Pumped Cementitious Screed – The new kid on the block

Posted on: 20th September 2017

How to Pour or lay liquid screed
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Last Updated: August 2026

Cement-based flowing screeds are still relatively new as a method of solving the age old issue of creating a level floor for final finishing. They’ve gained a major foothold in the market though, and we wonder how long it will be before it starts to take significant market share from pumped calcium sulphate anhydrite screed as the product of choice for screeding professionals.

In many respects, both flowing cement based screed and pumped anhydrite screed provide the same benefits over a traditional sand cement screed, for example the speed of installation and the ability to cover large areas quickly.

Quick Answer: Pumped cement-based screed is a flowing, self-levelling screed that works similarly to anhydrite (calcium sulphate) screed but with some meaningful advantages. It dries roughly twice as fast, at around 2mm per day, which can cut weeks off a construction programme. It does not need the surface laitance removed before the floor finish goes down, can be used in wet rooms, and does not react with steel mesh reinforcement. The trade-off is that it costs more than anhydrite screed and is currently less widely available, though the gap is closing as the product becomes more established.

Flowing Screeds – Benefits

In a world where time is money, flowing screeds allow much larger areas to be completed in the much less time that a traditional screed – often 800 to 1,000 square metres a day! Both cement-based and Calcium sulphate-based screeds can also be laid to much thinner depths than traditional screeds, as little as 25mm – 30mm saving both the amount of product required and cost.

As both are self levelling screeds, both will give the required accuracy of level and surface regularity meaning there is no need for extra work necessary before it receives the final floor finish.

They also both work well with under floor heating systems as they generally have excellent thermal conductivity so that the heat is evenly distributed and form a close bond to the pipework making the system more efficient.

Pumped cement based screeds do have some advantages over similar calcium sulphate anhydrite screeds.

The main advantage is that they can dry almost twice as fast at around 2mm per day in similar conditions. On a typical installation this reduces drying time to 14 to 21 days which can bring major benefits in construction scheduling. Not only that, but they can accept foot traffic within 24 hours, meaning that floor coverings can be laid down sooner.

Cement based screeds also present less risk of chemical reaction with other materials such as tile adhesives and other cement based final floor surfaces.

They can also be used with mesh reinforcements, as the cement doesn’t react with the steel when damp. The Calcium sulphate in a anhydrite screed, on the other hand, may corrode the mesh under the same conditions.

Cement based screeds are also waterproof, so they can be used in wetrooms, bathrooms and commercial kitchens, for example. This  also means their drying time is almost unaffected if they get wet, while the drying cycle of an anhydrite screed can be reset if it gets wet.

Cement Based Screeds – Are there any downsides?

Of course there are always downsides. Cement based screeds are currently more expensive than their anhydrite counterparts and are less readily available. This situation may change as confidence in the cement based product grows though.

This is certainly borne out by big players in the market. Both Tarmac with Topflow Screed C Belitex and McGrath with their Cemfloor products are offering a pumpable cement based screed alongside their existing anhydrite screeds.

It would be wrong to say that the day of the anhydrite screed has passed, though. Anhydritec Ltd under the Gyvlon brand produce a range of flowing calcium sulphate screeds that have been developed to meet the challenges of the modern construction industry.

What is certain is that for many years we have supplied the concrete and screed industry with quality tools including a range of dapple bars, screed levelling tripods, stainless steel flow cones and flow plates as well as Chapin concrete sprayers with associated accessories and spares.

With the popularity of cementitious screeds on the rise, we continue to explore the manufacture of new and innovative tools to support it.

All our screed and concrete tools are available from our trusted retailers, or you can call us directly if you need more information – we’re happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pumped cementitious screed is a flowing, self-levelling screed with cement rather than calcium sulphate (gypsum) as its base. Like anhydrite screed, it is delivered to site ready-mixed and pumped into place, covering large areas quickly and self-levelling to a flat, consistent finish. It was first introduced commercially in 2011 and has grown steadily in popularity since, primarily because it addresses some of the limitations of anhydrite screed around drying time and surface preparation.

The most significant practical differences are drying time and surface preparation. Cement-based screed dries at around 2mm per day compared to around 1mm per day for anhydrite, which can cut several weeks off a construction programme on a typical installation. It also does not form laitance as it dries, so the surface preparation step needed before laying a floor finish on anhydrite screed is not required. Cement-based screed is also waterproof and can be used in wet rooms, whereas anhydrite screed cannot.

Both share the core advantages of any flowing screed over traditional methods: much faster installation, covering 800 to 1,000 square metres per day compared to the much smaller areas achievable by hand; a more consistently flat and level finish; the ability to be laid thinner, at as little as 25mm to 30mm; and better performance with underfloor heating due to higher thermal conductivity and the ability to flow around pipes. Cement-based screed adds to this the benefit of a faster drying time and no need for surface preparation before the floor finish goes down.

Yes, and it performs well in this application. Like anhydrite screed it flows around UFH pipes and encapsulates them fully, which improves heat transfer and makes the system more efficient than a hand-laid screed laid over the same pipes. Its faster drying time is a particular advantage on new build projects where the UFH needs to be commissioned as early as possible on the programme.

Yes, currently. Cement-based screed carries a material cost premium of around 20 percent over a comparable anhydrite product. However, as with the comparison between liquid screed and traditional screed, the reduction in labour time from faster drying and the elimination of the laitance removal step can offset some of that additional cost, particularly on larger projects where programme savings have a tangible value.

Availability has improved significantly since the product was first introduced, and major suppliers including Tarmac are now offering cement-based flowing screeds alongside their existing anhydrite products. However it remains less widely available than anhydrite screed, particularly outside major urban areas, and lead times can be longer. As confidence in the product grows and demand increases, availability is expected to continue improving. If you are specifying cement-based screed for a project it is worth confirming supply options and lead times with your preferred supplier early in the planning process.

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