Traditional Screed vs Liquid Screed – Which Is Best?
Screed is a non-structural construction element, available in two forms; dry screed or liquid screed. Often used as a means to make the installation of a wide range of flooring structures easier, this includes ceramic tiles, carpet, hardwood flooring or even laminate and vinyl. Screed is also ideal for projects where underfloor heating may be desired.
What is Traditional Screed?
Dry screed has been in use by the concrete and construction industry for many years now, and, thanks to its origins of mixing sand with a small portion of cement mix by hand or by a paddle mixer, dry screed is often dubbed the more ‘traditional’ of the screeds. Once mixed, a thin concrete-like substance is formed which can then be manipulated to bind together.
What are the benefits of Traditional Screed?
There are many benefits to using dry screed on projects, chief amongst them being the cost-effective nature of the materials and labor. As saving costs on materials and labor becomes even more of a priority in today’s day and age, traditional screed is the perfect material for cost effective projects. Utranazz has a wide range of new and used screed-pumps suitable for the application of traditional screeds. One of our bestsellers is the Transmat 27.45, which is fitted with a hydraulic loading bucket – making it ideal for large volumes.
How long does it take for Traditional Screed to dry?
It is common for at least a 50mm layer of dry screed to be used in any standard project. One of the biggest drawbacks to this standard 50mm layer, is that traditional screed typically dries at 1mm per day, therefore the standard layer size could mean that projects are held up by around 50 days to allow the screed to dry. Fast-drying screeds can speed up this process, drying at around 15mm per day.
What is Liquid Screed?
As in its name, liquid screed is a thinner consistency than traditional screed, as it is made up of fewer aggregates between sand and a binding agent. Its liquid based nature means that the screed is poured as opposed to being manually spread and this is where the use of screed pumps, such as the Utranazz Pro H CL Liquid Screed Pump can really excel on a project, with the ability to apply liquid screed with efficiency.
What are the benefits of Liquid Screed?
While it is more expensive than traditional screed, liquid screed has plenty of great benefits to sway people to use it. Liquid screed is well known for being far quicker than its traditional counterpart, as it is poured onto the desired area as opposed to being manually applied. It also removes the need for the manual use of a float to level the surface; due to its free-flowing characteristics, liquid screed is a naturally self-levelling material.
At Utranazz, we are proud to supply a wide range of screed pumps to fit the needs of your projects; whether you’re looking to purchase a new screed pump, or opting for a screed or mortar pump from our used equipment range, our team are always eager to help you choose the right screed pump for your project; get in contact with us by calling +44 (0) 1280 820770, or filling in our online contact form.