Composite floor screed mesh: corrosion free reinforcement

When installing the screed, the reinforcement solves the main task — to keep the concrete from cracking during shrinkage, temperature differences and point loads. Metal welded mesh has been the standard for decades, but it has a weak point: in the wet alkaline environment of cement mortar, steel corrodes over time, and rust destroys concrete from the inside. Composite screed net ETIZ removes this problem fundamentally — the glass composite does not rust during the entire service life of the structure.

What is SSC composite mesh for screed

SSC reinforcement mesh is a web assembled from glass composite bars and fixed in knots. It is available in SSK-2, SSK-3, SSK-5 and SSK-6 grades, with a rod with a diameter of 2 or 3 mm and a cell of 50×50, 100×100 or 200×200 mm. For floor screeds, a cell of 50×50 and 100×100 mm is most often used — this step optimally distributes stresses over the concrete layer.

The material complies with GOST 31938-2012 for composite polymer reinforcement and mesh. The canvas is supplied in rolls and maps of standard formats (0.5×2, 0.5×15, 1×2, 1×15, 2×30, 1.35×50 m and others), the color is black or green. The roll is compact, fits in a passenger car and unfolds directly on the platform, which significantly simplifies logistics compared to rigid metal cards.

Why the composite beats the metal in the screed

Screed is a humid environment where steel works for wear. The composite behaves differently here:

• Does not rust or corrode — the main scenario of destruction of reinforced concrete is excluded; the screed lasts longer.
• Easy — weighs several times less than a metal welded mesh of the same format, installation is faster and without tearing.
• Dielectric — does not conduct electric current, which is important for floors in rooms with electrical equipment and underfloor heating systems.
• Without cold bridges — the composite does not conduct heat like a metal, so it does not become a channel of heat loss in the floor.
• Flexible — is rolled up, cut with scissors or grinder in place, easily adjusts to the complex geometry of the room.
• High fracture strength and durability — the canvas holds tensile loads, for which the reinforcement is laid.

It is important to understand the material limitation: composite mesh can not be boiled — the bars are connected by knitting or overlapping laying, but it can be cut with a conventional hand tool. This simplifies the work on site, but requires a habit when switching from metal.

Comparison of Composite and Metal Screed Mesh

How to choose a cell and brand for a screed

The choice depends on the thickness of the layer and the nature of the load:

• Thin leveling screeds and floors in your listing — cell 50×50 mm, rod Ø2 mm (SSK-2). A small step will better contain shrinkage cracks in the thin layer.
• Screeds of medium thickness, floors for household and commercial load — cell 100×100 mm, rod Ø3 mm (SSK-3). A versatile option for most spaces.
• Paths, blind areas, yard areas — cell 100×100 or 200×200 mm depending on the thickness of the concrete.

ETIZ engineers will help you choose the exact brand and format for your project according to the thickness of the screed and the load. The assortment of canvas and formats is available in the section catalogue of composite grids.

Laying the composite mesh in a screed: step by step

Proper reinforcement does not mean “throwing the mesh on the base”. The web should work in the thickness of the concrete, and not lie at the bottom of the layer.

1. Prepare the base — clean, if necessary, lay hydro- and thermal insulation, set the beacons according to the level of the future screed.
2. Roll out the mesh over the entire area, cutting the roll with scissors or a grinder to fit the dimensions of the room.
3. Join the blades overlapping for 1–2 cells and tie so that the reinforcing layer is continuous. Welding is not used.
4. Lift the mesh onto the coasters (retainers, "chairs", linings) so that the canvas is in the lower third or middle of the layer, and not at the very bottom. Thus, the composite perceives tensile loads.
5. Fill and level the concrete along the beacons so that the mesh is completely covered with a solution with a protective layer on top.
6. Take care of the screed — moisturize and protect from drying in the first days to gain strength.

The thickness of the screed is selected according to the project and the type of base: for common household floors, this is usually a layer of several centimeters, and the reinforcing mesh is placed inside this layer with a protective concrete layer above it. The key rule is that the mesh should not lie on the ground or slab, otherwise the reinforcement does not work.

Where SSC composite mesh is used

In addition to floor screeds, ETIZ canvas is used for reinforcing cement-sand floors, concrete paths and garden paths, blind areas around the house, car pads and roadway. Wherever metal mesh has been laid before, the composite gives the same reinforcing function without the risk of corrosion. Full range — in mesh catalog.

The price of the composite mesh for the screed is calculated on request depending on the brand, cell, format and batch size. Contact ETIZ to select a mesh for a specific screed and get a calculation.

FAQs

Which mesh to choose for floor screed — with a mesh of 50×50 or 100×100 mm?

For thin leveling screeds in living quarters, a small cell of 50×50 mm with a Ø2 mm rod is suitable — it better restrains shrinkage cracks in a thin layer. For screeds of medium thickness for domestic and commercial load, a cell of 100×100 mm with a rod of Ø3 mm is taken. The exact grade of ETIZ will be selected according to the layer thickness and load.

Does the composite mesh rust inside the wet screed?

No. SSC glass composite mesh does not rust or corrode in an alkaline cement medium — this is its key advantage over metal. In steel in wet concrete, corrosion over time destroys the structure from the inside, and the composite retains its properties for the entire service life of the screed, so the floor lasts longer.

How to cut and connect composite mesh on site?

You can cut the canvas with ordinary scissors on metal or with a grinder right on the site — the mesh is flexible and easily adjusts to the geometry of the room. The webs are connected by overlapping stacking on 1–2 cells and by viscous stacking. It is impossible to weld the composite mesh, but welding is not required for reinforcing the screed — overlap and fixation are enough.

At what height to lay the mesh in the screed?

The mesh can not be placed directly on the base — it is lifted on stands, clamps or "chairs" so that the canvas is in the lower third or middle of the concrete layer. Only in this position, the mesh accepts tensile loads and protects the screed from cracks. A protective layer of concrete is required on top, completely covering the mesh.

How much does a composite screed net cost and how to order?

The price is calculated on request and depends on the brand (SSK-2, SSK-3, SSK-5, SSK-6), cell, roll or card format and batch size. The assortment is presented in the catalogue of composite ETHYZ meshes. Leave a request — engineers will select a grid for the thickness of your screed and the nature of the load and prepare a cost calculation.