Levelling workshop floor - What is "screed" ?

[Maverick81]

Hi.
My workshop floor is currently rugged, cracked concrete as it has been for as long as i can remember and long overdue a renovation. I am wanting a smooth and LEVEL surface as a foundation to reinstall my workshop upon.

I have been looking at "self levelling compounds" as sold in the DIY stores though i have never used this stuff before. Is this what i should be usiing?
While looking for into on the subject on the forum and the net I have come across the people refering to "screed"...."laying screed".
What is Screed? Is screed and self-levelling cement the same thing?

Please advise. Thank you.

I had previously done small areas of basic concreting, but i am not a builder or familar with anything more than basic terminoligy and products.
Thanks again.

 

[noseall]

Floor levelling compound is a repair product and not specifically a load or impact bearing product that is designed to be covered over with tiles, carpet, flooring etc. It is laid relatively thinly and is like a thick coat of paint for floors.

Floor screed is laid in excess of 50mm thick and can be either mixed with sharp sand and cement or be a specialist pumped liquid screed. Both have a smooth finish and are load bearing.

If you have limited depth with which to work you will not achieve a hard wearing finish with just a trowelling of floor levelling compound. It is also prone to delaminating form the host floor - hence the need to be covered over.