Increasingly, in office premises, large organizations, and even in ordinary apartments, you can see Self-leveling floors 3D, the prices for which are quite high, but the produced effect and aesthetic characteristics outweigh the scales in favor of choosing just such a floor design. According to the installation technology, such floors do not differ from ordinary self-leveling floors, however, there are some features when choosing and preparing images.
Self-leveling floors and creating a 3D effect
Bulk floors are called seamless polymer coatings, which seem to be “poured” onto the surface of the floor. Such floors differ in the main component of the poured mixture: there are polyurethane, cement-acrylic, epoxy and methyl methacrylate floors, in addition, there are also various combined mixtures. The most common are epoxy and polyurethane floors.
Having appreciated the beautiful three-dimensional drawings that modern artists place on asphalt and walls, interior designers have come to the conclusion that such an effect will suitably fit into the design of an office or apartment. From that moment on, a kind of “boom” began in three-dimensional images on the floor: positive reviews about self-leveling 3D floors and their many advantages in various construction forums do not dry out.
In addition to the chic aesthetic characteristics, originality and freshness of such a design solution, a self-leveling floor with a 3D effect has a number of advantages:
- strength and long service life,
- resistance to moisture and chemicals,
- ease of care
- environmental friendliness,
- safety of operation (fire resistance, hygiene),
- possibility of installation in any premises.
Stages of installation of a self-leveling floor with a 3D effect
The technology of pouring a floor with a 3D effect is not so complicated as it seems at first glance. The main thing that is important to pay attention to is the processes of preparing and laying materials, since the base for the drawing must be perfectly flat.
The whole process of creating a 3D self-leveling floor consists of several stages:
- Substrate preparation or leveling. Most often this is done using self-leveling floor compounds. When the material dries, the base is polished.
Advice! You can lay such a floor on a different surface: on wood, and on concrete, and on tiles. The differences will consist only in the preparation of the base in order to achieve the most even surface.
- Primer. The base is poured with a primer and the surface is leveled again, preparing it for drawing.
- Application of the base (polymer) layer. First you need to think over its background so that it blends with the picture.
- Applying an image. Depending on the type of material that is used as an image (artist's drawing, banner fabric, satin base, vinyl film), the process of its application will also depend. The artist simply paints on the prepared surface, and the finished image is attached using the self-adhesive backing or thin layer of coating used in the following steps.
Advice! In cases where the image is made up of several pieces, care must be taken to ensure that the result is a single canvas, i.e. join the parts of the picture will have to be very careful.
- The most common type of coating is epoxy resin. Depending on the functions of the room and the required depth of the volumetric image, a layer of 1.5 to 5 mm is applied.
- Final sanding of the floor and its varnishing if necessary.
Average prices
If you order a self-leveling floor in one of the specialized companies, the price per m 2 will be about 5-6 thousand rubles, and usually the larger the repaired premises, the lower the price per 1 m 2. The cost of the floor may vary somewhat depending on the region and the materials used.
If you make a 3D self-leveling floor with your own hands, you can benefit in terms of price, but you will have to spend a lot of time and purchase the necessary equipment, which may not be needed in the future. Deciding what to save on: money or time and nerves is the business of the person himself.
Image selection
For application on the floor, you can choose absolutely any image, but it is worth remembering that self-leveling floors are a long-term finishing option, and therefore you do not need to obey momentary desires. It is quite possible that some fashionable image will become outdated or you will not like it in a year or two, and changing such floors is quite difficult and also expensive. It is better to opt for natural images: sea, sand, mountains, pebbles, plants, animals, etc. Such drawings can be additionally decorated with shells, sand, decorative stones, etc. “embedded” in the coating.
Try to immediately think over the interior of the room to the smallest detail. Otherwise, it may turn out that the image on the floor is not in harmony with the rest of the room. Since spectacular images on a 3D floor are an art object in themselves, you should not overdo it with excessive decor. If you want to pay more attention to accessories, it is advisable to choose a more neutral image for the pattern on the floor.
Advice! Even if the composition looks good, it is necessary to ensure that the important parts of the drawing (head, flower or part of the landscape) do not end up under massive furniture after repair.
Owners of small apartments will be pleased with the fact that with the help of some images on the floor, you can visually expand the space.
Before installing a floor with a 3D effect, the owners also have to choose a suitable surface: it can be smooth or textured, glossy or matte.
Self installation
When the technology of installing a self-leveling floor is familiar, even a novice master should not have any special difficulties. To work, you will need a grinder, a puncher, selected materials for the base, finish and protective coating, as well as a finished image, the printing of which can be ordered from a printing house, advertising or design agency.
