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Floor Screeding (UK): If you are restoring a property or cellar, are aiming to install underfloor heating or have a damaged or uneven floor in your UK property, it is time to consider bringing in a floor screeding professional. A screed is used to produce a smooth floor on top of a concrete sub-base and give a solid foundation for you final flooring material. The screeding is a vital process to guarantee a high quality and durable finish to the entire floor surface.

FLOOR SCREEDING CONTRACTORS UK

Whatever shape or size of room or area you're renovating, a floor screeding specialist in the UK will be able to supply the experience and correct working methods to establish the perfect base for your floors. After analyzing your project they'll advise you on the optimal choice of screed and which technique for laying it is most suitable for your situation.

They'll additionally assess if a structural engineer is required to make sure any point loadings, load requirements and flex strength are followed as laid down in the building regulations.

Skilled and qualified trades-people are essential to a successful result and will extend your floor's lifespan by using the right form of screed for the proposed purpose of your room. The correct mix of screed and the methods used for laying it are also critical to ensure the final durability of your floor surface.

Make sure that you get more than one price quote for your UK based floor screeding project and also ask what standard of finish each estimate is for. The SR (Surface Regularity) finish is the number to look for when receiving an estimate from UK screeding contractors. SR1 is the best level, and whilst SR2 and SR3 might be less costly at first glance, they don't guarantee a perfectly flat or even floor surface. An SR2 or SR3 level might mean there are ridges or flat spots that might cause issues when putting down your final floor surface.

British Standards BS8204 sets down the guidelines and regulations that all UK screeding companies are required to follow, and if using specialist screeding solutions, (Flowcrete, Gypsol, Cemfloor etc), they ought to be approved by the manufacturers as being skilled and trained in their use. The testing and training of a screeding company by such manufacturers is highlighted by the use of the accreditation scheme, and offers assurances of reliability and safe working practices on any flooring project involving their materials.

TYPES OF SCREED

Standard Screeds - A blend of sand and cement which is good for everyday domestic use. The ratios involved in standard screeds are five parts sand to one part cement. After laying a standard flooring screed dries out at a rate of 1mm/day.

Fast Drying and Advanced Drying Screeds - As the name would suggest, this screed dries rapidly and allows you to use the floor area much faster. Drying at a rate of 3-7mm, determined by the mix, they are normally a fibre reinforced kind of screed and are great for projects which have tight deadlines.

Industrial and Heavy Duty Screed - A screed that's designed for heavy traffic and high load areas where maximum strength and durability is necessary.

Liquid or Self-Levelling Screeds - A cement and latex mixture which can produce the highest standard SR1 finish. This self-levelling compound provides a smooth and clean surface over a damaged floor or rough substrate to enable all flooring materials to be laid. This liquid screed can be poured to a depth of only 1mm, but will still provide a strong surface for a wide range of flooring finishes.

Fibre Reinforced Screed - The favoured option where under floor heating is being installed in domestic homes in the UK. The greater strength and flex offered by the fibres within the screed help protect the resulting floor from thermal shrinkage and cracking. It dries at an identical rate to a standard screed, at about 1mm per day.

Polymer Screeds - When a reduced thickness of floor is needed due to building factors, a polymer screed offers a high strength solution to this problem. Because of their different chemical compositions, polymer screeds have varying curing times which can be verified by viewing manufacturer's own product guidelines.

SCREEDING PREPARATION AND INSTALLATION

To enable the screeding to be of a good quality finish which is durable and hard wearing, time must be devoted to fully preparing the area before any screeding material is poured. Any oil, debris, paint and grease on the existing floor level can affect the bonding of the screed, and must be eradicated.

If cleansing products have been used it is important to remove any residues of detergent, soap etc, and leave the surface to dry naturally. If screeding over a stone or cement floor all cracks should be repaired to prevent them from "travelling" up through a screed layer and resulting in deviations on the finished floor surface. During an on-site survey your UK screeding contractor will ascertain what preparations are necessary before any actual screeding work starts.

Before the screeding can be laid a DPM (damp proof membrane) must be put down to protect the screed and final flooring from moisture. The DPM is made from thick polythene sheet and various layers may be used to act as a moisture barrier for the screed.

A further air-tight barrier could be needed if your house is in an area that's known to be prone to radon gas emissions. A simple airtight membrane may be suitable in areas with low radon measurements, however in more extreme situations there may need to be a more sophisticated extraction system to take away any harmful radon.

The final step of the surface preparation process is the spraying or painting of a sealer or primer. These primers and sealers will ensure the screed bonds perfectly to the floor base and help achieve a quality finished floor. Equipment such as airless sprays can be used to apply a sealant or primer, which should be done by professional screeding companies in the UK following the manufacturer's guidelines.

Under floor heating can now be installed and tested before screeding is applied. The under floor heating system is laid out in the correct pattern and firmly mounted on insulation panels to avoid potential movement in the course of the screed application. Warmth is spread evenly across the floor in a skillfully installed under floor heating system, and with it being an efficient choice of heating, it is an excellent choice for many UK renovation projects.

If you're not installing under floor heating the screed will now be prepared on site and laid. Your use of the room will assist the screeding company on what kind of screed is right for your requirements. After the pouring of the screed there'll be a minimum twenty four hours (for quick drying and advanced screeds) before you're able to walk on the surface, and a 72 hrs minimum setting time before the laying of any flooring materials. This time period is increased for standard and heavy duty screeds and the manufacture's guidelines should be followed to the letter to accomplish the optimal finish and longevity of the floor.

Once the screed has hardened it can be checked for quality to determine the SR level. Using a two metre straight-edge the surface is examined for any deviations, dips and ridges in the surface of the screed.

• SR1 - Disparities of 3mm or less as measured across the entire floor area shows your screed to be of the highest quality and is categorised as SR1.

• SR2 - SR2 is for normal standard industrial and commercial floors and can deviate from the straight-edge by up to five millimetres.

• SR3 - For other floors where the finish is comparatively immaterial the SR3 is the standard and should have a maximum deviation measurement of 10 millimetres or less.

If your screed floor has been installed with particular loading in mind then a qualified structural engineer is going to be needed to conduct the assessment. Using specialised equipment the structural engineer will ascertain the screeding strength and suitability of use in a load bearing environment. The screed could be given a "drop hammer test" to gauge strength and flexibility in distinct areas. Only certified structural engineers following the British Standards BS8204 regulations are permitted to carry out such tests and sign off on the structural safety of screed flooring. (Tags: Floor Screeding UK, Floor Screeding Services UK, Screeding UK, Floor Screed(UK).

The Tools Required for Screeding Floors

• Dappling Bar
• Floor Profile
• Gloves
• Straight Edge
• Trowel
• Float
• Tape Measure
• Wheelbarrow
• Knee Protectors
• Spade
• Heavy Duty Spirit Level

Related Tasks

There is a range of work that can be carried out by your local UK floor screeding company including basement screeding, floor repairs, rapid strength floor screeding UK, underfloor heating installations, concrete pumping UK, hospital floor screeding, fibre reinforced floor screeding UK, floor screeding advice, polished floor screeding, bonded concrete floor screeding, floor insulation, floor screeding quotes, conservatory screeding UK, waterproof screeding, quick-dry screeds in the UK, damp proof membranes, and more floor screeding tasks.

Floor Screeding Services UK

Find Floor Screeding in the UK Here

• UK Cheap Screeding
• UK Fast-Dry Floor Screeding
• UK Screed Calculator Service
• UK Polished Screed Floors
• UK Floor Levelling
• UK Liquid Screeds
• UK Domestic Floor Screeding
• UK Underfloor Heating Installations
• UK Screeding Services
• UK Floor Damp Proofing
• UK Fibre Reinforced Screeding
• UK Floor Screeding Advice
• UK Floor Screeding
• UK Floor Insulation

Underfloor Heating - Floor Screeding Services - Floor Screeder - Self-Levelling Screeding - Commercial Screeding - Screeding Estimates - Screeders - Floor Levelling