Presently the most popular solution for the floor underlay are ‘wet’ cement screeds. However, the interest for the technology of ‘dry screed’ is growing among the investors. What is the difference between a regular, wet screed and the dry screed and why is it worth taking under consideration?

The underlay for the top layers of the floor must have some important features:

• Even and smooth surface – the floor finishes are often made of very thin materials (PVC carpets). What is more, they are glued to the surface with thin gluing materials. Correcting the mistakes does not come into play.
• Lightness – underlay layers stress the construction of the ceiling underneath. Lightness is a matter of great importance especially in the case of ceilings with large spans, light ceilings in a wooden construction and old ceilings in modernized, rebuilt buildings.
• Rigidity, durability against load, resistance to puncture – underlay layers are placed on an acoustic isolation made of soft materials, like Styrofoam or mineral wool. Floors in this technology are installed in many types of buildings: houses, schools, hospitals, offices, banks and other, where they may be exposed to a big pressure.
• Simple, time- and money-saving implementation – in the case of single family houses, this feature allows to install the floor on one’s own, without hiring a specialist. For those who invest in multi family houses, offices, hotels etc. it means a possibility to finish the investment rapidly. Without wasting time on technological breaks, like congealing of the concrete.

TIM-EX dry screed fulfils all aforementioned requirements set for modern floor underlay. Describing each feature:

• TIM-EX dry screed system is characterized by an even and smooth surface. The top layer – Knauf Integral gypsum fibre panels – is perfectly smooth. Even for thin PVC carpets, it is enough to polish/fill the joints of the panels, without a self-levelling screed.
• TIM-EX dry screed system is light. The total load of the TIM-EX dry screed with a thickness of 6,0 cm does not exceed 40 kg/m², which is only about 1/7 of the weight of the typical ceiling, while the weight of regular ‘wet screeds’ with a thickness of 4,0 cm reaches up to kg/m², which is about 1/3 of the weight of the ceiling.
• TIM-EX dry screed system is durable, rigid and resistant to puncture.The load capacity of the TIM-EX dry screed – according to PN-EN 13810 – is 2,6 kN spot (25x25 cm punch). It enables us to install the TIM-EX dry screed system in every type of building, except for large surface shops.
• TIM-EX dry screed system is easy in execution. Using dry screed, it is possible to lay down a parquet, terracotta or carpet on the next day.
• Apart from fulfilling the essential requirements, TIM-EX dry screed system’s feature is a dry and clean installation. The installation of the system is completely water-free. The system does not have to dry to reach its parameters. It is a desirable feature, especially in new wooden constructions. ‘Wet’ installation might damage or cause the swelling of the wooden structure of the building.

The modern solutions proposed by TIM-EX dry screed system successfully fulfil all the requirements set for a floor underlay. Some of its benefits make it a perfect solution for modernizations and renovations of the buildings. It proved to be useful in investments, which are getting more and more popular recently, like adapting old industrial buildings for lofts or renovating old apartment houses and monuments. Naturally, there are no contraindications for using TIM-EX dry screed in all other types of constructions – especially when it is desirable to finish the work quickly. The choice belongs – obviously – to the investor.