How long do screed, skim filler and tile adhesive take to dry?

Drying times in one table

The CN 76 times are given at +23 °C and 50% air humidity, the Euro Smart 2 times at +20 °C and 65% humidity. For CL 51, the manufacturer writes that the times depend on temperature, subfloor and moisture.

How long screed takes to dry

Screed is the thickest layer in a floor, and it takes the longest to dry. In the Ceresit CM 17 technical data sheet, the manufacturer requires a cement screed under tiles to be at least 28 days old with moisture below 4%. The Quick-Step laminate instructions state that a new concrete floor dries for at least one week per centimetre of thickness up to 4 cm, and twice as long when thicker.

This means that, by Quick-Step's guidance, a 5 cm screed takes much longer to dry than a 3 cm one, because above 4 cm the time per centimetre doubles. If the floor only needs a few millimetres of levelling, a self-levelling compound is the quicker route.

Moisture matters more than days

The number of days is a guide. A covering may be laid when the moisture content of the subfloor reaches the covering manufacturer's limit. These limits differ between manufacturers:

• Under tiles (Ceresit CM 17): cement screed and plaster with moisture below 4%.
• Under laminate (Quick-Step): below 2.5% by the CM method, below 1.5% with underfloor heating.
• Under parquet, wood, laminate and resilient coverings (Ceresit CN 76): for a cement subfloor up to 2.0% without heating and up to 1.8% with heating; for a gypsum subfloor 0.5% and 0.3%.
• Under waterproofing (Ceresit CL 51): for anhydrite and gypsum levelling compounds ≤ 0.5%, for gypsum plasters ≤ 1.0%.

So before a floor covering, measure the moisture of the subfloor rather than counting days. If the manufacturers' requirements differ, the data sheet of the product that goes on top decides.

How long skim filler takes to dry

The drying time of skim filler depends on the product, the thickness of the layer and the room, and is stated in the technical data sheet of the specific filler. Before painting there are two requirements stated by the paint manufacturer.

• In the Tikkurila Euro Smart 2 data sheet, the surface must be dry, the temperature at least +5 °C and the air humidity no more than 80%.
• Rough, absorbent surfaces and surfaces skimmed with dry mixes must be primed before painting.

Ceresit CT 17 primer dries in about 2 hours. For Tikkurila Euro Smart 2, the manufacturer recommends 2 coats, the second after 2 hours.

How long tile adhesive takes to dry

For Ceresit CM 17 tile adhesive, grouting on walls can be done after at least 12 hours and on floors after at least 24 hours. The open time of the adhesive is at least 30 minutes, and the pot life is up to 2 hours. The manufacturer requires the adhesive to cover at least 65% of the underside of the tile, and tiles are not soaked in water.

After grouting, with Ceresit CE 40 grout you can walk on the floor after 6 hours, water exposure is allowed after 24 hours, and the grout reaches full strength after 5 days. For the first 5 days the joints are washed only with clean water. So in a bathroom renovation there is a period after grouting when the shower is not yet used.

How drying affects the renovation time

How long a renovation takes depends on the scope of work and the drying time of the materials. If a new screed is poured on the floor, it sets the pace of the whole renovation, because laminate or parquet can be laid only when the moisture is low enough. This time can be used for wall and ceiling work.

More about the length of a renovation on the page how long an apartment renovation takes.

How much floor levelling costs

Floor levelling, pour or screed: from €6.50/m². The price is affected by the thickness of the layer. Example: a room of 18 m² × €6.50 = from €117. Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.