Your Brief Guide to Screed: What is it and Why is it Used?
When undertaking a construction project, it’s important to have all of the necessary materials and equipment to ensure that each step that goes into completing a project is carried out efficiently and setbacks or delays are minimised. One material that is well-known within the industry that is commonly included in this is screed.
Most people are familiar with the use of concrete when laying flooring as part of a construction project, but little know about the use of screed. In this brief guide, we will explain what screed is and what it’s used for, so that you will have a better understanding of the complete process involved when it comes to laying flooring as part of a building project, whether it be DIY or with the help of builders.
What is Screed?
Screed is a thin layer of material, consisting of sharp sand, water and cement that is laid on top of a concrete subfloor. In some industrial uses, coarse aggregates may also be added to the mixture to create a thicker layer of material. In addition to this, finishes may also be added to the mixture to give it additional properties, such as improved thermal conductivity or extra strength.
The main difference between screed and concrete is that concrete is used for strength in flooring, whilst screed is used to finish floors. This difference in functional performance means their mixtures are also different, with concrete typically using larger aggregates for more of a coarse consistency, whilst the sand used in screed is much finer, which helps to give it a smoother finish.
Why is Screed Necessary?
There are a number of reasons why screed is used in flooring construction. One of the main reasons it is used is to create a smooth and level base for a decorative flooring finish to then be laid on top. This may be wooden flooring, laminate flooring or floorboards and carpet.
However, as well as acting as a level base for flooring finishes, it can also be left bare to be used as a flooring finish itself. Sometimes this is for practical reasons, for example in warehouses where scuffs and marks are inevitable, then screed is used as it is more durable than other flooring finishes. Similarly, for people who want to achieve this ‘industrial’ aesthetic, then they may choose to leave screed as their flooring finish as a purposeful design choice.
Forth Valley Concrete
Whether you’re undertaking a domestic building project yourself or require reliable construction materials for your business, here at Forth Valley Concrete we are the screed suppliers who have the high-quality materials you need.
In addition to screed, we also provide ready mix concrete, concrete bases and concrete blocks.
Get in touch with us today for your free quote.
