Many homeowners choose to renovate their floors by upgrading to a new, aesthetically pleasing finish. However, beneath the surface, the floor may be uneven, damaged, or not level. Liquid screed offers a fast-flowing, self-levelling material that creates a smooth, even surface for flooring installations. At K M Flow Screed, we offer liquid screed solutions to clients in Woking and surrounding areas, providing the ideal foundation for domestic renovation projects. In this post, we’ll explain what liquid screed is, what problems can occur without its application, and why it’s highly beneficial for floor renovations.
What is Liquid Screed?
Liquid screed is a highly efficient, self-levelling, material made from a mixture of water, cement, and sand. It creates a smooth, even surface on the floor, ensuring a solid base for any type of flooring installation, whether it’s wood, laminate, tiles, or carpet. Suitable for both residential and commercial properties, liquid screed can be applied in any room, from bedrooms and en-suites to offices or shop floors.
It is applied quickly and efficiently, providing a high-quality foundation while reducing the need for additional levelling or smoothing work, saving both time and money. Additionally, liquid screed offers better insulation than traditional screeds, helping to reduce heating costs and improve energy efficiency. It’s the ideal solution to prepare a home for new flooring, providing the ideal surface to work from.
Challenges of Renovating Floors Without Liquid Screed
When renovating floors, without applying liquid screed can lead to several issues. From cracks and gaps in flooring to longer installation times and increased energy consumption, it can cause a variety of problems. Below we look at some of the most common challenges:
Uneven Surface: Without liquid screed, the floor may remain uneven, leading to problems with the new flooring installation. This can cause cracks, gaps, and an unprofessional finish. An uneven floor may also result in issues down the line, such as tile cracking or carpet wear. These problems can be costly to repair and negatively affect the longevity of your flooring.
Longer Installation Time: Preparing the floor can take much longer. You’ll need to rely on traditional methods to level the surface, which are time-consuming and prone to errors. This extended preparation period can delay the rest of a renovation project. Using liquid screed simplifies the process, allowing you to move forward with the installation of flooring quickly and efficiently.
Increased Energy Consumption – If the floor isn’t level, your heating system may need to work harder to reach a comfortable temperature, resulting in higher energy bills. Liquid screed ensures an even surface, improving energy efficiency. Additionally, if you’re installing underfloor heating, a lack of liquid screed can cause uneven heat distribution. Without a smooth, consistent base, heat may not spread evenly, reducing the efficiency of the heating system.
Benefits of Applying Liquid Screed Before Flooring Renovations
Liquid screed is excellent to apply to floors before a renovation to avoid common issues and ensure a smooth, flawless floor. From providing a seamless, even surface to speeding up the renovation process and improving energy efficiency when combined with an under floor heating (UFH) system, there are a number of advantages to applying liquid screed before installing flooring. Below we share some of the benefits that make it key to achieving a high-quality, long-lasting result.
Smooth, Even Surface for an Ideal Base
By applying liquid screed it creates a perfectly smooth, even surface for any type of flooring. Whether you’re installing tiles, wood, laminate, or carpet, a level base ensures that your floor will sit properly without gaps or uneven sections. This seamless finish improves both the look and durability of the flooring, as uneven surfaces can cause issues like cracks or warping over time. Liquid screed provides the ideal foundation for a flawless result.
Reduces the Need for Additional Levelling Work
By applying liquid screed, you can reduce or even eliminate the need for additional levelling work. Traditional screeding methods often require multiple layers, adjustments, and time-consuming manual labour to ensure the floor is level. Liquid screed, being self-levelling, simplifies this process and delivers a smooth surface in one go. This means less work for contractors and quicker turnaround times, allowing the remainder of the renovation project to progress more swiftly without the need for prolonged preparation.
Improved Energy Efficiency with Underfloor Heating
When combined with underfloor heating (UFH), liquid screed can significantly improve energy efficiency in your home. The screed is an excellent conductor of heat, ensuring that warmth is distributed evenly throughout the room, which optimises the performance of the UFH system. Unlike traditional radiators, which heat the air unevenly, underfloor heating works best with a level surface. This synergy between liquid screed and UFH reduces energy consumption by ensuring that your heating system operates more effectively and economically.
Expert Liquid Screed Services with K M Flow Screed
Here at K M Flow Screed, we specialise in providing liquid screed solutions, delivering high-quality finishes for both residential and commercial clients using the latest screeding technology. We offer liquid screed services within an 80-mile radius from our Woking-base, with a focus on providing competitive, affordable pricing. We are highly skilled and experienced and have many years in the screeding industry, and can apply liquid screed to numerous floors including living rooms, bedrooms, or office spaces.
We carry out installations six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, ensuring flexibility and minimal disruption. To receive a free quote for liquid screeding in Woking or for more information, get in touch by filling out our online contact form, and we’ll respond shortly. Alternatively, call us on +44 7882 149552 or +44 7701 306481, or email kmflowscreed@yahoo.com.