Screed (floor screed)

Screed is the sand-and-cement mortar layer laid over the structural slab to give a smooth, level base for tiles or other flooring. In a bathroom, balcony or roof it does a second job that decides whether the space ever leaks: it forms the falls — the gentle slope that pushes water toward the floor drain instead of letting it pond. The order of layers matters, and it's where UAE jobs go wrong: the waterproofing membrane and the drain must be set so water always runs *off* the membrane into the outlet, with the drain at the low point. Flat or reverse-sloped screed leaves standing water that sits on the finish and eventually works through any weak spot. If your balcony ponds after rain or your shower floor holds water long after you've finished, the screed falls — not the tiles — are usually the culprit, and correcting them is part of a proper floor and finishing job.