Liquid screed installation and prep rework for residential property in Merseyside

Clockwork Screed was appointed by a domestic customer to install liquid screed on an underfloor heating system at their residential property in Prenton, Birkenhead.

The liquid screed floor was required for a large extension at the rear of the property that stretches across the width of the house, open to a conservatory area that overlooks the garden.

Liquid floor screed for domestic properties

Liquid screed is ideal for creating smooth, level floors in domestic properties, ready for the application of a final floor finish such as tiles, laminate or carpet. For domestic customers, a major benefit of liquid floor screed is its compatibility with underfloor heating systems which are now a popular choice for homeowners, particularly for heating properties with open plan interiors.

Clockwork Screed’s liquid floor screed can be laid as thinly as 25mm which enhances the thermal conductivity of an underfloor heating system and the even distribution of heat.

This project was an example of a domestic liquid floor screed installation onto an underfloor heating system. However, the pre-installation work that had been carried out by another firm involved in the extension build was far from adequate, so we needed to rework the preparations before laying the liquid screed.

Pre-installation rework before the liquid floor screed could be applied

Thorough preparation is essential for the successful application of liquid floor screed. At Clockwork Screed, we send every liquid screed customer an important checklist sometime before we are due on-site to avoid any issues. This list includes:

·      Making the building weather-tight, with all windows and external doors fitted

·      Checking floor insulation is properly supported with no movement when walked on

·      Make sure all underfloor heating piping is fixed to the insulation every 300mm to prevent pipes from floating in the screed

·      Ensuring a minimum 500-gauge polythene has been fitted over the floor insulation, taped and sealed and either lapped up at the perimeter or sealed to proprietary edge strips

·      Checking that any perimeter edge expansion is fitted correctly and pushed into all corners, with no gaps between the expansion and the walls

·      Ensuring the area for screeding has been swept or vacuumed clean so that there aren’t any small pieces of insulation, timber or debris that will affect the smooth finish.

Upon arrival on site for this project we found the following problems:

·      The polythene had not been applied properly

o  it wasn’t underneath the underfloor heating pipes

o  it didn’t reach the perimeter

o  it was poorly installed at the corners which, if left, would cause the screed to ‘bag’ which is when it fails to bond to the concrete substrate

·      Likewise, the Miothene (polyethylene joint filler) layer and edging had not been laid correctly

·      The floor levels were inconsistent. They would have required between 30mm and 140mm of screed thickness to level them out, whereas we usually lay screed to just 25mm.

We corrected these issues with the pre-installation work before applying the floor screed, including adjusting the floor levels so that less screed would be needed.

Benefits and outcomes for the client

Through our expertise and proactive approach we rectified the preparation works to create a beautifully smooth, level floor. We will never lay liquid screed onto badly prepared floors because this will result in sub-standard results for the client. We would rather do whatever is necessary to ensure that the floor preparation meets our expected high standards.

By correcting the floor levels, rather than just working with what we were given, we were able to save the client the cost of excess floor screed that would have been necessary to make the floors level.

The professionally laid liquid floor screed provided the client with a level floor that will enhance the performance of the underfloor heating system and provide a smooth, robust surface for the final floor finish.



Do you need liquid floor screed for your domestic project?

Benefit from Clockwork Screed’s expertise and guidance. Get in touch with the team for more information.