What is Floor Screed?
Floor screed, believe it or not, is not too different from concrete. Both are made of cement, aggregate and water. However, the type of cement and the size of the aggregate is different. Screed is made with smaller aggregates, a different grade of cement and is mixed to a different consistency. This means that the situations when you would need to use concrete and screed are different. As a flooring blog, let’s focus on the use of screed for flooring purposes.
Screed and Flooring Uses
- Screed is normally used to top concrete when building. This creates a smoother top upon which you can install a variety of floorcoverings like carpet, wood and tiles.
- You could also mix colour into screed and use it to create a colourful top floor. This is quite common in commercial spaces like shops and restaurants, where you need a tougher floor to deal with heavier footfall.
- Screed can also be used to level your floor. Let’s say you ripped up your old floor and you took out chunks of the subfloor or maybe your subfloor is even damaged. You can use a layer of screed to create a new, smooth, level surface to lay your new floorcovering on.
- Underfloor heating. If you’ve decided to install underfloor heating, you can apply a thin layer of screed over that system before laying your floorcovering of choice on top.
Conclusion
If you’re a flooring professional, then you probably know your way around screed like the back of your hand. You even probably have your go to brands! However, if you’re a DIYer or are new to the world of flooring, it can be tricky to know what product you need for which situation. Seek professional advice if in doubt. Happy flooring!
