Consumption calculator per 1 m² of expanded clay for floor screed

Precise material estimation is essential for maintaining budget and guaranteeing quality when thinking about building or remodeling projects. For floor screed, one crucial calculation that is frequently needed is the amount of expanded clay used per square meter. Expanded clay is a popular building material because of its strength and thermal advantages. It is also known for being lightweight and insulating.

It’s simple to calculate how much expanded clay you need per square meter of floor screed, but it does take some careful consideration. The amount of expanded clay needed depends on the density, thickness, and desired qualities (such as load-bearing capacity and thermal insulation) of the screed. Builders and renovators can meet project specifications while optimizing material usage with the aid of this calculation.

When natural clay is heated to high temperatures, it expands to create lightweight aggregates that can be used in a variety of construction applications. This material is known as expanded clay. Its application in floor screeds contributes to overall weight reduction without sacrificing strength, which makes it perfect for both commercial and residential projects. Comprehending the particular prerequisites and advantages of employing expanded clay guarantees that building or remodeling endeavors transpire smoothly and economically.

Data for calculation

Expanded clay weeds are not the same.

• Dry screed is a simple pouring of material onto the base with compaction and leveling.
• A lightweight screed on a leveling bedding involves installing a sand concrete covering over a layer of expanded clay.
• To produce a “wet” screed, expanded clay is added to the concrete as a filler.

Use a different expanded clay calculator in every situation, and be familiar with the technology used to create a given screed in order to obtain precise results.

The necessary quantity of materials can theoretically be calculated using formulas, but an online calculator will complete the task considerably more quickly and error-free.

The calculator will always require the following input data in order to calculate expanded clay per 1 m2:

• the length and width of the room or its total area;
• thickness of the screed or backfill under it;
• expanded clay fraction (grain size).

The program will also require additional parameters based on the type of screed and the manufacturing technology used.

Calculation for dry screed

With a density of roughly 1500–1700 kg/m3, fine expanded clay backfill serves as the foundation for the dry screed.

Gypsum fiber sheets with stepped edges are laid on top of the dry screed after compaction and the creation of an even horizontal level along the guides. This ensures tight joining of the elements and creates a continuous surface for applying the final coating.

The calculator will ask for standard information, such as the area of backfill and the height to which the floor level needs to be raised, in order to calculate the consumption of expanded clay for floor screed per 1 m2. In most cases, the calculation algorithm already has the screed density set.

There is a caveat, though: the height refers to the overall difference between the current base and the GVL coating rather than the thickness of the expanded clay layer.

In its calculations, the program independently accounts for specific technological features.

• If the height of the dry screed does not exceed 100 mm, it is performed in one layer and is folded from the thickness of this layer and thickness of the gypsuminated sheet (20 mm).
• If height is more than 100 mm, then the screed is made in two layers with the separation of GVL, the total thickness of which in the screed will be 40 mm.

Note: It may be excessively mobile even with excellent compaction if the height of dry expense is greater than 80 mm in the absence of a separation layer.

The thickness of the dry screed varies depending on where it is applied because the initial base is rarely uniform. As a result, the program accounts for the requirement to level out height variations when determining the amount of expanded clay needed per square meter, adding 5–10% of the material to the final "net" result.

We look at how much expanded clay is needed per square meter for floor screed in this guide. We assist builders and homeowners in comprehending the practical aspects of utilizing expanded clay in their flooring projects by simplifying the consumption calculations. This article offers clear insights into maximizing material use and guaranteeing effective screed application, whether you’re building new floors or renovating existing ones. This will help you plan and budget more effectively for your next building or renovation project.

Calculation for a “wet” screed

The primary benefits of using expanded clay in place of crushed stone in concrete are that it reduces the rough coating’s weight and improves its thermal insulation properties. This is particularly crucial for individual homes with wooden floors that aren’t meant to support heavy loads.

You must first ascertain the thickness of the expanded clay concrete screed in order to calculate the necessary amount of each material. It should not be less than 40 mm, depending on the level variations throughout the entire area being poured, as a layer with less thickness frequently cracks.

Speaking of which, It is advisable to increase the screed thickness to 8–10 cm if the first floor is supported by a cold subterranean level or an unheated basement.

You will need to enter the following parameters in the expanded clay calculator for floor screed in addition to the intended layer thickness, the area that needs to be leveled, and the percentage of material used:

• brand of cement used;
• required grade of concrete strength.

This information is required to create a screed with specific strength properties, which calls for exact adherence to the dosage of every ingredient in the mixture.

Certain programs incorporate additional parameters into the calculation algorithm, such as the type of plasticizer and additional additives. The use of related materials, such as a metal mesh for screed reinforcement, is also determined by others.

Kindly take note! The majority of online calculators determine expanded clay consumption using a minimum fraction of 10 mm. The higher density of expanded clay sand could cause automatic calculations to be off.

They frequently use standard component proportions when making their own screeds, but they don’t always pay close attention to them to get the right concrete grade. You can perform all of the computations on your own in these situations without the use of a calculator.

Let’s look at an example of how to calculate the amount of expanded clay used per square meter at a thickness of five centimeters.

• Let’s assume that to prepare a solution for 1 part of M400 cement, 4 parts of expanded clay and 3 parts of sand are required.
• There are 8 parts in total, half of which are expanded clay.
• The volume of the screed is 0.05 cubic meters.
• Half of this volume is 0.025 cubic meters.

One cube containing 250 kg of bulk material equals 250×0.025 = 6.25 kg in 0.025 m3. To fill one square area, exactly this much filler will be needed. Multiply the resultant number by the area of the screed to determine the total consumption, then add 5–10%.

Calculation for lightweight screed

Unlike dry screed, lightweight screed is applied over the expanded clay backfill using regular sand-cement mortar rather than sheet materials.

In these situations, it is simple to calculate expanded clay manually by multiplying the floor surface area by the backfill layer’s height, which is at least 20 mm. However, using the calculator will enable you to obtain more precise data. As a result, you must search for a screed calculation program that considers the potential for utilizing the underlying layer made of expanded clay.

Advantages of using online calculators

The most basic programs only display the results of calculations based on the weight or volume of materials and use a standard algorithm. However, reputable businesses that perform maintenance and building work typically use specific, well-tested varieties of expanded clay and related materials for screed. They develop better calculators that allow you to determine the total cost of labor and materials, including delivery to the project, and data on the consumption of each screed component.

When using traditional programs, you should be aware of the units of measurement used to present the results, such as cubic meters, liters, kilograms, or the quantity of bags of a specific volume.

For every building project, figuring out how much expanded clay is required for the floor screed is essential. Builders can efficiently control expenses and materials by figuring out the consumption per square meter. Because of its insulating qualities and light weight, expanded clay is a great material to use when building a base that is both stable and heat-efficient.

The thickness of the screed layer and the desired features, like load-bearing capacity and insulation, should be taken into account when planning your project. Expanded clay usually acts as better insulation when applied thicker, but this requires more material. Finding the ideal balance between cost, thermal efficiency, and structural requirements is made easier with the use of the consumption calculator.

Furthermore, knowing the consumption per square meter enables builders to precisely project the total cost of materials. By ensuring that there is an adequate supply of expanded clay, this computation maximizes budget allocation and reduces construction delays. It is a useful tool that guarantees the quality of the floor screed and increases project management efficiency.

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