Month: May 2019

Can You Paint A Screeded Floor?

Screeded floors not only give you a beautiful, seamless floor finish but because of their longevity and durability, they are very economical. Used for both new build and renovation projects, they provide a smooth, level surface that’s perfect for painting.

Search any home design magazine and you’ll see just how on-trend a painted floor is at the moment.

But before you start painting, there are a few things you need to do.

Surface Preparation & Floor Cleaning

After your screed floor has been laid, you’ll find there will be some leftover laitance. These are just some fine particles, but they will need sanding. It’s best to get a trained contractor with specialised equipment to carry out this process, which will also remove any surface contaminants. Then make sure the floor is vacuumed thoroughly.

It’s highly recommended to use a primer before painting, which is specifically designed to fully seal the surface and adhere to the paint.

Then you’re ready to paint. There are many types of suitable floor paint, so it’s best to talk to a specialist paint store for all your options.

Benefits of Painting a Screed Floor

Reduce Dust: Paint will impregnate and seal the floor surface, which will reduce the amount of dust that gathers.

Stain Resistance: Concrete and screed are porous, meaning moisture can be absorbed into the surface. This means it’s susceptible to staining from things such as oils or fats. The painting will help prevent this.

High-Level Protection: Screed floors can have a lot of traffic, things dropped on them, people in high heels, etc. If you paint with hardwearing floor paint, you’ll help protect against wear and tear.

If you’re renovating or building a new home, painted screed can quickly give your home that designer look. It’s ideal if you want to put in underfloor heating, as it wastes very little heat.

To find out more about screeding and painting your floor or to request a quote for your project, contact UK Screeds today.

Liquid screeding has surpassed traditional floor screeds due to its many benefits. Yet sometimes mistakes occur. Details that are overlooked in the planning, installation or drying stage can be costly.

A recent report estimates £10 billion to £25 billion is wasted annually on construction errors in the UK. Thankfully, screeding mistakes are easily avoidable. Here are some of the common liquid screeding mistakes and how to avoid them.

Inadequate Planning and Specification

It’s vital to choose an approved screed contractor with a proven track record. An expert will select the screed mix based on the type of environment and frequency of traffic.

Rigorous industrial and commercial work conditions need more hardwearing screeds. This differs from screed used in homes. Another design criteria are the type of flooring to be applied.

The pre-planning stage is imperative, as it allows the screeding contractor and main builder time to programme and coordinate.

Improper Installation

In reality, installing a screed floor is a simple process. But when procedures are not followed correctly, cracks can appear. Screed can also breakdown due to an incorrect mixture or insufficient cover.

Getting the water-to-cement ratio right is essential for the liquid screed. The substrate floor must be clean and ready for insulation. Edge strip and tanking membrane should be properly installed and checked.

Curing or Drying Stage

According to the Building Research Establishment (BRE) the most common fault occurs when floor coverings de-bond from the screed.

Installing coverings before the screed has properly dried can lead to floor swelling, buckling, and bubbling. Over larger floor areas, the problem is even more expensive.

Often in more complex projects, there’s a rush to get onto the next trade. These flaws are avoided by sticking to the agreed timescales. Projects with tight deadlines can use specially modified screed that cures faster.

Specialist Liquid Screeding and Underfloor Heating

Get it right the first time by partnering with UK Screeds, a trusted contractor since 2002. Whether business or domestic, contact UK Screeds today for professional help with your liquid screeding and underfloor heating.

Screed is a common type of flooring generally applied on top of a pored concrete slab. It is an ideal floor finish if you’re looking for something that’s strong and resilient. It has an extremely tough finish that’s able to withstand pressure from both foot and heavy equipment traffic, making it ideal for all types of buildings from homes to warehouses.

Not all Screeds Are the Same.

Standard old-fashioned screed is made up of cement and sharp sand.

Anhydrite screed is an updated version. It has twice the amount of thermal conductivity than more traditional screed. It’s better for the environment with 36% of the product being recycled, and it produces less CO2 than traditional sand-and-cement screed due to its gypsum content.

It’s mostly used for internal purposes, such as covering heating systems, thermal insulation, or for its acoustic properties. This screed can also be installed in external locations, due to the fact that it’s very hardwearing, water resistant and pretty much able to withstand anything you throw at it!

Anhydrite Screed Has all The Strength You’ll Need

When choosing a screed, you want one that is extremely hard wearing. Anhydrite screed is the ultimate product.

There are numerous other benefits too. It has minimal cracking and shrinkage, and it’s so fast drying you can have light traffic on it within 24 to 48 hours of it being laid.  The screed is pump-able, quick to install, and much more cost effective than you think. It delivers an extraordinarily professional laser-levelled floor.

If you live in a house where dropping stuff is an everyday occurrence, dogs and cats are running around and furniture gets scrapped across the floor, you’ll find chipping or cracking an anhydrite screed floor almost impossible to do.

With its increased strength and bonding properties, this is a product that will last for a very long time with minimal maintenance required.

If you’re looking for a strong, durable, seamless floor finish, contact the professional team at UK Screeds to find out more about anhydrite screed or request a quote for your project.