Latex over timber and tiles in Chorleywood houses
Latex earns its place on bases that an ordinary levelling compound would struggle with. The latex in the mix leaves the cured layer slightly flexible and gives it a strong grip, so it copes with plywood, glazed tiles and worn concrete better than a plain cement mix does.
Timber is the usual complication in older houses. A suspended floor of boards cannot take latex directly, because the boards move with the seasons and the gaps between them let the compound drain away. The answer is overboarding: flooring grade plywood screwed down at close centres across the old boards, with the joints staggered, then primed. Latex goes over the plywood, never over the boards themselves. If a floor still bounces underfoot once the plywood is down, the joists need attention first, since no compound will stiffen a springy floor.
Tiles are the other common discovery. A Chorleywood kitchen or scullery being refitted may have quarry or ceramic tiles that have been down for decades. If every tile is firmly bonded, there is no need to break them out. We degrease them, lift and fill any that sound hollow, prime with a product made for dense surfaces and spread latex over the lot. That avoids a noisy, dusty demolition and keeps the room at its current height, which helps where a door or the step into the hall cannot change.
Old concrete with worn patches, or a thin film of sound adhesive, can also take latex once primed. Where a slab needs more than a skim to come true, the wider choices are on our floor levelling page for Chorleywood.
Damp, primers and finishes in Chorleywood refits
Latex is a surface layer, and it is only as good as what lies under it. Before quoting we check three things.
Damp comes first. A solid floor in an older house may have no working damp proof layer, and latex will not stop moisture rising. Laid over a damp slab it can lose its grip and lift the vinyl or LVT with it. Where readings are high, the floor needs a membrane or a new build-up, which our Chorleywood sand and cement screed page explains.
The base material is next, because it decides the primer. Plywood, glazed tiles, old concrete and newer screeds each take a different one. A calcium sulphate screed, the kind often poured across large heated ground floors, always has its laitance sanded off and a compatible primer applied before latex touches it.
Last is level. Latex is meant for a few millimetres. If a floor falls away badly towards one wall, filling it with latex wastes material and risks cracking; that floor needs repairing, overboarding or rescreeding first.
Once those checks pass, latex gives a smooth face for sheet vinyl, LVT, lino, rubber, safety flooring in a utility room, or carpet. If a high patch or old floor paint is in the way, diamond grinding before the latex clears it.
How we price latex screed in Chorleywood
A fixed written price within 24 hours, once we know the area and the base. See our floor screeding cost guide.
Who lays your latex screed in Chorleywood
K & B Screeding’s own team, led by director Donatas Bardisevicius. Founded 2019, company 12298780.
See what customers say in our Google reviews and on our testimonials page.
Latex Screed from Slough to Chorleywood
As the crow flies, our yard in Slough is about 10 miles from Chorleywood, which lies to the north-north-east. Postcodes here include WD3, and Rickmansworth (2.5 miles), Amersham (4 miles), Chesham (5.2 miles) and Watford (5.4 miles) are close by.
More on latex screed, part of our screeding services.
