Liquid screed creates smooth and level floors, but cracks can sometimes develop during the drying process. Fine hairline cracks are often part of normal curing and are typically cosmetic. Larger cracks or long straight splits may indicate movement in the screed and should be inspected before the final floor covering is installed.
Common causes
Cracking can occur due to shrinkage as moisture evaporates, rapid drying conditions, poor subfloor preparation, missing movement joints, incorrect water ratios in the mix, or insufficient screed thickness.
Hairlines vs structural cracks
Hairline cracks are usually superficial and rarely cause issues with flooring installation. Wider cracks or cracks running across large areas may require repair.
Fixes
Hairline cracks often require no repair. Moderate cracks can be filled with resin repair compounds, while structural cracks may require stitching or epoxy injection.
Preventing repeats
Correct installation practices, including proper preparation, movement joints, controlled curing, and gradual commissioning of underfloor heating systems, help prevent cracking.
Why choose Floor Screeding Essex?
Floor Screeding Essex provides professional screeding services across Essex with experienced teams and reliable workmanship.