O. C. Floor Screeding, a London based contractor, believe traditional sand and cement screed is ideal to use with your underfloor heating system. We would like to give you some tips on choosing screed for your underfloor heating (UFH) whether a water (wet) or electric based system. Under floor heating is now the popular choice to use in domestic and commercial premises.
Insulation must be laid beneath the UFH system to ensure that the heat always rises upwards.
We believe that traditional sand and cement screed is an ideal choice of screed for underfloor heating
Under floor heating manufacturers and suppliers generally recommend a minimum screed depth of 60mm to use with their systems. This is the standard depth for traditional sand and cement screed. This depth works well with the flow of heat from your UFH system.
Traditional screed is more economical especially on smaller sites then anhydrite screeds which are designed to screed vast areas. Anhydrite screed (also known as liquid, poured, flo or flow screed) was created specifically to screed industrial spaces at speed and 2000 square metres a day can be poured. It is generally only on large sites that anhydrite screed is more cost effective in comparison to traditional screed. Anhydrite screed takes a day or two in site preparation whilst traditional sand and cement screed can be laid straight anyway.
Laying screed should take place as soon as possible after an underfloor heating zone is laid and pressure tested.
The screeder must take care to protect the pipe work whilst the screed is being laid.
They must also ensure that the screed is well compacted around the pipe work to make certain that there are no voids or hollows.
The screeder must use a laser level to continually check that the screed is always level.
The floor should be allowed to cure and dry naturally until full strength is reached as per British Standards and manufacturers instructions. Generally 70mm of traditional sand and cement screed will set within approx. 6-12 hrs if site mixed or 12-24 hrs if premixed and will be fully dry within approx. 28 days.
Fast drying admixtures such as K-screed/ Ronacreed Uniscreed or alternatives are added to traditional screed and will set within 6-12 hours and dries at 25mm a week. Tarmac Truscreed sets within 24-48 hours and dries at 25mm a week.
Until the floor is fully cured and dried the heating system cannot be used.
Ceramic tiles bond well with traditional screed.
We operate as floor screeding contractor in the London / M25, South East of the UK.
Description of Different Screeds
Underfloor Heating at Rotherhide
Underfloor Heating at Virginia Water
Under Floor Heating at West Hampstead
UFH at Wimbledon
Screeding Debate
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