Sydney Reno SOS: Is Your Old Screed Sabotaging Your New Floors?

You're planning the perfect Sydney renovation. You've chosen the luxurious timber flooring, the chic Italian tiles, or perhaps you're dreaming of polished concrete. But what about the hidden layer lurking just beneath the surface? We're talking about the concrete screed. Get this part wrong, and your five-figure flooring investment could be ruined before it's even a year old.

So, what is this mystery layer, and when and why does it need to be removed? Let's dive in.

What Exactly is Concrete Screed? (And Why Is It Under My Floor?) Think of screed as the "filling" in your floor sandwich. It's a layer of material, typically a sand and cement mix, that's applied on top of the main structural concrete slab. Its primary job? To create a smooth, level, and flat surface, ready to receive your final floor covering.

When done right, it's fantastic. But in many older Sydney and NSW homes, or even in newer builds where corners were cut, the screed can be the source of major headaches.

The Telltale Signs: When You MUST Consider Screed Removal Before you lay a single new plank or tile, you need to play detective. Is your existing screed fit for purpose? Here are the critical signs that you need professional screed removal:

It's Damaged or Crumbling: Can you see fine cracks spreading across the floor? Is the screed soft, sandy, or crumbling at the edges? This is a non-negotiable red flag. You Hear 'Drummy' or Hollow Sounds: Tap the floor with a golf ball or the handle of a screwdriver. If you hear hollow, "drummy" sounds, it means the screed has 'de-bonded' from the slab below. New flooring on top of this will quickly fail. Your Floors are Visibly Uneven: Are there noticeable dips, high spots, or slopes? Modern flooring like vinyl plank and engineered timber demands a near-perfectly flat surface. Laying them on an uneven screed will cause planks to separate, click-systems to break, and a 'bouncy' feel underfoot. You're Changing Floor Types: Removing 30-year-old carpet and replacing it with 6mm hybrid flooring? The heights won't match up. Often, the old screed was installed to suit a specific (and now outdated) floor height. It may need to be removed to achieve a seamless transition. It's Contaminated: Old screeds can be full of old glue, paint, oils, or moisture that has been trapped for years. These contaminants can prevent the adhesive for your new floor from bonding, leading to a catastrophic failure. The "Why": The Critical Benefits of Professional Screed Removal in Sydney Skipping this step might seem like a way to save a few dollars, but it's a gamble that almost never pays off. Here's why getting it right is crucial.

A Flawless Foundation for Your Dream Floor Your new floor is only as good as the foundation it's laid on. Professional screed removal and floor preparation is the only way to guarantee a perfectly flat, clean, and structurally sound base. This is the secret to that seamless, high-end finish you see in magazines.

Prevents Future Disasters (and Costs) Laying new tiles over a drummy screed? Expect them to crack. Installing timber on an uneven base? Expect it to warp and separate. The cost of ripping up a brand-new, failed floor is exponentially higher than the cost of preparing the subfloor correctly from the start.

Professional floor preparation services in Sydney, like those offered by Elyment Group, use specialised grinding and leveling techniques to ensure this doesn't happen.

Ensures Proper Adhesion and Longevity Modern flooring adhesives are powerful, but they need a clean, porous, and stable surface to bond to. Removing old, contaminated screed ensures your new floor sticks properly and lasts for decades, not just a few years.

DIY vs. Professional Screed Removal: A Sydney Renovator's Guide "Can't I just hire a jackhammer and smash it up myself?"

While tempting, screed removal is not a simple DIY task. It's incredibly dusty (creating hazardous silica dust), noisy, and labour-intensive. More importantly, it requires specialised equipment like heavy-duty floor grinders and scabblers. Going too deep with a jackhammer can damage the structural slab underneath, leading to a far more expensive repair.

Professionals, like our team at @ElymentGroup , use state-of-the-art equipment with high-powered HEPA dust extraction systems to minimise airborne dust and protect your home. We have the precision tools to remove the screed without damaging your slab, getting it right the first time.

(For more on the risks of silica dust, see resources from Safe Work NSW).

Key Takeaways: Your Screed Removal Checklist Before your next Sydney reno, here’s your quick-reference list:

INSPECT: Tap for hollow sounds and look for cracks and unevenness. ASSESS: Are you changing floor types or dealing with a very old property? DON'T: Don't ever lay new, expensive flooring over a suspicious subfloor. DO: Prioritise a perfectly flat, clean, and stable foundation. CONSULT: Get a professional assessment from a Sydney-based floor preparation expert. Your Next Step to a Perfect Sydney Renovation Don't let a hidden problem like faulty screed derail your renovation dream. Ensuring your subfloor is perfect is the most important investment you can make in your new floor. Ready to start your project on the right footing?

Get in touch with the experts at Elyment Group. We are Sydney's specialists in concrete screed removal, concrete grinding, and complete floor preparation. Visit us at elyment.com.au to learn more.

Start Your Reno on the Right Footing