project-based
cement screed works
2020
If you have an uneven subfloor, screeding is one of the things applications to reduce the bumpiness and unevenness. In doing so, it prepares the floor for the application of other, final flooring materials such as carpets and tiles.
What screeding is
Both concrete and screeding involve cement, aggregates and water. Concrete is coarser, consists of larger aggregates, and is usually used for structural purposes.
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Meanwhile, floor screeds are a smoother mix, consisting of less aggregates than concrete. It is usually applied on top of a concrete slab as a finishing layer before the final floor coverings get applied (e.g. tiles, carpet).
Preparation of substrate
To ensure good adhesion between the concrete substrate and the screed, it is important roughen the substrate first because roughened floors enhance the adhesion.
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Next, the alignment and evenness of the walls and slabs should be checked. If any misalignment or unevenness is found, it must be rectified first.
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Once rectified, we are ready to prepare the substrate. It is good practice to clean the area with a water jet and broom to remove dust and grease, because such imperfections, although not visible to the eye, will reduce the adhesion.
Screeding works
The next stage is to establish level markings and references lines. Level pegs are set out at regular intervals to control the thickness and level of the floor screed. In most situations, the minimum thickness of the screed to be applied is 3mm.
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A bonding agent or primer will be applied as the first coating, and the floor screed should be applied while the bonding agent/primer is still tacky. The screed is tamped down and finished with a trowel float. Small areas and edges may be floated with hand trowels.
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Finally, allow ample time for the screed to be air-cured. Most commonly, screeds are air-cured for at least 14 days.
Inspiration + Function
Example 01
As covid-19 impacted retail, a local client of ours decided to rent out a part of their retail space to another retailer to collect monthly rent.
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Before they could do so, they needed to at least make the barren unit presentable and ready for any renovation works that the retailer wished to do.
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Hence, they engaged us to hack away the existing defective screed and subsequently apply a new layer of screed to their floor.
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The whole project took only a week. After work completion, we confidently did a joint site inspection with our client, and it was signed off with no complaints.