Total Screed Volume
0.075 m³
Mixed screed volume required
Calculate sand cement screed quantities for floor leveling
Free Australian laundry floor screed calculator. Get accurate sand, cement, and water quantities for floor leveling, tile preparation, and waterproofing screeds with 2026 pricing.
Professional floor leveling calculations for renovation and waterproofing projects
Calculate exact quantities of sand, cement, and water for laundry floor screeds. Our calculator accounts for screed thickness, mix ratios, wastage factors, and surface preparation requirements to ensure perfect leveling and proper falls for drainage compliance.
Laundry floors require proper waterproofing compliance with Australian Standard AS 3740. Calculate screed volumes for creating drainage falls, leveling uneven surfaces, and preparing substrates for waterproof membrane application before tiling or vinyl installation.
Get detailed 2026 material costs including builder's sand, cement bags, additives, and labor estimates. Compare DIY screed mixing versus pre-mixed products to choose the most economical solution for your laundry renovation project budget.
Enter your floor dimensions and screed specifications
Typical laundry floor build-up showing screed layer between concrete slab and waterproof membrane. Screed creates level surface with proper drainage falls.
Floor screed is a sand and cement mixture applied to concrete slabs to create a smooth, level surface for tile or vinyl flooring installation. In laundries, screeds serve multiple purposes including leveling uneven concrete, creating drainage falls toward floor wastes, and providing a compatible substrate for waterproofing membranes required under Australian Standard AS 3740.
Proper screed application is critical in wet areas like laundries where waterproofing compliance is mandatory. The screed must be strong enough to support foot traffic and appliances while remaining compatible with waterproofing systems. For comprehensive waterproofing requirements, refer to Australian Building Codes Board guidelines for wet area construction standards.
Essential Purposes: Creates level surface for tiling, corrects uneven concrete floors, forms drainage falls (minimum 1:100 to floor waste), provides smooth substrate for waterproofing, covers plumbing and heating pipes, improves thermal and acoustic properties. Typical laundry screeds range from 15-30mm thickness.
The sand-to-cement ratio determines screed strength, workability, and shrinkage characteristics. Laundry floor screeds typically use 3:1 or 4:1 ratios by volume. Stronger 3:1 mixes provide better durability and reduced cracking for permanent installations, while 4:1 mixes offer easier workability for DIY projects and thinner applications.
| Mix Ratio | Strength | Best Application | Sand per m³ | Cement per m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:1 (Strong) | High - 15-20 MPa | Floor screeds, heavy traffic areas, tile beds | 1,350 kg | 450 kg (9 bags) |
| 4:1 (Standard) | Medium - 10-15 MPa | General leveling, low traffic, residential | 1,280 kg | 320 kg (6.5 bags) |
| 5:1 (Weak) | Low - 7-10 MPa | Thin screeds, bedding, temporary repairs | 1,250 kg | 250 kg (5 bags) |
| 6:1 (Very Weak) | Very Low - 5-7 MPa | Render base, non-structural applications | 1,200 kg | 200 kg (4 bags) |
Laundry floor screed thickness depends on the degree of floor unevenness and intended purpose. Minimum 10mm thickness is required for leveling coats, while 20-30mm screeds handle significant level variations and create drainage falls. Thicker screeds provide better strength but increase drying time, material costs, and floor height which may affect door clearances.
Use: Minor leveling, smooth concrete preparation
Drying Time: 3-5 days
Coverage: 16-20 L per m² @ 15mm
Best For: Nearly level floors requiring minimal correction before tiling
Use: General floor leveling, drainage fall creation
Drying Time: 5-10 days
Coverage: 20-30 L per m² @ 20mm
Best For: Most laundry floors with moderate unevenness or fall requirements
Use: Major floor corrections, substantial falls
Drying Time: 10-21 days
Coverage: 30-50 L per m² @ 35mm
Best For: Severely uneven floors, significant drainage fall creation, pipe covering
Quality screed requires clean washed builder's sand (not beach sand which contains salt), fresh general-purpose cement, and clean water. Use sand with particle sizes ranging from fine to coarse for optimal strength and workability. Mix thoroughly to consistent color and texture - lumpy or streaky mixes indicate insufficient mixing which weakens the screed.
Professional Technique: Mix dry materials first (sand and cement) for 2-3 minutes until uniform color. Add 80% of water gradually while mixing. Add remaining water slowly until achieving damp earth consistency - screed should hold shape when squeezed but not be sloppy. Over-wet mixes shrink excessively and crack.
Proper application technique ensures strong adhesion, uniform thickness, and smooth finish. Prepare the concrete substrate by cleaning thoroughly, removing dust, oil, and loose material. Apply bonding agent or cement slurry to improve adhesion between old concrete and new screed. Work in sections no larger than 10-15m² to maintain consistent screed consistency throughout application.
Creating drainage falls is critical in laundry floors. Australian Standard AS 3740 requires minimum 1:100 fall (10mm per metre) toward floor wastes. Mark fall lines on walls using laser level or string lines. Use screeding rails set to correct falls, then compact and smooth screed using straight edge and float. For related flooring projects, check our balcony waterproofing calculator for additional wet area requirements.
Avoid These Errors: Never screed over dirty or dusty concrete - adhesion failure causes delamination. Don't add extra water to make mixing easier - weakens screed by 50%. Avoid screeding in temperatures below 5°C or above 35°C. Don't walk on screed for 24 hours minimum. Failure to create proper falls causes water pooling and waterproofing failures.
Screed drying time varies with thickness, temperature, humidity, and ventilation. General rule: allow 1 day per mm of thickness up to 50mm, then 2 days per additional mm. A 20mm screed typically requires 7-10 days before tiling. Rushing the process traps moisture under tiles causing adhesion failure, efflorescence, and mold growth in wet areas.
Screed hardens but remains weak. Protect from foot traffic, rain, and direct sun. Keep moist using damp hessian or plastic sheeting. Avoid rapid drying which causes surface cracking and reduced strength.
Screed gains 60-70% final strength. Light foot traffic permitted after 48 hours for inspection. Continue moisture protection in hot/dry conditions. Check for cracking, hollow spots, or delamination issues.
Screed reaches full strength and adequate dryness for tiling. Test moisture content using moisture meter - must be below 75% RH before waterproofing or tiling. Minimum 7 days for 15mm, 14 days for 25mm screeds.
Laundry floor screed costs in Australia depend on floor area, screed thickness, materials choice, and labor requirements. DIY screed mixing costs $8-15 per m² for materials (2.5m x 2.0m laundry = $40-75). Professional screeding including labor costs $45-75 per m² ($225-375 for typical 5m² laundry) with experienced tradespeople ensuring proper falls, finish quality, and waterproofing compatibility.
DIY laundry floor screeding saves 60-70% on labor costs but requires proper technique, equipment, and physical capability. Small laundries (5-6m²) are manageable DIY projects with mixer hire and helper assistance. Larger areas, complex falls, or critical waterproofing applications benefit from professional screeding ensuring compliance and quality. Poor DIY screeds cause expensive remedial work including tile removal and re-screeding.
Professional screeders charge $45-75/m² in 2026 including all materials, equipment, and labor. This includes surface preparation, bonding agent application, mixing, laying with correct falls, floating smooth, and cleanup. For comprehensive concrete flooring solutions, explore our basement access ramp calculator for gradient and fall calculations.
Required Tools: Cement mixer (electric or petrol), wheelbarrow, bucket and trowel, straight edge (2.4m aluminum), spirit level (laser level ideal), steel float, sponge float, measuring buckets for ratios, PPE (gloves, dust mask, knee pads). Mixer hire costs $40-60/day. Consider professional service for areas over 10m².
Laundry floor screeds typically range from 15-25mm thickness. Use 15mm for minor leveling on relatively flat floors, 20mm for standard leveling and drainage fall creation, or 25-30mm for significantly uneven floors or substantial falls. Minimum 10mm thickness required for screed adhesion. Thicker screeds increase drying time - allow 1 day per mm up to 50mm thickness.
3:1 (sand:cement) is the recommended ratio for laundry floor screeds, providing strength of 15-20 MPa suitable for foot traffic and appliance loads. This uses 3 parts sand to 1 part cement by volume. 4:1 ratio is acceptable for light-duty applications but may crack under heavy use. Never exceed 5:1 ratio for floor screeds as this produces weak, crumbly results.
Wait minimum 7-10 days for 15-20mm screeds, 14 days for 25mm screeds before tiling. Screed must be fully cured and moisture content below 75% relative humidity. Test with moisture meter before applying waterproofing or tiles. Tiling too early traps moisture causing adhesion failure, hollow tiles, efflorescence, and mold growth. In humid conditions, extend drying time by 50%.
Waterproofing membrane goes OVER the screed in laundries as per AS 3740. Screed creates level surface with proper falls, then waterproof membrane is applied over dried screed before tiling. Some applications use waterproof screed additives for additional protection, but this doesn't replace membrane requirements. Never apply membrane under screed as this prevents adhesion to slab.
DIY laundry floor screed costs $8-15/m² for materials only. A typical 2.5m x 2.0m laundry (5m²) costs $40-75 materials for 20mm screed. Professional screeding costs $45-75/m² including materials and labor ($225-375 for 5m² laundry). Pre-mixed screed costs $180-250/m³ delivered. Add $150-250 for bonding agent, additives, and waterproofing membrane over screed.
Yes, but proper surface preparation is critical. Clean slab thoroughly removing dust, oil, paint, and loose material. Roughen smooth concrete using grinder or acid etch. Apply bonding agent (cement slurry or commercial bonding liquid) to damp surface immediately before screeding. Without bonding preparation, screed will delaminate from slab within months causing hollow spots and cracking.
Australian Standard AS 3740 requires minimum 1:100 fall (10mm per metre) in wet areas including laundries. Falls direct water toward floor waste preventing pooling. Mark highest point (usually doorway) and lowest point (floor waste), calculate fall required, set screeding rails to achieve gradual slope. Use laser level for accuracy. Steeper falls (1:80 or 1:60) are acceptable and provide better drainage.