Tiles, wood and vinyl on liquid screed
Every floor finish can go on liquid screed once it's dry, clean and primed. On calcium sulphate, the primer matters most: acrylic dispersion or water-based epoxy, usually two coats, as a barrier between the screed and any cement-based adhesive or smoothing compound.
A cement-based liquid screed takes tiles, wood and vinyl, and all cementitious adhesives, including fast-track systems.
Free, no obligation. One local screeding contractor prices it, not five.
Finish by finish
| Finish | On calcium sulphate | On cement liquid (cement-based liquid screed, cement-based liquid screed) |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles and stone | Sand, prime, then adhesive. Calcium sulphate based adhesive preferred; cement-based needs 75% RH and the primer barrier | Abrade, clean, test, then a cement adhesive |
| Wood | 75% RH (0.5%), or drier if the wood supplier asks | Under 75% RH (about 2% carbide) |
| Vinyl, LVT, carpet | Prime, then a smoothing compound (calcium sulphate based preferred) | Prime, then a smoothing compound |
| Liquid DPM to speed things up | After 28 days, under 87% RH, and no underfloor heating | Possible on cement-based liquid screed: follow the DPM maker |
Primers
- Calcium sulphate: acrylic dispersion or water-based epoxy, ideally two coats.
- Not neoprene or SBR on calcium sulphate.
- Use the primer the adhesive maker names, so the system is matched.
- For price: about €66 for 5 litres of primer, with VAT. Check that the primer suits calcium sulphate before it goes on.
Smoothing compounds
Vinyl and LVT show every bump, so a smoothing compound usually goes on first. A 20 kg bag of levelling compound is about €12.19 without VAT, €14.99 with it: enough for 4 m² at 3 mm, laid up to 6 mm. Its page names sand and cement screed and concrete as subfloors and doesn't mention calcium sulphate, so on anhydrite use a compound whose maker approves it, over the right primer.
The order on site
- DryNatural drying or the heating cycle. Force drying.
- Commission the heatingBefore any covering, however dry the screed looks.
- TestMoisture below the limit for the finish and adhesive.
- Sand and cleanOff with laitance and site dirt; vacuum.
- PrimeThe adhesive maker's primer, at the coats they specify.
- Lay the floorAdhesive or compound matched to the screed.
Liquid screed poured by the contractor who takes your call
Calls on this site ring JAM Floor Screeding: James Mulhall, based in Portlaoise, 25 years laying floors. Lines open Mon to Sat, 7am to 6pm. These are his jobs.
“JAM were punctual, professional and efficient and did an outstanding job on pouring our new floor as part of a renovation. Very highly recommend!”
“Excellent work, laser level finish, neat and tidy worker, highly recommend.”
“Top class work by james and his crew, highly recommend”
Quoted word for word from JAM Floor Screeding's Google reviews. Read them on Google
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Floor finishes questions
Can you tile directly onto anhydrite screed?
Not directly. Sand it, test it, prime it, then use an adhesive suited to calcium sulphate. Calcium sulphate based adhesives are the better match.
What primer for anhydrite screed?
Acrylic dispersion or water-based epoxy, usually two coats, ideally from the adhesive maker. Not neoprene or SBR.
Can I lay wood on liquid screed?
Yes, once it tests at 75% RH or the wood supplier's own, often drier, figure.
Do I need a levelling compound over liquid screed?
For vinyl and LVT, usually yes. For tiles and floating floors, often no: an SR2 finish can remove the need for a smoothing compound under some finishes.
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