Knauf putty: overview of species and their characteristics

Knauf high-tech solutions for repair and decoration are familiar to almost every professional builder, and many home craftsmen prefer to deal with the products of this brand. The hit among dry building mixtures was the putty "Fugenfuller", which changed its name to "Fugen", which, however, did not affect its composition, performance and quality characteristics, which, like all representatives of the huge Knauf family, are beyond praise. In our article we will talk about the possibilities of Knauf Fugen putty and its variations, types of gypsum mixtures, the nuances of working with them and the rules for choosing finishing coatings for leveling the surfaces of various building structures.

Any builder knows that it is preferable to use plaster, putty and primer from one manufacturer. Knauf, with its extensive product portfolio, makes this problem easy. All putty mixtures produced under this brand (starting, finishing, universal) are a mandatory component of repair work. Finishing coatings are classified according to several criteria.

In accordance with the area of ​​use, the leveling coating is:

1. Basic, characterized by a coarse consistency and used for rough leveling of the base. The main component of the composition can be gypsum stone or cement. Potholes, large cracks and craters on walls and ceilings are also repaired with starter fillers. Their advantages are a good strength reserve, the creation of additional sound insulation and an attractive cost.
2. Universal - has almost the same properties as the base, but it is already used not only as a putty, but also for filling drywall seams. The advantage is the ability to apply on any substrate.
3. Finishing - is a finely dispersed mixture for thin-layer puttying (the applied layer does not exceed 2 mm in thickness), a base for decorative finishing. This material is used for pre-finishing surfaces.

Depending on the binder in the composition, which largely determines the technical characteristics, putty mixture can be:

• Cement - cement-based coatings are used for facade finishing and damp rooms, as they are resistant to temperature extremes and humidity.
• Gypsum - leveling coatings based on gypsum stone are relatively inexpensive, easy to smooth, making them pleasant to work with.
• Polymer - these finishing materials are used when the renovation enters the home stretch. Ready-made polymer compositions are stored for more than a day and are distinguished by ease of grinding, which is especially appreciated by finishers.

All Knauf putties are divided into two categories. The first is represented by dry mixes, and the second - by ready-made putties. Guided by the tasks and conditions of the premises, the craftsmen select the necessary types of building mixtures.

Knauf bags are most often found on construction sites, regardless of the scale of the finishing work. The leveling coatings of the German brand are used with equal success for the decoration of multifunctional complexes, apartments, offices and sales areas.

Let's take a look at some of them.

Fugen gypsum putty mixtures are dry powdery conglomerates, the main component of which is a gypsum binder and various modifying additives that improve the properties of the mixtures. Their demand is due to their high technical characteristics, ease of use and versatility of use.

With their help, you can perform the following types of work:

• Fill the joints after installing the gypsum board with a semicircular edge. In this case, a serpyanka (reinforcing tape) is used.
• To close cracks, minor drops and other local defects of drywall, to restore damaged tongue-and-groove partition and concrete slabs.
• Fill joints between precast concrete elements.
• Install and fill joints between gypsum tongue-and-groove slabs.

• Glue gypsum plasterboards onto substrates with a tolerance of 4 mm in order to level vertical surfaces.
• Glue and putty various plaster elements.
• Install metal reinforcing corners.
• To putty with a continuous thin layer of plastered, plasterboard, concrete bases.

A series of Fugenfuller Knauf Fugen putties is represented by a universal version of the gypsum mixture and two of its varieties: GF finishing coatings for processing gypsum fiber surfaces (GVL) or Knauf-superlists, and Hydro for working on moisture-resistant gypsum board (GKLV) and moisture and fire-resistant sheet material (GKLVO ).

Performance characteristics and nuances of using this mixture:

• The structure of the material is fine-grained, the average size of the fractions is 0.15 mm.
• The limiting values ​​of the layer thickness are 1-5 mm.
• The working temperature is at least + 10 ° C.
• The pot life of the finished solution is half an hour.
• The storage period is limited to six months.

Mechanical properties:

1. Compressive strength - from 30.59 kg / cm2.
2. Flexural strength - from 15.29 kg / cm2.
3. Indicators of adhesion to the base - from 5.09 kgf / cm2.

The gypsum mixture is packed in sealed multilayer paper bags with a volume of 5/10/25 kg. The reverse side of the package contains detailed instructions for use. The manufacturer recommends using wooden pallets for storage.

Pros:

• This is an environmentally friendly composition that does not harm human health, which is confirmed by a certificate of environmental safety.
• Ease of operation. To prepare the working solution, only water and a construction mixer are needed. Following the instructions, add water to the powder, taking into account the indicated proportions and mix thoroughly, after which the composition can be used.
• High rate of strength gain. With continuous puttying of surfaces, this is not so obvious, although the likelihood that the putty will peel off the walls is zero. In cases with the restoration of local damage or the installation of reinforced corners, the use of a high-strength mixture provides significant advantages.

• Low rate of consumption of the mixture: provided that all walls of a typical 2-room apartment with an area of ​​30-46 sq. m using lighthouses, you can putty on relatively flat surfaces with one 25-kilogram bag "Fugen".
• Ideal surface quality for pasting or painting. The putty base turns out to be absolutely smooth, like a mirror.
• Acceptable cost. A 25 kg bag of gypsum universal mixture costs about 500 rubles.

Minuses:

• The intensity of the setting of the working solution.
• Heavy and demanding sanding. Moreover, it is impossible to solve this problem quickly and without the use of rather serious physical force, even with the help of an abrasive mesh-cloth with a grain of 100.
• The inability to apply a layer more than 5 mm.
• There is a high probability of getting spotted walls with dark gaps if you stick thin wallpaper in light colors.

The difference between Fugen GF (GW) and the standard product is the higher flow rate. Otherwise, they are identical.

As for Fugen Hydro, this mixture has moisture resistant properties due to its composition containing water repellents - binding impregnations based on organosilicon components.

What works are best done with a hydrophobic dry mixture:

• Fill the seams of moisture-resistant (GKLV) or moisture-resistant (GKLVO) sheets.
• Glue moisture resistant drywall to the pre-leveled base.
• Fill cracks, recesses and other local defects in concrete floors.
• Install and putty moisture-resistant partitioning tongue-and-groove plates.

The moisture-resistant mixture is sold exclusively in 25-kilogram bags, its purchase costs twice as much as ordinary putty.

It is a specialized high-strength waterproof compound with gypsum binder and polymer additives, the unsurpassed mechanical properties of which make it the absolute leader among existing analogues.

It is designed to work with sheet materials, namely:

• Plasterboard sheets (gypsum plasterboard) with rounded thinned edges. In this case, there is no need to use a reinforcing tape.
• Knauf gypsum fiber super sheets (GVL).
• Knauf-superfloor made of GVLV-elements.
• Perforated plates.

The scope of Uniflot is limited exclusively to filling the joints of the materials listed.

Advantages:

• Increased strength properties combined with high ductility.
• Excellent adhesion.
• Guaranteed to eliminate post-drying shrinkage and joint cracking, including the most problematic transverse seams of gypsum plasterboards.
• Can be used in rooms with any humidity conditions. Uniflot has the ability to resist moisture due to its hydrophobic properties.

The finished mixture retains its working properties for 45 minutes, after which it begins to thicken. Since the composition does not shrink, it is necessary to fill the joints with it flush, so as not to waste time and effort later on grinding the protrusions and sagging. Since gypsum is mined in various places, the color of the powder is pure white, pinkish or gray, which does not affect the quality indicators in any way.

At the final stage of finishing work, it remains only to eliminate minor irregularities in order to obtain smooth, strong, even walls for decorative finishing.

Just for these purposes, two solutions of topcoats are optimally suited in the form of:

1. Dry gypsum putty mixture containing Knauf Rotband Finish polymer additives.
2. Knauf Rotband Pasta Profi ready-to-use vinyl putty.

Both mixtures for interior decoration have high plasticity, ease of use, exclude shrinkage and cracking of the putty surfaces. Their field of application is continuous thin-layer puttying of concrete, plastered with compositions based on cement and gypsum, finished with fiberglass surfaces of building structures.

When leveling walls or ceilings with a ready-made finishing coating "Knauf Rotband Pasta Profi", the permissible values ​​of the applied layer thickness vary within the range of 0.08-2 mm. Surfaces can be processed with paste manually or by machine. With a mixture of "Knauf Rotband Finish" carry out the finishing putty and apply only by hand. The maximum thickness of the applied layer is 5 mm. It is impossible to close the seams of the gypsum board with this material.

Walls or ceilings with a solid base are putty with this gypsum plaster. The mixture is used for interior finishing work in rooms with normal humidity conditions. The admissible values ​​of the applied layer thickness are 0.2-3 mm. Compressive strength - ≤ 20.4 kgf / cm2, bending - 10.2 kgf / cm2.

Also noteworthy is Knauf Polymer Finish, the first powdery finish to be based on a polymer binder. Those who want to achieve the perfect wall surface for wallpaper, painting or other decorative coatings should definitely opt for this mixture. Knauf Polymer Finish can be applied after using other Knauf products, including the legendary Rotband plaster.

Pros:

• Provides minimal shrinkage due to microfibers in the composition.
• It is very easy to grind and excludes fragmentary shedding of the coating during grinding, since it is characterized by a small grain size.
• Differs in extreme viability - the mortar mixture does not lose its working properties for three days.
• Has a high adhesive ability.
• Crack resistant and ductile.

A bonus for buyers is a convenient volume of 20 kg bags.

Basic putty mixtures, the main component of which is cement with the addition of filler and polymer additives, are presented in two coating options - Knauf Multi-finish in gray and white.

With their help you can:

• Partially or completely level out concrete and facade surfaces treated with cement plaster mixtures.
• To carry out interior decoration of premises with high humidity conditions.
• Fill cracks and fill holes to restore the integrity of the walls.

In the case of continuous leveling, the permissible application thicknesses are from 1 to 3 mm, and for partial leveling up to 5 mm. The advantage of using a white mixture is the ability to obtain an ideal base for decorating with interior paints.

Both mixtures have the same performance properties:

• Compressive strength - 40.8 kgf / cm2.
• Adhesion capacity - 5.098 kgf / cm2.
• Pot life of the mortar mixture is at least 3 hours.
• Frost resistance - 25 cycles.

When calculating the consumption of leveling coatings per 1 m2 of surface, it is necessary to take into account:

1. The permissible values ​​of the thickness of the mixture, which for different leveling coatings can vary from 0.2 to 5 mm.
2. The type of base to be processed.
3. The presence and degree of unevenness in the base.

The consumption rate is also influenced by the type of finishing work.

Consider, using Fugen as an example, how much mixture is consumed:

• If the seams of the gypsum board are sealed, then the production rate is considered to be 0.25 kg / 1m2.
• When filling with a continuous layer of millimeter thickness - from 0.8 to 1 kg / 1 m2.
• If you install tongue-and-groove plates, then the rate of use of the finishing coating will almost double, that is, it will already be 1.5 kg / 1m2.

Whereas a 20-kilogram bag of universal composition can already cover an area of ​​25 squares.

You already know that the putty can be dry or ready-made.

Before making a choice in favor of powder or paste, you need to consider the following factors:

• The cost of the finished leveling coating is higher, although the quality of the finished surface will be the same as when using a dry mix.
• The shelf life of powder formulations is longer, while they do not require special storage conditions.
• Correct preparation of a dry mixture implies obtaining a homogeneous mass of a certain viscosity and without lumps, which is not always possible for beginners to do.
• Dry putty, based on the task at hand, can be easily given the desired consistency by making it thicker for filling drywall joints and basic putty or slurry for thin-layer putty at the finishing stage.

High-quality surface finishing involves the use of several types of mixtures:

• The seams are filled with specialized compounds. It could be Uniflot or Fugen. As a last resort, use Knauf Multi-finish.
• The entire surface is putty with a starting mixture, after which a finishing or universal one, replacing both of these varieties.

Thus, when planning to work with drywall, it is most profitable to purchase a station wagon mixture and a special compound for joints.

Recently, in private construction, the use of water panels is increasingly practiced - cement slabs, which are universal, for interior or facade work. They are used in damp rooms or on facades as the basis for various building structures for finishing coatings.

In this case, the best solution would be to purchase a special dry mix Aquapanel, high-strength Uniflot or Fugen Hydro to seal joints and process curved surfaces.

Based on the fact that user reviews of Knauf putty mixtures are positive in 95% of cases, only one conclusion can be drawn: the products of the German brand are loved, appreciated and recommended to friends, as evidenced by high ratings - from 4.6 to 5 points. Most often, you can find reviews about the compositions of Fugen and HP Finish.

Of the advantages of "Fugen wagon", buyers note:

• Uniform application;
• Good adhesion;
• Possibility of high-quality and inexpensive surface finishing for painting;
• Very convenient use;
• Multifunctional application.

Interestingly, some consider Fugen's high setting speed as an advantage, while others as a disadvantage and complain about the need to work at a high pace.

The disadvantages of the mixture include:

• Grey colour;
• The impossibility of applying a thick layer;
• "Wise" technology for preparing a working solution.

Knauf HP Finish is chosen for its ability to create a high-quality, smooth surface, excellent adhesion, convenient operation, lack of unpleasant odor, harmless composition, crack resistance and, of course, low price. For those who have used Knauf products for a long time, it is fascinating that their quality remains consistently high for many years.

Despite the fact that Knauf mixes are easy to use, there are several rules that should be followed when working with them.

What you need to know:

• To dilute dry mixtures, take only clean running water with a temperature of 20-25 ° C. It is unacceptable to use hot, rusty water or liquid with debris.
• The powder is poured into a container with water, and not vice versa. If mixing is carried out with a power tool, then always at low speed. At high speeds, the composition is actively saturated with air and begins to bubble during operation.
• It is recommended to work with putties for interior finishing at temperatures not lower than + 10 ° C.

• Any base must be primed to increase adhesion and, as a result, the quality of the finish. While the soil is drying, it is impossible to treat the surface with a leveling compound.
• To prepare a new batch of plaster mix, always use clean tools and a container. If they are not rinsed, then, due to the frozen fragments, the speed of solidification of the working solution will automatically increase.
• When the joints are filled with a gypsum-based composition, then a serpyanka is used, pressing it into the coating with a spatula. The second layer of the mixture can be applied when the first is completely dry.

Stale mixtures tend to set too quickly, so it becomes inconvenient to work with them, and the viability of such compositions can be questioned. There is only one recommendation here: bypass the markets and purchase putties in large building markets.

For information on how to properly level the walls with Knauf putty, see the video below.