We use Putzmeister M760 pumps that are fully maintained and serviced after every job. Each pump annually undergoes a HSB thorough examination and also has quarterly services. In addition to these necessary services, our plant also undergoes a weekly spot-check. All our staff are fully trained, certificated and insured. Documentation of which is available for inspection on request.

Sand and Cement Screed

Ready-to-use cement & sand screed is an ideal screed for flooring and roofing applications. It can be used as ground floor slabs (floating foundations), used on suspended floors, as a topping to lightweight screeds based on perlite or other lightweight aggregates and can also be used as a floating construction over insulation to give acoustic or thermal properties.

Fibre Screed

Fibre screed has been developed to meet the increasing demand for factory-mixed cement: sand screeds of all mix designs incorporating an even dispersion of polypropylene fibres. The presence of suitable fibres can help to give a more cohesive mix and help control cracking caused by intrinsic stresses.

Applications: Fibre screeds are ideally suitable for use in hospitals, offices, superstores, industrial and other applications where there would be a high cost in loss of use through floor failure due to surface cracking of screed. Ideally compatible for use with underfloor heating systems.

Advantages over traditional Sand and Cement Screed

• Minimum early age shrinkage/cracking
• Improved flexural, fatigue strength
• Eliminates the use of wire mesh
• Improves toughness
• Fibres cannot be misplaced
• Strengthens resistance against site traffic

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Health and Safety

The health and safety of our entire workforce, and that of our working partners, is of paramount importance. We understand that our staff and operatives are our main asset.

• Affliated to the CSCS system
• All employees hold valid CSCS cards
• All contract managers are qualified to at least CITB SMSTS
• All necessary insurances and permits kept up to date and ready for inspection at all times
• Full PPE gear worn at all times
• Full training provided in the use of all our plant and machinery
• Currently all employees undertaking training for NVQ Level 2: Insitu Flooring
• Company policy actively encourages the gaining of further qualifications

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Building Regulations

Government legislation came into force on the 1 July 2003 to allow for improvements to the resistance of the passage of sound. The purpose of this was to address the noise level suffered by occupants of multi-storey-developments.

What does Part E require?

Separating floors now have to be constructed in such a way as to achieve the sound insulation values defined by the regulations.

The Importance of Acoustic Insulation:

Since the change in Building Regulation, the need for Acoustic Insulation Specialists has become increasingly more important. The most common factors in test failure arise from poor acoustic installations on site, for example, sound flanking and various other common mistakes. When using Alan Brett Floorscreeding you can rest assured that your acoustic system has been fitted to regulation, which will eliminate such problems re-occurring.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use Alan Brett Floorscreeding?
Alan will work with you from the start, from advising you on the best way to tackle your screed, to ordering your materials and to cleaning up after the work has been completed. You will receive a first class job for the most reasonable price.
Alan Brett Floorscreeding will stand over any floor we screed and no payment will be made until you the client are happy.

What type of floor screed should I have in my new house/extension?
At Alan Brett Floorscreeding we would advise in staying with a traditional Sand and cement screed, as shrinkage is a major problem with liquid screed and cost implications can be quite high for small areas done by flowing screed.

What depth should my floor be?
At Alan Brett Floorscreeding we recommend that you have a 65 mil screed. This is seen as an independent floor.
You can however have a 50 mil screed when it is reinforced with fibres. In some cases the depth has to be lower and solutions can be added to the mix to go as low as 30 mil deep.

What are Fibres?
Polypropylene fibres are added to the mix to strengthen the screed. Fibres have been developed to replace hex (Chicken) wire, which used to be used by Architects in the past, but it is commonly known that this is the least effective system as it sits at the bottom of the screed, as were the fibres are mixed within the screed.
At Alan Brett Floorscreeding fibres are used in every mix to strengthen the mix and avoid cracking.

What level tolerance is there on floor screeds?
The industry standard is 10mm across a 3m straight-edge. At Alan Brett Floorscreeding we look for a tolerance of 3mm, or better.

I have been advised by my plumber to use a self level floor screed on top of my underfloor heating system. Why?
This is totally misleading and will result in a more costly job. 90% of the work carried out by Alan Brett Floorscreeding is over U.F.H.S. and has never had anything but good comments.
Flow Screed was traditionally designed for ware house and has just moved into the domestic market. People are lead to believe that you will be able to up to 600 metres a day with flow screed, but what they are not told is that it will take two days to make sure the insulation is water tight before the pour. Taping of the insulation in flow screed is paramount, as if it is not done properly, it will leak to the floor below.
Alan Brett Floorscreeding works with quite a few builders that have gone back to the traditional screeding process. Flow screed does not work out any quicker and definitely not cheaper.

How long before you can walk on the floor?
At Alan Brett Floorscreeding, we suggest that you do not walk on the floor for 24 hours. This gives it time to get a thick skin. In some cases you can walk on before 24 hours, but you might find that it has sot pockets were you will sink.
Then the screed will dry at 5mil per day. It is not recommended that you speed up the dry process artificially as this will result in cracks.

How and why does cracking occur?
Any material that has absorbed water will shrink as it dries out. Sometimes, due to excessive drying, screeds will crack. If you try to artificially accelerate the drying times, then there is more risk of cracking. Alan Brett Floorscreeding puts fibers in Every mix to prevent cracking. Remember natural is best!
If you have any other questions that you would like answered, please do not hesitate to email me at alan@floorscreedinguk.com

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