This 3 part series will cover the beginnings of screeding in part 1 and then be followed by:

Part 2 – ‘ The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Modern Screeding‘

Part 3 – ‘The Modern Era: Innovation, Efficiency, and Specialist Screeding‘

Screeding may feel like a modern construction practice, but its roots stretch back thousands of years. Early civilisations understood the need for smooth, level floors long before cement mixers and laser levels ever existed.

Ancient Egypt and Early Civilisations

Archaeological findings show that Egyptians used a rudimentary form of screed—flattening layers of mud and gypsum plaster to create level surfaces in temples and palaces. These floors weren’t perfectly smooth by today’s standards, but the principle was the same: create a reliable, even base for everyday living.

Roman Innovations

The Romans pushed flooring technology forward dramatically. Their opus signinum floors, made using crushed tiles mixed with lime mortar, were built over carefully levelled substrates. In essence, the Romans perfected the idea of using a screeded layer as a foundation for high-quality finishes. Their commitment to strength, durability, and level surfaces laid the groundwork for many techniques we still use today.

Medieval and Tudor Britain

As construction evolved across Europe, floor levelling continued, though often with more basic materials. In Britain, compacted earth floors were topped with simple lime-based or clay-based layers to improve durability. While not yet “screeds” in the modern sense, the technique of smoothing and levelling a surface had clearly taken hold.

Part 2 – Coming Next Wednesday – ‘ The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Modern Screeding‘

Part 3 – Coming Saturday 3 December – ‘The Modern Era: Innovation, Efficiency, and Specialist Screeding‘