Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you tile over anhydrite screeds?
Where is my nearest Ultra Tile stockist?
What is the minimum order quantity for Ultra Tile products?
What Ultra Tile product do I need to order?
Is Tamworth your only site?
How much Ultra Tile product do I need?
How much tile grout will I need?
How should I correctly lift Ultra Tile paper bags?

1. Can you tile over anhydrite screeds?

Anhydrite (calcium sulphate) / gypsum based screeds are here in the UK. Following years of exponential growth throughout the rest of Europe, this alternative to standard sand/cement screeds is now growing in popularity across the UK – much to the dismay, it would seem, of numerous tile fixers and contractors. Some see anhydrite as an instant problem when beginning any floor tiling project, acting with uncertainty over surface preparation techniques.

Working over an anhydrite or gypsum based screed does NOT have to be a problem. The ULTRA TILE team, always a pro-active force in education within the UK tiling industry, decided to meet with UK screed ‘giants’ LAFARGE to grill them on this hot topic, and ask them to provide the answers.

ULTRA TILE produce high performance tile adhesives, grouts and ancillaries based around the 30+ years manufacturing expertise of its parent, INSTARMAC Group plc. Frequently award-nominated and ever the industry innovators, they are very keen to put people’s minds at ease over the anhydrite issue. They could think of no-one better to get on board with this than LAFARGE, the UK market leader in the production of anhydrite screeds.

Paul Luff, ULTRA TILE Brand Manager, met with Technical and Specification Managers: Alan Jackson, John Fry, Jonathan Plews and Commercial Manager, Paul Pepper to ask:

With the variety of screeds available what’s the first thing you would recommend to do before commencing a tiling project?

Today’s market is somewhat different to that of a few years ago because there are now several types of screeds available for contractors to choose from. Therefore, we advise that you should always ask what type of screed has been used before beginning any tiling project. This may seem very simple but it’s vitally important to receive complete confirmation as it is essential that you know what substrate you are going to be working on so the appropriate surface preparation steps can be taken.

What is anhydrite and how do you recognise it?

LAFARGE’s increasingly popular product, Gyvlon, is a flowing calcium sulphate based screed, designed to provide a smooth level surface in both commercial and domestic applications, prior to the application of floor finishes.

As it is not always possible to visually recognise calcium sulphate screeds from their colour or appearance, the most precise way to identify which type of screed has been used on a contract, is to simply ask the main contractor, supplier or the floor layer.

What if it’s an old screed or refurbishment?

Due to the low shrinkage of calcium sulphate screeds during curing, compared to that of cement based screeds, they can be laid in much larger areas without expansion joints. It may therefore be possible to identify the type of screed by assessing the size of the bays (expansion joints).

In fact anhydrite is commonly used in constructions that are smaller than 40m² without the use of bays. However, the lack of bays alone is not enough clarification that an anhydrite screed has been used, so as previously mentioned, ask the question to gain complete confirmation.

What is the correct way to prepare and tile onto an anhydrite surface?

Whether the screed material can or cannot be identified, it’s standard procedure to follow the essential steps to perfect surface preparation, therefore avoiding repercussions. The essential steps are:

1) Ensure the screed has been confirmed dry via consistent moisture readings observed across the whole surface and not just in one location. Anhydrite screeds must have a moisture reading of less than 75% RH before any work should commence.

It is fair to say that anhydrite and sand/cement based screeds have a similar drying rate. Equally it can be stated that anhydrite screeds will dry quicker than sand/cement based screeds but only if applied correctly - using a reduced thickness. Anhydrite screeds can be applied a lot thinner than sand/cement based screeds and so consequently will dry quicker. For example, a 75mm deep sand/cement based screed will take 75 days to dry but a thickness of only 40mm is required when using an anhydrite screed, therefore only 40 days drying time is required (these drying times are intended as a guide only and assume good drying conditions. No screed will dry until it stops being wetted so beware, for example, of other trades using water).

It is vitally important to remember that an anhydrite screed has to be completely dry before any tiling commences.

2) Ensure that the surface of the screed is free from laitance or surface skins and then prior to continuing, the surface should be sound and dust free.

The removal of loose material such as laitance or dust is normally a straight forward procedure. This leaves the question of abrasion or sanding the surface. Some producers of calcium sulphate screeds have mix designs such that no laitance is evident, however the manufacturers of some adhesives (tiles or vinyl) insist that abrasion or sanding takes place in order to provide a ‘key’ to bond to.

ULTRA TILE recommendsthat abrasion is an essential procedure prior to tiling onto a calcium sulphate or sand/cement screed. Please also be aware that if under floor heating is present, LAFARGE would always recommend that it is commissioned prior to the fixing of any floor coverings.

Can you tile onto anhydrite screeds?

Once the screed has been prepared as indicated, in order to fix tiles, the surface must firstly be primed with a calcium sulphate screed compatible primer. LAFARGE recommends that you seek the advice of a tile adhesive manufacturer. INSTARMAC state thatan acrylic based primer such as, ULTRA FLOOR Prime IT AR is most appropriate. Such primers also act as a separating barrier between the calcium sulphate and ordinary portland cement based tile adhesive.

Calcium sulphate screeds have been used extensively in Europe for a longer period than in the UK. Typically, of the floor screeds installed in the French market, approximately 50% are Gyvlon screeds, of which around 80% received tiles as the floor finish. This equates to around 2.7million m² of tiles fitted to calcium sulphate screeds in 2008.

In the UK, the market penetration of calcium sulphate screeds currently stands at 15-20% and is growing, with some big names in construction realising the benefits of such flooring systems. These big home names include Urban Splash, Bellway Homes, Laing Homes, Barratt Homes and ECO Homes who are all already seeing scores of new build projects through with LAFARGE’s Gyvlon. Would it be wrong to assume that anhydrite is going to become preferred over sand/cement screeds?

The best advice both ULTRA TILE and LAFARGE can give is to not see anhydrite as a problem. Following the simple steps to perfect surface preparation will ensure a smooth running project and, let’s be honest, on most screeds you would use a suitable primer wouldn’t you?

The cost effectiveness of these screeds means that every tiler or contractor is going to come across anhydrite very soon, if not already. The larger names are using them with ease, so why not consider them as an open gate for more potential work?

For further information on tiling over anhydrite screeds, or indeed any tiling installation, please contact the ULTRA TILE team on +44(0)1827 871871

2. Where is my nearest Ultra Tile stockist?

Ultra Tile products are distributed to utilities, contractors, installers, local authorities and specialised retail merchants throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. It would be very difficult for us to list all our stockists on this site, so please feel free to call our Sales Team on +44(0)1827 871871 for further information.

3. What is the minimum order quantity for Ultra Tile products?

For all Instarmac products, we have a minimum order of £300 for free carriage/delivery. Our award nominated Delivery Guarantee means that all orders are delivered in 48 hours as standard to England and Wales. 24 hour deliveries, timed deliveries and any other special requirements can always be catered for, please call us with your requirements.

4. What Ultra Tile product do I need to order?

Of course there are many key factors in selecting the correct Ultra Tile product for your project. Please feel free to call our team on +44(0)1827 871871 for our advice. For a quick reference we also produce a Ultra Tile Selector which is available from our downloads section or by following this link.

5. Is Tamworth your only site?

Our site in Tamworth houses manufacturing, distribution, marketing, sales, and R&D. However, we also have an office in Glasgow, for local customer service and distribution to Scotland. They can be contacted on +44(0)141 314 3716

6. How much Ultra Tile product do I need?

To help ascertain how much Ultra Tile product you will need to order, we have placed easy online PRODUCT CALCULATORS on this site. These are available through the Ultra Tile homepage, or via the 'Downloads' tab.

Please note that the easy excel calculator is intended for guidance only when calculating how much product you will need. Please always contact us on +44(0)1827 871871 for more detailed technical guidance and advice on quantities.

7. How much tile grout will I need?

To help ascertain how much Ultra Tile grout you will need to order, we have placed easy online PRODUCT CALCULATORS on this site. These are available through the Ultra Tile homepage, or via the 'Downloads' tab.

8. How should I correctly lift Ultra Tile paper bags?

All Ultra Tile products that are sold in paper bags should be handled correctly to avoid breakages occurring. We recommend, when preparing to lift an Ultra Tile bagged product that you should use both hands, gripping one hand on each of the two smallest sides, pushing both hands towards each other slightly during the lift. When lifting always remember to follow the principles of correct Manual Handling.

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