Applied Floor Finishes

• Many of the applied floor finishes are thn flexible materials
• Example flexible PVC tiles and sheet , thermoplastc tiles , rubber tiles and sheet , inoleum , carpet on a subfloor with a smooth finish . 
• Achieved by laying a cement and sand screed with a steel float finish to the concrete subfloor . 
• THe usual screed mix is 1:3 cement and sand 
• Great care must be taken to ensure that a good bond is obtained with the subfloor . 
• If the screed is laid on green concrete , a thickness of 12mm is usually specified , whereas screeds laid on mature concrete require a thickness of 40mm 
• A mature concrete subfloor must be clean , free from dust , and dampened with water to reduce the suction before applying the bonding agent to receive the screed . 
• To reduce the possibility of drying shrinkage cracks , screeds should not be laid in bays exceeding 15 m square in are . 
• Screeds laid direclty over rigid insulation should be at least 50mm in thickness , reinforced with light steel mesh ( chicknen wire ) .