What floor coverings work over A48?

A48 is a rapid-set screed compatible with non-moisture-sensitive natural stones, ceramic tile, resilient floor coverings, and textile floor coverings.

Can A48 be used bonded or unbonded?

Yes. A48 can be installed as a bonded screed to a primed substrate, or as an unbonded screed over a slipsheet or insulating layer.

How fast does A48 cure?

A48 is rapid-setting and walkable within hours of placement, accelerating project schedules compared to traditional sand-cement screeds.

Is A48 suitable for heated screeds?

Yes. A48 is compatible with underfloor heating systems and can be used as an embedment screed for hydronic or electric heating elements.

Do I need to prime before installing A48?

For bonded applications, prime the substrate with Multiprime to ensure full bond. Unbonded installations over slipsheet do not require priming of the substrate below.

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Ardex A48 Rapid Set Cement Screed Mix 20kg

Name: Ardex A48 Rapid Set Cement Screed Mix 20kg
Brand: Ardex
SKU: AARA316
Price: 47.50 AUD
Availability: InStock

$47.50

or 4 interest-free payments with

Rapid set screed you can tile after 4 hours. Bonded, unbonded, floating or heated, inside or out.

ARDEX A48 is a rapid set engineered screed mix of premixed cement and aggregate. It is made for all types of floor coverings and is especially effective under moisture sensitive coverings. Lay it, walk on it in about 4 hours, tile it the same day.

Where to use it

Bonded screeds, laid wet on wet over an ARDEX P 51 or ARDEX Multiprime slurry coat
Unbonded screeds on a slipsheet and floating screeds over an insulating layer
Heated screeds, minimum 45mm over the heating element
Under tiles, natural stone, terrazzo, parquet, resilient and textile floorcoverings, and under undertile waterproofing membranes

Why waterproofers buy it

Tiles and non moisture sensitive natural stone after 4 hours
Smoothing cements and ARDEX Undertile Butynol after 24 hours. Liquid undertile membranes, resilient, textile and parquet after 48 hours
Dimensionally stable. Tension and shrinkage free
Working time approx 60 minutes, walkable in approx 4 hours
Approx 35 MPa compressive strength at 28 days
Premixed. Add 1.8L of clean water per 20kg bag. Paddle mixer, forced action mixer or screed pump
Bonded 15mm to 50mm. Unbonded at least 35mm, preferably 40mm, up to 70mm

Coverage

A 20kg bag covers approximately 1 m² at 10mm. At a 40mm unbonded bed that is four bags per m².

Not for

Temperatures below 5°C, or heavy loads such as pallets of tiles and heavy machines before the screed reaches final strength.

Ready to receive tiles and non moisture sensitive natural stone after 4 hours

Can be used in bonded and unbonded applications

Dimensionally stable, tension and shrinkage free

Quantity: 1

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Ardex A48 Rapid Set Cement Screed Mix 20kg

The Waterproofing Shop

Pickup available, usually ready in 24 hours

22/872 Canterbury Road
Roselands NSW 2196
Australia

+61280213517

Product Details

Internal and external
To produce an engineered flooring base that
improves on-site efficiencies by allowing traffic
shortly after application and laying of the floor
covering on the same day. The screed can be
used as a:- bonded screed- unbonded screed (on a slipsheet)- floating screed (insulating layer)- heated screed

For the installation of:- Tiles- Natural Stones- Terrazzo- Resilient and textile floorcoverings- Parquet- ARDEX WPM 750 Undertile Butynol waterproofing system- Undertile waterproofing membranes

How to Use

Mix 1.8L of clean water per 20kg bag and, for bonded screeds, apply the screed mix wet on wet onto an ARDEX P 51 or ARDEX Multiprime slurry coat within the 60 minute working timeDetermine the screed depth from the quality of the substrate and the use of the finished surface
For a bonded screed, produce a slurry by mixing ARDEX A48 with ARDEX P 51 and water in the ratio 1:1
Pour 1.8L of clean water per 20kg bag into a clean bucket
Add the powder slowly to the water while continually mixing with a heavy duty, low speed mechanical paddle mixer
For larger volumes, prepare the mortar with a standard forced action mixer or a screed pump
Apply the screed mix wet on wet onto the slurry coat where the screed is bonded
Lay unbonded screeds on a slipsheet at least 35mm thick, preferably 40mm, and no more than 70mm
Lay bonded screeds at least 15mm thick and no more than 50mm
Lay heated screeds a minimum of 45mm over the heating element
Complete placing within the working time of approximately 60 minutes
Do not apply at temperatures below 5C, and install a test area if in doubt about the fast drying properties
Allow approximately 4 hours before walking on the screed
Lay tiles and non moisture sensitive natural stone after 4 hours
Lay ARDEX smoothing cements and ARDEX Undertile Butynol after 24 hours
Lay ARDEX approved liquid undertile membranes and resilient, textile or parquet coverings after 48 hours
Avoid placing heavy loads such as pallets of tiles or heavy machines until final strength is achieved

Technical Specifications

Product Type: Rapid set engineered screed, premixed cement and aggregate
Composition: Graded sand, portland cement, calcium aluminate cement and calcium sulfate
Bulk Density: approx 1.7kg/L
Fresh Mortar Density: approx 2kg/L
Material Requirement: 20kg of powder per m2 at 10mm of thickness
Working Time: approx 60 mins
Walkability: approx 4 hours
Compressive Strength (approx): 20 MPa after 1 day, 30 MPa after 7 days, 35 MPa after 28 days
Tensile Bending Strength: 4.0 MPa after 1 day, 4.5 MPa after 7 days, 5.0 MPa after 28 days
Suited for Floor Heating: Yes
Mixing Ratio: 1.8L of clean water per 20kg bag
Unbonded Screed Thickness: At least 35mm, preferably 40mm, maximum 70mm
Bonded Screed Thickness: At least 15mm, maximum 50mm
Heated Floor Thickness: Minimum 45mm over the heating element
Ready for Tiles: 4 hours
Ready for Smoothing Cements: 24 hours
Ready for ARDEX Undertile Butynol: 24 hours
Ready for ARDEX Approved Liquid Undertile Membranes: 48 hours
Ready for Resilient, Textile and Parquet Coverings: 48 hours
Coverage: A 20kg bag covers approximately 1m2 per 10mm of thickness
Minimum Application Temperature: Do not apply below 5C
Packaging: Polylined paper sacks, net weight 20kg
Shelf Life: 12 months in the original unopened packaging in a dry place at 23C and 50% relative humidity
Hazard Classification: Hazardous chemical, non-dangerous goods
* ARDEX publishes the strength figures as approximate values with no test standard or accredited test report quoted

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Ardex A48 Rapid Set Cement Screed Mix 20kg

$47.50

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Ardex A48 Rapid Set Cement Screed Mix 20kg $47.50

Technical overview

ARDEX A48 is a rapid set engineered screed made from premixed cement and aggregate, designed for all types of floor coverings and especially effective when installing moisture sensitive coverings. It is for interior and exterior use and can be laid as a bonded screed, an unbonded screed on a slipsheet, a floating screed over an insulating layer or a heated screed. It is dimensionally stable, tension and shrinkage free, has a working time of approximately 60 minutes and is walkable in approximately 4 hours. Tiles can be laid after 4 hours and resilient, textile and parquet coverings after 48 hours. ARDEX publishes the compressive and tensile bending strengths as approximate values with no test standard, test report number or accredited certification quoted.

View full technical data sheet

Key applications

Bonded screed
Unbonded screed on a slipsheet
Floating screed over an insulating layer
Heated screed
Screed base for tiles
Screed base for natural stones and terrazzo
Screed base for resilient and textile floorcoverings
Screed base for parquet
Screed base for the ARDEX WPM 750 Undertile Butynol waterproofing system
Screed base for undertile waterproofing membranes

Do not apply at temperatures below 5C. The fast drying properties of the screed need to be observed; if in doubt install a test area. Since the final strength of the screed has not been achieved when floor coverings are laid, placement of heavy loads such as pallets with tiles and heavy machines should be avoided. The nominal screed thickness for unbonded ARDEX A48 is at least 35mm and preferably 40mm, with a maximum of 70mm; a bonded screed must be at least 15mm and a maximum of 50mm; heated floors need a minimum of 45mm over the heating element. Based on the finished surface of the ARDEX A48, resilient floorcoverings often require a thin application of smoothing cement. Hazardous chemical: may cause irritation and an allergic reaction to the skin, may cause serious eye injury and irritation to the respiratory system. Wear protective gloves, clothing, eye and face protection, avoid inhaling dust and ensure adequate ventilation during mixing and application.

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Technical Specifications

Product Type	Rapid set engineered screed, premixed cement and aggregate
Composition	Graded sand, portland cement, calcium aluminate cement and calcium sulfate
Bulk Density	approx 1.7kg/L
Fresh Mortar Density	approx 2kg/L
Material Requirement	20kg of powder per m2 at 10mm of thickness
Working Time	approx 60 mins
Walkability	approx 4 hours
Compressive Strength (approx)	20 MPa after 1 day, 30 MPa after 7 days, 35 MPa after 28 days
Tensile Bending Strength	4.0 MPa after 1 day, 4.5 MPa after 7 days, 5.0 MPa after 28 days
Suited for Floor Heating	Yes
Mixing Ratio	1.8L of clean water per 20kg bag
Unbonded Screed Thickness	At least 35mm, preferably 40mm, maximum 70mm
Bonded Screed Thickness	At least 15mm, maximum 50mm
Heated Floor Thickness	Minimum 45mm over the heating element
Ready for Tiles	4 hours
Ready for Smoothing Cements	24 hours
Ready for ARDEX Undertile Butynol	24 hours
Ready for ARDEX Approved Liquid Undertile Membranes	48 hours
Ready for Resilient, Textile and Parquet Coverings	48 hours
Coverage	A 20kg bag covers approximately 1m2 per 10mm of thickness
Minimum Application Temperature	Do not apply below 5C
Packaging	Polylined paper sacks, net weight 20kg
Shelf Life	12 months in the original unopened packaging in a dry place at 23C and 50% relative humidity
Hazard Classification	Hazardous chemical, non-dangerous goods
* ARDEX publishes the strength figures as approximate values with no test standard or accredited test report quoted

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Frequently asked questions

View all FAQs

What floor coverings work over A48?

Compatibility
A48 is a rapid-set screed compatible with non-moisture-sensitive natural stones, ceramic tile, resilient floor coverings, and textile floor coverings.
Can A48 be used bonded or unbonded?

Installation
Yes. A48 can be installed as a bonded screed to a primed substrate, or as an unbonded screed over a slipsheet or insulating layer.
How fast does A48 cure?

Performance
A48 is rapid-setting and walkable within hours of placement, accelerating project schedules compared to traditional sand-cement screeds.
Is A48 suitable for heated screeds?

Compliance
Yes. A48 is compatible with underfloor heating systems and can be used as an embedment screed for hydronic or electric heating elements.
Do I need to prime before installing A48?

Compatibility
For bonded applications, prime the substrate with Multiprime to ensure full bond. Unbonded installations over slipsheet do not require priming of the substrate below.

Why trade professionals choose Ardex

Ardex is a global leader in high-performance building products, trusted by Australian trade professionals. The range spans liquid and sheet waterproofing membranes, primers, sealers, screeds and repair systems, engineered for lasting results on residential and commercial projects.

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