Do you need to move out while screed is laid?

A screed is not a toxic work site: there are no solvents, no strong odors, and no fumes to worry about. The constraint is elsewhere, and it is purely practical: for one to two days, you cannot walk where the screed has been poured.

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What actually happens on the day of the pour

• The rooms are off-limits from the start of the pour until the screed has hardened. You must therefore have everything moved out the day before, including anything fixed to the floor.
• A pump hose often runs through the homefrom the street to the room being poured. Doors and stairwells must remain clear and protected.
• The noise from the mixer or pump lasts for several hours, which is a factor in apartments or terraced houses—a common scenario in Brussels architecture.
• A large amount of water is introduced into the building. An 80 m² screed at 6 cm thick will release several hundred liters of water over the following weeks.

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Organizing your home

In a house undergoing a full renovation, this is not an issue. When renovating while living in the property, three things must be prepared in advance: keep a refuge area that isn't being poured, maintain a clear exit path, and never pour an entire ground floor in one go if it is the only access to the upper level.

The question of the exact time before you can walk on it again is covered in our guide on when you can walk on a fresh screed. Also, be aware that ventilation in the following weeks is just as important as the pour itself, especially in older Brussels buildings, which are often poorly ventilated.

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The right approach: talk about it beforehand

Dividing the work into zones, the order of the rooms, and the day of the pour are decided together, not on the morning of the work. A schedule discussed in advance avoids almost all unpleasant surprises. Let's talk about your project before setting the dates.