What is the application of liquid glass and the main features of use, the advantages and disadvantages of the technology, how to prepare the surface for insulation, carrying out the main work, finishing the insulated surface with tiles. Liquid glass on the walls is a fairly common way to quickly and efficiently perform waterproofing work. The technology is widely used in rooms with a high degree of humidity: saunas, bathrooms, wells, storage facilities, etc.
Introduction to liquid glass
Silicate glue or, as it is called, liquid glass is prepared at the factory. The main component is a mixture of soda (potash) with silicon dioxide. As a result, a white or transparent crystalline substance is obtained. There are several types of liquid glass: potassium, sodium, potassium-sodium, sodium-potassium.
The sodium variety is widely used in construction work. Typically, silicate solutions diluted with water are used. The silicate glue applied to the surface interacts with carbon dioxide contained in the air and thereby hardens. Wooden surfaces treated with liquid glass are protected from fungi and mold and, which is important, have fire resistance.
The main tools for applying on wood or cement-concrete surfaces are paint brushes or a spray gun. When using a spray gun as an application tool, a 1: 5 aqueous solution of silicate must be used.
The silicate layer is applied on the outside of the wooden surface, gradually increasing it at the same time. It is recommended to dip a small wooden surface in a liquid glass solution. Before you start laying tiles or plastering the walls, you need to apply liquid glass to them to prevent the appearance of mold and mildew, as well as to protect against mechanical damage. Scope of use of silicate:
- Bonding of porcelain, faience, glass surfaces;
- Waterproofing works;
- Priming of surfaces: concrete, stone, plastered;
- Laying of linoleum, PVC tiles;
- Making putties for water and cast iron pipes;
- Processing of tree cuts after pruning.
Silicate glue is widely used for the preparation of acid-resistant cement and concrete, for the manufacture of refractory paints and all kinds of impregnations for wood, for gluing cellulose materials. Combining alcohol, fine sand, liquid glass, "ceramic" plates are produced, which, after firing at 1000 degrees, serve as molds for the production of metal products. Silicate is a part of various building materials: primers, fillers.
The main characteristic of liquid glass is its waterproofing properties. For this, the insulator is combined with cement or concrete mortar in a ratio of 1:10. To increase the waterproofing of the floors, it is recommended to fill them with an additional layer of glass, 3 mm thick.
When carrying out works on waterproofing wells, a mixture of silicate with cement and fine sand is used. The well is pre-treated with an insulator, then a solution is applied. It is important to note that when applying a silicate coating, it is not necessary to wait for its complete hardening, since the glassy surface does not contribute to good adhesion to the primer or putty.
Waterproof plaster, which you can prepare yourself, will help protect the walls from moisture: a combination of liquid glass with cement and sand in a 1: 2: 5 ratio.
Liquid glass is used for laying stoves and fireplaces; for this, a solution is prepared in the ratio: 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand and silicate in an amount equal to 1/5 of the cement-sand mortar, then water is poured.
The combination of liquid glass (1 part), slaked lime (1 part) and clay (1 part) makes it possible to glue natural stone.
Heat-resistant putty, made from liquid glass, allows you to glue the oven doors. Adding liquid glass to paints makes the product resistant to all types of weathering.
Advantages and disadvantages of liquid glass for walls
The application of liquid glass to the surface gives it the following advantages:
- Durability, because the coating with liquid glass makes the material hard, and therefore increases its strength.
- Water resistance, because liquid glass has good water repellency. Having treated the outside of the wooden surface with a layer of silicate, you can forget about moisture damage for a long time.
- Liquid glass as an antiseptic helps to protect surfaces from mold and mildew.
- Fire resistance, since the waterproofing material is completely non-combustible.
- Heat resistance: Silicate can withstand heat treatment up to 1000 degrees Celsius.
- Protecting the treated substrate from chemical attack.
- Environmental safety: silicate is safe for both humans and the environment.
- Dirt and water repellent properties.
- Ease of use: silicate can be easily applied to the surface with a brush or spray gun.
However, the treatment of walls with liquid glass is not suitable for those cases when the insulated layer is planned to be painted on top. A film will form on the surface, which will prevent the paint from laying on top of it.
Technology for applying liquid glass to walls
Waterproofing with silicate is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. But you will have to carefully study all stages of work and stock up on the necessary tools.
Preparatory work
First of all, the room that needs to be treated with silicate glue is cleaned of dirt, debris, fungus and other contaminants. Surfaces that are wood must be rubbed with an emery cloth before applying the silicate solution.
Silicate glue is applied with a brush, brush or spray gun, depending on the work performed. Despite the fact that liquid glass is a non-toxic substance, work must be carried out in personal protective equipment (glasses, gloves), and after doing them, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water. It is recommended to store silicate glue in closed containers.
If all of the above measures have been completed, you can proceed to the formation of a waterproofing layer.
Step-by-step instructions for applying liquid glass to walls
Correct adherence to the technology for preparing the solution is very important, as it affects the final result. If waterproofing of walls with liquid glass is necessary, then a combination of silicate and cement or concrete in a combination of 1:10 is used for it. The resulting solution can be used as a waterproofing material in bathrooms, swimming pools, basements, wells, which makes it possible to increase their service life. This is especially true for those regions where the humidity level is very high.
If it is necessary to prepare acid-resistant cement, then it is worth mixing water glass with cement in a 1: 1 combination. To increase the waterproofing properties of the pools, internal and external treatment with liquid glass is performed. During internal processing, the material is applied to the walls in 2-3 layers with brushes or a spray gun, which allows to increase the waterproofing properties of the pool. But there is also an external effect of groundwater on the pools, in this case it is treated with a solution of cement and liquid glass.
The work algorithm is as follows:
- The prepared waterproofing material is applied to the surface. It should be noted that all solutions consisting of liquid glass harden very quickly, therefore application must be carried out quickly.
- Possessing the ability to penetrate any irregularities and crevices, liquid glass for walls completely covers the surface to be treated, and this protects it from the harmful effects of water and air.
- To create a waterproof layer, the base is covered with two layers of silicate glue, each of which must dry well.
- After finishing the application of liquid glass on the walls, after about a day, you can plaster the surface or lay tiles.
The use of liquid glass not only increases the waterproofing properties of the surface, but also reduces the cost of work. Thanks to this, silicate mortar is an irreplaceable material in construction.
Surface finishing
Now let's proceed to finishing the surfaces in the bathroom, namely the wall cladding with tiles. It performs 2 tasks at once: protective and decorative. That is, it protects the walls from moisture, dampness, on the one hand. On the other hand, it forms the appearance of the bathroom.
In finishing works, a variety of tiles can be used. The tile is classified according to five criteria of strength, the fifth is the most durable, it is used to cover floors in those rooms where there is a large flow of people. For bathrooms in apartments, the walls are tiled with tiles of the first or second degree of strength.
When choosing a tile, it is necessary to take into account the degree of its moisture absorption, therefore, products with signs Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb are used.
Since the tiles are produced in a variety of ways, it is recommended to take small-sized products for compact rooms, which will allow them to harmoniously fit into the interior of the bathroom.
Products are often square or rectangular, but there are also polygonal ones, working with such a tile is complicated, but you can make various compositions with it. When choosing the shape of the material, it is necessary to take into account the size of the room. By using rectangular tiles that are laid vertically, the height of the ceiling can be increased.
In retail outlets, there are various plain matte and glossy tiles, as well as patterned tiles, various borders that allow you to make a complete composition. There is also a relief tile on sale, which is recommended to be laid on the floor, which will prevent your feet from slipping on the floor.
To veneer the walls, the master needs the following devices:
- Ruler, level for checking the accuracy of lines;
- Special spatula with teeth, paint brush;
- Tile cutter or grinder for cutting tiles;
- For grouting, use a trowel with a rubber base;
- Grout for joints;
- Glue solution for fixing tiles;
- Plastic crosses for keeping the distance between seams.
The tiles are laid on a glue solution prepared according to the attached recommendation. The glue must be thoroughly mixed, for this they use a drill with a nozzle, since it is impossible to make a homogeneous mass by hand.
Before you start tiling, draw a horizontal, straight line across the room to help you lay the tiles perfectly evenly. Tile laying recommendations:
- Products begin to be laid from below, usually from the second row, skipping the first.
- The prepared glue solution is applied to the surface to be treated using a spatula with teeth.
- The tiles are not pressed against the wall strongly, since any excessive force can lead to deformation.
- To maintain the uniformity of the seams between the tiles, use plastic crosses, they are removed before the glue hardens.
- If tiles are to be laid in corners or in places where there are pipes, they must be cut. To do this, they resort to the help of such a device as a tile cutter or a grinder.
- Periodically check whether the laying process is proceeding correctly, using a level and a bar, pressing down the protruding tile with a rubber mallet.
- The bottom layer is laid last.
When the room is tiled, it is allowed to dry and a day later they start grouting. Grout is a building mixture with which the seams are rubbed, it is selected to match the color of the tile. It has not only a decorative function, but also moisture-repellent.
Applying the above recommendations, you can lay the tiles in the bathroom on your own, without the help of professional tilers.
How to apply liquid glass to walls - watch the video:
As you can see from the material, wall covering with liquid glass is a very real building technology that is suitable for many types of premises. It is carried out quickly enough, and with careful care, the insulated surface can serve for more than a dozen years.
