Screed flooring is a layer of concrete that is placed under a new floor covering, such as tiles or wooden boards. This provides an even surface that can withstand the impact of heavy footfall and can also act as insulation for underfloor heating. It can be laid bonded directly to the concrete base, laid unbonded on top of a damp proof membrane or as a floating layer on top of insulation material.

The best way to achieve a smooth, level floor is to use a screed. This can be purchased ready-mixed or mixed on-site and can vary in thickness depending on the job in hand – for example, a domestic, lightweight application only needs to be around 50mm thick while heated floors may require a slightly thicker option.

Screed Flooring: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Dry screed floor panels are an ideal solution for commercial applications where time is of the essence. The interlocking panels can be installed on site or offsite and only take 24 hours to be fully trafficable, allowing floor finishes to be fitted much sooner than with traditional screed.

To lay a floor screed, the concrete surface must be roughened to allow the screed to grip onto it (also known as bonding). A shot blaster or grinder is typically used to accomplish this. Then the area must be vacuumed to remove airborne particles and a bonding agent should be applied. It’s important to work expediently after administering the bonding agent as concrete screed is prone to shrinkage during curing cycles, which can lead to hygrometric cracking – fissures that appear in the floor.