Month: February 2018

Liquid floor screed verses traditional floor screed

We are often asked, “which is the best? liquid screed or traditional sand cement floor screed”. Our answer in most cases will be liquid floor screed of course, but let’s explain why in more detail.

Installation and drying times

With any building project, the speed of installation is one of the vital issues. Installing a liquid floor screed is always going to be faster, but more importantly, the drying times are really fast in comparison allowing the project to move forward more quickly.

BS8204 states that standard screed drying times should be 1 day for every 1mm thickness, so a 50mm standard screed will take 50+ days to dry. Compare this to a liquid floor screed which in almost all cases can be walked on after 24 hours and force dried in under 7 days.

This alone saves project delay and planning times allowing trades to work very quickly after the installation, allowing completion dates to be reduced, saving vast sums of money – time is money after all.

Overall thickness of floor screed

A traditional screed is generally installed as a thick layer to ensure no cracking or shrinkage occurs when dry. In comparison, liquid floor screed is generally a much thinner layer of material and due to its make-up, is stronger and more durable.

The other advantage of being a thinner layer is that the floor insulation layer can be thicker and so, therefore, more efficient in the long run.

Higher efficiency in underfloor heating systems

When installing underfloor heating systems, liquid floor screed is vastly superior compared to standard screed. As the liquid screed is poured, it completely surrounds the heating tubes so no air gaps are present, thus conducting the heat more efficiently.

Traditional screeds can never surround the tubes as effectively, so heat transfer will be less efficient and overall the running costs of any underfloor heating system will be higher than when a liquid screed floor is installed.

Cost comparisons

Standard screed materials and labour costs are arguably cheaper, however, you really need to think about the bigger picture of the overall project costs rather than the unit cost per square meter. Yes on paper liquid screed will almost certainly work out more expensive but in the overall project it will work out more cost effective and help keep timelines for the project to a minimum.

If you have a current project and want to explore how liquid screed floor installation can help you deliver your project more efficiently, call us now for advice and a quotation

Is underfloor heating right for me?

We are often asked about underfloor heating systems and of course, the ideal time to install one is when we are pouring the liquid screed flooring. So here are the most common questions and answers which will help you make the decision.

Do I need a special boiler or heating source?

No, the underfloor heating systems we provide use pretty much any existing gas LPG or oil-fired boiler as well as using heat pumps. The main thing is that the boiler must be reliable and regularly serviced.

Which underfloor heating systems are the best?

It is widely recognised that wet underfloor heating systems are the most effective and cheapest to run, install, and has little or no maintenance requirements. We install small pipes in the liquid screed which carry the water from the heat source around the floor.

How effective are underfloor heating systems?

This does vary from building to building and will depend on lots of factors, but it is common to see savings of 30 – 40% on traditional radiator systems. Underfloor systems are designed to be cheaper to run more controllable and more effective than other systems.

When switched on, how long does it take to warm up?

Underfloor heating systems warm up very quickly and can soon raise the temperature of the room. This is because it is very effective and uses the conductivity of the screed and the floor covering to radiate the heat. Stone and tiles are the most effective and will warm up the fastest, with carpet taking a little longer.

Where can underfloor heating be used?

Underfloor heating systems can be installed all over the building, including the upper floors, so it is a versatile and discrete way of heating a property – no ugly pipes and radiators to be seen. Wet rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens are the most common places to install systems but when building a property from scratch, it is now becoming a system of choice.

How long will it last and what if it goes wrong?

Our systems are designed and tested before being installed in the liquid screed flooring, so it is highly unlikely a problem will occur. The pipes are designed to last more than 50 years as a minimum and the pipes are a continuous single section without joins. If a leak is detected, this can be simply repaired, but it is very rare.

What are the maintenance plans?

Underfloor heating systems are designed to have no maintenance; however, the boiler and pumps will need to be regularly serviced (as with any system) to make sure they are working efficiently. If you take a system from us, we are always available to offer any advice and ongoing support.

We hope this will answer some of your questions. We are always available to speak to you and advise on the best solution and design the most effective systems for your property.

Call now on 01865 660026 for fast, efficient service and advice on underfloor heating systems.