LIGHTWEIGHT SCREEDS WITH VARIABLE CONSISTENCY: A NEW GENERATION FOR MORE EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION SITES

In the floor system, the screed is decisive for performance and durability. La Chape XXs Dual Tech is an evolution of the lightweight fibre-reinforced screed: with variable consistency, it combines lightness, strength and speed of application in a single product that adapts to site requirements.

Emanuele Stabellini – Marketing Manager, Edilteco S.p.A.

In the floor system, the screed is one of the most critical elements for the success of the work, both in new construction and, above all, in refurbishment. Today’s design requirements call for materials that combine lightness, mechanical performance, speed of application and quality of finish.

This is the context for the evolution of a product already well known in the sector: La Chape XXs^® Dual Tech, the new version of Edilteco’s lightweight fibre-reinforced screed, with an updated formulation that introduces a key element for today’s construction site: managing consistency with a single product.

From choosing the technology to managing consistency on site

In design and site practice, choosing a screed has always involved a preliminary decision between traditional and flowing solutions. Traditional solutions ensure control and precision in the work but take longer; flowing solutions favour speed and flatness, but can be less adaptable in some operating conditions.

With the introduction of Dual Tech technology, this distinction is overcome. La Chape XXs Dual Tech makes it possible to obtain both application methods from the same product, simply by adjusting the water content during mixing.

In this way, consistency becomes a variable that can be managed directly on site, adapting to the actual requirements of the substrate and the job.

Technical characteristics of the La Chape XXs Dual Tech fibre-reinforced screed

La Chape XXs Dual Tech: one formula, two consistencies

In terms of performance, the product belongs to the family of new-generation lightweight screeds, characterized by a composition based on cementitious binder, lightweight aggregates and fibres, with the addition of EPS (expanded polystyrene) beads of controlled grading coated with the specific E.I.A. additive.

This structure gives a density of around 1,200 kg/m³ (75 lb/ft³) and a weight reduction of up to 50% compared with a traditional screed, a particularly important aspect when working on existing floor slabs or sensitive structures.

The mechanical performance is consistent with use in the floor system: compressive strength reaches values of 12 N/mm² (12,000 kPa) (1,740 psi) or more in the traditional version and 10 N/mm² (10,000 kPa) (1,450 psi) or more in the flowing version, with good flexural strength.

Reaction to fire is classified A2_fl-s1 (class for floorings): the material is therefore also suitable in contexts with specific requirements.

Discover La Chape XXs Dual Tech and download the technical data sheet

Workability, finish and site times

One of the most important aspects is workability. Depending on the consistency chosen, the new formulation produces a material that can be levelled with a straightedge or left to self-level, maintaining good cohesion and ease of handling in both cases.

This flexibility is directly reflected in the quality of the finish, which is uniform and even, as well as in the execution times. Thanks to its fast setting and drying, under standard conditions ceramic tiles can be laid directly after just 24 hours without the need for a skim coat, significantly reducing overall site times.

Installation of La Chape XXs Dual Tech with flowing consistency

Fields of application

The combination of lightness, performance and adaptability makes La Chape XXs Dual Tech a suitable solution for both new construction and refurbishment. The product is used in a variety of situations, including correcting levels, creating falls, thermal insulating subfloors and bonded or unbonded screeds, showing a good ability to integrate into the floor system as a whole.

A solution that affects site organization

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this evolution concerns not only the performance of the material, but its impact on site organization. Having a single product that can adapt to different application methods simplifies materials management, reduces operational complexity and increases control over the final result.

At a time when construction sites require ever greater efficiency and adaptability, the ability to adjust the consistency of the screed without changing product is a concrete optimization.

Towards greater integration between design and execution

The evolution of lightweight screeds reflects a broader change in the way the floor system is approached. The choice of material can no longer be separated from actual site conditions and application methods.

Solutions such as La Chape XXs Dual Tech introduce a level of flexibility that brings design and execution closer together, reducing critical issues and improving the overall reliability of the work. From this perspective, the screed is no longer just a functional layer, but becomes a technical tool capable of adapting to the needs of the project.