Liquid screed in Donegal
Liquid screed across Co. Donegal, from Letterkenny to Buncrana: calcium sulphate or cement-based, from 35 mm floating in a house and 25 mm over the heating pipes.
Tell us about the floor in four taps and one screeding contractor who covers your county rings you with a price.
Free, no obligation. One local screeding contractor prices it, not five.
- 680new homes finished in Co. Donegal in 2025 (CSO)
- 37%of homes built from 2001 on (Census 2022)
- 2,211heating degree days a year at Letterkenny
- 5%of homes tested over the radon reference level (EPA)
The floors going in in Donegal
One-off houses were 66% of the 680 new homes finished in Co. Donegal in 2025. Most go in with underfloor heating and a heat pump, and a liquid screed only needs 25 mm over the pipes, against 65 mm or more of sand and cement. Another 653 homes were finished from January to September 2026. Donegal is 15th of the 26 counties for new homes and 3rd for one-off houses.
Newer houses and heating in Donegal
37% of homes in Co. Donegal were built from 2001 on, and 20% had a renewable energy source such as a heat pump or solar panels at the 2022 census, against 8% built since 2011 nationally. New and extended houses here are where underfloor heating goes in, and where a liquid screed pays its way.
A calcium sulphate screed conducts heat about twice as well as sand and cement, and it wraps the pipe with no air round it. Over the pipes it goes down 25 to 30 mm, so the floor warms up faster and the heat pump runs at a lower temperature.
Winter and drying in Donegal
Letterkenny has about 2,211 heating degree days a year, our calculation from Met Éireann's 1991 to 2020 averages: a longer, colder heating season than the middle of the 26 counties (1st coldest).
Liquid screed dries about 1 mm a day for the first 40 mm in good conditions, then 2 days per mm. In a cold, damp building it's slower. Keep the building closed for the first 48 to 72 hours, then warm and ventilated. With underfloor heating, a calcium sulphate screed can be force-dried from day 7 and in a cold county that is often what keeps the programme on time.
Radon under the screed in Donegal
5% of the 1,784 homes the EPA has measured in Co. Donegal were at or above the radon reference level of 200 Bq/m³ (22nd of 26 counties; 14% nationally). In a High Radon Area the membrane goes under the insulation, so a floating liquid screed sits on top of it. The polythene under the screed is lapped and taped so the screed can't run through, and the edge strip is fixed before the pour, never through the membrane.
What liquid screed costs in Donegal
Liquid screed in Co. Donegal is priced per m² for your floor. What moves it: the area, the depth, calcium sulphate or cement-based, how close the truck can get, and whether the price includes sanding and priming. A 60 m² extension at 50 mm is 3 m³ of screed; the same floor at 40 mm is 2.4 m³.
51% of people in Donegal live outside any town. On a rural site, tell the contractor about the lane and the turning space: the truck and the pump need to get within reach of the house. See liquid screed cost.
Liquid screed poured by the contractor who takes your call
Calls on this site ring JAM Floor Screeding: James Mulhall, based in Portlaoise, 25 years laying floors. Lines open Mon to Sat, 7am to 6pm. These are his jobs.
“JAM were punctual, professional and efficient and did an outstanding job on pouring our new floor as part of a renovation. Very highly recommend!”
“Excellent work, laser level finish, neat and tidy worker, highly recommend.”
“Top class work by james and his crew, highly recommend”
Quoted word for word from JAM Floor Screeding's Google reviews. Read them on Google
Get your floor priced in 4 quick taps
Tell us about the floor. It goes to one screeding contractor who covers your county, and they ring you to price it.
Liquid screed guides & price breakdowns
Straight answers to what people ask most: itemised costs, specifications, planning or grants, and what to check before you book.
More guides & resources: Tiles, wood and vinyl on liquid screed · Joints and bay sizes · Is liquid screed right for my floor ? · All guides & calculator hub · Technical & trade glossary · Frequently asked questions · All areas covered · About this site
Donegal questions
Do you cover all of Co. Donegal?
Yes: Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Carndonagh, Donegal and Bundoran and everywhere in between. Send the floor in and one screeding contractor who covers your county rings you.
How much does liquid screed cost in Donegal?
Liquid screed is priced per m² for your floor: the area, the depth, calcium sulphate or cement-based, and how close the truck can get. Send the floor in and you get a written price.
How long does liquid screed take to dry in Donegal?
About 1 mm a day for the first 40 mm, then 2 days per mm, in a warm, ventilated building. 50 mm is about 60 days. With underfloor heating, a calcium sulphate screed can be force-dried from day 7. The moisture test decides when the floor goes down.
Does a Donegal self-build need a radon membrane under the screed?
In a High Radon Area, yes, and 5% of homes measured in Donegal were over the reference level. The membrane goes under the insulation, before the screed.
Liquid screed across all 26 counties
Requests from all 26 counties go to one vetted local specialist who covers your county — from Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick to Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Waterford and Donegal. Pick your county below for local prices, specifications and advice. Compare all areas covered →
Get a free quote for your floor
Four taps and your number. One screeding contractor who covers your county rings you with a price. Nothing is booked until you say yes.