What Does it Take to Install a Liquid Screed Floor?

While liquid screed is a popular floor choice in both commercial and residential projects, many people are unsure about what it takes to install a new liquid screed floor. 

This is largely because it is a relatively new flooring option, but also because some are confused about the difference between liquid screed and standard concrete as a material. To clear up some of this confusion, we’ve outlined the basic steps to installing a liquid screed floor so that you can better understand what it takes to install a liquid screed floor.

Preparing the floor

When installing liquid screed, it’s essential to first use the right preparation methods so that the final structure and finishing are optimal.

To apply the liquid screed mixture, you’ll first need to address the sub-floor by ensuring it has structural integrity and is covered in a sufficient casing / membrane (often with polythene sheets). This will go over any insulation and accommodate the presence of underfloor heating systems, for example. You will also need to make sure that any plumbing work is sufficiently covered and completely watertight.

To Read more: Sanding Worcestershire

The Many Benefits Of Using Liquid Screed In Essex

At Liquid Screed we can provide you with a liquid floor screed anywhere in England and Wales, including Essex. In fact, we have carried out many projects of floor screeding in Essex, from Brentwood to Harwich and from Saffron Walden to Canvey Island.

Liquid Screed has so many advantages over traditional sand and cement screed that it is hard to know where to begin. Instead of being hand laid with a trowel, it is poured into place using a pump and long hose. This takes far less time than laying a screed by hand: in fact, it is said to be up to 20 times faster.

It is true that the actual material cost is about half as much again as sand and cement, but the speed of laying means that the labour cost is far less. Furthermore, depending on whether underfloor heating is being installed or not, a liquid screed can be laid with a thickness of as little as 15mm whereas a typical sand and cement screed is about 80mm thick, and may be more. Even if underfloor heating is being installed, the thickness of the liquid screed will only need to be 40mm at most. Taking everything into account, the overall cost of a liquid screed and sand and cement are about the same.

To Read more: Floor screeding Essex

The Benefits of Liquid Screed Floors

Concrete floors used to be restricted to purely industrial settings until it became a stylish utilitarian and minimal surface option. Today, with new technologies and innovations in liquid screed, people now look to ‘concrete’ as a stylish and sophisticated floor option that works with many luxury and comfortable home designs.

Durability

While liquid screed is not exactly concrete, it is made from similar ingredients and offers the same properties of durability and strength. When applied correctly, liquid screed is extremely tough and resilient and is able to withstand the pressure from very heavy objects and equipment.

While marble or granite may crack or chip when dropping heavy items on them, liquid screed is able to absorb most collisions without much consequence.

Requires less upkeep

Due to its high durability and strength qualities, you don’t have to worry about constant chips or scratches like you would with other floor options like natural hardwood. Depending on your chosen finish and the level of traffic you expect in your home, you will still need to clean and wax your floor regularly. However, it is unlikely that serious damage will require you to ever replace it entirely.

Versatility

Liquid screed, with its sophisticated polished surfaces and consistent smoothness over large areas, offers a great deal of design freedom to the interior designer or homeowner. Far from the mundane or cold grey surfaces that we associate with outdoor concrete slabs and flooring, liquid screed offers endless variety in its colour and texture, making it an incredibly versatile material.

Contractors that offer liquid screed and floor preparation in Bedfordshire, Kettering or Northampton will be able to advise you on various finishes to match your home design requirements.

 

Great with underfloor heating systems

Contributing to the rise in popularity of liquid screed has been the demand for underfloor heating systems and flooring options that work dynamically to optimise the way heat is distributed throughout the home. As liquid screed is applied in extremely smooth and thin surfaces, it allows for great thermal conductivity and energy efficiency.

If you’re looking for floor preparation in Bedfordshire to match your new underfloor heating system, inquire with your contractor whether they can handle the installation of liquid screed in combination with your UFH system.