Last Updated on April 20, 2022 by Kravelv
If you’ve recently bought a property in Northampton and want to renovate it, or you’re working on an existing property that needs some upkeep, we think that when you’re setting out your budget, it’s wise to include costs for the liquid screed.
Replacing existing floors with something more in keeping with your home improvement design ideas is an excellent way of enhancing the look and feel of your home. It’s also a wise investment and can potentially add value to your home if done correctly.
Although there are no steadfast rules that say you absolutely must use liquid screed on your floors before laying down floorboards, carpets, or other types of floor coverings, there are multiple reasons why we think it’s an essential component of your home improvement project.
Let’s take a look.
Why Liquid Screed?
Put simply; it’s there to level the floor. A floor may look level to the naked eye, but many floors are uneven, and if that’s the case, you or your contractors will find it hard to lay flooring on an uneven floor. Not just that, but it simply won’t last as long if it’s lying on an uneven surface.
Also, if your budget is a bit bigger and you’re considering underfloor heating in your Northampton home, then liquid screed is often the preferred choice for covering underfloor heating pipes. It’s because the liquid screed is excellent at absorbing and radiating heat across every surface area of the floor in question.
Liquid screed is the modern-day replacement for more traditional methods of floor levelling such as cement and sand. It’s a good quality product that’s fast and easy to use and can be used on domestic and commercial projects.
What About The Cost?
Don’t assume it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg either. The good news is that liquid screeds cost half as much as the more traditional mix of cement and sand. You’ll also save on manual labour costs and time because it’s faster to lay than conventional screed mix.
Liquid screed is applied very thinly so you don’t need as much material as you would, the more traditional types of screed.
How Hard Is It To Use Liquid Screed?
It’s quite simple. Many liquid screeds come ready-mixed and include retardants that delay the drying process so that you can work with the same liquid screed mix all day; it won’t set in your mixing bucket.
When applied, liquid screed flows onto all areas of the surface it has been applied to, and it isn’t necessary to do any levelling or resurfacing after that. That’s the beauty of liquid screed. It’s simple, once you know how and if you use an experienced company.
There’s also less waiting time is involved. Typically, the liquid screed will dry and set in 24-48 hours, and you’ll be able to set foot on the surface after that and get on with laying down your chosen flooring.
This is a speedy turnaround time if you compare it to more traditional floor levelling methods. Naturally, you need to allow liquid screed setting time into your home improvement timetable. However, it’s still a lot faster than any other method, and you’ll have a beautifully level floor that will last a lifetime.
What About The Downside?
You’re right to think it’s not all sunshine and flowers. The one downside to using liquid screed is that after laying there’s a fine layer of particles on the surface. This is called the laitance. As a result, once you’ve added liquid screed and it has dried, you’ll need to sand it before the next stage.
Added Value
The received wisdom that most seasoned homeowners know is that if you put in a new kitchen, loft conversion, windows and exterior doors, it’ll add value to your home. That said, there’s something to be said for not forgetting the details of what you walk on either.
By refreshing your floors as part of your home improvement project, you have the potential to make a beautiful statement for your house using Liquid Screed in Northampton.
You may not have the budget to install some of the renovations we’ve just referred to. However, you could simply add a fresh coat of paint throughout and before you do that, invest what home improvement budget you do have on well constructed and level flooring that’s been appropriately prepared with liquid screed, so it’s made to last.
Where Can I Use Liquid Screed?
Liquid screed is usually applied inside homes rather than outside. It’s especially useful if you have a large surface area to cover, for example, if you’ve built a new garage project, summer house/garden office or a new kitchen extension.
That said, it’s also used commercially too where there are higher volumes of footfall such as at retail parts and shopping centres.
Is It Eco-Friendly?
Your home might be an eco-house, or you’re simply looking to reduce your carbon footprint and stay energy efficient. If that’s the case, then liquid screed can be used in homes such as these where underfloor heating systems are used.
Liquid screed itself is more environmentally friendly than its more-traditional counterparts. Why? Because there’s no risk of cement burns to workers.There are two kinds of liquid screed called Anhydrite based screed and cement screed. Up to 36% of the former is made of recycled materials, and it produces less CO2 than cement screed.
Before We Go
The type of flooring you choose and what goes underneath it can significantly impact your home improvement project and the end result.
As you can probably tell by now, we’re big fans of the liquid screed method for home improvement projects. It’s long-lasting, wallet-friendly and fast to use and set. What’s not to like?
To find out how we can help you with your home improvement project, take a look at some of our testimonials. Or, if you haven’t the time, contact us today for a free quote for your Northampton home improvement project.
