selflevellingscreed2017-blog

[selflevellingscreed2017-blog]

Different Types of Screed

When finding a solution for warming up cold flooring than underfloor heating is the best solution. Every room of your house or workplace has different kind of flooring like tiled bathroom floors, flagstones in kitchen, etc. People believe that thicker the stone, more time will be required to heat up the floor. You can use underfloor heating even for hardwood and laminate floors because of the latest technological developments. However, it is important that you select the right type of installer for your flooring. The features of the heater you select should be compatible to the type of floor to ensure proper heating of the space. Experienced suppliers suggest standard combinations and it is better to opt for them because a wrong experiment can be expensive for you.

With developing technology the underfloor heating is getting slimmer. You can also install the heater under the carpet. Underfloor heating is not restricted to the ground floor  you can also install them  under first floors. People are well aware about underfloor heating systems but hardly few of them are aware about the two types of underfloor heating systems available and they are –

o   Hot-water or Wet Systems

o   Electric or Dry Systems

Hot –water or wet system make use of warm water mostly in their central heating system. Initially, the water gets dispersed with the assistance of tiny pipes laid on the subfloor. Later on it is sheltered with the help of a special heat conducting screed. This screed is of the type that once it gets heated, it retains the heat efficiently. Hot water systems are 30 percent more energy efficient when compared to radiators. This system is energy efficient because water is used at a lower temperature in them. Another benefit of this system is that, they can be incorporated with your current heating system. Therefore, you have a choice of selecting from underfloor heating and radiators for different rooms of your place. However, the wet system has one drawback that they take more time heat up and more time to cool down. They take minimum of two hours to heat up. It is sometimes, difficult to get right temperature.

In case you are renovating your house or building it from scratch, installing a Wet system is a better choice. This system is not suitable for existing floors because a layer of screed material has to be inserted under the floor. This system can be expensive if opted for small areas.

Typical electric systems or Dry systems have cables laid in the screed. There are various latest versions of this system available now. These new systems are much thinner as compared to the old ones. The new system is much easier to install when compared to old systems. The new systems appear like a roll of ribbon or mesh mats. They more often appear as an under laid carpet and are linked to power supply. They are suitable for all types of floors. They are suitable even for timber floors or old flooring.  These systems are inexpensive while wet systems are expensive to install. In case you are not planning any renovation at your place than this system is more suitable for you. Some companies even mention a heated floor response in three minutes. However, you cannot incorporate electric systems with an ordinary general heating unit and therefore you have an additional expense on a separate timer and thermostat.

There are different types of screed available in order to level the floor. For instance, traditional screed, self levelling screed, fast drying screed, Anhydrite screed, etc. Some of these screeds are discussed in detail here-

·         Traditional Screed:

Traditional screed is a mixture of sand and cement with water, wherein cement and sand are mixed in 1:3-5 ratios. Some micro fibres that can resist rust and corrosion are added to the mixture in to lessen cracking. Steel mesh can also be added to the mixture to reduce cracking.  An additional benefit is that mixed screed can be delivered to the site. This type of screed is more suitable for floors that slope down to the drainage point. Traditional screed is inexpensive as compared to other screeds. It has good resistance and increases bond. It is less time consuming.

·         Fast Drying Screed:

This screed consists of cement sand mixture and additional additives to enhance their drying time. As per the need additives either site mixed or a ready mixture can be added. Nowadays, fast drying floor screed are more in demand. The important reason for this is that it requires less time and better conditions on site. A model floor screed dries at a speed of 1mm per day which means that a standard 75mm would need 110 days at 20 degree Celsius to dry completely. This important aspect is often neglected.

Fast drying screed can be laid in an efficient manner and the task can be done at a good speed. As it dries off quickly it can withstand foot traffic. Nowadays, this screed dries at a speed of three hours. Fast drying screed can be used for about 8 to 12 hours. It does not shrink that easily because of restricted use of water and cement. It provides good strength development. Fast drying screed is more compactable and reliable.

 ·         Anhydrite Screeds:

This screed is different from other screeds. The main reason for this is anhydrite screed is a mixture of sand, calcium sulphate and water. It is liquid in consistency. This screed is easy to install as compared to other screeds because it is in liquid form. Liquid can be easily poured on the floor and can cover a large area. The only drawback in anhydrite screed is that it takes longer time to dry due to its liquid form. Another flaw is that it cannot be used in wet areas because of the nature of the screed.

It is important to have a proper mixture of this screed because it is fluid in nature and consists of calcium sulphate which can have adverse effects if not mixed in correct proportions. When a screed is installed in a skilled manner it does not require covering. However, one needs to take precautionary measures because there are instances of surfaces not being smooth or having incorrect floor level. So it is better to have a sound surface. Vacuuming and sanding the surface can be a good option as per few experts. Apply appropriate proportions of acrylic or water as per requirements; it is better to take assistance of a skilled person.

. Along with using a right type of screed there are various other components to be looked upon like selecting appropriate equipment. Choosing right screeding apparatus is crucial because they give you good solution and flooring results. Experienced equipment is beneficial as they deliver professional results as compared to the unreliable ones. It is also a wise choice to use an updated apparatus so that you can function at a good pace and it also restricts manual work. Mix design, screed protection, screed delivery, screed layering, your budget, etc. are few aspects that are to be considered. Make sure that you consider your budget and accordingly carry out your tasks because it might be expensive.