The Guide to Cement Screed Flooring in Singapore

Concrete flooring makes for a durable and contemporary industrial look that is popular among many artistic and modern spaces in both residential and commercial applications. The flooring comes in various shades, which range from light gray to a dark, sooty color.

Concrete floor designs were originally used in schools, factories, and other areas with high foot traffic as the material is durable and low maintenance, but cement has now become one of the popular flooring materials for homes and offices to give the space a minimalist look.

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What is Cement Screed Flooring?

Cement screed is a mixture of pulverized cement, a binding agent, and aggregates to create a thick but smooth paste used to spread across floors in various applications. Cement screed acts like a varnish as it is applied on top of concrete flooring, and hardens into a shiny, smooth finish. It may also be applied as a top layer over rigid insulation material such as acoustic or thermal insulation.

Floor screed can be made from various materials like resin, asphalt, or calcium sulphate screed; each with its own specific application. However, cement screed is a classic and popular form of floor coverings, and has multiple uses.

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Types of Floor Screeds

There are three types of cement screeds, namely: bonded screed, unbonded screed, and floating finish, also called floating screed. Each type of screed floor has different uses and purposes, and the type of cement screed used in a space will depend on its application.

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What is Bonded Screed?

Like its name suggests, bonded screed is a type of cement screed that is bonded over a concrete floor using glue or other adhesives. The concrete floor would be made to have a rough surface in which the adhesive agent can grip on, and the area would be cleaned prior to applying the cement screed.

Bonded screed flooring is often done in spaces with extremely high foot traffic, or spaces that require high strength, such as a warehouse or factory that operates with large, heavy machinery. As such, much of the weight is placed on the concrete slab beneath the floor screed, which absorbs the pressure of machinery.

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What is Unbonded Screed?

Unbonded screed is a type of concrete screed that involves separating floor screeds from the substrate layer using a PVC membrane, or other damp-proof membrane. This is ideal for spaces that have high humidity levels, or are consistently damp, as with wet markets, aquariums, and factories that deal with moisture.

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What is a Floating Screed Floor?

Floating screed is a type of screed floor that is similar to unbonded screeds, but is often done as a floor covering on top of insulation materials like acoustic insulation, underfloor heating systems insulation, or thermal insulation.

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Pros and Cons of Cement Screed Flooring

Like any form of flooring, a cement screed floor has its pros and cons. Despite being durable, extreme weather and temperature changes, installation, and moisture levels will affect the strength of the cement screed floor. Here are the pros and cons of this type of flooring:

Pros

• Cement screed is a durable form of final flooring material that protects the plain concrete underneath.
• Cement screed has multiple uses and is a versatile flooring material that can be applied to various types of spaces.
• Cement screed is low maintenance. The flooring can be easily cleaned using most commercial and home cleaning solutions, and is relatively stain-resistant.
• Cement screed comes in many different shades, depending on the type of cement used, and the aggregates in the floor screed.
• Cement screed is cost-efficient in both initial costs, and maintenance costs.

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Cons

• Improper installation can cause cracks and mold to form beneath the concrete flooring, especially when the floor is constantly wet, or too dry.
• The smooth floor screed can be slippery when wet, which is a particularly common hazard in commercial spaces, factories, and schools.
• Cement floor screed has limited designs, and presents a different design from wood flooring. Cement floor screed often needs to be painted to show colors other than gray.
• Cement floor screed is difficult to repair. Repairs often require re-sealing the entire floor, which can be a hassle.

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Tips on Cement Screed Flooring Maintenance

As mentioned, cement screed is a relatively low maintenance type of flooring that rarely requires any kind of special cleaning solution or implement to clean. Here's what you can do to clean, polish, and maintain the shine on your screed floor:

• Sweep or vacuum out general dust and dirt to clean the floors. Mop the floors for everyday cleaning.
• Scrub the floor with a cleaning solution, or soapy water to deep clean the screed.
• Use a floor polishing machine, or a floor buffer to keep the floors shiny and polished.
• Fix leaking pipes to prevent cracks from water damage.
• Place carpets, rugs, or foam flooring over high-traffic areas to protect the flooring, and to cushion the pressure of the weight.

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Call in the Experts

Unsure if concrete flooring is right for your home? Our team at Colebuild can work with you to build your dream space! Our interior designers can show you the possibilities of using concrete flooring in your home, while our build team can explain the durability of each flooring option to make home renovations easy and convenient!

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Contact us today, and get started on building the home of your dreams!