Screed surface defects
Soft Spots in a Screed Floor
An area that flexes, feels spongy underfoot or sounds different when tapped is telling you the screed hasn't cured or bonded properly in that spot, and it needs sorting before flooring goes down.
Get a soft spot checked out
Name, phone, email — we'll reply the same working day with a fixed price.
A soft spot is exactly what it sounds like — an area of the floor that gives slightly underfoot, feels less solid than the surrounding screed, or has a noticeably different sound when tapped or walked on. It's not something to cover up and hope goes away; a soft spot under tile or wood flooring will eventually cause cracking, debonding or a visible dip.
The underlying cause varies. Sometimes it's a batching or mixing inconsistency in a small area. Sometimes it's still-uncured screed that simply hasn't reached strength yet. Occasionally it points to trapped moisture or an issue with what the screed was poured onto.
We treat every reported soft spot as worth investigating properly rather than dismissing it, because the repair is straightforward when caught early and considerably more disruptive once flooring has gone down on top.
Common causes of a soft spot
- Localised batching inconsistency during the pour
- Screed poured over debris, dust or an unsealed area of insulation
- Area still within its curing period and not yet at full strength
- Moisture trapped locally, softening the screed from beneath
- Insulation board movement during the pour creating an uneven support
How we investigate a soft spot
- 1
Tap test across the area
A change in sound compared to surrounding screed confirms the extent of the affected zone.
- 2
Check the curing timeline
We confirm how long ago the screed was poured — some softness is expected in the first days after pouring.
- 3
Moisture reading
A meter reading rules out or confirms a moisture-related cause.
- 4
Localised core or lift
Where needed, a small core sample or a lifted section confirms the condition beneath the surface.
Get a soft spot checked out
Tell us where it is and how old the pour is, and we'll advise on testing before you lay any flooring.
Early-stage curing vs a genuine defect
Normal early curing
- Pour is only a few days old
- Softness is uniform across the whole floor
- Strength increases day by day
Localised defect
- Softness confined to one specific area
- Present well beyond the expected cure time
- Sound changes clearly when tapped nearby
Screed Soft Spots — questions we get asked
Keep reading across the site
Get a soft spot checked out
Tell us where it is and how old the pour is, and we'll advise on testing before you lay any flooring.