SCREEDS
The construction industry is seeing a labour and skills shortage in general, and this is very apparent for screed installers. Plainly, a labour shortage can be offset by using installation methods that are quicker by 10 times or more, as liquid screeds are.
The speed is also of benefit to the project itself, as is the ability to pump materials to height relatively easily. London has been the earliest and quickest adopter of liquid screeds, and it is not difficult to see why with its prevalence of large and high buildings.
Underfloor heating has seen a rapid increase in use in the UK in recent years, driven by the need for energy efficiency and the regulation changes that support this. The benefits to underfloor heating of using a liquid screed are manifold.
In short, the same list of benefits that we saw for liquid screeds in the early 90s seem now to have been recognised and are being realised. Every indication is that the rapid growth of the last five years will continue for the next three at least, such that we will see the overall share of liquid screeds over 75%.
Liquid screeds are certainly here to stay. We can expect that there will be more brands arriving over the next year or so and more companies will become involved in the manufacture and installation. No doubt there will be even higher performance materials developed, and we might see even more efficient installation methods.
One thing that we are not likely to see is anybody who will be sorry to see the back of the old, slow, and labour-intensive screed installation methods that are already beginning to look a bit archaic.
www.flowingscreedsassociation.com
SCREED WITH SPEED
Mapei beats the clock with fast-track Topcem binders.
A good screed is the foundation of a good floor installation – and, when speed and performance is of the essence, Mapei’s Topcem range provides the solution. Developed to increase mechanical strength and reduce shrinkage and drying time, Topcem can be used to form unbonded and bonded screeds on new and existing slabs in interior and exteriors applications, before the installation of wood, tiles and stone, resilient and textile floorcoverings. The series includes standard Topcem and Topcem Pronto, which each benefit from a safety-assured EMICODE: EC1 Plus- certified formulation.
Mapei Topcem is a special fast-drying hydraulic binder that’s added to aggregates and water on-site. It’s used in normal setting, fast-drying and shrinkage-compensated and heated screeds. Topcem Pronto is a mortar pre-blended with aggregates, that’s combined with water on site; high thermal conductivity makes it especially suitable for heated screeds.
Both Topcem and Topcem Pronto set to light traffic after just 12 hours, making them ideal for application in fast- track projects. Ceramic tiles can be laid after 24 hours and natural stone after two days. Within four days the finish is completely dry and can accept moisture sensitive floorcoverings, including resilient and wood flooring. In addition to new applications, both formulations can also be used for patching, repairing and time-sensitive screed replacement.
www.mapei.co.uk
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