Gypcrete Floor Prep 101
Renovating or building your home is an exciting and important milestone. However, there may be a lot of things that you’re unfamiliar with, or unsure on how or what to do to prepare. Things like, gypcrete floor prep.
What is gypcrete?
The term gypcrete comes from the brand name “Gyp-Crete” which has come to be generally known to describe Gypcrete Concrete. It’s a mixture of gypsum plaster, Portland cement and sand. It is commonly used for wood-frame and concrete construction structures as a floor underlayment meaning that it’s the layer that sits between wood subfloor and the floor covering of a building.
What are the benefits of using gypcrete?
Gypcrete has many benefits as a floor underlayment.
Fire resistance
Gypcrete is fire retardant! This is because gypcrete has crystallized water, so when it’s exposed to extremely high temperatures it evaporates; cooling and slowing down heat transmission.
Durability
Gypcrete is very similar to concrete and is very resistant to cracks. It is a great and reliable alternative to concrete.
Reduces sound
Gypcrete is a great floor underlayment for houses and apartment buildings where you don’t want sound to travel.
Easy to install
Gypcrete is much more lightweight than concrete, making it easier to pour and cure
How do you prepare for gypcrete?
Whether you’re hiring a contractor or deciding to DIY your gypcrete floor prep it’s important that you prepare for when you start to poor.
Ensure the area is clear
The way gypcrete adheres depends on how clear and clean the area is. Some of the things that you can do is clean any dust, dirt, oil, grease, paint and any leftover adhesives. You’ll also want to cover up and seal holes to prevent the gypcrete mixture from leaking outside of the application area.
If there’s anything you should take away from this, it’s that the adhesion of gypcrete depends on how well YOU clean up after construction. It’s understandable if you’re not wanting to do all of that work. So, if you’re in Winnipeg - we can do it for you! At Showroom Janitorial Inc. post construction clean up and gypcrete floor prep is one of our favourite things to do. You can connect with us to get a custom quote on our custom cleaning services