Traditional Sand & Cement Screed · Devon
Traditional Sand & Cement Screed in Drewsteignton
For Drewsteignton jobs where gypsum-based screed is ruled out, wet rooms, balconies, timber-sensitive junctions, we lay a semi-dry sand and cement mix, bay by bay, finished to SR2 with a hand float or power trowel.
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For Drewsteignton jobs where gypsum-based screed is ruled out, wet rooms, balconies, timber-sensitive junctions, we lay a semi-dry sand and cement mix, bay by bay, finished to SR2 with a hand float or power trowel.
For Drewsteignton wet rooms, balconies and any area with sustained water contact, sand and cement is usually the only sensible screed choice, since gypsum-based liquid screeds are not designed to tolerate standing water.
Most of our Drewsteignton jobs sit within 30 minutes of base, so site visits stay simple and pour days run to time. Drewsteignton sits Exeter (13 mi), and we work the surrounding villages on the same week's diary.
Traditional Sand & Cement Screed in Drewsteignton — how it works
Sand and cement screed is laid in bays with day joints, which we set out to avoid future cracking at natural stress points such as doorways and changes in depth. It is a more labour-intensive process than liquid screed, but it is proven, robust and unaffected by moisture the way calcium sulphate screeds can be.
For Drewsteignton wet rooms, balconies and any area with sustained water contact, sand and cement is usually the only sensible screed choice, since gypsum-based liquid screeds are not designed to tolerate standing water.
Local facts that shape every Drewsteignton pour
County
Devon
District
Teignbridge
Postcode
EX6
Nearest city
Exeter (13 mi)
Nearest motorway
M5 (J31, ~15 mi)
Primary A-road
A382
Local industries
upland farming, holiday lets
Common builds
granite cottages, farmhouse conversions
Common briefs across Drewsteignton
- Granite cottages — a regular brief in Drewsteignton
- Farmhouse conversions — a regular brief in Drewsteignton
- Moor-edge new-builds — a regular brief in Drewsteignton
- Annex extensions — a regular brief in Drewsteignton
- Upland farming — a regular brief in Drewsteignton
Drewsteignton-area projects
What to expect on pour day in Drewsteignton
- 1
Site visit to assess substrate, falls, depth and access, since sand and cement can be barrowed where a pump truck cannot reach
- 2
Substrate prep, priming or DPM, and setting out of bay lines and laser levels
- 3
Mix and place the screed in bays, compacting as we go to remove voids
- 4
Hand float or power trowel to a flat, dense SR2 finish
- 5
Protect and allow to cure, typically a day per millimetre of depth after the first 50mm
- 6
Follow-up inspection before floor coverings or tiling begin
Why Drewsteignton clients pick us
Hundreds of square metres poured around Drewsteignton in the last 12 months
Single-team continuity — same crew, same standards, every job
Written fixed-price quotes — no day-rate creep
Moisture-test handover record so flooring contractors take the slab on without dispute
Other areas we cover near Drewsteignton
Materials and systems we use in Drewsteignton
Sand and cement (typically 4:1 or 5:1 mix)
Semi-dry, hand-compacted mix ratio adjusted to depth and loading.
SBR bonding agent
Slurry-brushed onto the substrate for bonded screeds under 40mm.
Polypropylene fibre reinforcement
Added to reduce shrinkage cracking on larger bays.
DPM and separating membrane
For unbonded or floating screeds over insulation.
Falls formed to drain outlets
Built into the screed thickness for wet rooms and balconies.
Edge and movement joints
Set at bay lines, doorways and around columns.
What people in Drewsteignton usually ask
How long does a sand and cement screed take to dry in Drewsteignton?+
Roughly a day per millimetre of depth once past the first 50mm, so a 65mm floor is typically ready for coverings in around six to eight weeks, depending on ventilation and site conditions.
Will the screed crack?+
Bay joints and fibre reinforcement control shrinkage cracking. We set bay sizes and joint positions at doorways and depth changes to minimise the risk on any Drewsteignton job.
What SR rating do you achieve on a trowelled screed?+
We finish sand and cement to SR2, within 3mm under a 2m straight edge, which is suitable for most tiled finishes. If you need SR1 flatness for large-format tile or resin, liquid screed is usually the better route.
How is sand and cement screed different from liquid screed in Drewsteignton?+
Sand and cement is a semi-dry mix, hand-laid and trowelled in bays, whereas liquid screed is pumped and self-levels. Sand and cement suits deep fills, external areas and wet rooms; liquid screed suits large flat internal floors that need to dry quickly.
Can you match an existing sand and cement floor level?+
Yes, we set datums off your existing finished floor level and build the new screed to match, allowing for whatever covering goes on top.
Do you use a screed pump for sand and cement in Drewsteignton?+
On larger jobs, yes, a screed pump can deliver the semi-dry mix into the building, which speeds up placement while keeping the hand-trowelled finish.
Need a hand-trowelled screed in Drewsteignton?
Tell us the depth, falls and access, and we'll come back with a fixed price for your Drewsteignton sand and cement floor.
Ready to get a price?
Tell us the rough size and location — we'll come back with a fixed quote today.
Or call our landline on 01392 237700
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