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Exposed screed or floor coating - which floor is right for me?

Germany's floors are experiencing a new trend. The elementary look of exposed screed and large-area floor coatings is increasingly appealing to German tenants and homeowners. But what makes industrial flooring so attractive for the home? A brief look at the advantages and disadvantages could explain the success.

Industrial look for living areas

Exposed screeds and hard-wearing floor coatings offer great benefits wherever floors are exposed to heavy loads. In addition to production halls and warehouses, they can be found in stores and administrative buildings with public traffic, in hospitals, schools and kindergartens as well as in parking garages and sports halls.

Exposed screed is a screed that does not require a floor covering due to its sanded and sealed surface. The appearance of this screed is mainly characterized by the aggregates or coloring used.

In contrast, floor coatings usually consist of a thin layer of synthetic resins such as epoxy or polyurethane resins, which seals the underlying concrete or screed. Applied as a liquid or paste-like mass, the floor coating hardens to form a large, uniform floor.

The trump cards of the exposed screed

The two biggest advantages of an exposed screed are its cost-effective production and its long service life. Even in large warehouses and spacious lofts, screed layers can use it to create an economical floor with an elegant and modern appearance. Exposed screed is extremely resilient, durable and resistant to wear and abrasion.

Due to its good thermal capacity, exposed screed is often used as a heating screed in conjunction with underfloor heating. In addition, the jointless screed installation is ideal for creating barrier-free rooms, which are moisture-resistant and easy to clean with the appropriate sealant. For individual design, the market now offers a wide selection of colorful and interesting aggregates that give free rein to creativity.

The difficulty with exposed screed is the need for careful planning. Urgently required expansion joints should always be carried out by an experienced screed company in order to avoid uncontrolled cracks. As specialists, screed layers also take care of the right choice of material and the prevention of annoying air holes.

This is where the floor coating scores

While the exposed screed is excellent at distributing large compressive loads, floor coatings show their full potential when subjected to loads from children playing, athletes, public traffic or the hustle and bustle in warehouses. Depending on the material, the floor coating, which is just a few millimetres thick, hardens elastically or firmly.

The thin, seamless and hard-wearing synthetic resin is an excellent floor for indoor and outdoor use. It is easy to apply in new buildings, refurbishments and renovations and allows enormous design freedom in terms of coloring, from colorless transparent to brightly colored RAL colors. The screed installer can also adapt the surface finish of the floor coating to the respective requirements. Insulated impact sound and increased walking comfort, liquid-tight and resistant to chemicals or as an ESD floor to dissipate electrostatic discharges - there is a solution for every application.

In terms of heat resistance and recyclability, however, the floor coating loses a few points. A UV-resistant topcoat should also be selected for strong sunlight to prevent unsightly yellowing. Synthetic resins with the AgBB seal (Committee for Health-related Evaluation of Building Products) are characterized by low outgassing. Mechanical damage can be repaired quite easily. However, this should always be carried out by an experienced specialist to ensure a uniform appearance.

Resilient industrial look or hard-wearing color scheme

The bottom line is this: The exposed screed is resilient, durable and is characterized by a modern and sleek industrial look. The floor coating, on the other hand, is hard-wearing, can be color-matched to an existing room design and is easy to repair if damaged. Both variants are suitable for creating an open and modern sense of space that enhances residential, commercial and public areas.

As a screed company, we are happy to help you choose suitable materials and advise you on the planning and implementation of your floor renovation.