TRADITIONAL SCREED
Traditional Sand & Cement Screed Contractors in London & the South East
O. C. Floor Screeding has been laying traditional sand and cement screed for over 30 years. We install it on domestic and commercial projects across London and the South East, including extensions, new builds, renovations, apartments, schools, offices and industrial buildings.
Traditional screed is a semi-dry mix of sharp sand, cement and water. It is the most widely used screed in the UK because it is strong, versatile and suits almost any floor build-up. It can be laid bonded, unbonded or floating, over insulation and with underfloor heating.
We mix all of our screed on site using our own screed pumps. This gives us full control over the quality and quantity of materials, keeps costs down and means the screed goes down fresh. We also add polypropylene fibres to our traditional screeds as standard to help reduce shrinkage and cracking.
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL SCREED?
Screed is made from sharp sand, cement and water. It is also known as traditional screed. A pump is used on site to combine these elements into screed. Other products (known as curatives, additives or binders) can be combined with the sand and cement to achieve different functions such as to dry faster, be stronger, or thinner depth etc. Sand and cement screed can be laid floating, bonded or unbonded depending on the depth laid.
Call us today for advice about your project and a free quotation.
Why Choose Traditional Sand and Cement Screed?
Benefits
- Proven track record with decades of historical use in the construction industry.
- Suitable for most domestic and commercial projects
- Strong and durable floor construction, either laid bond, unbonded or floating.
- Compatible with underfloor heating systems.
- Allows falls and varying depths to be formed where required.
- Can be used with fast drying additives to allow floor finishes quickly.
O. C. Floor Screeding provides a full range of screed systems and so we can recommend the most appropriate solution for your project.
FAQs
Can traditional screed be used with underfloor heating?
Yes. Traditional screed is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems and is commonly used with PP fibres to help minimise shrinkage and cracking. Experienced screeding contractors, like ourselves, will ensure that the screed is well compacted around all the pipework and the insulation laid underneath the pipes will ensures that the heat always rises upwards into the room.
How long does traditional screed take to dry?
Standard sand and cement screed typically dries at approx. 1mm per day, can receive light foot traffic in 24hrs and can receive floor finishes in approx 6-8 weeks depending on screed thickness, ambient conditions and the type of flooring being laid on top of it.
Can traditional screed achieve high standards of flatness?
Yes, when installed by experienced screeders, such as ourselves, it can be laid to the highest standards of SR1 (surface regularity). Liquid screed can only be laid to a poor SR3 level of flatness. Plus it is a semi dry screed, so can be adjusted to accommodate different flooring types and door thresholds and laid to falls if needed.
Is sand and cement screed strong?
Yes, traditional screed is relatively strong for compressive and tensile strength hence its continued use in construction over the years.
What flooring preparation is required?
Floor preparation for traditional screed is minimal, it can be laid directly onto concrete, plastic membrane or insulation and does not need to be contained like a Liquid Screed. Floor finishes can be applied directly onto it without any preparation, especially tiling.
Do I need fast drying screed?
Where floor finishes are required quickly, fast drying screed systems can be more appropriate. As we provide a wide range of screeds, please contact us for the most appropriate solution for your project.
NEED A TRADITIONAL SCREED QUOTE?
Call us today about your domestic or commercial project on 020 7099 6264 and we’ll be happy to help.