WHAT'S Screeding?

I often get asked "just what is screeding?" In short, screeding (at the very least as practiced in the UK) is really a thin, top layer of material such as sand or cement, that is poured on top of structural concrete or insulation. This material is then levelled and smoothed so it's the same height because the forms, or guides, that surround it. Imagine an individual measuring a cup of flour, then utilizing a knife to smooth the most notable. The flour is compacted and has a smooth top layer. That is screeding in its most elementary form.

The most common usage of screeding is in gardening and landscaping. The contractor pours concrete in to the forms or guides and allows it to fill to a certain height. To ensure the concrete will undoubtedly be level when it dries, screeding should be done now. To do this properly, a tool for instance a long piece of aluminium or timber, which is bigger than the guides, is slowly moved over the guides. This tool is also moved in a back and forth motion while screeding to level and smooth the concrete, which ensures a perfectly level floor. Additionally, there are industrial tools available, which are ideal for use over larger areas.

There are four main types of floor screeding designs:

   Bonded screed
   Unbonded screed
   Floating screed
   Underfloor heating screed

Bonded Screed
This needs to be laid on a shot-blasted / scabbled concrete base, and be bonded utilizing an adhesive such as PVA, SBR, epoxy resin or good old-fashioned cement.

Unbonded Screed
They are not bonded directly to the concrete base, but are intentionally debonded by using a DPM (damp-proof membrane).

Floating Screed
Floating screed is used along with rigid insulation boards. It is strongly recommended that the thickness of a floating screed should be between 65 and 90 mm.

Underfloor Heating Screed
A traditional sand and cement screed is an ideal selection of screed for underfloor heating. Under floor heating manufacturers and suppliers generally recommend the very least screed depth of 60 mm to use with their systems.

The delivery, mixing, and pumping of screed is usually from the single vehicle which pours the screed directly from the mixing pan to the floor at a variety of around 60 metres. For smaller applications, the screed could be hand laid.

Screeding could be left bare to attain a contemporary urban style to the building and it's environment, much like that in buildings by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who is renowned for exemplary craftsmanship which evokes a Japanese sense of space. Alternatively  Click for more info  finishing materials can be applied on top.