aesthetic requirements are placed on the coating, after grinding, the surface is polished. To do this, carefully remove all debris from the floor using wooden scrapers and shovels, and remove all dust using a vacuum cleaner. Then the working body of the grinding machine is equipped with a felt polishing wheel, onto which a special paste is applied, and they begin to polish the surface, evenly treating the entire area of the room.

Advice!
To prevent cracking of the surface during curing of the solution, it is recommended, after laying the solution into the cards, to sprinkle the marble chip floors with a thick layer of sawdust, which should be watered once a day.

Conclusion

From everything written, we can conclude that making a floor from marble chips with your own hands in a country house or on garden plot, almost any owner can do it. This process, although labor-intensive, but its result will delight you for many years.

In the video presented in this article you can also get Additional information regarding this issue.

Mosaic floors made from marble chips and small tiles are laid in apartments, offices, entertainment venues and cultural institutions. This is a very wear-resistant coating that is successfully used in open areas and in places with high traffic. Laying mosaics on the floor is carried out according to different technologies, depending on what the feedstock is. The work uses special equipment and tools.

The first method is to use tiles, which are fixed to the supporting surface with glue. Another option for arranging rooms and areas are concrete mosaic floors. Marble chips mixed with an adhesive composition are used as a finishing coating. You need to consider how to lay various types of mosaics, what is needed for this and what nuances you should pay attention to.

Mosaic tiles are made from glass and porcelain in a square shape. The side of one tile can be 10, 20 and 25 mm. The mosaic on the floor gives the room special style. Panels with different contents are laid out from this material. Before laying a mosaic, designers recommend choosing designs with a neutral theme. The surface of the tile is very durable and can be used for decades. Since interior fashion often changes, panels with a strong meaning quickly become obsolete. Mosaic tiles are laid on a solid base. It can be a reinforced concrete slab or a cement screed. Knowing how to correctly lay small tiles, you can create a flooring with a high aesthetic component with your own hands.

What tools and materials are needed?

This coating not only has high aesthetic characteristics - glass mosaic tiles are placed on the floor in rooms with high humidity, which is justified by the inability of the material to absorb liquid. Glass tiles, when laid in open areas, withstand extreme frosts and prolonged exposure to water.

Laying mosaics with your own hands requires the following tools and materials:

building level;
roulette;
steel and rubber spatula;
marker;
plastic crosses;
floor mosaic;
adhesive mixture;
grout for seams.

Before making a purchase, you need to decide on the question of how to glue the mosaic. We are talking about a drawing of the finished coating. If you are planning a bathroom renovation, then the color of the tiles should be selected based on the area of the room. For small room you need to use light-colored glass.

When decorating a large bathroom, you can combine tiles of a wide range of light ranges and colors. It is advisable to lay light or transparent mosaics on a white cement mortar. This way the patterns will look more impressive. Terrazzo mosaic floors will decorate any residential or business space, giving it charm, presentability and originality.

Tile laying sequence

Laying mosaics with your own hands begins with preparing the base. The old covering is removed from the floor and preliminary leveling is carried out. If necessary, a cement screed is made. Before putting mosaic tiles, the base for it must be treated with a special primer. This will significantly increase the strength of the screed surface and its adhesion to the glue.

Before laying the mosaic on the floor, you need to apply a diagram on it according to which the installation will be carried out. It follows that each seam takes 1-3 mm.

The work is carried out in the following sequence:

Fragments of masonry are placed on the base. They are adjusted according to color and shade.
The adhesive composition is made. It is advisable to prepare no more than 3 liters to prevent adhesion from deteriorating after 30-40 minutes of work.
The solution is applied and leveled to the concrete slab. The tiles are placed on it and pressed slightly. Depending on the project, the mortar is left or removed from the joints.
The next row is laid out. Correctness is controlled using a level and crosses. Correction is carried out by lightly tapping the tile.
The finished surface should remain undisturbed for at least a day. Afterwards the mosaic seams are grouted. For this, a special colored composition is used, which retains some elasticity after hardening. The color of the grout is adjusted to the tile or made contrasting to its surface.

There are two ways to lay out a colored floor. If the diagram is simple and does not contain figures or images, then work begins on the side of the wall opposite front door. Complex panels are laid out from the central part of the picture. First you need to lay the mosaic on the main image, then create the background surface.

Creating a floor from marble chips

Marble has unique aesthetic and practical characteristics. This rock mineral is different incredible beauty, durability and waterproofness. Terrazzo mosaic floors, made from stone chips, are a true work of construction art. During the production of marble products, a large volume of substandard waste is generated. Broken stone is crushed into various fractions and goes on sale.

To make mosaic floors from stone chips, the finest fractions of the mineral are used. The installation of such a coating involves the use of special equipment and skills in working with it. It is necessary to consider what the construction of mosaic floors is, in what sequence and how they are manufactured.

Tools and materials

The work uses marble chips of various diameters, cement-based adhesive mixtures and natural dyes. In addition, guides, dividers, and shapes are needed to create designs and patterns.

To create beautiful and durable concrete mosaic floors, you need to have the following equipment and accessories:

a concrete mixer or a powerful hammer drill with a mixer;
machine for grinding and polishing concrete;
industrial vacuum cleaner;
grinder with discs for steel and abrasive attachments;
building level;
rule;
roulette;
marker;
container for the prepared solution;
devices for making molds and patterns;
cement M300;
marble chips of fraction 5-15 mm.

The grinding machine is quite expensive. It makes more sense to rent it. If there is a choice, then it should be stopped on a unit with the function of supplying water to the surface being treated. With this technique, sanding is much faster than dry sanding. In addition, there is no dust at all.

Technology for arranging mosaic floors

A floor made of marble chips is created in several steps. Each of them is required so that the final result meets all building regulations and rules.

The work on arranging the coating from marble chips is being carried out in the following sequence:

Preparing the base. This event begins with the removal of the old coating. The protruding fragments are knocked down and cut off. If there is a deflection of the base, then it is filled with screed. After drying, the concrete is cleaned of dust and treated with a deep penetration primer.
Installation of forms and dividers. The veins are installed in accordance with the sketch and diagram. When making a single-color surface, straight steel dividers are used. They are attached to the base with cement at intervals of 120-150 cm. Complex forms are made from sheet metal or plastic. Strips of glass can be used to create drawings with straight outlines.
The working mixture is being prepared. The optimal ratio is in which cement, marble chips and water are mixed in a ratio of 2:4:1. You must first wash the stone chips. Dye is added if necessary. The mixture is stirred until smooth and dry. Only after this is water added. The solution is placed in molds and compacted. For this purpose special rollers are used.

After the poured solution has gained strength, the mosaic floor is polished. When using special equipment, several attachments and polishing compounds are used. IN hard to reach places the work is done with a grinder.

Mosaic floors made from marble chips are becoming increasingly popular because they can be seen in premium apartments, in educational institutions, V shopping centers, at car washes. Why are they so popular? The bottom line is that such coatings are distinguished by high performance characteristics, as well as good decorative properties.

Types and advantages of marble chips

Marble chips are a natural material, small fragments of rocks that have a granular-crystalline shape. It is mined in marble quarries by crushing and further packaging mining waste into fractions.

This is important to know:
The material in question is used not only to create a poured floor, but also to produce decorative tiles.

According to the range of application and degree of decorativeness, marble chips are divided into three classes: gray, white, colored. But the group of colored stones is represented by a wide variety of colors: red, beige, black, green. In addition, shades can be natural, that is, offered by nature, or artificially created, depending on the wishes of the customer.

Colored marble chips open up wide possibilities and allow you to design any designs

Floors made of marble chips are characterized by a number of significant advantages, which need to be discussed in more detail. In particular, we mean the following positive properties:

environmental friendliness - there can be no talk of any harmful impurities, since this is a safe natural material;
excellent strength and wear resistance of the coating - these indicators can be further increased with the help of special hardeners. This point is especially relevant for public spaces with high traffic;
low flammability - marble chips, compared to other materials, are the most fire-resistant;
floors are laid without the use of high-tech equipment. This means that the installation costs are not very high;
An important quality of the material in question is the fact that even when dropped on the floor metal objects no sparks occur. This indicates that the coating is fireproof;
moisture resistance is an important parameter;
resistance to chemicals - the coating does not react to negative impact emulsions, mineral oils, organic solvents, alkaline solutions;
attractive appearance and architectural expressiveness - rooms with such floors look elegant and luxurious.

Installing a concrete mosaic floor step by step

Installing floors from marble chips is not a very complicated technology, but still, when carrying out the entire complex of work, you must adhere to certain rules. To understand the essence of the process, we will consider each stage separately.

Of course, first you need to carefully prepare the base. How to do it? Firstly, the surface needs to be cleared of debris, secondly, serious defects must be eliminated, and thirdly, holes near the pipes must be sealed. After performing the above steps, you should treat the surface with an electric brush to roughen it. Then the surface is dust-free and moistened with water before applying the mixture. Also, before installation begins, it is necessary to determine the floor level and apply appropriate marks to the walls around the perimeter of the room.

Worth paying attention:
A suitable base for a floor made of marble chips is cement-sand screed, iron concrete plates, concrete.

The next step is the installation of dividing veins. If the floor is one color, beacons should be placed on the base at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other. And if a multi-color coating is planned, you must first mark the floor in accordance with the contours of the future pattern. To do this, dividing veins made of brass, glass, aluminum or polymer materials. They are secured with cement mortar or they are slightly recessed into the screed, which is done before laying the mosaic layer.

This is important to know:
the top of the vein must be located flush with the floor.

Such a magnificent floor from marble chips can only be made by real professionals.

Preparing the mosaic composition is a crucial moment that requires special attention. To prepare the composition, the following ingredients are used: stone flour, cement, marble grains of different sizes, pigment and water. Here it is necessary to emphasize that large, medium and fine crumbs are used to evenly distribute the mass over the surface. But for the floor to look its best, after sanding, 80% of the area should be occupied by stone aggregate, 15% by mortar.

Before preparing the mixture, the crumbs are washed to improve adhesion to the solution. All components are mixed dry, and water is added gradually using a watering can. Ideally, the solution should be inactive and rigid. The amount of water is adjusted depending on the moisture content of the marble chips, because excess moisture deteriorates the quality of the solution.

This is important to know:
for getting the desired shade whitening additives are introduced: most often these are marble flour, ultramarine, ocher, chromium oxide.

List of stages of floor installation:

the bottom layer is made of cement-sand mortar, which is placed in cards and smoothed with smoothing irons;
as soon as the mixture has set, but has not yet hardened, the mosaic mortar is laid - it is compacted using trowels, vibrating slats or light tampers to the level of the previously laid dividing slats;
laitance accumulating on the surface is removed with rubber scrapers. This point cannot be ignored, because a cement film may form;
the compacted mortar is carefully leveled and smoothed;
on next stage The lighthouse slats are removed and the furrows are filled with solution.

Worth paying attention:
The hardening period lasts 5-7 days. During this time, it is necessary to keep the floor damp. To do this, the surface is moistened with water once a day and covered with mats and sawdust.

And, of course, the final stage is sanding and polishing the floor. First, let's look at the features of grinding:

this work is carried out 6 days after the installation of the floor;

The mosaic grinder is used to process large areas

the hardened coating is rubbed down with coarse-grained abrasive materials, and the surface is pre-wetted with water and sprinkled with quartz sand;
if after this process individual grains crumble, the damaged areas are sprinkled with dry tinted/untinted cement, which is rubbed into the pores with marble blocks;
Next, you should perform fine grinding with abrasive stones No. 230-325.

Polishing makes marble appear in all its beauty.

As for polishing, the final gloss is achieved using special equipment with a felt wheel.

How to care for marble floors

In this regard, we can say that over time the floor surface becomes dull, expressionless and begins to absorb dirt. In addition, grains of sand carried on the soles of shoes form invisible microcracks and scratches on the floor surface. Also, in areas of maximum traffic, dirty paths appear and the seams between the tiles are destroyed. If the above problems occur, the floor should be sanded and polished.

Marble chip flooring is beautiful and durable, but it requires special care

First, leveling grinding is performed, during which the renewed marble becomes like a monolithic surface with invisible seams. The marble is then sealed using polyester adhesive to match the color of the floor being restored.

This is important to know:
Before final sanding, the color of the seams can be restored or changed.

The last stage of marble processing is polishing using the crystallization method. After this procedure, the surface layer is polished to a mirror shine.

Marble loves cleanliness, so it needs to be cleaned regularly with neutral detergents. Plus, a natural stone afraid of hard soles, sand and heels, as they scratch and injure him. To prevent these problems from arising, in places with frequent traffic you need to lay a soft rug, then the floor long time will remain clean and shiny.

Concrete floors with marble chips – beautiful coatings With unique technology manufacturing. For this reason, the entire range of work should be performed by experienced professionals who know the intricacies of the processes.

It is a dull and gray finish. However, not everyone realizes that it can also be unusual and very interesting. Concrete mosaic floors are far from a new trend in the field of renovation, but about them in Lately undeservedly forgotten. It's time to correct this omission and learn how to create this type of coverage in your home.

Concrete mosaic floor - photo

For the first time such a covering appeared in Venice, and is still unique knowledge how to create such beauty are passed on by Venetian builders to their students. But, as you know, everything that attracts a person’s attention and pleases him eventually becomes the property of the whole world, and therefore Venetian technology The installation of mosaic floors has now spread throughout all countries. The name of this floor is also “Venetian” - terrazzo.

On a note! Mosaic floors previously due to high cost and complex manufacturing were an indicator of the wealth of the person who paid for the work to create such a covering in his home. As a rule, this type of decoration could only be found in temples, palaces, castles, etc.

Floor mosaics of the Ca' d'Oro palace in Venice

Nowadays mosaic floors can be seen in buildings for various purposes. As a rule, they are located in the halls, large halls, offices. But, unfortunately, traditions often crowd out new trends and more and more often in buildings you can see not marble or mosaic on the floor, but ordinary laminate or tiles.

The basis of the mosaic-concrete floor is, as you might guess, concrete itself, as well as marble chips remaining after processing this stone. In such a covering concrete mixture becomes solid foundation floor, and small pieces of marble act as filler or cover the surface of the concrete. By the way, instead of marble chips, other minerals or materials that do not belong to this group are sometimes used.

Marble itself is a natural rock that is well known for its strength characteristics and unique structure. The material does not absorb water, is resistant to physical influences, and is not afraid of contact with various surfaces. chemical substances. This is why marble is often used in construction industry. And its beautiful appearance allows you to expand the scope of using stone and use it for decoration.

The thickness of the concrete screed, usually made from sand-cement mortar, is 20-35 mm, and provided that underfloor heating is installed - 40 mm or more. It serves as a solid foundation for the mosaic-stone mixture. The thickness of the latter is 15-25 mm and often depends on the size of the filler fractions.

It is interesting that in terms of their strength, concrete mosaic floors containing marble chips are in no way inferior to marble itself. This coating is reliable, strong and can serve for decades without loss of performance characteristics and without repair. But such a floor will cost less than solid marble slabs.

Scope and features of the use of mosaic floors

Marble chips, traditionally included in the mixture to create such a floor, are now the most popular and economical material of all that can be obtained directly from the stone itself. It is especially often used in interior decoration, as it allows you to give any surface a very unusual, beautiful and presentable look.

Thus, concrete mosaic floors are an excellent option for finishing premises for absolutely any purpose, be it an office or a home, a warehouse or a large hall, a bathroom or a hall. Due to their high strength, they are used in workshops, garages, foyers, etc. Interestingly, such a floor will not produce a spark upon impact, which means it meets the requirements fire safety, for which it is valued at enterprises.

On a note! Most often, of course, such floors are installed in public buildings - clinics and hospitals, offices, shopping centers, etc. There is not always room in the house to create such a foundation.

But even in housing, sometimes you can find a place where a mosaic floor will look beautiful. This could be a room with a swimming pool, a bathroom or a toilet. Also, a mosaic floor will fit well into the interior of a corridor or hall. However, you should not install it in a bedroom or nursery - the coating will be too cold, although it will be beautiful.

Mosaic floors - photo

Advantages of concrete mosaic floors:

very durable, wear-resistant and will serve perfectly for a long time even in places with high traffic;
resistant to moisture - do not absorb it and are not destroyed under its influence;
They look beautiful and have a lot of different colors;
make it possible to create an unusual and memorable floor;
do not fade in the sun;
environmentally friendly;
easy to care for, easy to clean;
are not afraid of any type of mechanical impact;
are distinguished by high fire safety indicators.

Disadvantages of concrete mosaic floors:

cold to the touch, in some types of premises they require installation of a heating system;
sometimes they turn yellow, somewhat losing their decorative qualities;
difficult to dismantle;
require special attention already at the stage of choosing a design, and not just during arrangement;
far from cheap.

Types and features of mosaic floors

Mosaic floors come in several types. They differ mainly in the type of filler, sometimes in the type of concrete mixture.

Table. Types of concrete mosaic floors depending on the base.

Floor type	Characteristic
	In appearance, such a coating may resemble ordinary concrete. Portland cement acts as a binder. All kinds of minerals serve as fillers. Installation is no different from pouring screed ordinary concrete, sometimes the layer is reinforced. The thickness of such a base can be at least 5 cm, and the filler layer can be at least 2 cm. Relatively inexpensive option arrangement of mosaic floors. Can be polished.
	In this case, polymer components are also introduced into the mixture, which have a positive effect on the appearance of the floors. Typically these are epoxy and polyurethane substances. The thickness of the layer will depend on the size of the filler fractions, but in general it starts from 1.5 cm. The base for pouring such a floor must be primed. A final protective layer must be applied.
	The mixture that is used in this case is used in exactly the same way as self-leveling floors. Contains polymer components. In addition to mineral fillers, synthetic fillers, as well as coins and glitter, can be used. The most commonly used sand is quartz sand with fractions of 0.5 mm in size. The thickness of the floors starts from 2 cm. It is necessary to apply a finishing protective layer.

Also, all types of mosaic-concrete floors can be divided into several groups according to the type of filler. They are:

natural, in which various types of mineral chips are used - granite, marble, lapis lazuli, slate, etc.;
metal, where the main filler is pieces of any metal, for example, copper, bronze, aluminum, gold, etc.;
glass, mirror, in which the filler is quartz (sometimes additionally colored) sand;
wooden, where pieces of wood of various species (linden, birch, cherry, etc.) act as filler. If such a floor is installed, it will additionally have to be protected from moisture;
ceramic- most cheap option, characterized by rich color variations.

Prices for mosaic concrete are quite high. For example, installing a reinforced coating up to 5 cm thick and carrying out all the necessary work, including grinding, will cost at least 1,200 rubles/m2.

How are concrete mosaic floors made?

The technology for creating such floors may vary depending on the material used. But in any case, the following work will be performed:

preparation of the rough base, its cleaning and treatment with various means;
installation auxiliary elements(for example, lighthouses);
mixing the solution;
filling and leveling the surface;
polishing the finished product;
creating a decorative layer.

Composition of the mixture for mosaic floors

In order for the floors to turn out the way they were intended, it is important to correctly make the mortar that will be used for pouring. Cement, coloring components, stone flour and stone chips are mixed in certain proportions. Good cement must be used - not lower than M250. Stirring does not take long - about 7 minutes, until the consistency becomes homogeneous.

Attention! If covered with a concrete mosaic coating it will be small area, then you can immediately mix the mixture in the required volumes.

There are several common composition recipes used to create colored mosaic floors.

Table. Recipes for mixtures for terrazzo floors.

Name	Composition (filler, as well as binders are indicated in parts, dyes - as a percentage of the total mass of cement)
Black	Cement M400 and above – 1, manganese peroxide – 5, black stone chips – 3.
Red with white	Portland cement M400 and higher - 1, white crumb - 3, red lead - 8.
Light	M400 cement and above – 1, stone flour (white) – 0.3, crumb – 2.
Black and white	M400 and above Portland cement – 1, white crumb – 3, manganese peroxide – 12.5
Yellow	White Portland cement M400 and higher - 1, dry ocher - 10, yellow stone chips - 3.
Granite	Portland cement M400 and higher - 1, granite chips - 2, white marble - 1.

The composition may include filler particles of various sizes:

MM – fine fraction (2.5-5 mm);
MS – average (5-10 mm);
MK – large (10-15 mm).

In general, the ratio of fillers is selected so that as a result, about 80% of the floor is occupied by crumbs, and up to 25% by cement. This is when it will be possible to get a beautiful mosaic floor. Also, various contaminants, foreign inclusions, and lumps of stuck together filler fractions should not get into the mixture. Wherein largest size particles cannot exceed 0.6 of the entire thickness of the floor covering.

Terrazzo - photo

On a note! In order for the mixture to acquire a light shade, a certain volume (up to 40%) of bleaching components is added to it. It could be white marble flour or white cement. It is important to remember that the addition of such components degrades the strength of the concrete mixture.

The choice of which composition to use should depend on individual preferences, as well as on the general interior style of the room where the mosaic-concrete floor will be installed. Preparing mortar for terrazzo floors is a very responsible process. To make the pattern on the floor interesting, it is recommended to add fillers with different fraction sizes to the mixture. The drawing can also be detailed manually.

Advice! Before use, stone chips must be washed with water. Then its adhesion to other components of the mixture will be higher.

By the way, the components of the composition are mixed dry and only after that water is added to them strictly in portions. On average, about 0.5 parts of liquid will be spent on 3 parts of crumbs, 1 part of the coloring component and cement.

Prices for popular brands of marble chips

marble chips

Mosaic floor - we do it ourselves

It is quite possible to create such a floor yourself, although you will have to try. It all depends on the chosen technology. But, most likely, the arrangement of this type of covering will appeal to creative people who feel a special streak in themselves.

Terrazzo - floors made of marble chips. Mosaic floor

To make a mosaic floor, you may need the following tools:

mixture mixing machine or construction mixer;
grinding machine;
construction vacuum cleaner;
polishing powder;
rule;
level;
abrasive stones;
Bulgarian;
shovels and scrapers;
metal brush;
container where the composition will be mixed;
writing utensils.

Preparing the base

As with any other type of floor covering, one of the installation stages is the careful preparation of the rough layer. If you neglect it, then there is a risk that all the work will go down the drain and require rework, and this is an extra cost.

Preparation includes removing old flooring and cleaning the base from debris and dust. Perfect option for arranging a concrete mosaic floor - this is a solid reinforced concrete slab, closed cement screed. Also, all cracks and seams, if any, are sealed, all bumps are sanded off - the rough surface should become perfectly smooth. Cleaning the base with a wire brush will help improve adhesion.

If you plan not just to fill the floor with a colored mixture, but to make interesting pattern, then as preparatory event Separators are also laid in accordance with the selected pattern. Typically the separators are metal strips.

The actual production of mosaic floors is the installation of a concrete screed, which does not require additional industrial or household coating

Installation of an underlying layer for mosaic floors

After it was carried out preliminary preparation base, it is necessary to create an underlying layer. It can be used under various types of mosaic floors - both those created from a mixture that immediately contains stone chips, and those that are simply sprinkled with beautiful material.

Beacons are first installed on the rough base. In this case, the distance between them should be approximately 2.5-4 m, and they are leveled using a level. Next they are fixed mortar. By the way, beacons should be mounted on the basis that their upper limit will be 2.5 cm below the final floor height.

The rough base can also be primed - for this, cement laitance (water and cement mixed in a 1:1 ratio) can be used. After this, the surface is filled with cement screed to obtain a flat surface. The lighthouse slats are removed one day after pouring, and the resulting depressions are sealed with mortar.

Mosaic floors: technology

Consider the option of creating one of the types of mosaic floors. Here the stone chips will be applied on top of the laid screed.

Step 1. The substrate under the mosaic floor is being cleaned. All dust is removed using a construction vacuum cleaner.

Step 2. The surface is primed to increase the adhesion of the base and adhesive composition.

Step 3. The treated surface is dried, markings are made on it, along which a mosaic pattern will be created using stone chips. The laying scheme is selected in advance, and crumbs of the appropriate colors are also purchased in advance.

Step 4. Metal strips are laid along the lines delimiting the areas where marble chips are applied. They will serve as delimiters. To prevent the strips from moving during operation, they are glued to the base.

Step 5. Mixing in progress adhesive solution. It is mixed using a construction mixer.

Step 6. Adhesive composition applied to the floor surface where the stone chips will be laid. It is leveled using a notched trowel and rolled with a needle roller.

Step 7 Stone chips of the selected color are applied to the surface treated with glue in an even and dense layer. Each zone is treated in this way.

Step 8 After the glue has dried, the surface is sanded.

Step 10 You can complete the work by applying a special product that makes the surface glossy. After this, the floors are thoroughly dried.

Video - One way to create a mosaic floor

Rules for laying mosaic floors

In order for the mosaic-concrete floor to be neat and beautiful, and most importantly – durable, its installation is carried out in compliance with certain rules:

all work is carried out only at positive air temperatures (from +5 degrees);
installation is carried out only after other rough work has been completed;
the basis for the mosaic should be either concrete or ceramics;
the size of the crumb fractions is maintained - from 0.5 to 12 mm;
the crumb should be of the same strength;

PLIFORT concrete mosaic slabs - an alternative option

if you add milk of lime and a little water (no more than 10% of the weight of cement) to the solution, it will be more plastic;
the mixture should not contain more than 15% dyes;
the mosaic layer should not be thicker than 2 cm;
A hand roller will help to compact the floors well;
You can dry the floors with a layer of sawdust;
The drying time of the mosaic layer before grinding work is 7 days.

In order for mosaic floors to last a long time, it is important to take care of them, although this is a completely undemanding type of flooring. Sudden roughness is removed by polishing, and chips are repaired with cement mortar.

As a filler in marble mosaic floors marble chips appear. It is made by crushing marble, which can be different color. After this, marble chips are used not only to create terrazzo floors, but also for other purposes, such as creating monuments, marble casting, etc.

The use of such a filler in the manufacture of floor coverings makes it possible to obtain a surface with high strength, wear resistance and a long service life. In addition, they look very beautiful, which explains the popularity of marble mosaic floors.

Previously, mosaic floors were made in almost all public buildings, they represented a mixture of cement and marble chips. The appearance of such coatings was not very attractive; sometimes they were separated by a copper strip.

A modern mosaic floor compares favorably with its predecessor; in addition to marble and granite chips, Various fillers can be added, which not only improve the quality of such a floor, but also its appearance becomes beautiful and attractive.

Such coatings have high abrasion resistance, their service life is tens, they are practically eternal. Marble flooring can withstand very heavy loads, so it is used both in public institutions, and in warehouses, hangars.

If you decide to make a mosaic floor in your home or garage, then this coating will serve you forever.

Pros and cons of this floor

This type of flooring has a large number of advantages: high water resistance, strength, abrasion resistance. This floor is not afraid of exposure to aggressive substances, it does not produce sparks, and it is available in a wide range of colors.

Despite this, a concrete mosaic floor also has a number of disadvantages that you must be aware of before deciding to lay such a coating:

This concrete covering, therefore it cold. If you decide to do it indoors, then the floor must be insulated, or even better, have a water or electric heating system installed underneath it;
surface color over time may turn a little yellow but this happens slowly and almost imperceptibly; the surface can be restored by polishing it;
This is enough expensive coverage, but thanks to the long service life, this disadvantage pays off over time;
this is very durable coating, so it's dismantling is a complex and time-consuming process;
since this floor has a long service life, over the years it maybe you're just bored, therefore, when laying it indoors, it is best to choose abstract ornaments that never go out of fashion and do not get boring.

Materials used

In order for you to create a mosaic floor yourself, not only marble, but also granite, dolomite chips, colored quartz sand or river stone, etc.

Types of solutions

Depending on the type used binder, such coatings are divided into:

Cement

In this case, the binder acts Portland cement, the thickness of such a floor is 5 cm more; if increased strength is required, then it can be reinforced. The filler size is 20-40 mm. After creating such a coating, the concrete is ground and coated with polyurethane impregnation. This technology allows you to remove dust from surfaces and clearly show the design. A more expensive option is to polish the surface.

Polymer-cement

In addition to Portland cement, they are also used as a binder polymer additives. This coating is thin-layer, its thickness is 15-30 mm, which explains that the size of the filler should not exceed 10 mm.

Before laying such a floor, the concrete base must be coated with a primer, which is applied to a dry surface and dust should not settle on it. After the floor has hardened, it can be polished or coated with polymer impregnation.

Self-leveling floor with marble chips

When creating such a floor covering, the binder is polyurethane or epoxy compounds. They are made using self-leveling floor technology, and the thickness of such a coating can be from 2 mm.

Quartz sand of different colors is used as filler., while the fraction size is about 0.5 mm or more, it all depends on the thickness of the floor.

To decorate a self-leveling floor with marble chips as a filler glitter can be used various items or LED backlight. The final coating is a layer of transparent compound.

Binders and polymer modifiers for mortar

The binder used to create such a coating is white Portland cement. gray or it can be pigmented; the grade of cement must be at least M-400. In a polymer-cement screed, the amount of polymer is usually no more than 15% by weight of cement.

Sands and decorative fillers

Sand with a fraction size of no more than 1.2 mm can be used as a filler. Marble chips can have different size fractions and color, in addition to it, other minerals can be used as a filler, for example, granite, serpentine, flint, pebble, jasper, quartzite and others.

Spacer inserts

If you plan to install flooring with different patterns, you will need spacers, and if the patterns have complex shape, then make molds from foam or wood. The veins can be made of materials such as aluminum, glass, brass or polymers.

Necessary tools and equipment

The easiest way to make thin-layer terrazzo floors is that no special tools are required to apply the solution and such floors do not need to be sanded. If cement or polymer cement compositions , then you will need the following tools:

building level;
laser level;
rule;
chop cord;
trowel;
ironer;
manual rammer;
vibration machine;
mosaic grinding machine for concrete;
abrasive stones of different grain sizes;
industrial vacuum cleaner;
boots and knee pads.

Self-installation of concrete mosaic floor

Marble mosaic floors are usually laid on a concrete base, and the process of creating them is no different from installing a conventional concrete screed. To create a specific pattern, dividing strips or slats are laid out, a solution is prepared and the floor is poured.

At the first stage of work prepare the base. Concrete slabs or screed are best suited. The base must be strong, without cracks; if there are any, they must be repaired. The floor is being cleaned; for this it is good to use an industrial vacuum cleaner. Determined with the thickness of the coating and on the walls, using laser level and beating cord, make marks.

Installation of dividing strips

If the floor is monochromatic, then beacons are laid on the base in increments of 1-1.2 meters, and if you are making a pattern, then dividing veins are installed along its contour. The veins are fixed with a solution. After pouring, they should be flush with the floor surface.

Preparation of mosaic mortar

To prepare the solution, crumbs of large, medium and small fractions are used, this will allow it to be evenly distributed throughout the entire volume, in addition, cement, stone flour, water and, if necessary, dye are added.

For such a floor to look beautiful, after sanding there should be about 75-80% filler and 20-25% mortar on its surface.

To obtain a certain color, materials such as ocher, ultramarine and others can be added; their amount in the solution should not be more than 15% of the amount of cement used.

In order for the marble chips to better combine with the cement, it must be washed. First, all components are mixed well, they should all be dry, after which water is added in small portions until a solution of the required consistency is obtained.

Most often, the solution is made in this way: take one part of cement, large, medium and fine crumbs and 0.5 parts water.

If you want the mosaic pattern to appear evenly, you need to choose the right amount of filler, otherwise even with deep sanding, good result you won't be able to achieve it.

Laying the mortar

If the base is uneven, then first make a regular screed, with which it is leveled. The solution should set well, but not yet completely harden, after which a marble-mosaic layer is laid and compacted using trowels or a vibrating machine, to the level of the beacons or dividing strips.

Cement laitance will appear on the surface, which is removed using a rubber scraper. The beacons are removed and their places are filled with solution. For 5-6 days, the surface must be moistened 1-2 times a day and covered with film so that it dries evenly.

After laying such a floor, you need to give it time to gain the required strength, for this you will need different period time. It all depends on the temperature and humidity in the room, the type of adhesive used, and the thickness of the floor.

Sanding and polishing

You can start the floor sanding process in a week, it all depends on the conditions environment. The work is carried out using a grinding machine.

It is carried out in several stages:

First, a coarse-grained tool is used to cut off the surface to expose the filler. During this operation, approximately a third of the thickness of the filler is removed; if the fraction size is 10-15 mm, then a layer 3-4 mm thick is removed;
at the next stage, a tool with medium grain is used;
Using a fine-grained tool, the floor is finished.

Before grinder Using a coarse tool, you need to sprinkle the floor with moistened sand, after which it is removed and medium and fine sanding is carried out.

The final finishing of the mosaic floor is done using felt wheels, before which polishing powder is poured onto the floor surface.

Another way to process such a coating is to polishing. In this case, from 3 to 7 processing stages are carried out using special machines and tools. The floor turns out beautiful, durable and wear-resistant, but the polishing process is long, labor-intensive and expensive.

Marble floor care

Caring for such a coating is simple, you do not need to use special products and the process is not labor-intensive. If over time the surface has lost its original beauty, its appearance can be restored by polishing.

To increase the service life of this floor, You can use special impregnations, varnishes or sealants. To obtain a decorative effect, it is enough to coat the surface with transparent polyurethane varnish.

Summarizing

The manufacturing technology for such flooring is simple and affordable. Although mosaic floors have been used since the times of Ancient Greece, they have not lost their popularity in our time. Application modern materials allows you to implement the most diverse and interesting solutions.

Useful video

Sanding and polishing terrazzo floors

In contact with