When working on a construction or home remodelling project, you must plan how you will finish the floor. Many options are available; however, choosing the best one for your needs isn’t always straightforward. Liquid screed is probably the best option if you plan to install underfloor heating. Unfortunately, some will dismiss that option because they think it’s too much work to set it correctly. Due to our years of experience working with underfloor heating systems, we will discuss why you should consider liquid floor screed as a finish to your next flooring project.
What is Liquid Screed
We realize that the general population doesn’t understand flooring options well. Many often get confused by the differences between concrete and liquid floor screed; however, most people who work in construction will be able to tell the difference. While concrete is a building material commonly used when constructing homes, it can sometimes be used as rough flooring outdoors and inside your home. After the concrete floor is completed, you can use liquid screed as a finish since it is the component that is poured over concrete to give it a smooth and shiny look.
Liquid screed is a relatively recent innovation, and it was considered difficult to use because, without the correct curing, you may experience plastic shrinkage cracking during drying. Liquid screed uses calcium sulphate as a binding agent and, when mixed with water, creates a self-levelling compound that can be used with all floor types. It can produce a flawless finish over which you can place tiles, linoleum, vinyl, wood or carpet. Due to its many benefits, liquid screed is used in industrial construction projects and private homes. Today, liquid screed is commonly used when homeowners install underfloor heating because it perfectly complements those heating systems’ needs.
How is Liquid Screed Different From Traditional Screed
Liquid screed, also called anhydrite screed, has many benefits over traditional cement or sand-based screeds. Both installation and drying are much faster, which can be extremely important for any construction project since most operate on very tight deadlines. For experienced construction labourers, the results from liquid and cement screeds can be similar, and most of the differences stem from the preparation and application.
The involved preparation process is what prevents some people from using liquid floor screed as a finish. Additionally, you must seal the room where you plan to use the liquid screed. We suggest you hire professionals with the experience to prepare the initial pouring surface by sanding, taking and adding insulation. The application is relatively straightforward, and liquid screed requires less volume than traditional alternatives, meaning that you can use it on practically any surface. These factors allow you to save time and effort when working with liquid screed.
Another upside of working with liquid screed is that it is easier to patch up and make any needed corrections. On the other hand, if cracking occurs with traditional screed, those problems are much harder to fix. When fissures or potholes appear, you can patch them, but they will continue to be weak points. If any major issues occur with traditional screed, you might have to replace it entirely since there is no flexibility.
Why You Should Use Liquid Floor Screed as a Finish
Now that we have compared anhydrite screed to the traditional variants, let’s look a little closer at why more and more people are deciding to use liquid screed for their flooring projects. Here are the main benefits of using liquid floor screed as a finish:
- Self-levelling. Unlike other forms of screed, there is no need to even out liquid screed by hand, and it can form a perfectly level and smooth surface on its own. The flowability of liquid screed also means that it can even out bumpy surfaces and reach corners and nooks.
- Fast drying and strengthening. Liquid screed can handle light foot traffic after only 24 hours and has hardened within 2 days. You can proceed with the next level of flooring in 7-14 days. Depending on the depth, this can be up to 10 times faster than sand or cement screed. Additionally, there is no cracking or curling with liquid screed
- The perfect option for underfloor heating. Liquid screed requires a lower volume and can be poured much thinner. This leaves more room for thicker insulation in your home’s floor, providing you with greater thermal efficiency. Due to its self-setting nature, liquid screed will entirely fill out the space between the pipes. This can allow you to closely encase the pipes used for heating, giving a better warmth transfer to your room.
- Low environmental impact. Liquid screed is more environmentally friendly than cement screed, and you will use less energy to heat your home, which will transfer into financial savings. It is also safer since there is no risk of cement burns.
How to Prepare for Your Next Flooring Project
Unless you feel comfortable handling the entire project on your own, we suggest that you contact flooring professionals to help you. However, even when you opt for professional help, you can still do much of the preparations to ensure the project is finished without any major issues and on time. You should complete the installation of the heating system first before proceeding with pouring the screed.
When doing a home remodel, it would be best if you could totally clear the home of furniture. Alternatively, you could go room to room, but remember that every room must be sealed while pouring the liquid creed. Therefore, the moving experts from zaptmovers.com suggest that you rent out a storage unit for your possessions and move out of the home while the flooring is installed. This will ensure the work is completed much faster, and you can avoid unnecessary complications.
In conclusion
Now that you have learned about the many benefits of working with liquid screed, we hope you understand why you should consider liquid floor screed as a finish to your next flooring project. We guarantee that you will be amazed by the ease of use and savings to your budget and your project timeline.