Traditional Sand & Cement Screed · Devon
Sowton Traditional Sand & Cement Screed Specialists
For Sowton 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 Sowton 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 Sowton 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 Sowton jobs sit within 30 minutes of base, so site visits stay simple and pour days run to time. Sowton sits Exeter (3 mi), and we work the surrounding villages on the same week's diary.
Common briefs across Sowton
- Office parks — a regular brief in Sowton
- Distribution warehouses — a regular brief in Sowton
- Hotel buildings — a regular brief in Sowton
- Met Office support — a regular brief in Sowton
- Distribution — a regular brief in Sowton
Right fit for Sowton contractors and developers
Sowton skews commercial — trade parks like Exeter Business Park, contractor-led fit-outs, and developer estates. We price as a sub-contractor on programme, with RAMS and CDM documentation issued ahead of mobilisation.
Traditional Sand & Cement Screed in Sowton — how it works
For Sowton 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.
We mix a semi-dry sand and cement screed on site or bring it in via a screed pump, lay it to string lines or laser-set pins in bays, then compact and trowel it to a flat, dense surface. It is slower than a liquid pour, roughly a day of drying time per millimetre of depth once you get past the first 50mm, but it tolerates a much wider range of site conditions.
Specifications suited to Sowton builds
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.
How a Sowton pour runs
- 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
Floors poured around Sowton
Other areas we cover near Sowton
Proof from the Devon workload
Hundreds of square metres poured around Sowton 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
Common Sowton build questions
Can you form a fall to a drain with sand and cement?+
Yes, this is one of the main reasons to choose it. We build the fall into the screed thickness during placement, which liquid screed cannot do since it self-levels flat.
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 Sowton job.
How is sand and cement screed different from liquid screed in Sowton?+
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.
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 long does a sand and cement screed take to dry in Sowton?+
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 Sowton?+
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 Sowton?
Tell us the depth, falls and access, and we'll come back with a fixed price for your Sowton 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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