The Screed Scientist’s passion for knowledge-sharing has led him in the past to sit on the British Standards Institution (CB/300 Screeds and in-situ floorings), and FerFA, The Resin Flooring Association. He’s happiest talking to clients though, advising on products, mixes, temperature conditions, whether surfaces need levelling, and so on.

He says: “There’s no reason why floor screeding projects should fail. Most of it is common sense. It’s all about paying attention to the little details and not just skipping through instructions. And with a little more care, you can keep carbon emissions low (wet cement can make a lot of CO₂) and practice sustainable methods without compromising on quality or economy.”

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.”