How to Choose the Right Concrete Screed and Screed Length for Your Construction Project

Screeding is a vital part of any concreting project, whether you’re pouring your own back patio or working on a huge warehouse floor. It allows you to create a smooth, flat and strong surface for your concrete that is free from air bubbles and won’t be prone to cracks or craters.

There are many types of screeds on the market, and while we’ve covered the types of screeds available in a previous blog, what we haven’t talked about is how you’re supposed to choose the correct size screed for your project.

This article will provide you with the information you need to make certain you buy the right-sized screed the first time round, so the blade, handles, and height are just what you need.

Let’s dive in!

What is a Concrete Screed?

If you have heard about concrete screeds before but aren’t an expert on the topic, here’s a quick rundown on the three different types you’ll see on the market:

• Hand screeds are long, straight lengths of wood, plastic or metal that you can use to smooth and level concrete by hand. They sometimes have spirit levels attached, and may or may not have a handle for easier use.

• Vibrating screeds look like a hand screed with long handles attached at the top that you stand behind and pull towards you as you work. It has a motor that makes it vibrate to smooth the concrete, rather than you having to crouch down and do it by hand.

• Laser screeds are a fully automated version of a vibrating screed and use a laser to sense where the concrete needs to be levelled. These are very expensive machines that are only used on very large projects.

Hand and vibrating screeds are suitable for personal and DIY use, whereas laser screeds are used for industrial-sized jobs.

Find out more about these types of screeds in our blog, ‘Different Types Of Concrete Screeds: What Type Of Screed Is Best?’.

Screed Measurements to Watch For

When inspecting a screed, whether you’re shopping for hand tools online or in person, you’ll need to have the dimensions of the project you are going to attempt in mind. Consider the width of the area you will need to level, if you will be coming up against any walls, and if you will ever be on an angle.

Screed Blade Length

Here at Australian Slate-Crete Supplies, we’ve made it easy to find a screed with a blade that matches the size of your project.

Our hand screeds, from leading brands like EzyTools and Flextool, both come with the option for you to buy in a specific size. Some brands even come with the option for you to request a custom size!

Here are some examples of the brands we carry at Australian Slate-Crete Supplies, and the sizes they come in:

EzyTools Straight Edge Large

Made from strong, anodised aluminium, these screeds (which can also be called straight edges) have multi-ribbed grip sides for non-slip, easy handling.

These screeds are:

• 34mm thick, but can be made in 19mm and 29mm sizes upon request.
• Available in 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.1m, 2.4m, 2.7m, 3.0m and 3.6m.
• Can be made to order in any size up to 6.0m.

EzyTools Standard Screed/With Level

These screeds come with a clamp-on handle for easy maneuverability, which you can take off, flip the screed and then reattach for a second use. You can choose variations with and without a built-in level to help you make your concrete perfectly level.

Sizes for the screeds without the level are 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.1m, 2.4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, and 3.6m.

Sizes for the screeds that include the level are 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.1m, 2.4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, 3,6m, 750mm, and 900mm.

Flextool Screed with Level

These screeds also feature a clamp-on handle and are powder-coated for easy cleanup. The ends are fitted with plugs to prevent slurry from getting stuck in the ends.

This screed comes in 1.2m, 1.5m, 1.8m, 2.1m, 2.4m, 2.7m, 3.0m, and 3.6m.

We also sell spare handles for our EzyTool screeds, both with and without levels.

Flextool Portascreed

Our single power screed option is the Flextool Portascreed, which is a light and portable screeding machine that comes with multiple blade attachments in a range of sizes.

Blade sizes include 1.2m, 2.4m, 3.6m, and 4.8m, and changing them shouldn’t take you more than two minutes.

Screed Handle Length

The other element of the screed that you need to know about is the handle length. This can include the detachable handles of standard screeds and the dual handles of power screeds.

Standard Screeds

Choosing a screed with a handle, or buying an attachable handle you can add yourself, is practically a must-have if you don’t want to get sore and tired from screeding your concrete.

Gripping a screed with your hands can lead to your fingers, wrists and forearms becoming sore fairly quickly, while a handle gives you more control over how you move the screed, as well as the ability to flip and screed, attach the handle to the dirty side and continue to work with a smooth screed surface.

Attachable handles tend to come in one universal size, so they are designed to be comfortable to use for anyone. Nevertheless, if you don’t like the feel of one particular brand’s handles, you can always shop around for different ones that might be slightly smaller or larger.

Power Screeds

Because you will be standing behind it as you work, it’s important to choose a power screed that is the right height for you to use, or has adjustable options. Imagine trying to pull a screed that is too low–you’ll hurt your back and neck with the strain. Or one that is too high could make your arms feel quite sore!

Our Flextool Portascreed comes with a twin-handle system that is fully adjustable, allowing you to tweak it to the perfect height. These handles also have built-in vibration dampeners to make them even more comfortable to use for extended periods of time.

Should you purchase a standard screed or a power screed? Our blog, ‘Manual Screed vs. Vibrating Screed: Which One Gets Better Results?’, can help you decide!

Frequently Asked Questions About Screeds

When should you screed concrete?

After you have poured your concrete onto the surface of your project and spread it with a concrete rake, screeding is the immediate next step. Starting at the top of the concrete, pull the screed towards you to flatten it, filling any voids and pressing the concrete down into a flat surface. Don’t stress if it’s not perfectly smooth–this will happen later, using tools like a bullfloat and a fresno.

Do I need to clean my concrete screed after using it?

It is always important to remove excess concrete from any tool quickly after use, and this includes your screeds. Once it hardens, concrete becomes very hard to remove without damaging the tool in question! For easy cleaning, choose screeds with powder-coated finishes, as they are much easier to remove damp or drying concrete from.

I am new to concreting–are screeds hard to use?

If you are a DIY enthusiast and want to try concreteing for the first time, you’re in luck–screeds aren’t too hard to use, as long as you pick one that you are comfortable with, This includes a handle you can comfortably utilise, but also keep an eye on the materials of your screed; steel is strong but heavy, whereas wood and aluminium are lighter and more flexible.

If you have any more questions about our screeds of concreting in general, our experts are ready to help! Use our online form to leave us your question, and we’ll get back to you with an answer. You can also call us on 03 9408 7722 or visit our store for an in-person chat.

Shop for Concrete Screeds in Melbourne Today

If you want to shop for concreting tools in Melbourne, there’s only one place that combines a love and passion for decorative concrete with professionalism and an impressive stock range–Australian Slate Crete Supplies!

Boasting an incredible range of concreting tools and equipments, we are regarded as one of the most trustworthy concrete tool suppliers in Melbourne. Visit our store in Epping to shop in person, or browse online and buy your concrete tools from the comfort of your home or office.

We have over 25 years of experience as concrete tool suppliers for Australia–shop with us to see why we’re your number one concrete tool supplier in Melbourne!