Liquid screeds in Oxfordshire are becoming the industry leader in several European nations as they gain popularity. To ensure that it satisfies the manufacturer’s installation requirements, it is pre-mixed and its viscidity is always examined before installation. The liquid-flowing screed has gained popularity over sand and cement because it can be applied at a lower depth than traditional screeding. As a result, you can put a floor finish sooner than with a conventional screed since it sets faster.
Efficiency of Liquid Screed
Compared to traditional screed, which can cover about 150 square metres in a day, liquid screed can cover approximately 800 square metres in only one installation day. Anhydrite screed may be applied directly onto the surface, producing a good finish faster. Larger areas may have their screeding completed in 24-48 hours because of its speedy installation. It is far less prone to cracking than standard screeds, allowing it to be laid considerably thinner than the latter.
When drying in a warm, well-ventilated environment, flowing screeds dry at a rate of around 1 mm per day for floors up to 40 mm thick and 1/2 mm per day for thicker floors. Please be aware that this is only an estimate and that the specific site circumstances have a significant impact on the screed drying speed. It is necessary to evaluate the moisture content of the screed after it has dried to see if floor finishes may be applied there.
Innovation in Construction
Construction businesses are continuously pushing for the next deadline, and earnings are always being squeezed. For this reason, innovation is crucial to the industry. A great illustration of this creative impulse is the development of flow screed during the last 20 years. Dry screed, often referred to as classic screed, was the most widely used floor finish in the building industry during the 20th century. For installation, this method needed a crew of screeders and a manual mix on site.
Flow screed introduced a novel solution that minimised the need for physical labour, revolutionising the installation procedure. When liquid screed is delivered pre-mixed, a small crew of screed experts may pour it on location. The installation process is ten times quicker than with dry screed, and the outcomes are consistently superb. Every step in the process and element must work together to meet the deadline when it is short. A calcium sulfate-based sand and binder combination makes up a flow screed. Instead of taking days, it is meant to produce a gorgeously level and smooth surface in a matter of hours. It dries fast as well. Liquid screed in Oxfordshire can withstand modest foot activity after just 24 hours, but dry screed might take up to a week to cure.
Description of a Flow Screed
Flow screed, as its name implies, pours readily across the surface of a floor substrate. Typically, to make it, cement, sand, and water are combined. To improve its flowability, additional chemicals have been used lately. Several of these additions use artificial anhydrite binders rather than cement.
Benefits of Flow Screed
Self-Aligning: The materials that makeup flow screed self-level. After pouring it over a floor substrate, give it some time to settle so that the entire floor will have a uniform finish.
Lower Labour Costs: Because the flowing screed is self-levelling, labour expenses are decreased. It deviates from custom, relying instead on time to provide the ideal degree of smoothness without the need for labour involvement. Consequently, labour expenses are decreased.
Minimal Use Case: Floor screed may be laid as a thin layer without sacrificing quality, which is good news for individuals who are concerned about weight and load.
Very Little Reduction in Size: People will not have to deal with significant shrinkage when the floor screed dries over time. There are fewer instances of floor cracks when there is no shrinking.
Elevated Compressive Potency: Following curing, flow screeds also have a high compressive strength. It makes them stronger and more equipped to carry large burdens. Its compressive strength is typically 28 days more than 30 n/mm2.
Description of a Latex Screed
One kind of screed that resembles a flow screed is the latex screed. But in this case, latex-based additives are combined. The recipe for this kind of screed differs depending on the producer.
Benefits of Latex Screed
Adaptability: The use of latex compounds makes the screed more flexible, enabling it to support large loads while preventing cracks.
Increased Cohesion: Good adhesives that adhere effectively to surfaces like concrete, wood, or pre-existing flooring include latex additives.
Better Thermal Resolution: Better thermal insulation can be obtained from latex screed, depending on the formula utilised. They are frequently used to cover underfloor heating pipes or insulation because of this.
Suitable Surface: Because latex screed provides a smoother and more level surface, it is often used in areas where the aesthetic appeal of the floor complements its functionality.
Post-Installation Care
By eliminating the surface laitance, any floor finishes that have adhered will be guaranteed to remain in place and not lift. The screed’s surface area is also opened up and increased by mechanical sanding, which will speed up the drying process.
You must avoid storing items like sheet materials straight onto your just-installed floor screed. To provide proper airflow over the screed, they must be positioned on bearers. This will speed up the liquid floor screed’s drying process.
Your floor installer should make sure that your floor screed is dry before starting any final floor finishes. They should also check the moisture level of the screed. It’s crucial to utilise the right primers and adhesives when using a liquid screed in Oxfordshire, such as Anhydrite or Gypsum. It is not advisable to use adhesives based on cement as they could react with the screed.
