What do you ARCHI MEAN?SearchAnalyze a textA–ZAboutENFR

chape

Page approved

n. f. · screed (UK, also US) · variants: chape ciment (n. f.): cement screed · chape flottante (n. f.): floating screed · chape de nivellement (n. f.): leveling screed · chape sèche (n. f.): dry screed · chape humide (n. f.): wet screed

Definition

FR
Couche de mortier ou de béton fin coulée sur un plancher pour obtenir une surface plane et dure, qui reçoit le revêtement de sol (carrelage, parquet, résine…). Posée sur un isolant, elle est dite flottante.
EN
A layer of mortar or fine concrete laid over a floor structure to give a level, hard surface that takes the floor finish (tile, wood, resin…). When it sits on insulation, it is called floating.

Diagram

revêtement de solfloor finishchapescreedfilm (type polyéthylène)film (polyethylene type)isolantinsulationdalle porteusestructural slabCoupe dans un plancher · schéma de principe, non à l'échelle
Section through a floor, from the slab to the finish. The screed is in color.

Example sentences

Written (email, official document)

FRLa chape sera coulée après la pose des réseaux et de l'isolant, puis séchera avant le carrelage.

ENThe screed will be poured after the services and insulation are in, then dry before the tiling.

Spoken (standard)

FRTu as vu la chape ? Elle est encore humide, on ne peut pas poser le parquet.

ENHave you seen the screed? It's still wet, we can't lay the parquet yet.

Spoken (informal)

FRLa chape est fissurée, ils ont dû la couler trop vite.

ENThe screed is cracked, they must have poured it too fast.

Nuances and pitfalls

Chape (n. f.) or dalle? In France, the dalle (n. f.) is the structure of the floor; the chape is the finishing layer above it. In an upper floor, it is often “floating”: laid over acoustic or thermal insulation, with no rigid link to the slab.

Chape fluide, chape sèche. A chape fluide is poured and levels itself; a chape sèche is made of boards laid over a bed of material. In English, the first is liquid screed or flowing screed (UK).

Related terms

dalle sur terre-pleinplancherisolantrevêtement de sol

Regulatory and standard references

France
US
UK
NF DTU 26.2 (chapes et dalles à base de liants hydrauliques)? Not verified
BS 8204-1 (screeds, bases and in situ floorings)? Not verified

Legislation in force may differ from what is shown here.

Validation

Reviewed by Raphaël B. · 7 Oct 2026

← New search

Spotted a mistake? Report an error in this entry

Free to use. Donations help cover hosting and the domain name. Support this site · French lessons for architects