Preparing Your Floor for Liquid Screed

Follow our helpful tips and make sure your floor area is prepared ahead of your screed delivery to ensure your project runs smoothly.

If you have placed your order for screed, you need to ensure your floor is ready before it arrives. If the area you want your screed poured is not prepared beforehand, this will delay your project as the operator will not be able to make the delivery.

There are several steps you should follow before your liquid screed arrives so that the delivery will be safe and efficient.

Ensure that the subfloor where the screed will be poured is free from any debris.
Ensure you have placed two layers of insulation. This should be done with dried sand that is used to fill any voids around pipework and levelled before installing a second layer is insulation board.
You should lay a membrane that is a minimum of 1000 gauge. This should be immediately underneath the pipework and above the insulation board to act as a slip layer. The purpose of this is to prevent the screed from leaking before it has set.
Ensure you have installed an edging strip that covers all edges and corners of the wall and is attached securely.
Shuttering across doorways to the room or steps at entrances should be fully sealed. This can be achieved with expanding foam or mastic and is required to ensure there are no leaks before the screed sets.
All pipe ducts and holes in walls need to be sealed before the liquid screed is placed.

Handy Tips for if Your Liquid Screed is Being Installed with Underfloor Heating

If you are laying underfloor heating, then we have a few handy hints for you to follow to ensure your room is ready for your screed delivery.

Ensure that your underfloor heating pipes are clipped every 400mm and use more clips around bends.
Fill your heating system with water before your screed is laid. This ensures your pipework stays in place and does not begin to float on the surface of the screed.
If using an ‘eggbox’ type pipe station, you should ensure the membrane is laid under the eggbox and avoid using small cutoffs as they can lead to floating on top of the screed.
Screed thickness is normally 50mm above the underfloor heating if using a 16mm UFH pipe. Ensure you allow for this thickness when designing the room.

Avoid These Common Mistakes!

The biggest mistake when it comes to preparing for your liquid screed delivery is measuring the space incorrectly. Sub-floor slopes and unevenness can cause an unexpected difference in the amount of screed that is required to create a level floor. Also, make sure you consider critical room features such as door openings and minimum thickness/cover that is required.

Even if you have measured correctly, it is also common for people to under-order when it comes to screed. Ordering less screed than you require will not only delay your project while you wait for additional screed to be delivered, but you will also incur extra charges. Ensuring you order the right amount for the job is essential if you want your flooring installation to go smoothly.