Concrete coating with self-leveling concrete over wood floors or plywood substrates

During the renovation and remodeling of existing buildings, more and more people are looking for ways to convert their existing wood/plywood subfloors to concrete floors. Daily changes in temperature and humidity cause hardwood floors to shift and expand under stress. The joints between boards and uneven rough surfaces become pronounced. Traditional gypsum-based or latex-modified subfloors will crack along joints, break the bond with lateral movement of the wood, and often be strong enough to withstand foot traffic.

Installing self-leveling calcium aluminate cement based concrete, Päram 5500 and Päram Super Primer together with an expanded metal mesh for reinforcement is a fast and successful method of turning a wooden subfloor into a beautiful concrete floor. We recommend applying Param 5500 at a minimum thickness of 3/8″ to withstand lateral movement and traffic stress.

Steps:

1. Wood subfloor must be a solid wood floor, minimum ¾” tongue and groove, APA rated, Type 1, exterior exposure plywood or OSB equivalent. Subfloor must be solid and securely fastened to provide a rigid base All boards showing movement must be re-nailed Wood surface must be clean and free of oil, grease, wax, dirt, varnish, shellac or any contaminant that may act as a brake For adhesion, we recommend sanding the surface of the wood with 60 grit sanding screen under the floor maintainer.
2. Open joints should be filled with Sgraffino mixed with a quick-setting additive.
3. Once the wood surface is fully prepared, prime the surface with Päram Super Primer. The primer solution should be evenly distributed over the floor surface and then brushed into the substrate with a soft-bristled broom. Avoid the primer pudding. When applying with a pump sprayer, be sure to cover the substrate in an even coat to ensure adequate penetration and follow immediately to work the surface with a broom.
4. Allow primer to dry to a thin, slightly tacky film (min 2 hours, max 12 hours). Install 3.4 galvanized expanded diamond metal lath mesh to wood subfloor, stapling approximately 6 inches to prevent mesh from floating. Overlap adjacent pieces of lath mesh approximately 2″.
5. Now is the time to install Päram 5500. It is mixed in batches of 2 bags at a time. For each bag, add 5.75 quarts of cold drinking water. Mix for at least 3 minutes with a heavy-duty drill mixer (minimum 650 rpm) to obtain a lump-free mix. Install no less than 3/8″ thick above the highest point of the floor.
6. Protect poured Päram 5500 from excessive heat or drafts during the curing process. Turn off all forced ventilation and radiant heating systems. Protects up to 24 hours after installation is complete. The floor can be stepped on in 3-4 hours. However, if the surface is colored with stains or stains or any other cementitious microtopping (Sgraffino) or covered with epoxy or polyurethane resin coatings or simply sealed with acrylic, epoxy and polyurethane sealers, it is recommended to wait at least 24 hours. Any other type of floor covering (tile, VCT, etc.) can be installed after 16 hours.