Cost of screeding in Nigeria - 2026

Screeding is one of those building works that almost nobody talks about, until the tiles start cracking, the floor sounds hollow when you knock it, or the surface is visibly uneven after the kitchen was tiled. By then, fixing it means ripping up the tiles and starting again.
A properly laid screed is flat, solid, well-cured, and done after all the plumbing pipes under the floor have been tested. Get it right and every floor finish on top of it looks and lasts the way it should. Get it wrong and you are looking at expensive remedial work down the line. Here is what screeding costs in Nigeria in 2026 and what separates a good job from a bad one.

1. What screeding is and when you need it

Screeding is a cement-sand mortar layer poured over the structural concrete slab to create a flat, level surface ready for tiling, vinyl, marble, or any other floor finish. In most Nigerian residential builds, the screed is 40 to 75mm thick, thick enough to cover conduit runs and minor level variations in the slab below.
You need screeding at two main stages: after the concrete slab has cured and before any floor finish is laid. Some builders combine the slab finish and screed into one operation, this can work on simple projects but is not recommended where precision levelling is required.

2. Price Breakdown

3. What affects screeding cost

3.1 Screed thickness

A thicker screed uses more material and takes longer to lay and cure. Each additional 10mm of screed depth adds material cost.

3.2 Floor area

Larger areas attract better per-square-metre rates. A 200sqm ground floor is priced differently per metre than an 18sqm kitchen.

3.3 Access

Upper-floor screeding requires materials to be carried or pumped up and this adds cost on multi-storey projects.

3.4 Levelness of existing slab

A rough or badly poured slab requires more screed material to achieve a level finish.

3.5 Drying time

Traditional sand and cement screed takes two to four weeks to dry sufficiently for tiling. In a hurry? Self-levelling compounds can be walked on in 24 hours and tiled within 72 hours, but they cost more.

3.6 Waterproofing

Bathroom, kitchen, and balcony screed should include a waterproofing admixture. This adds cost but prevents the water damage that comes from moisture migrating through the floor.

4. The most common screeding mistakes

These are the errors that cause floor finishes to fail months after a building is handed over:
• Tiling before the screed has properly dried, tiles laid on wet screed lift and crack as the screed shrinks during curing.
• Inadequate mix ratio, too much water in the screed mix produces a weak surface that dusts and crumbles.
• Not testing plumbing before screeding, a burst pipe under a finished screed means demolishing the floor.
• Poor curing, screed drying too fast in direct sun or wind cracks badly on the surface.
• No expansion allowance at walls, screed locked tight against walls cracks as it expands in heat.

5. Frequently asked questions

How much does screeding cost per square metre in Nigeria in 2026?
Standard sand and cement screeding in Nigeria costs between ₦2,000 and ₦3,500 per square metre for supply and installation. Labour-only rates for screeding run from ₦1000 to ₦2,000 per square metre where the client supplies the cement and sand.
How long does screed take to dry before tiling?
Traditional sand and cement screed needs a minimum of three to four weeks to dry sufficiently before tiles are laid, longer in damp or humid conditions. The standard rule is one day of drying time per millimetre of screed thickness. Self-levelling compounds can be tiled within 72 hours, which is why they are popular in renovation projects where speed matters. Never tile on screed that has not fully dried because the tiles will lift.

Do I need to waterproof bathroom screed in Nigeria?
Yes, without exception. Bathroom screed should always include a waterproofing admixture or a separate waterproof membrane. In Nigerian bathrooms where water usage is high and drainage is sometimes slow, moisture migrates through an untreated screed and causes damp, mould, and structural damage below. Waterproof screed costs slightly more but prevents expensive remedial work later.

What is the difference between screeding and concrete?
The structural concrete slab is the load-bearing floor poured as part of the building's structure. The screed is a thinner, finer layer poured on top of the structural slab to create the flat, level surface that floor finishes are applied to. Screed is not structural; it carries no building load. It is purely a finishing base layer. Skipping the screed and tiling directly onto a rough structural slab produces an uneven finish and is not recommended.

6. Important tip before screeding a new building

According to verified skillmen, screeding should not be rushed in a new building.
The first plastering should be completed properly before screeding begins. After this, the right cement mortar mix is applied to prepare the surface.
Skipping these steps may affect the final finish of the floor.
Therefore, hiring the right contractor matters, because poor screeding can affect your tiles or flooring and increase repair costs later.
Instead of struggling to find reliable workers, Skillland.ng helps connect you with trusted professionals for construction and home improvement projects. Whether you are renovating or building from scratch, finding skilled artisans becomes easier when you work with the best skillmen.