{"id":7567,"date":"2022-03-01T17:51:45","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T16:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?post_type=insight&#038;p=7567"},"modified":"2025-07-30T15:12:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T14:12:07","slug":"screed-failure-investigation","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Screed Failures"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7567\" class=\"elementor elementor-7567\" data-elementor-post-type=\"insight\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7edf143 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"83957\" data-id=\"7edf143\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-55724ec\" data-eae-slider=\"10926\" data-id=\"55724ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eccaa4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eccaa4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This article discusses the different types of sand and cement floor screeds, their uses and some of the causes of failure.<\/p><p>BS EN 13318 defines a screed as:\u00a0<i>A layer or layers of screed material laid in situ, directly onto a base, bonded or unbonded, or onto an intermediate layer or insulating layer<\/i>. Additives and proprietary screeds are available, which can improve the properties of concrete screeds. In addition, there are also gypsum-based screeds which have enhanced properties, such as being less prone to shrinkage. Cracked or tenting floor tiles, and bubbling sheet floor coverings, are both issues that are sometimes caused by poor installation onto a concrete floor screed. However, damaged floor finishes are sometimes actually a reflection of a failure in the screed to which they are applied.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e826158 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e826158\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">DIFFERENT SCREED TYPES<\/span><\/h4><p><strong>Bonded<\/strong><\/p><p>These types of screed are traditionally 25mm-40mm thick, although due to tolerances in concrete slabs, the specified screed depth should ideally be 40mm to ensure a minimum screed thickness of 25mm.Using a bonded screed should reduce the risk of the screed curling or shrinking, provided a sufficient bond with the base can be ensured. This type of screed is likely to be found in industrial buildings where the flooring will be subject to heavy loads.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1770492 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1770492\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Bonded-Screed-1024x395.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7574\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Bonded-Screed-1024x395.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Bonded-Screed-300x116.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Bonded-Screed-768x296.png 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Bonded-Screed.png 1221w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08cc4d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"08cc4d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Unbonded<\/strong><\/p><p>As you may have guessed, an unbonded screed does not adhere directly to the substrate. In this case a separating layer, usually a polythene membrane, is laid first before pouring the screed. This type of screed should not be less than 50mm, and therefore to allow for tolerances, should be specified to be at least 70m thick. However, there is a high risk of this type of screed curling. To overcome this, the thickness should be 100mm or thicker, or the screed should be reinforced across the joints. This type of screed is likely to be found in tenanted spaces such as shops. The unbonded nature of the screed allows incoming tenants to choose the floor build up and finish they wish to have.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1ae5ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a1ae5ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"303\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Unbonded-Screed-1024x388.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7573\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Unbonded-Screed-1024x388.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Unbonded-Screed-300x114.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Unbonded-Screed-768x291.png 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Unbonded-Screed.png 1070w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4c32e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f4c32e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Floating<\/strong><\/p><p>Floating screeds are unbonded screeds but generally laid on a layer of insulation. They are mainly used in structures with underfloor heating or for situations where acoustic or thermal insulation is needed. It generally requires a thickness greater than 65mm, or over 75mm for heavily-loaded floors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b30137 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6b30137\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"324\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Floating-Screed-1024x415.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7575\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Floating-Screed-1024x415.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Floating-Screed-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Floating-Screed-768x311.png 768w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Floating-Screed.png 1481w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c6b652 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c6b652\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">SCREED INSTALLATION<\/span><\/h4><p>150m<sup>2<\/sup>\u00a0is generally the maximum area of screed that a typical crew can lay in one day. The maximum width of one strip should be no more than 6m to avoid shrinkage cracks.<\/p><p>Once a screed is laid, it should be protected and allowed to cure, usually for seven days. This is generally done by laying a polythene sheet over the screed to prevent moisture evaporating from the screed too quickly. If the water evaporates too quickly then the screed will not cure or have the strength to avoid substantial shrinkage.<\/p><p>Once cured, 1 day of drying should be allowed per millimetre thickness for sand-cement screeds up to 50mm.It is therefore reasonable to expect a 50mm screed under good drying conditions to be sufficiently dry in about 2 months.<\/p><p>Drying rates can be subject to the conditions on site, with ventilation and air humidity being key factors. If the environment is too wet, it can delay the drying of the screed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a47d5d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a47d5d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">SCREED JOINTS<\/span><\/h4><p>Any joints in the substrate should be reflected in a bonded screed. If this is not done, then any form of movement of the structure may cause the screed to crack. Where screeds abut walls or columns, a perimeter joint should be factored into the design, to take account of thermal movement. This is normally filled with a compressible foam.<\/p><p>Joints within the screed itself should also be factored into the design. This also allows for thermal expansion, but also reduces the risk of the screed cracking during the curing and drying process. Joints should be along the length of a screed bay at about 5m to 6m intervals. Joints for the purpose of reducing cracks within the screed should either be formed during the laying of the screed with a trowel, or should be sawn after the screed has hardened.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e21bde9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e21bde9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-1-AdobeStock_425877587.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7568\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-1-AdobeStock_425877587.jpeg 830w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-1-AdobeStock_425877587-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-1-AdobeStock_425877587-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Compressible foam in joint allows for thermal expansion<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c4bc29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c4bc29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">SCREED FAILURES<\/span><\/h4><p><strong>Debonding<\/strong><\/p><p>The main way that bonded screeds fail, is by failure of the bond between the screed and the substrate (debonding), which will likely lead to cracking and possibly displacement of the screed. Debonding of a screed can be caused either by the screed being too thick or the substrate not being adequately prepared. Preparation is either by shot blasting (firing of blast media, normally small steel balls) or\u00a0<i>scabbling<\/i>\u00a0(use of compressed air to hammer steel tips into the concrete).This removes any contaminants from the surface and removes the weaker top surface of the concrete allowing the screed to bond with the harder aggregates of the substrate underneath.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02bc1a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"02bc1a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-2-AdobeStock_25089446.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7569\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-2-AdobeStock_25089446.jpeg 830w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-2-AdobeStock_25089446-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-2-AdobeStock_25089446-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Surface of concrete slab being removed by mechanical means<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4898b44 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4898b44\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Curling<\/strong><\/p><p>Both unbonded and floating screeds pose a high risk of curling during curing, as they are not restrained by the substrate underneath. Curling occurs when moisture in the screed evaporates from the surface, which then dries and shrinks at a faster rate than the body of the screed. Curling can disrupt floor coverings, induce cracking in adjoining building elements and cause unevenness in floor surfaces. To overcome this, steel fabric reinforcement which crosses the joints can be incorporated into the screed where there is a risk of curling.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3291c57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3291c57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Cracking<\/strong><\/p><p>As screeds dry, they shrink. This will invariably lead to cracks in the screeds. Defects arise where the cracking has either not been adequately controlled, or not allowed for, either in the design or installation of the screed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-145ffd5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"145ffd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-3-AdobeStock_353102654.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7570\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-3-AdobeStock_353102654.jpeg 830w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-3-AdobeStock_353102654-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Image-3-AdobeStock_353102654-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Cracking to concrete screed<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea1718c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea1718c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Where services such as pipework or electrical trunking are imbedded in screeds, if insufficient cover (the amount of screed over the services) or reinforcement is provided, then the screed will also likely crack. To overcome this, any cover should be at least 25mm, and from my experience, up to at least 40mm. Steel mesh reinforcement should extend at least 150mm to either side of the services.<\/p><p>Either a lack of joints, or insufficient joints in the screed (as described above) can also lead to excessive cracking.<\/p><p>If the screed dries too quickly cracking can occur, but if the screed does not dry sufficiently then any excess moisture in the screed can lead to floor finishes, especially timber flooring, being damaged.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cd5356 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0cd5356\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Crumbling<\/strong><\/p><p>If the screed is crumbling and has broken patches, then it may not have sufficient strength for the expected loading that the screed is subjected to. This could be due to the incorrect amount of sand and cement in the mix, either as specified in the design or as made up on site. To check for this the workability of the screed should be tested onsite.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3dbe127 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"93328\" data-id=\"3dbe127\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-70826db\" data-eae-slider=\"98863\" data-id=\"70826db\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c8e90e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0c8e90e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"204\" height=\"247\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7572\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d90522a\" data-eae-slider=\"21624\" data-id=\"d90522a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d3092d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0d3092d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is done by forming a ball of screed; if the ball does not crumble or drip water, then the mix can be assumed to be correct. Fourteen days after installation, the strength of the screed can be tested using the Building Research Establishment drop hammer test. This is done by subjecting the screed to repeated impact blows by dropping an annular weight (not an actual hammer!) vertically down a guide on to a hardened steel anvil in contact with the screed surface.&nbsp;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e8e49a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e8e49a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The depth of the indentation from the resulting impact after four blows is measured to assess the screed\u2019s ability to carry traffic without crushing under the imposed weight.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d055208 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d055208\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">CONCLUSION<\/span><\/h4><p>There are several ways in which a screed can fail, leading to damage to the screed itself, but also to any final floor covering that is overlaid on top of it. Although defects in a screed can potentially be latent, with a correctly designed and installed screed, these issues can be mitigated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb6466b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"67097\" data-id=\"fb6466b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-db0dab4\" data-eae-slider=\"25727\" data-id=\"db0dab4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-342635f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"342635f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">ABOUT THE AUTHOR\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/experts\/austen-smith\/\">Austen Smith<\/a> is a Forensic Architect in Hawkins\u2019 Dubai office who specialises in construction defects and defects in architectural design. He has twenty years\u2019 experience in construction projects spanning Europe, the Middle East, the CIS, East Asia and Australia. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article discusses the different types of sand and cement floor screeds, their uses and some of the causes of failure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7571,"parent":0,"template":"","insight_category":[],"experties":[62],"class_list":["post-7567","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","experties-built-environment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Screed Failures: Causes &amp; Forensic Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore common causes of screed failures in construction and how forensic analysis helps identify material or installation issues.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Screed Failures: Causes &amp; Forensic Insights\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore common causes of screed failures in construction and how forensic analysis helps identify material or installation issues.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hawkins Forensic Investigation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-30T14:12:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"830\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/\",\"name\":\"Screed Failures: Causes & Forensic Insights\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-01T16:51:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-30T14:12:07+00:00\",\"description\":\"Explore common causes of screed failures in construction and how forensic analysis helps identify material or installation issues.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg\",\"width\":830,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"cracked concrete, crack on stone texture\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Insights\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Screed Failures\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/\",\"name\":\"Hawkins Forensic Investigation\",\"description\":\"Specialising in Forensic Investigation\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Hawkins and Associates\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg\",\"width\":164,\"height\":61,\"caption\":\"Hawkins and Associates\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hawkins-and-associates-limited\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Screed Failures: Causes & Forensic Insights","description":"Explore common causes of screed failures in construction and how forensic analysis helps identify material or installation issues.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Screed Failures: Causes & Forensic Insights","og_description":"Explore common causes of screed failures in construction and how forensic analysis helps identify material or installation issues.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/","og_site_name":"Hawkins Forensic Investigation","article_modified_time":"2025-07-30T14:12:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":830,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/","name":"Screed Failures: Causes & Forensic Insights","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg","datePublished":"2022-03-01T16:51:45+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-30T14:12:07+00:00","description":"Explore common causes of screed failures in construction and how forensic analysis helps identify material or installation issues.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Screed-Failures-Top-Image-AdobeStock_279334033.jpeg","width":830,"height":630,"caption":"cracked concrete, crack on stone texture"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/screed-failure-investigation\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Insights","item":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Screed Failures"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/","name":"Hawkins Forensic Investigation","description":"Specialising in Forensic Investigation","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization","name":"Hawkins and Associates","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg","width":164,"height":61,"caption":"Hawkins and Associates"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hawkins-and-associates-limited\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/7567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insight"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/7567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40524,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/7567\/revisions\/40524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"insight_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight_category?post=7567"},{"taxonomy":"experties","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/experties?post=7567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}