The traditional self-levelling latex screed mix of sand and cement is still used but it has many disadvantages compared with a specialised self-levelling latex screed. This dries much faster than traditional sand and cement floor screeds which means it can be laid a lot sooner – and is more cost-effective too.
In a liquid form, it can be poured directly over the floor and levelled by hand or with a float. The floor is then ready to receive a new surface such as vinyl or carpet.
It’s easy to use, requires minimal labour and can be used on most floors. It is often applied over dips or rises on the floor which can cause problems with a new covering such as tile or carpet. It is also ideal to use over existing tiles or carpet which are damaged or worn and need to be replaced.
Level Up Your Flooring: Self-Leveling Latex Screed Explained
The polymers in the mixture mean that it has a very low water content which is great for rapid drying. This is especially important as floor laying is very time-critical. As an example a 5-10 mm thick self levelling smoothing screed can be ready to accept moisture sensitive floor finishes such as vinyl in 24 hours or less, whereas a 75 mm traditional sand and cement screed would take at least 75 hours even under very good drying conditions.
Mechanochemical syngenite is a very effective hydration accelerator for anhydrite-based floor screeds but reduces workability (fluidity) and shortens the open time of the mix. However, combining it with sodium polyphosphate retarder eliminates these negative effects and provides a good compromise between early strength development and hydration acceleration.