Getting the floor ready for liquid screed
Liquid screed finds every gap, so the floor has to be watertight before it arrives. The building closed in with the roof on, insulation flat and solid, a perimeter strip round every wall, polythene over the insulation lapped and taped, and the heating pipes clipped and pressure tested.
On a ground floor a damp-proof membrane goes under it, and the air inside is kept between 5°C and 20°C when it's laid.
Free, no obligation. One local screeding contractor prices it, not five.
The checklist
- Building closed inRoof on; missing windows and doors sealed with polythene, insulation or ply. Weatherproof before screeding.
- Damp-proof membrane
Below the screed or the slab on a ground floor.- Insulation
Flat to the slab, no rocking. Cement-based liquid screed asks for insulation with at least 100 kPa compressive strength.- Perimeter strip
Round every wall and upstand, into the corners, not stretched: 8 mm, or 10 mm with heating.- Polythene
At least 500 gauge over the insulation, lapped 100 mm and taped, flat with as few ridges as possible, the strip's skirt taped down on it. Never foil-backed tape.- Heating pipes
At the maker's spacing, clipped or stapled at least every 400 mm, pressure tested, preferably with water.- Joints
Joint formers fixed before the pour where bays need them. Joints and bays.- Temperature
Air inside between 5°C and 20°C when cement-based liquid screed goes down.- Access
A clear route for the hose from where the truck or mixing vehicle parks, and nobody else working in the rooms for the day. - Damp-proof membrane
After the pour
- Closed for the first 48 hours or 7 days (cement-based liquid screed), then ventilated.
- Nothing stored on it, no polythene left lying on it, no water on it.
- Partitions and kitchens fitted later where possible: cement-based liquid screed floating screed can take light partitions up to 50 kg/m² where there's no sound requirement.
For builders getting several units ready at once, screeding.ie has a site readiness checklist written for the trade.
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
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Liquid screed guides & price breakdowns
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Getting ready questions
What do I need to do before liquid screed?
Close the building in, lay the insulation flat, fit a perimeter strip, lay polythene lapped and taped, and clip and pressure test the heating pipes.
Why does liquid screed need taped polythene?
Liquid screed runs into every gap. Taped, lapped polythene keeps it on top of the insulation and stops it leaking away.
Can I use the foil tape from my insulation boards?
No. Never use foil-backed tape under a liquid screed.
Does the building need windows in?
It needs to be as weathertight as possible: roof on, and gaps sealed with polythene, insulation or ply.
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