What To Consider When Choosing Dry Screed or Wet Screed

When completing a project that needs flooring, you will likely face the question, "Do I use dry screed or wet screed?" For those who work in the construction industry, the answer will be obvious as your expertise in the materials and the project will lead you directly to a conclusion in the blink of an eye. But for DIYers, this question can be a stumbling block.

While dry and wet screeds do the same thing, they have slightly different characteristics, making each more suitable for different scenarios. You can read more about this in our recent blog, "Dry Screed vs. Liquid Screed: Which to Choose?"

Once you understand the differences between the types of screed, you need to consider several factors about your project so that you can make the decision.

At 2 Brothers Concrete & Pumping, we are experts in all things screed. Having worked on commercial, residential and new build projects, we know how each type of screed works for different projects and spaces and have developed unparalleled knowledge.

In this blog, we share the things you need to consider when choosing which screed to use.

Project Scale

One of the first things you will need to think about is the size of the project you are working on.

If it is a small project, dry screed might be suitable because the manual labour to cover the area is minimal.

However, if you are working on a larger project, you will probably want liquid screed because it can be pumped for easier installation and is self-levelling, so you won't have to spend hours making sure the surface is even.

Flooring Type And Finish

Hopefully, before you start any work on your project, you will have a design to be working on. Or, at the very least, in your mind, you know what type of flooring you are going to be laying.  

For the most part, both dry screed and wet screed can be used with any type of flooring.

Flooring Type	Dry Screed	Liquid Screed
Laminate	Yes	Yes
Engineered Wood	Yes	Yes
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)	Yes	Yes
Carpet	Yes	Yes
Porcelain or Ceramic Tile	Yes	Yes
Cork	Yes	Yes
Rubber	Yes	Yes
Polished Concrete/Resin	No	Yes

 

As you can see from the above, if you are planning on using concrete or resin for your flooring, you will need to use wet screed, but for other flooring types, more factors need to be considered before making the final decision.

Load Bearing Requirements

Another factor to think about is the load-bearing requirements of your space.  

Wet screed can be made stronger with the additions of steel mesh or fibres, making it more suitable for heavier load-bearing. This makes wet screed better for industrial floors, warehouses, or garages.

Dry screed is typically lighter and thinner, so doesn't offer the same level of load-bearing capacity as liquid screed does, meaning it is often used for residential or light commercial applications.

Floor Conditions

The state of the floor you are laying dry screed or wet screed on will impact the installation process, durability and overall performance of the material. So, you need to think about the following conditions of the floor.

• Uneven floor - liquid screed is self-levelling, so will fill gaps or dips and create an even surface. Dry screen needs the floor to be relatively flat already.
• Moisture conditions - liquid screed is sensitive to moisture on the floor that it is being poured. Dry screed is a dry material and is suitable for damp surfaces.
• Structural integrity of subfloors - if using a stable, strong subfloor like concrete, liquid screed works well. But for other subfloor types, such as timber joists or suspended floors, dry screed is better as it is lighter weight.
• Subfloor preparation - because wet screed is self-levelling there is no preparation needed to make the subfloor smooth. Dry screed will need more thorough preparation.  

Acoustic And Thermal Insulation Requirements

While not necessarily an obvious thought, you should consider the acoustic and thermal insulation needs for your space.

If you are planning on using underfloor heating, wet screed is the better option.

This is for a number of reasons:

• It has high thermal conductivity, meaning heat transfers from hot pipes of an underfloor heating efficiently.
• The density and structure of the screed mean it retains heat for longer.
• You can place a thermal insulation layer under the wet screed.

If you aren't using underfloor heating, dry screed might be the better choice.

• It often includes built-in insulation layers offering better insulation than wet screed on its own.
• It can heat up quicker, so doesn't absorb or retain as much heat as liquid screed might. This means you need less energy to heat the space up.

Your screed choice can also impact acoustic insulation and the soundproofing of your project.  

Liquid screed is denser, so naturally provides more acoustic insulation than dry screed.

Similar to thermal insulation, dry screed systems will often include acoustic insulation layers, which makes them highly effective at reducing impact noise and improving soundproofing.

Expert Guidance On Dry Screed Or Wet Screed

There we have it, the several factors you need to consider when choosing dry screed or wet screed.

The details of your project will point you in a direction, so you need to think about these aspects of your project:

• Project size
• The flooring you intend to use
• How much weight it will be required to carry
• The conditions of the sub-base
• Acoustic and thermal insulation

There is a lot to think about in this decision, and quite often, when trying to weigh up each of the factors, you can end up in a mental knot, confused as to which one you should use.

If you find yourself in this position, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team have a combined 25 years of experience in the concrete and screed industry and knows the characteristics, pros and cons of dry screed and wet screed like the back of our hands.

We will get to understand what you are working on and then can talk you through the above factors to give knowledgeable advice and guidance relative to your project.

Get in touch with us today to choose dry screed or wet screed. Call us on 01489 552737 or complete our online contact form, and we will be in touch with our answers.