Liquid Floor Screed Benefits

Preparing Floor Before Liquid Screed

Before liquid screed is applied, the building should be as water tight as possible. Minimally, with at least the roof in place and any missing glazing or door openings should be temporarily sealed. For example, for sealing polythene, insulation or ply could be used.

Gyvlon General Preparation

If Gyvlon is to be applied floating over insulation, the boards should be installed flat to substrate. Moreover, it's important that the boards are free from excessive movement or rocking. Additionally, a perimeter strip should be installed to all walls and abutments within the screed. Importantly, the strip should be installed without over-stretching and should be pushed fully into all corners.

Sealing Polythene Over Insulation

The insulation should then be overlaid using minimum 50 gauge polythene. This should be overlapped by 100mm and taped, cut flush to the perimeter strip. Additionally, the polythene should be laid flat with minimal ridges. The perimeter strip’s skirt can then be sealed to polythene using tape.

Application of Liquid Screed

Firstly, our Liquid Screed team will visit the site to calculate how much screed is needed. Importantly, we will then coordinate the project with the screed supplier, your builder and any other project managers. Secondly, our Liquid Screen Specialist applicators take delivery of the screed from the supplier. We'll check that it is at the appropriate flow rate by testing the screed before they begin the application. Then our specialist team use levelling tripods which are placed around the room. Together with a laser level we can set the required depth of the screed. Finally, because it is quick to lay, in fact around 100m² can be laid in around 25 to 35 minutes. We'll get the job done.

Screed Flooring Advice

Additionally, we can offer advice on preparation, drying, post application care and any other issues which may arise.

Drying Liquid Screed

There are many factors which affect the drying of screed. For example, in a warm, well ventilated room, screed normally dries at a rate of 1mm a day, up to 40mm thickness. Over 40mm, it's a rate of ½mm a day.

Drying performance

Importantly, the building area should be left as sealed for as long as possible. Therefore, this prevents through draft or rain entering the building. Once the screed is 48 hours old, the building can be opened to allow air movement. Moreover, this encourages the further drying of the screed. Ideally, to promote optimum drying performance, efforts should be made to prevent moisture getting into and onto to the screed.

Liquid Screeds Aftercare

Liquid screeds require surface sanding before any adhered floor covering can be laid. Ideally, this should be carried out immediately before the floor finish application. Consequently, this removes any surface contamination that may have occurred and creates a rougher surface for priming and bonding.

Screed Flooring important advice

Importantly, if using a traditional mix, it is advisable to either surface sand or stiff bristle brush after 7–10 days. Therefore, this remove loose surface laitance which is a thin layer of cement particles. Ultimately, this will improve drying performance and the screed will then also be sanded prior to fitting the floor covering.

Sanding should be carried out using an orbital sander with an integrated vacuum.