Liquid floors step-by-step plan

Before we begin, what are some of the things you need to consider?

Our team will start on your project on Monday or Tuesday, this will be communicated to you on the Friday before. In most cases, it starts on the Monday.

On Monday of the following week, assuming everything goes according to plan, you can re-enter and use your floor. During the course of our working week we will notify you if this is not the case


Heating and cooling protocol


Cracks can occur in a concrete floor as a result of temperature influences and differences in shrinkage and settlement. Cracks and joints in the substrate, often a calcium sulphate screed or a cement-bound screed, can continue to set in the floor finish. Before the floor finish is applied, it is therefore important to switch the underfloor heating in the subfloor on and off slowly and to keep the process temperature as low as possible. Use the heating and cooling protocol for this.


It is important to realize that following a heating and cooling protocol is primarily intended to allow a screed to crack in a controlled manner. Preferably 100 tears of 0.01mm width than 1 tear of a millimeter wide. Going through a heating and cooling protocol is also wise to allow a screed to dry faster, so that a floor finish can be applied.


When does crack formation occur?

Cracks usually do not occur during the heating-up phase, but during the cooling-down phase. This phase is in fact even more important than the warm-up phase. The correct tempo must also be maintained when cooling down.


When should / not use the protocol?

A heating and cooling protocol must be completed before a floor finish is applied. Incidentally, there are also risks involved if the underfloor heating is heated higher than will ever be the case later in practice. You can also choose to build up a well-considered setting of the underfloor heating (at the lowest possible water temperature) and keep it there (so no longer cool it down). This is possible when the intention is to apply a hard floor finish (eg mineral cast floor, terrazzo, PVC or marmoleum), but also if a synthetic cast floor is chosen. Cracks in the underlying screed can lead to 'vein formation' with limited thermal changes. With other floor finishes, such as carpet, laminate, parquet or tiles, going through a heating and cooling protocol is much less risky.


Concrete floor

Normally, the presence of fine shrinkage cracks and crackle in a concrete floor is permitted. By including reinforcement in the floor, the risk of cracking in the concrete floor can be limited, but not completely excluded. For example, by applying a reinforcement mesh over the full length of the joint or crack to the substrate, the risk of crack formation in an adhesive floor finish applied thereon can be limited, but not completely excluded.


Stoking protocol and cooling protocol of TBA (Stichting Technisch Bureau Afbouw)

A heating and cooling protocol for underfloor heating is based on the water temperature of the heating installation and not on any thermostat temperature in the room concerned.

The Technical Bureau Afbouw has an official publication with an extensive explanation of the use of a heating and cooling protocol. Use the scheme as included in this TBA guideline 2.1.

Download the heating and cooling protocol of the TBA for the correct procedure and explanation


The heating and cooling protocol advised by TBA

Start with a water temperature that is 5 ° C higher than the ambient temperature of the room in question. The water temperature must be read on the heating system (not on the thermostat!) Increase the water temperature every 24 hours (or longer) by 5 ° C, until the practically maximum water temperature of 40 ° C is reached (see remarks above). Keep the maximum water temperature stable at this 40 ° C (or lower) for at least 24 hours, then reduce the water temperature every 24 hours by 5 ° C until the starting temperature is reached again. It is increasingly common that an underfloor heating system can also cool. With such a system it is important (especially in summer at high temperatures) that the cool down cycle is continued until the minimum temperature on the heating and cooling unit is 15 ° C. If sufficient time is available, repeat this cycle several times. If this is not possible - given the time available - then bring the installation to normal operating temperature in a controlled manner and put it into operation.


Firing up protocol

water temperature

  • Day 1 -  20 ° C
  • Day 2 - 25 ° C
  • Day 3 - 30 ° C
  • Day 4 - 35 ° C
  • Day 5 - 40 ° C
  • Day 6 - 40 ° C

Cooling protocol

  • Day 7 - 35 ° C
  • Day 8 - 30 ° C
  • Day 9 - 25 ° C
  • Day 10 - 20 ° C
  • Day 11 - repeat or end


The space must be delivered

in the following manner:



  • Wind and watertight
  • Before we begin, the heating system must be turned OFF
  • There must be no obstacles in the room or in the way when we begin
  • The room must be delivered clean
  • It is necessary to remove all the interior doors
  • There must be a staircase if the building consists of multiple floors.
  • It is only after the cast floor is installed that the skirting boards are installed
  • It is only possible to finish the stairs after applying the cast floor.
  • The room must be provided with adequate lighting.
  • After the self-leveling floor has been applied, the painting that may have to be done is not our responsibility, therefore we recommend that this is done after pouring the concrete


Keys to the property:

We would like to receive the keys to your house on the weekend before we start our work. We would appreciate it if you could deliver this to our showroom or drop it in the mailbox in an envelope with your name and

address on it.

It is located at Nieuwstad 4, 1381 CC, Weesp, The Netherlands

The keys will be left in the building when we are finished with the work in your home.


Doormat:

For those who wish to place a doormat in their recess, we can create a recess fabricated from aluminum profiles. In order to follow your measurements, you must mark upon the floor exactly where the doormat should

be placed. Make sure you pay attention before you start using the floor!

  • If you are moving heavy furniture or boxes, you must be careful to avoid any scratches.
  • Ensure that furniture and chairs are protected by felt pads.
  • It is important to be cautious when using hairspray as it may stain the floor due to a chemical reaction.
  • It is important to get rid of oil, red wine, or any other spilled liquid as soon as possible to prevent it from setting in (it will not happen immediately).
  • It is possible to clean the cast floors with a special cleaning agent created for cast floors, this can be found on the website Gietvloereiniger.nl
  • Vacuuming with a soft brush is recommended.
  • It is recommended that as little rubber as possible is allowed to come into contact with the cast floor, since there are rubber softeners that can penetrate the cast floor.
  • Please do not apply tape to your floor.
  • The failure to comply with these instructions will prevent us from performing our tasks properly, which will affect the warranty.


Finish and color of the product:

In some cases, the finish may differ from the color or the sample plates / sample, which are only indicative.

It is impossible to control the finish of each floor, as each finish is unique, especially in the case of Beton Ciré,

the floor is created during the pouring or greasing steps, so it is a continuous process.

Brush strokes, dots, pigmentation spots, dust, and imperfections are always present.

The color and finish of the product may vary.




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