Installing flooring elements and accessories is now easier than ever. Most products come with clear and easy-to-follow instructions, and the systems work in your favor to help you install parquet or tiles without problems.
However, floor installation doesn't just involve adding tiles over concrete. To achieve a uniform result that won't cause future problems such as cracking or element detachment, it is essential to ensure that șapa is done correctly.
What is a șapa and what types of șapa are there?
Șapa is an additional layer made up of different types of construction materials that are poured over the concrete slab in a space. Its role is to level the surface to prepare it for the installation of flooring elements.
This layer has the ability to even out the level, fill gaps, or even influence the difference in level for situations that require this, such as facilitating the removal of water from the bathroom to a drain. In this case, a subtle slope can be created in the floor so that the water slides efficiently towards the drainage source.
The types of șapa differ depending on the materials in their composition and adhesion capabilities. They also differ in their specific applications, as some are specifically designed for industrial projects, while others are suitable for residential construction applications. Here are the most commonly used options and their distinct characteristics:
Self-leveling șapa
Monolithic șapa, known for its self-adhesive properties, is predominantly used in industrial projects as it does not require the installation of an intermediate layer and has good adhesion. The choice of this option for industrial applications is due to its high mechanical resistance.
However, a disadvantage of self-leveling șapa is that it does not provide protection against water infiltration, so it is not recommended in places where the floor gets wet frequently. For situations where the moisture level is high or constantly present, semi-dry șapa is used.
Floating șapa
Floating șapa is the variant that differs completely from the self-adhesive option because while monolithic șapa adheres to the underlying concrete layer, floating șapa has no connection element with the base layer. Normally, an intermediate layer known as a vapor barrier is added, which comes in the form of a polyethylene film.
