Latex Flooring – Self Levelling Screed

What’s the Difference Between Screed and Concrete?

The creation of concrete requires a coarser mixture in comparison to screed. Concrete needs harder, bigger aggregates in order to achieve extreme durability and longevity. The coarser mixture is what gives concrete its durable lifespan.

This is why concrete is the go-to for the vast majority of industrial areas across the UK. It remains the most popular man-made material in both the construction industry and the world.

Screed, by comparison, uses almost half the amount of aggregates used in cement, making the mix smoother. While is is not naturally as durable as concrete, this is not its primary purpose. Screed us commonly applied on top of concrete slabs, adding a finishing later to commercial and residential flooring. Screed flooring is typically used to top the concrete slabs so that carpet, tiles, wood flooring or resin top coatings can be applied.

Additionally, screed is also used to colour flooring. If screed is required in areas that see heavy traffic (commercial locations, such as restaurants, universities etc) then the screed will need to be harder to withstand the traffic.

Screed flooring is commonly used for internal purposes, such as covering heating and thermal insulation systems. They are an ideal alternative to concrete as they remain durable and their smooth enough to allow for additional flooring (carpet, wood etc).

The Different Types of Screed:

Although screed can be created and mixed to fit specific requirements, generally speaking, there are four different types of screed.

Underfloor screed
Arguably the most common use for screed. This type of screed is poured over heating pipes as opposed to insulating material. The thinness of screed allows for good heat flow.

Floating screed
Similar to underfloor screed, floating screed is usually applied to a layer of insulation with a damp proof member over it (separating the insulation from the screed).

Bonded screed
This type of screed is bonded to the concrete using an extremely strong bonding agent or primer.

Unbonded screed
Typically applied to damp proof membranes to separate the final layer of screed from the concrete base.