Speed Screed Limited

22/11/2023

Does the work come with any guarantees?
I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed Screed.

So, do we provide a guarantee? Yes, we certainly do.

It’s a 10-year guarantee that covers labour and materials.

So, you know that your project is covered.

Our work is of the highest standard in the industry, we’re always working to the British Standard which is B.S. 8204-1:2003.

You can be assured of the quality of our work.

No one else offers a 10-year guarantee – why is that?

Does the work come with any guarantees? Does the work come with any guarantees? I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed screed. So, do we provide a guarantee? Yes, we certainly do. It's a 10-year guarantee that covers labour and materials. So, you know that

21/11/2023

Do you need a smoothing compound on top of the Screed before the floor coverings go down?
My name is Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed Screed.

The simple answer is generally no. So, if you are laying ceramics, engineered woods, carpets, etc. then, the answer would be no. The finish would be perfectly adequate for all those systems.

Thin floor coverings
The only time when a smoothing compound generally would be recommended would be if you are laying thin vinyl, any thin floor coverings such as Antico, etc.

The manufacturers always recommend that there is a smoothing compound and literally, the smoothing compound is just something that’s going to be a 3mm covering and literally, does what it says, it just smooths out any slight blemishes.

You look at the Screed and think, yes you can put the vinyl directly down, however literally, the light will catch the vinyl and you can just see slight imperfections there.

So, it is recommended, it does mention it’s within the British Standard and it is something that is recommended by the final flooring manufacturers and general floor layers. When the floor layer comes in, they will normally expect to lay a smoothing compound to take out any of those small blemishes.

Now, it may be that you’ve just got an existing concrete floor and you just want a smoothing compound, maybe a few odd differences in levels and you want a smoothing compound just to put down of there and then, of course, that would mean that it’s ready straightaway to lay those floor coverings.

Essentially you are looking that the majority of products flooring doesn’t require a smoothing compound and you’ve got that open textured Screed which is going to be a fantastic surface for bonding to.

So that also covers the flowing screeds as well as the calcium sulphate screeds, they would still need a smoothing compound before laying thin vinyl. So, you can just bear that in mind because I suppose if you imagine a flowing Screed, you’re thinking it’s going to be like a smoothing compound but you will have those blemishes, that you know, will cause issues with the vinyl floor coverings.

Across the board, with any of the screeds, if you have got thin vinyl then, you need to take advice from your flooring contractor. It’ll be generally the case that it would be a smoothing compound that’s required.

We love to help, contact us.

Do I need a smoothing compound on top of the screed? Do you need a smoothing compound on top of the Screed before the floor coverings go down? My name is Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed Screed. The simple answer is generally

11/11/2023

Gyvlon Eco FD – Can’t wait to get your floor coverings laid?
I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed Screed. Today I’m here to give you a little more insight into Gyvlon FD.

So What is Gyvlon Eco FD?
Gyvlon Eco FD screed enables floor coverings to be applied at least twice as fast as standard Gyvlon Eco screed. In addition, it brings together all the proven benefits expected from a Gyvlon screed which also include a low-skin option.

Just What are the benefits of Gyvlon FD?
• Very high fluidity – for fast installation.
• Low shrinkage – significantly reduced cracking, no curling
• Less need for joints
• No reinforcement
• No curing membrane
• Minimum SR2 surface finish

Specifications
• Mechanical Strength C25
• Unbonded Minimum Thickness 30mm
• Floating Minimum Thickness 35mm (domestic), 40mm Commercial.
• Requires no reinforcement
• Joints 800m2 (300m2 with underfloor heating)

Applications
Productivity and ease of use – The screed exhibits very high productivity rates (20m3m/h).
It is possible to walk on after 24 hours and generally accept trades and foot traffic within 48 hours.
It offers excellent versatility and is used in most applications: underfloor heating/cooling, thermal & sound insulation.
Unlike cement-based screeds, the absence of expansion joints preserves the aesthetics of the floor coverings. It allows all the freedom both in terms of tile sizes and layouts.

So, there you have it, Gyvlon Eco FD. Do get in touch for more information. We love to help!

Gyvlon Eco FD Gyvlon Eco FD - Can't wait to get your floor coverings laid? I'm Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed Screed. Today I'm here to give you a little more insight into Gyvlon FD. So What is Gyvlon Eco FD? Gyvlon Eco

08/11/2023

[email protected] - 0800 242 5589 - www.speed-screed.com

Which Floor Screeding Companies?
I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi Award-Winning Speed Screed. Let’s talk about floor screeding companies.

I know a lot of the time people are searching, trying to find out which are the best floor screeding companies, who should they use, where can they get hold of a reputable company?

Well, people are going to think that I’m crazy. But what I wanted to do is give you my opinion of whom I think are the best screeding companies in the UK.

Now, that may seem a little crazy. But I think it is very important to do that. So what I would say is that I haven’t included Speed Screed in the interest of being fair.

In no particular order:

Cadman Group
Based in Sale, Manchester. Cadman Screeding and Underfloor Heating Ltd have been installing screed for over 150 years. Along with floor screeding and underfloor heating Cadman can also provide render systems, dry lining, partitioning and plasterwork.

Foggs Floors Limited
Foggs Floors are based in Bolton. Established in 1993 Foggs Floors Managing Director Garry Fogg is well known and respected in the screeding sector. Foggs Floors can also provide floor preparation, concrete, polished floors, and wearing screeds.

B & K Systems Limited
B & K Systems are based in Leeds. Providing screeding services since 1987 B & K Systems also offer partitions & ceilings, plastering systems, underfloor heating, and render systems.

CSC Screeding Limited
Slough based CSC Screeding have to be one of the most forward thinking screeding companies in the industry. CSC Screeding’s Managing Director Spencer Warner, known to many as the “Screed Scientist” is a true leader in raising screed standards. CSC Screeding look to educate and inform customers.

O C Floor Screeding Limited
O C Floor Screeding working out of Greenford London. Proving traditional sand & cement screed, fast drying screed, polymer screed, latex screed, lytag screed, liquid screed, granolithic screed, O C Floor Screeding have become a dominant force within the screeding market of London and the South East.

What I would say with all of the above floor screeding companies is that, whilst they are competitors of Speed Screed, I would have no reservation in recommending any of them to anyone that asked. I would be happy to say that the standard of their workmanship is renowned throughout the industry.

This is just my opinion, I know the marketplace can get a little bit congested, and it can be a real worry when searching for the services of floor screeding companies.

I certainly believe that those companies stand head and shoulders above the rest. We love to help, contact us.

Floor Screeding Companies? Which Floor Screeding Companies? I'm Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi Award-Winning Speed Screed. Let's talk about floor screeding companies. I know a lot of the time people are searching, trying to find out which are the best floor screeding companies,

07/11/2023

I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. Today I’m here to give you a little more insight into the Datum Level; the Datum Level is a crucial part of any construction project. Let’s get started.

What is a Datum Level?

A Datum Level is an arbitrary horizontal plane on a construction project used as a reference point for all other vertical dimensions to be measured. It is used to highlight differentials between vertical heights of floor levels along with differing levels of two separate points on the site.

It is often the case that the Datum Level is given a 0.000m designation (though this doesn’t have to be the ground level outside; the ground floor could be 0.650m with a first floor at 4.650m for example. A basement would be below the Datum Level so would be shown as a minus number, -2.950m for example.

It is not uncommon, however, for the minus sign to be missed or misrepresented (as a dash for example) so often a temporary benchmark (TBM: a fixed point) is used so all over levels (even subterraneous) are represented by a positive value. Looking at the example above, the value assigned to the Datum Level (0.000m) would be assigned to the basement and the levels above would be adjusted accordingly.

Setting out

Datum levels give points of reference to enable the vertical setting out of the building by the site engineer; they are marked clearly on all site drawings and the levels are articulated in metres in terms of a unit of measure. They are all described to three decimal places and because it is the building being set out the numbers should all be positive.

Often and particularly with larger-scale developments, the Ordnance Survey (OS) datum is used as the Datum Level for the project. There are several advantages to doing this:

Work on the site can be related to other buildings and hard landscaping features like sewers or manholes.
You can take into account local gradients.
If you use the OS datum it is immediately compatible with the OD grid.

It is worth noting that the OS datum is the height above sea level and pertains to a specific datum point at Newlyn which is in Cornwall. If you are using the OS datum it must be clearly demarcated on your drawings.

Datum Level and Screed

British standards allow for a maximum departure from Datum of 15mm. For 85% of projects SR (Surface Regularity) 2 is specified and is plus or minus 5mm over a 2-meter straight edge.

So there you have it; a full update on Datum Levels and why they are so critical to every building project. They are literally the reference point and starting point for every type of building work and are absolutely crucial in getting things right the first time. For more information, please contact us. We love to help!

Datum Level All about the Datum Level I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. Today I’m here to give you a little more insight into the Datum Level; the Datum Level is a crucial part of any construction project. Let’s

06/11/2023

Damp Proof Membrane – protection from damp in domestic and commercial construction

Hi, my name is Andy Parkin. I am the Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. Today I am here to tell you about damp proof membranes.

Damp-proof membrane (often called DPM) is used in construction to prevent moisture from entering the building, usually through capillary action. You will often see these membranes installed as part of damp coursing on external walls, but they are also vital in ensuring that moisture cannot enter a building via the floor.

Damp causes several issues when it is found in buildings, these can include visible damp patches, areas of mould (which can cause breathing issues and allergies), damage to décor, and, importantly, it can undermine the structure of the building.

With this in mind, making sure you look at the types and uses of different damp proof membranes takes on new importance.

Why bother With A Damp Proof Membrane?

Most of the issues with persistent damp within buildings result from the build-up of condensation on surfaces and within the fabric of the building, damp entering from the outside, and rising damp. It is essential when a floor that is next to the ground is constructed, that a proper damp proof membrane is placed to prevent these issues.

Moisture

The aim of the membrane is to prevent any kind of moisture from reaching the top surface of the floor by preventing water from coming in from the ground. To do this the DPM must be made of materials so that they don't encourage mould or condensation and have a high structural and thermal integrity.

The current recommendations for an effective damp proof membrane are that the ground should be constructed using screed with the damp proof membrane laid either on top or below that layer. Groundwater should be tested for any type of sulphate that can contaminate the base flooring and if so, the membrane should be placed under the slab.

The guidelines state that a damp proof membrane that is placed under the flooring should be around 1200 gauge and constructed of polyethene. This should be laid on a bedding material such as screed which doesn't damage the sheet and has fully sealed joints.

If the damp proof membrane is to be laid above the base level it can either be polyethene sheeting or at least 3 coats of cold-applied bitumen solution. After this screed should be laid to protect the membrane. The only exception to this is where a specific membrane is used which is designed to act as a final floor surface. Any insulation that is used beneath the membrane should have low absorbency to avoid taking on water and should also be resistant to any identified contaminants that might be present in the ground.

If the planned finish is a timber floor then it is possible to use specific damp proof membranes that can act as damp proofing. Any timber laid directly in the floor base must be treated with a preservative. This won't be needed if the timber is placed above the level of the membrane.

This is only a brief look at the damp proof membrane and its vital role in maintaining the integrity of domestic, commercial and industrial structures. If you need any more information we are always available and happy to give advice on the best way forward for your project.

Damp Proof Membrane Damp Proof Membrane – protection from damp in domestic and commercial construction Hi, my name is Andy Parkin. I am the Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. Today I am here to tell you about damp proof membranes. Damp-proof membrane

01/11/2023

All about Python LR
I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award-Winning Speed Screed. Today I’m here to give you a little more insight into Python LR.

What is Python LR?
Python FL is an ultra-swift setting and drying, flexible self-levelling floor compound. It has been uniquely formulated using advanced binder technology and selected additives for a fast-track solution.

Python LR has exceptional flow and adhesion properties, making it sufficient for commercial and domestic applications. It is suitable for use over a broad range of substrates along with sand/cement screeds, concrete, flooring grade asphalt/bitumen, ceramic, porcelain and terrazzo tiles, epoxy damp proof membranes and plywood.

The uses of Python LR
Python LR is also excellent for encapsulating electric underfloor heating elements and for usage over underfloor heated screeds.

Python LR is quick setting, meaning ceramic tiles can be equipped after as little as 3 hours, and fancy floor coverings can be installed after 24 hours.

Under certain conditions, Python LR is good for use externally.

Substrates
Sand/Cement Screed
Concrete
Plywood Overlay (6mm min)
Electric Underfloor Heating
Water/Wet System Underfloor Heating
Tile Backer Boards
Existing Ceramic, Porcelain and Natural Stone Tiles
Flooring Grade Asphalt & Bitumen
Anhydrite Screeds
T & G Floorboards
Floating Floors
Existing Vinyl Tiles
Steel/Metal Surfaces
Epoxy DPM
Existing Adhesive Residues
Fibreglass

Applications
Always mix by adding the powder to water. Python LR is blended with a water content of 4.5 – 5.0 litres of water per 20kg of Python LR. In a neat mixing vessel, add the pre-measured water before slowly adding the powder component, blending with an electric paddle until a smooth and lump-free consistency is achieved. Once mixed, allow the product to stand for 2 minutes and stir again prior to application. Do not add water once mixed. More than 5.0 litres of water per 20kg will result in water bleed and then extended drying times and a weakened mix.

N.B. Once mixed, Python LR will remain doable in the bucket for 20 – 30 minutes at 20°C.

Pour a small quantity onto the prepared surface and trowel down lightly to a depth between 2mm and 50mm. The use of a spiked roller is recommended directly in thin applications in order to remove entrapped air and smooth outflow lines. Setting time will depend on atmospheric temperatures, it will be slowed by lower temperatures and accelerated by higher temperatures. If a depth greater than 50mm is required, allow the first application to dry and prime the surface with Python PR at a 3:1 ratio before putting a subsequent coat. Clean tools right after use with clean water. Python LR is ideal for pump application. Mix in accordance with the pump manufacturer’s direction and ensure that regular flow checks are carried out. Ensure the water content is precise and that there is no surface separation.

So, there you have it, a summary on Python LR.

Do get in touch for more information.

Most Popular Questions Are we insured? Can I let you lay the screed only, and I will do all the preparation work? How do I choose the right screed system for me? Do I need

29/10/2023

The Concrete Screed Minimum Thickness?
I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. We are often asked about, what is the concrete screed minimum thickness?

Often people are having issues with thresholds and the heights of ceilings (not having a lot of floor make-up), and they want to know what is the minimum. Laying the screed too thin may result in failure, leading to the possible replacement of the screed.

Concrete Screed Minimum Thickness – Construction Types
A traditional screed as defined by the British Standard for screed, can go down to 40mm bonded.

Bonded
That would be 40mm onto a concrete substrate.
Unbonded
If laying on top of a membrane, that would be classified as unbonded, and the minimum would be 50mm.
Floating
Laying onto the insulation, so that would be classed as floating construction, domestically the British Standard recommends 65mm minimum and 75mm commercially.
Specialist Concrete Screed Minimum Thickness
Specialist screeds will allow you to actually bond as low as 10mm, and 35mm for floating construction.
You can see there is are a few different options, but you have got to be very wary of the minimums and realise the minimum is always going to be from the high spot within the room.

For further information about minimum’s please feel free to contact us.

Concrete Screed Minimum Thickness? The Concrete Screed Minimum Thickness? I'm Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. We are often asked about, what is the concrete screed minimum thickness? Often people are having issues with thresholds and the heights of ceilings (n...

28/10/2023

Concrete floor screed – is it the one for your project?
I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. I’m here to talk about Concrete Floor Screed?

Everyone knows what concrete is, but how many people understand the difference between screed and concrete? Although many people think they’re the same, they do have some differences. Both concrete and screed are used widely in the construction industry but outside of that people really don’t know much about them.

Concrete floor screed – it’s all in the mix
If you look at the ingredients used to make concrete and screed they are pretty much the same:

Cement
Water
Aggregates
This similarity means that most homeowners don’t really understand the difference, however, it is important to be aware of what these are because each is more suited to a set of particular tasks.

Telling the difference between concrete and screed can be done in a few different ways by looking at:

Use case
Composition
Physical appearance
Thickness of application
Consistency
Application methods
So let’s look at each of these in turn.

Use Cases
Concrete floor screed can be less coarse than concrete, making it great as a finishing but unsuitable for construction tasks. It is generally therefore used on pre-existing concrete floors so that the finished area is level and smooth.

Composition
How ingredients are combined will give you a good idea of what job the mix is suitable for. Plain concrete generally uses a large grade of aggregates which is quite coarse; it is therefore much stronger than screed. On the other hand, concrete floor screed is generally finer. This makes each material suitable for its own specific purpose.

Physical appearance
Plain concrete and concrete floor screed are noticeably different in appearance. Concrete is always a lot rougher because of the aggregates used, you can see this easily even when it is wet because the aggregates are anywhere up to 20mm in size. Concrete floor screed generally will contain a smaller grading of aggregate and is generally higher.

Thickness of application
Concrete is usually applied a lot thicker than screed – 100mm is the lowest thickness for domestic use but it can go up to 200mm where hard wear is expected. Concrete will provide a good, sturdy base for flooring. Concrete floor screed would be laid at around 75mm thickness on average and after it has been placed it is compressed and looks much smoother than plain concrete.

Application Method
When laying concrete specialist equipment is always necessary, and in most cases needs pumping into place. For concrete floor screed, similar equipment may be required depending on the specification of the mix.

Consistency
Concrete can be wetter than screed which looks semi-dry (apart from structural versions of concrete floor screed). However, the screed should not be so dry it crumbles and attention should be paid to keeping the consistency correct.

In Summary
While similar materials are used to make concrete and concrete floor screed you need to choose the best one for your needs. The above pointers should make this much easier but we are always on hand to give advice so please do get in touch.

Concrete Floor Screed Concrete floor screed – is it the one for your project? I'm Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. I'm here to talk about Concrete Floor Screed? Everyone knows what concrete is, but how many people understand the

27/10/2023

Screeders – Choosing the best for your project

My name is Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. I'd like to take some time to tell you about the great reasons why Speed Screed provides the very best screeders to the construction industry.

Choosing Screeders can be a challenge

With all the focus on getting the screed mix right, it is easy to forget that to get the most from your screed you will need to hire the very best screeders. In fact, no matter how good your screed if it is installed incorrectly your floor with not stand the test of time. To help you look at why Speed Screed is one of the best screeding services in the UK today, I've put together some of the reasons why we consistently win awards and customer recommendations.

High standards

All our work meets the British Standard BS 8204-1:2003 for screed. In fact, in many cases, it exceeds this standard. Take a look at our great customer reviews and you will see that we have consistently received the highest score for standards.

Health and Safety Focus

We are accredited with CHAS and SMAS, two external bodies that function to make sure that health and safety systems are effective and up-to-date. You will also find us registered on Constructionline, a government-run body that holds all our details and documentation. Not only that but all our installers have CSCS cards. This national safety card system gives customers full peace of mind when it comes to the safety of their project.

Quality Assured

Are your screeders recognised by the ISO? Speed Screed is quality assured and is audited externally by the ISO. We have recognised accreditation for quality under ISO 9001 (Quality Management System and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System).

Fully Insured

We insure all our work for employer's liability (£10,000,000), public liability (£5,000,000) and contract works (£100,000). In a nutshell: We have you covered.

Highly trained operatives

Our workforce receives the best training we can provide. All our installers are NVQ trained and our site supervisors undergo additional training to achieve the relevant qualifications.

Brilliant Technical Support

We know that our customers often need support outside office hours at Speed Screed. That's why our excellent technical support team are available 7 days a week at times that are convenient for you.

Speed Screed: Screeders that guarantee quality and value-for-money

All our work is guaranteed for 10 years
We guarantee our labour and materials for 10 years. Not only that, if you can find screeders that can offer you better value we will do your project for free!

Multi-Award Winning British Company

We have won multiple industry awards including, Company of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Apprentice of the year to name a few.

When you are looking for good quality screeders you can't do any better than Speed Screed. Come and talk to us about how we can meet all your screeding needs.

Choosing Your Screeders Screeders – Choosing the best for your project My name is Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. I'd like to take some time to tell you about the great reasons why Speed Screed provides the very best

23/10/2023

CEMEX Supaflo Cemex Supaflo - Flowing Screed Choice I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed, and I’m here to talk about CEMEX Supaflo GENERAL OVERVIEW CEMEX Supaflo is a calcium sulphate based flowing screed. APPLICATIONS Perfect for: Residential/Commercial/Ret...

21/10/2023

Screed Fall From 90mm to 0mm. Is that possible?
I'm Andy Parkin Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. Thank you very much for your question, Dean.

Your question is:

"Screed to fall from 90mm to 0mm, Is that possible?

Watch Andy's video to find out his answer:

Transcript:

Hi, I’m Andy Parkin, Managing Director of the multi-award-winning Speed Screed.

Thank you for your question, Dean, and that question is

“screed fall from 90mm to 0mm. Is that possible?”

It is with a single product. So you can do it with a single product, you could do it with modified sand and cement or a traditional screed.

It would involve what they call a “toe” at the bottom end. So what you can’t do on a level surface is have 90mm to 0mm. Indeed, there isn’t a product on the market that will go down from 90mm to 0mm. So you can use multiple materials, so you could use two different materials to achieve that.

You could actually cut what they call a toe into the screed, so effectively, you’ve got your finished level there. You would cut in and take the screed level below the substrate.

It may be that you’ve got concrete and need to take some of it out, so you’re still maintaining the minimum thicknesses you can get with some products such as modified sand and cement.

You can get products that start around 10mm, so you could go 10mm to 90mm. It might just mean you need to cut a little toe into the concrete at the zero end, so it’s got its required depth.

It’s bonded! There are no issues! Regarding that, it’s too thin, and it’s going to start to break up, but the actual finish runs down to the point that you need to meet, so, as we say, cutting a toe.

Now it’s not necessarily going to be the easiest of things potentially. If you know that you’re going to do that, you could maybe form it in the concrete. If you’ve just got the concrete, you may have to look at potentially planing and taking it down by grinding. Which can take some effort, but it is possible.

Otherwise, you may have to build something up at the bottom end if you’re not doing that. So if you’re looking at, the kind of zero end, you may need to look to build something up now.

You’ve got to remember that when you’re down at the zero end, it’s pretty much just exclusively smoothing compounds that are down at the zero end, so smoothing compounds naturally don’t want to run to falls at all.

So yes, it’s possible, it can be done.

It may take a couple of products to do it or maybe you can do it in a single product but you’re cutting a toe or planing a toe into the substrate.

So I hope that helps. I’m sure it gives you more questions which I’d be happy to assist and help you with. Contact us.”

Screed Fall From 90mm to 0mm. Is that possible? I'm Andy Parkin Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Speed Screed. Thank you very much for your question, Dean. Your question is: "Screed to fall from 90mm to 0mm, Is that possible? Watch Andy's video to find out his answer: https://youtu.be/MV...