Liquid screed is a pumpable floor material designed to create smooth and level subfloors quickly. It is commonly used throughout the UK for residential developments, commercial spaces and floors incorporating underfloor heating.
Main components
Liquid screed typically contains four key ingredients:
- A binder such as cement or calcium sulphate
• Fine sand or other aggregates
• Water to produce a fluid mixture
• Chemical additives that improve strength, flow and curing performance
Different manufacturers adjust the mixture depending on the intended application.
Cement-based liquid screed
In cement-based systems, cement acts as the main binder combined with sand and specialist additives. These screeds are popular because they dry faster and cope well with areas where moisture may be present. This makes them suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and many commercial floors.
Calcium sulphate liquid screed
Calcium sulphate screeds, often called anhydrite screeds, replace cement with a gypsum-based binder. They are highly fluid, allowing them to spread easily across large floors and achieve very flat finishes. They are also widely used with underfloor heating because they surround the pipes completely, improving heat distribution.
However, they require specific preparation before installing certain flooring materials.
Why the mixture matters
The screed composition affects drying time, durability, moisture behaviour and how well the final flooring adheres.
Why choose Floor Screeding Surrey?
With over 15 years of industry experience, Floor Screeding Surrey delivers professional screeding solutions across Surrey.