Top Things To Know Before Refurbishing Your Screed Floors

By Author: Andy Guy
Total Articles: 6
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If your old floors are stripped of their floor coverings, it is important to assess them properly. This will help you find out if the remaining floor is suitable enough to take on the new screed flooring. Here are some of the things that you need to check before laying the new floor –

Before you install new floors, you need to check the quality and the suitability of the existing screed. They should be able to retain the new floor for continuous service. The first thing you need to do is check the screed for any detachment, crack or curling that can have serious effect on the new flooring. Even though minor cracks can be repaired easily, there might be need of intervention for cracks that cannot be repaired. If the screed looks weak, it is important to opt for BRE drop hammer test to check if the screed is good enough for the new flooring. If the traffic flow is expected to increase, it is important not to reply on the new structure.

The flatness of the screed flooring will reflect on the final floor finish. According to British Standards, the normal accuracy of the floor should be allowed ...
... only to a maximum deviation of 5mm. Any deviation higher than that will affect the serviceability of the floor and will lead to quick wear and tear with usage. If the floor base does not meet the necessary requirement, you will be required to carry out further levelling to compensate for it.

If the building you are refurbishing was used for some industrial or laboratory purpose, you will need to check for residues of chemicals and harmful materials in the screed and floor base. These will need to be removed before starting any new work on them. Many times, oils and materials like dust proofers are present. These can affect the bond with the overlaid adhesive and the new flooring. Thus, these need to be removed well in advance.

Most of the screed floors are constructed with a moisture barrier that isolates it from the ground water. When refurbishing your floors, it is important to make sure that the floors are waterproof and in case there is a moisture barrier present, it should be in a good working condition. Flaws in moisture proofing may go unnoticed, thus it is important to do liquid screed moisture testing to be sure.

If your floor is in need of a new layer of screed, you need to make sure that you choose a screed that is suitable for your project. A traditional screed will need a drying time of at least 110 days before you lay the floor finish on them. If you are on a tight schedule, it is important to go for screed flooring as they can take on final floor within a few days.


If you are looking for liquid screed services, you need to speak to Liquid Screed Floor Sanding Ltd to find the screeding system most suitable for your project and your budget.