When you are in the process of constructing any building, one of the things that you need to take into consideration is the floors. That may seem obvious, but it is necessary that they should be as flat and level as possible. In order to achieve that, it is necessary to add a layer of screed on top of the substrate, which is usually of concrete, and not the best surface upon which to lay the final floor surface.
There are two main types of screeds today, one of which is the traditional sand and cement which is often mixed on site in a cement mixer, barrowed on to the substrate in a wheelbarrow, and then laid by hand by a worker using a trowel.
More Advanced Liquid Screed
The other type of screed is the more advanced liquid screed which contains calcium sulphate instead of cement, and because it is in liquid form is what is known as “self-levelling”. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as self-levelling screed.
It is much faster to lay than sand and cement because it is delivered to site ready mixed. So, if you want a liquid screed in Bristol, at UK Screeds we then connect a pump and a hose to the lorry and simply pump the screed on to the substrate. This can be as much as 20 times as fast as laying sand and cement by hand!
Not only that, but our liquid screed can achieve a more level surface than sand and cement. It is self-levelling, in much the same way as you would pour your glass of Chardonnay with your dinner. You pour it into the glass, and in a few seconds the surface is flat.
Indeed, British Standards have a measurement for the levelness of the surface, and it is known as Surface Regularity. This is divided into SR1, SR2, and SR3.
It is measured by placing a 2-metre straightedge on the surface and measuring any gaps underneath with a slip gauge. SR1 is High Standard and allows for a maximum gap at any point of 3mm. SR2 is Normal Standard and allows for a maximum of 5mm, while SR3 is Utility Standard and allows for 10mm.
Because sand and cement screed is laid by hand, it is very difficult to achieve anything better than SR3. However, our liquid screed will always achieve SR2 and in most instances it will be SR1, and it doesn’t get any better than that.
