As a developer, you’re likely to be tasked with creating the ideal living environment for clients. To do this, there are several factors you need to consider including the wall design, ceiling structure and – perhaps most importantly – the flooring.

Whether you’re levelling an uneven floor in an old home or working on a new build project in the bustling city, floor screed is a great choice and can also help with acoustics and heat efficiency. But there are many varieties of floor screed available on today’s market. How do you decide which to choose?

Here at JCW, we supply 3 of the best:

Fibre-reinforced sand and cement floor screed

Fibre-reinforced floor screed is made up of sand and cement, like any traditional floor screed, but mixed with polypropylene fibres to create an admixture – giving extra resilience. These fibres add strength to the mix and prevent the natural process of curling, cracking and shrinking.

Underfloor heating elements are often encased in a layer of fibre reinforced floor screed. Heating pipes are fixed to insulation panels on the floor slab, fitted with moisture barriers, and screed is poured over the top to ensure a smooth, level surface before the final floor covering can be applied. But with extra fibres, it takes longer for the reinforced screed to dry than other screed types.

We usually deliver fibre reinforced screed on large 6 or 8 wheel tipper vehicles – capable of carrying 15-20 tonnes of material. But exceptions can be made for smaller projects and areas with access restrictions.

Higher-strength sand and cement floor screed

For rooms expected to receive high levels of foot traffic, or areas where heavier items will be kept, our higher strength sand and cement screed is an excellent choice. It contains additives which make it stronger and minimise shrinkage and cracking as a result of the low water/cement ratio. It also offers easy compaction and can be used as a topping for lightweight screeds to provide extra strength.

One of the biggest benefits of higher strength floor screed is that it offers reduced curing times – allowing you to apply the final floor finish sooner. Although it can dry within 8-12 hours, we advise light foot traffic for the first 2 days to ensure it dries completely.

Quick-drying sand and cement floor screed

Drying faster than any other type of screed, quick-drying floor screed enables you to apply the final floor finish in no time – whether it be ceramic tiles, vinyl, wood or carpet. Our screed uses super plasticisers that reduce the amount of water required to make the screed mix pliable. Quick-drying sand and cement floor screed is ideal if you’ve only got a small window of time and allows you to complete your project on time.

If you’d like to know more about any of the floor screeding products we supply, call 01204 387 029 or email estimating@jcwgroup.co.uk. Our team is always on hand to help and will be more than happy to answer your questions.