What Is Self-Levelling Screed and When Should You Use It?
What is self-levelling screed?
Self-levelling screed refers to a free-flowing cementitious material designed to create a smooth, level surface with minimal manual finishing. Unlike traditional screeds, it is highly flowable and levels itself via gravity. This significantly reduces labour requirements and delivers a precise degree of consistency across the slab. It’s becoming more widely used by contractors across Australia as a cost-effective method of delivering a precise underlay finish.
Where is self-levelling screed used?
Most commonly used in:
- Commercial & industrial flooring projects (large open slab areas)
- Multi-storey residential developments
- Renovations requiring a flat substrate
- Underfloor heating systems
It works best where speed, accuracy, and finish quality are critical.
Why contractors are switching to self-levelling screed
Faster installation
The material flows perfectly and automatically into place. Crews cover more area in less time.
Better finish quality & consistency
The flowable consistency uses gravity for a perfect finish, reducing human error. The result is a flatter, more consistent surface.
Lower labour requirements
Fewer workers are needed compared to traditional screeding methods.
Reduced rework
A consistent finish limits grinding, patching, and corrections.
What equipment is required?
Manual mixing and placement are possible and is still commonly undertaken across Australia. However, this method severely limits productivity, consistency and output on larger jobs. It requires a high degree of manual handling, limits the achievable output and increases labour costs.
To apply self-levelling screed efficiently, contractors use mixers and pumps. There is a large range of equipment available to suit any screeding job requirement, from smaller mixers & pumps to large automatic screed trucks. Using the right equipment significantly improves output and reduces costs, supporting project profitability. It also reduces the time required to complete each project and allows contractors to increase their job frequency.
Is your current method costing you time?
If you’re working with self-levelling screed, the right equipment can revolutionise your business.
If you’re ready to take the next step, contact the friendly team at CGS Equipment to discuss the best setup for your next project.