Laitance is a major cause of failure in flooring installations. Surface preparation is important in any type of flooring install and removing contaminants such as laitance is essential. Using our Wirbel C43 machine, we are able to remove the laitance formed on top of an anhydrite screed effectively, safely and without causing mess and obstruction.
What Is Laitance?
Laitance is a fragile coating caused from all the fine particles that are deposited onto the surface of an anhydrite screed as it cures. It is too weak to adhere to and can also inhibit the drying of the screed. Laitance should be removed by light abrasion using a suitable sanding machine like the rotary floor scarifier we use at ACE. It is the same concept of sanding your skirting/ doors and other wood work etc before placing gloss paint. The floor needs to be sanded, leaving a scarified surface before placing primers & adhesives. Low laitance screeds will also require sanding as this helps with adhesion for floor coverings.
Importance of Laitance Removal
Here we have some of the main reasons as to why laitance needs to be removed:
- Laitance causes shrinkage cracks.
- Primers & adhesives cannot adhere to the laitance.
- Removing laitance helps with the drying out process of the screed.
- Laitance is too weak to tile onto.
- If left untreated, the application of subsequent materials, such as smoothing underlayments, will have a high risk of failing.
Choose ACE Flooring Solutions for Laitance Removal
If you’re in need of laitance removal in Middlesbrough or anywhere in the North East, be sure to contact our expert team. The ACE Flooring Solutions team cover many areas throughout the UK for laitance removal.