Laser Screeds

A laser screed is a machine that levels freshly placed concrete to a precise height using a laser reference. It strikes off the concrete with a vibrating screed head whose elevation is controlled automatically by laser receivers, so that the slab surface follows the design level across large areas. Laser screeds are used above all for industrial floors, warehouses, logistics centres, retail buildings, car parks and other large slabs where flatness and levelness are important and where the area to be poured each day is large.

Before laser screeds, large floors were levelled by hand with straightedges running on forms or on screed rails, in narrow strips. Laser-guided machines made it possible to place and level wide areas in a single operation with fewer workers, while achieving better and more consistent flatness.

Brief History of Laser Screeds

Rotating lasers were used on construction sites from the 1970s for levelling and grading, and machine control spread through earthmoving equipment. Applying the same idea to concrete floors was the next step. Somero Enterprises, founded in the United States in 1986, introduced the first laser-guided screed machine in the late 1980s. It used a telescopic boom mounted on a wheeled carrier, which reached out over the fresh concrete and pulled a screed head back towards the machine while laser receivers kept the head at the correct height.

The machine changed industrial floor construction, particularly in North America, and later in Europe, the Middle East and Asia as large distribution centres spread. Over the following decades manufacturers introduced larger and smaller boom machines, ride-on screeds that drive through the concrete on wide tyres or tracks, lightweight units for elevated slabs and 3D control systems able to follow slopes and complex surfaces. Laser screeds are now standard equipment for contractors specialising in large industrial floors.

How a Laser Screed Works

Laser transmitter. A rotating laser on a tripod at the edge of the pour creates a reference plane over the whole working area.
Receivers. Laser receivers mounted on masts at each end of the screed head detect the laser plane. The control system compares the head height with the reference many times per second.
Hydraulic control. Hydraulic cylinders raise or lower each end of the screed head independently, keeping it at the correct level and slope regardless of the movement of the machine.
Screed head. The head includes a plough or auger that cuts and spreads excess concrete, a strike-off that establishes the level, and a vibrator that consolidates the surface.
Carrier. On boom machines, a telescopic boom extends over the concrete and retracts to pull the head across the surface while the machine stands outside the placed area or on a small footprint. On ride-on machines, the whole machine drives through the concrete on wide tyres, with the head mounted at the front or rear.
3D control. For sloped floors, drainage falls and complex profiles, total stations or GNSS systems replace a simple laser plane and guide the head to a digital model.

Types of Laser Screeds

Boom Laser Screeds

Machines with a telescopic boom that reaches several metres over the concrete. The carrier stays in one position while the boom screeds a strip, then moves to the next position. They are used on large ground-bearing slabs and are the classic laser screed layout.

Ride-On Laser Screeds

Machines that drive through the fresh concrete, supported by wide flotation tyres or tracks. They are compact and manoeuvrable, suit smaller or more complex areas and can work on elevated decks where boom machines are too heavy.

Compact and Lightweight Screeds

Smaller machines and walk-behind units designed for elevated slabs, mezzanines and areas with limited access, where weight and size are key constraints.

3D Screeds and Profilers

Screeds guided by 3D positioning systems, used for sloped surfaces, car parks, drainage falls and other non-flat designs.

Size Classes

Class	Typical screed head width	Typical use
Compact	about 2 to 3.5 m	Elevated decks, small areas, tight access
Ride-on	about 3.5 to 5 m	Medium slabs, complex areas, decks
Large boom	about 3.5 to 6 m, with booms reaching several metres	Large warehouse and industrial floors

Figures are indicative. Daily output on large floors can reach several thousand square metres with an experienced crew and a steady concrete supply.

Attachments and Accessories

Laser screeds are part of a wider floor construction system. Screed heads come in different widths and with different tools, such as augers, ploughs and vibrating strike-offs, chosen according to the concrete and the finish required. Some manufacturers also offer attachments or related machines that spread and grade granular materials, sand or stone bases before the concrete is poured. Lasers, receivers, total stations and GNSS equipment form the guidance system, and spare receivers and masts are kept on site to avoid stoppages. Some manufacturers also offer floor profiling tools and software that measure the finished surface and produce reports on flatness and levelness. On elevated slabs, lifting frames allow the machine to be moved between floors by crane.

Main Manufacturers

Somero Enterprises, the pioneer of the category, with boom, ride-on and compact laser screeds.
Ligchine International, a specialist manufacturer of boom and ride-on screeds.
Several Chinese manufacturers, which have entered the market with boom and ride-on machines, mainly for Asian customers.

Main Uses of Laser Screeds

Warehouse and logistics centre floors with high flatness requirements.
Industrial and manufacturing plant slabs.
Retail stores, supermarkets and large commercial buildings.
Parking decks and car parks, often with 3D control for drainage falls.
Elevated slabs on steel decks and post-tensioned floors in multi-storey buildings.
Exterior pavements, yards and hardstandings in some cases.

Planning a Laser Screed Pour

Choose the machine. A boom machine gives high output on large ground-bearing slabs, while a ride-on or compact machine suits elevated decks and complex layouts.
Plan the pour sequence. The size of each pour and the placing strategy depend on concrete supply, finishing capacity and the joint layout of the floor.
Coordinate concrete delivery. Laser screeds are productive only with a steady flow of concrete from truck mixers or pumps. Gaps in supply cause cold joints and uneven finishing.
Consider the mix. Workability, setting time and bleeding affect both screeding and finishing. The mix should be agreed with the floor contractor.
Check the base. Subgrade, reinforcement and any vapour barriers must be ready and able to take the machine, especially on elevated decks.
Set flatness targets. Specifications such as F-numbers or national floor tolerance classes should be defined in advance and measured after the pour.

Safety

Laser screeds operate on fresh concrete surrounded by workers placing and finishing, so clear communication and exclusion zones around the boom and machine are essential. Boom machines need firm ground and space to move without striking people or reinforcement. On elevated slabs, the weight of the machine must be checked by the structural engineer, and edge protection must be in place. Rotating lasers must be used according to their safety class, and people should not look directly into the beam. Wet concrete can cause chemical burns, and vibration and noise exposure should be controlled. Operators must be trained for the specific machine.

Trends and Technology

Laser screed manufacturers are improving control systems, reducing machine weight and adding 3D guidance. Machines now log elevation data during screeding, and floor profile measurements can be compared with specifications immediately after the pour. Integration with BIM models allows complex surfaces to be placed directly from digital designs. Electric and battery-powered screeds are being introduced for indoor work, where exhaust emissions are a concern. Contractors are combining laser screeds with ride-on power trowels and automated floor measurement to deliver very flat floors for high-bay warehouses and automated storage systems.

Key Terms

Screed head: the assembly that cuts, levels and vibrates the concrete surface.
Rotating laser: the transmitter that creates the reference plane.
Flatness: how smooth a floor is over short distances.
Levelness: how close a floor is to the designed elevation over longer distances.
F-numbers: a system used in North America to specify and measure floor flatness and levelness.
3D screed: a screed guided by a digital model instead of a flat laser plane.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a laser screed replace power trowels? No. The laser screed places and levels the concrete, while power trowels finish the surface after the concrete has begun to set.

Can laser screeds be used on elevated slabs? Yes. Ride-on and compact laser screeds are designed for decks, but the structure must be checked for the machine load.

How much area can a laser screed place in a day? On large ground-bearing slabs, boom machines can place several thousand square metres in a day, depending on concrete supply and finishing capacity.

Why do warehouses need laser-screeded floors? High racking and narrow-aisle forklifts require floors with tight flatness and levelness tolerances, which are difficult to achieve consistently by hand.

Is a laser screed worth it for small slabs? On small or irregular pours, hand screeding or a vibrating beam screed is usually more economical. Laser screeds pay off on large areas, on repeated pours and where flatness requirements are strict.