Flooring represents one of the biggest litigation areas in the construction industry. Whether someone used the wrong mix, installed it to the wrong level, ran construction vehicles over newly laid screed, or allowed heavy traffic vehicles onto a well-established floor, the result is often the same: a heavily damaged floor.

And very often, the cost of starting over far outweighs the cost of getting it right the first time.

We’re here to help. By understanding the science of screeding — from first plans to installation to aftercare — you can avoid costly mistakes and spare yourself a lot of pain.

The Screeds are a warm and friendly bunch, and they live and breathe flooring. Got a flooring challenge? There’s a good chance they can help!

As a troubleshooter, the Screed Scientist has visited the scene of many a flooring crime. Reliving some of his experiences, he says:

“The toughest ones are where a client has spent a lot of money on a top-quality floor — like marble — only to have it fail because the screed underneath was insufficient. The cost of getting it right the first time would have been a fraction of the cost of putting it right. That’s a difficult message to deliver.

“There have been times where a screed has been mixed in a factory and passed all the tests, but it needs to be tested after installation make sure it’s been compacted properly and meets the correct ISCR (in-situ crushing resistance) for its intended use. The way it’s been stored, moving it from A to B, even the weather on the day can all make a difference.

“One problem we often encounter is a general builder taking on a screed project themselves. Obviously, they know a bit about the subject, but they’re not necessarily equipped to deal with the unexpected. I’d advise anyone contemplating a large screeding project to talk it over with us first.”