What is Floor Screed? Types, Advantages, Installation, and more

You can plan on having a new floor furnished with elegant finishes. You have learned about the floor screed, especially designed to flatten your floor surface. It is new for many people as they do not understand what it is. Fortunately, Ready Mix Concrete London has worked hard to create an ultimate guide to learning about screed and its types, applications, and benefits.

Whether you’re building or remodelling, the floors go unnoticed. A layer of cementitious material, called floor screed, will make your floor look appealing and ensure optimum performance for many years to come.

What is Floor Screed?

A floor screed is a thin layer of cementitious material applied to concrete slabs or subfloors in construction and remodelling projects. Its main purpose is to create a flat surface for all types of flooring materials, including wood, carpet, laminate, and tiles.

As a levelling agent, floor screed can rectify any loopholes or inadequacies in the concrete subfloors, providing an immaculate finish for the flooring above. It is undoubtedly the most flexible floor flattening solution for excellent acoustic and thermal insulation.

what-is-floor-screed-types-advantages-installation-and-more

Types of Screed

There are multiple types of screed available, each with its strengths and unique features. Depending on your requirements and flooring needs, you can prefer a particular type over others.

Bonded Screed

A bonded screed is ideal for heavy-weight surfaces like driveways and car parks. It is bonded fully to the substrate and has a range thickness of 25mm to 40mm.

Unbonded Screed

A damp-proof membrane separates an unbonded screed and does not bind with the substrate directly. Because of the membrane, it reduces shrinkage, settlement, and dampness and is used with a thickness of more than 50mm. It can also be installed at thinner levels by doing some modifications.

Floating Screed

This type of screed is applied above a layer of insulation or over an underfloor heating (UFH) system. Its thickness of 65mm to 75mm ensures maximum heating efficiency. A slip membrane separates thermal or acoustic insulation from the screed.

Liquid Screed

Liquid screed is popular because it has a quick drying time and is a self-levelling and free-flowing agent in any environment. Depending on its installation method, it can be installed as a bonded or floating screed with thicknesses of 30mm and 40mm.

what-is-floor-screed-types-advantages-installation-and-more

Environments in Which Installing a Screed Floor is Beneficiary

There are multiple environments in which incorporating floor screed gives huge benefits. Examples comprise:

  • Domestic Installations: Screed flooring can be used in residential settings. Refurbishing or installing insulation that includes UFH heating can be crucial in multiple cases. The screed floor provides a base for added flooring materials.
  • Warehouse: It is mainly designed to bear heavy loads and is extremely valuable in an industrial setting such as a warehouse. In this scenario, a layer of screed with heavy-duty properties can reduce the influence of employees’ or vehicles’ frequent to and for movement.
  • Healthcare & Hospitals: The nature of screed flooring is regularly incorporated in settings where hygienic conditions are necessary. Once the screed layer is added, large areas will level to suitable heights and provide easy-to-clean flooring.

Advantages of Using Floor Screed Over Concrete

Depending on the specific needs of the projects, you can choose between screed and concrete. Although concrete is known for its structural strength, screed is favoured because of its multiple applications. It ensures the following:

  • Levelling and smoothing
  • Enhance harmony with floor finishing
  • Improved insulations
  • Reduced thickness and weight
  • Customisable options
  • Unmatched structural strength
  • Quick Installation
  • Enhanced durability
what-is-floor-screed-types-advantages-installation-and-more

Step-by-Step Process of Screed Flooring

You can follow a meticulous approach to levelling the indoor floor through screed. You can choose the screed according to the manufacturer’s guide and according to what suits your flooring.

  • Make segments of the floor
  • Apply the coat of screed
  • Level the screeding
  • Repeat for every segment and seal the gaps
  • Float the screed
  • Let the leveller cure

Versatile Uses of Floor Screed

Floor screed is among the most flexible flooring options. It can be utilised for various projects. Let’s explore its multiple applications.

  • Residential Construction
  • Institutional Facilities
  • Commercial Spaces
  • Industrial Settings

At Ready Mix Concrete London, we help homeowners and businesses get the most out of screed. With expert help and a personalised approach, no matter the type of screed you want, you can expect ideal outcomes.

Conclusion

To summarise, screed flooring is crucial to achieving ideal finishing if properly installed by pros. They have the right tools and utilise best practices to complete the project successfully. You can get screed to get level surfaces for meticulous installation of floor finishes. It contributes highly to the artistic and operational features of a building. It is not just limited to flattening the surface; it can bridge a gap between foundations and finishing, enhancing the structural integrity of your property. Screed flooring is continuously involved with the discovery of construction methods.

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