Latex over timber and tiles in historic Westbury
Latex screed is the floor layer's name for a levelling compound supplied in two parts. One is a cement based powder; the other is a latex liquid that replaces the water you would normally mix in. Together they make a slurry that flows out to a few millimetres, grips well and cures with a little give in it, which is why it suits bases that would defeat an ordinary compound.
Timber is the classic case. Upper floors in older houses, and in converted buildings, are usually boarded. Flats in converted houses and other buildings make up 3% of Westbury's homes, and floors like those need preparing before any thin covering goes down. The boards are first fixed down and covered with flooring grade plywood, screwed at close centres; the latex then goes over the ply, never onto bare boards.
Old tiles are the other. A kitchen or scullery in an older Westbury house may still have quarry or ceramic tiles firmly stuck to the slab. Where they are sound, there is no need to hack them up. We clean and prime them, and the latex fills the grout joints and evens out worn faces.
Which coverings need this treatment? Sheet vinyl, LVT, rubber, lino and safety flooring all mirror what is underneath, so every board edge and grout line would show. Carpet is kinder, yet still benefits.
Where the issue is general flatness rather than an awkward base, our Westbury self levelling compound page explains the flatness classes, and preparing the floor before latex covers any stripping out first.
Damp, movement and level checks for Westbury floors
Latex is a finishing skin. It needs a sound, dry base, and three checks come before any is mixed.
Movement. Stand on the floor and rock your weight. If timber flexes or creaks, the cause is loose boards or tired joists, and latex laid on top would crack along the board lines. The fix is to screw the boards down, add plywood and only then smooth over it.
Moisture. In Westbury Leigh and near the Market Place, a floor being renewed in a Georgian or Victorian house more often needs a new damp proof membrane first. Latex does not stop damp, and vinyl sealed on top can trap it until the adhesive fails. We test first. If the reading is high, the floor needs a membrane and a new screed, which our hand-laid sand and cement page covers.
Level. A few millimetres of latex can smooth hollows, but a floor that slopes badly from one wall to another needs building up properly, with a repair or a fresh screed.
Every base also needs the right primer. Calcium sulphate screed must have its laitance sanded away and be primed with a compatible product before latex goes on, while cement screed, concrete, ply and tiles each take their own primer. If your refit is a little further afield, latex screed in Bath is covered too.
How we price latex screed in Westbury
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 Westbury
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 Westbury
As the crow flies, our yard in Slough is about 69.1 miles from Westbury, which lies to the west-south-west. Postcodes here include BA13, and Warminster (3.9 miles), Trowbridge (4.2 miles), Frome (6.3 miles) and Melksham (8 miles) are close by.
More on latex screed, part of our screeding services.
