Ready Mixed Screed Estimator

This Estimator will give you the approximate quantities of ready mixed screed in tonnes and cubic metres for a given area.

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Floor screeds

An in-situ flooring of cement mortar laid to an accurate flat surface by screeding, or by self-levelling.

Common types are:

Ready-Mixed sand & cement floor screeds are an ideal screed for flooring applications. It can be used as ground floor slabs (floating foundations), used on suspended floors, as a topping to lightweight screeds based on perlite or other lightweight aggregates and can also be used as a floating construction over insulation to give acoustic or thermal properties.

Properties:

• Retarded in order to remain workable for 8-12 hours
• Consistent quality is guaranteed
• Better cement dispersion gives greater and more uniform compressive strength throughout the floor area
• Pre-mixed provides consistent quality materials and accurate proportioning

Fibre screeds have been developed to meet the increasing demand for factory-mixed sand & cement screeds incorporating an even dispersal of polypropylene fibres. Suitable fibres introduced in the mix can provide cohesion and help control cracking caused by stress.

Properties:

• Minimum early shrinkage or cracking
• Improved strength and flexural fatigue resistance
• Can eliminate the use for wire mesh
• Improved toughness
• Easy to place, compact and overcomes many practical problems when used as an alternative to steel crack controls
• Better impact and abrasion resistance

Self levelling screeds based on alpha hemihydrate calcium sulphate are ready to use and have advantages over semi-dry floor screeds, however they are not for the DIY market. They are less labour intensive and up to ten times the area can be laid with one gang compared with traditional semi-dry screeds. Also shrinkage and curling is very unlikely to occur. They can also be laid thinner than conventional semi-dry floor screeds.

Properties:

• May be lightly trafficked after 1 to 2 days, depending on drying conditions
• Care should be taken to avoid excessive water loss in the first 24 hours
• If windows or external doors are not installed, temporary provision must be made with polythene or similar. Direct sun must also be avoided during early life
• Abrasion & impact resistance are good when compared with traditional sand & cement floor screeds. However, screeds should not be treated as wearing surfaces and care should be taken to protect against excessive impact