What is Pump Screed?
Pump screed application | Pump screed is a liquid style, fast curing, self-levelling floor finish. It is used as a levelling screed or to improve the surface of the subfloor prior to the application of a resin finish.
While screed and concrete have similar applications, screed is more specific in its use. Screed is a high performance, self-levelling, and durable floor finish suitable for the toughest environments, whereas concrete can degrade over time and with high traffic.
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Why is it called a Pump Screed?
It is called a pump screed because it is prepared in a Screed pump machine that enables the screed mixture to be mixed uniformly, distributing the cement and additives evenly through the sand whilst adding water. The screed pump machine has a long pipe that enables the transfer of screed via the long pipe to the intended floor areas.
Why do I need to have a pump screed?
If the subfloor is uneven or degraded applying a pump screed prior to a resin coating system will give a better, more even finish to the final topcoat. Resin coating systems alone do not hide imperfections in the subfloor surface and hence can accentuate any imperfections in the floor if they have a glossy finish.
When approached by Ices Electrical & Maintenance Ltd to refurbish a cementitious screed and resin floor for a leading inventory management and technical services company based in Nottingham, it was obvious that it would be beneficial to lay an 8mm DCP cementitious screed to the entire area before applying a 3 coat epoxy resin coating system. The 2548 square metre area had been previously used as a production area and the floor was particularly uneven and pitted.
In preparation for the 8mm cementitious screed and coating system, the floor needed to have the existing epoxy resin coatings removed, before being thoroughly cleaned. Using a heavy shotblast via a totally enclosed ride-on shot blasting machine and a double-headed diamond grinding machine the existing concrete main floor surface was prepared. Then a handheld diamond grinding machine was used. This was to prepare the edges before the damaged localised concrete, expansion joints, holes and cracks were repaired. This was required using a polyurethane mortar compound.
In order to prevent moisture one coat of DCP DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) epoxy resin priming system, was applied. In order to improve mechanical grip, heavy scatters of 0.6 to 1.2mm quartz aggregate was incorporated. This was before the machine pumped nominal 8mm heavy duty DCP Cemflow topping cementitious screed was applied.
Once dry the 3 coat epoxy resin coating system consisted of a Resdev WD epoxy resin priming coat. A further two coats of Resdev Pumatect high build, epoxy resin in the client chosen light grey was applied to the total floor area.
280 linear meters of 6mm x 10mm expansion joints were saw cut. They were knocked out and infilled with jointing compound In order to prevent cracking from sub movement in the original concrete.
Mr Sam Corkish, Projects Director for Ices Electrical & Maintenance Ltd said” PSC Flooring has done a great job. As quoted the work took to 2 working weeks and the floor was completed well in time for the racking company to come and rack out space. This new warehouse will make a tremendous difference to our business and the flooring system installed by PSC will protect our investment.”
Want to find out more about our high standard Pump Screed Application? Then contact us today at PSC Flooring for a free site survey! Furthermore, you may also want to check out our previous blog on the Why are expansion joints so important? or Everything You Need to Know About Polyurethane Screeds