Traditional Sand & Cement Screed · Devon
Plymtree Traditional Sand & Cement Screed Specialists
For Plymtree 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 Plymtree 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 Plymtree 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 Plymtree jobs sit within 30 minutes of base, so site visits stay simple and pour days run to time. Plymtree sits Cullompton (5 mi), and we work the surrounding villages on the same week's diary.
What we plan around in Plymtree
County
Devon
District
East Devon
Postcode
EX15
Nearest city
Cullompton (5 mi)
Nearest motorway
M5 (J28, ~6 mi)
Primary A-road
B3176
Local industries
cider, agriculture
Common builds
listed cob cottages, small self-builds
Where liquid screed earns its keep in Plymtree
- Listed cob cottages — a regular brief in Plymtree
- Small self-builds — a regular brief in Plymtree
- Orchard outbuildings — a regular brief in Plymtree
- Cider — a regular brief in Plymtree
- Agriculture — a regular brief in Plymtree
Traditional Sand & Cement Screed in Plymtree — how it works
Unlike a self-levelling liquid screed, sand and cement is placed and compacted by hand, so we control the fall towards a drain, form an upstand at a threshold, or feather it into an existing floor level in a way a pumped pour cannot.
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.
Materials and systems we use in Plymtree
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.
Recent work near Plymtree
Adjacent areas — usually same-week diary
Trust points for a Plymtree brief
Hundreds of square metres poured around Plymtree 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
FAQs from Plymtree clients
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.
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 Plymtree job.
How is sand and cement screed different from liquid screed in Plymtree?+
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.
How long does a sand and cement screed take to dry in Plymtree?+
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.
Do you use a screed pump for sand and cement in Plymtree?+
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.
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.
Sand and cement screed still has a firm place in Plymtree building work, wet rooms, external thresholds and deep fills all reward a hand-laid, trowelled finish over a fast liquid pour.
Talk through your Plymtree sand and cement job
No pump access, an awkward fall, or a wet area, call and we'll talk through the right build-up for your Plymtree 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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