Types of Underfloor Heating Sceeding

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When laying underfloor heating screeding heating (UFH) systems, screeding is an essential part of the process and must be completed with care. If not, problems can occur later on in the project which can lead to a poor result and potentially costly repairs.

There are two main types of underfloor heating screeding: traditional ‘dry’ versions and self-levelling screeds. Both have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of UFH system being installed and the client’s preference.

Efficient Underfloor Heating Screeding Techniques

Traditional dry screeds are made up of a mix of cement and sand in a 1:3-5 ratio with water and fibre additives to prevent cracking. They have a long installation and drying time which can delay laying the final floor covering. Alternatively, self-levelling or liquid screeds can be poured or pumped and spread to the required thickness themselves and are quicker to install. However, they do not encapsulate the UFH pipes and can leave air voids in the floor which reduces the efficiency of the system.

Increasingly popular are fast drying accelerated screeds which can be poured and spread to the desired thickness much more quickly than their traditional counterparts. This allows foot traffic to begin much earlier and the final floor finish can be installed a lot sooner too, which is an advantage for clients as it reduces installation costs. This type of screed can also be used with hydronic UFH systems and is very beneficial for them as it has good thermal conductivity which helps the system warm up more efficiently in a shorter space of time.

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