Liquid screed (also called flowing or pumpable screed) is a modern, self-levelling alternative to traditional sand-and-cement. It’s a pre-mixed slurry typically cement (or calcium sulphate), sand, water and additives delivered by pump onto the floor, where it flows into place and finds its own level. Because it isn’t manually trowelled in the same way, it forms a smooth, flat subfloor with a consistent finish. In many cases, it can be walked on within 24–48 hours, helping projects move forward faster.
When should you choose liquid screed?
Liquid screed is ideal when speed, efficiency and finish quality matter most, including:
- Underfloor heating (UFH): the fluid mix fully surrounds pipes without air gaps, improving heat transfer so floors heat up faster and run more efficiently.
- Large or complex areas: pumped screed can cover big spaces quickly (often hundreds of m² per day) with a consistently level surface.
- Thin build-ups / weight-sensitive floors: it can be laid thinner (around 35–40mm) than traditional screed, reducing floor load and helping where height is limited.
- Tight timelines: faster curing can allow floor finishes to go down days or weeks earlier than traditional systems.
- High level finish: self-levelling reduces the need for extra grinding or levelling where precision matters (commercial floors, tile work, large-format finishes).
Key benefits
- Fast install: pumped screed can cover 25m² in about 20 minutes.
- Lower shrinkage: fewer cracks and often fewer movement joints than sand/cement screed.
- Better UFH performance: some experts note almost twice the thermal conductivity vs traditional screed, supporting quicker, more even heating.
- Comparable overall cost: while materials may cost more, faster installation can reduce labour, so totals often land in a similar UK price range.
How it compares
Traditional screed is economical and can form falls/slopes for wet rooms, but dries slowly. Self-levelling compounds are for very thin smoothing layers (often 3–5mm) and cure quickly, best for small areas.
Why LMA Floorscreeding?
With 15+ years’ experience across London and the South East, LMA installs liquid, traditional and self-levelling systems with clear communication, tidy work, and trusted results including UFH-focused guidance, fast surveys and simple quotes.
Best of all, LMA makes it easy. We provide fast site surveys and simple quotes, so you can plan your budget with confidence. Customers choose us for our reliability and results. When your project demands a flawless floor base, give us a call. We’ll explain whether liquid screed is the ideal solution and handle the rest, leaving you with a perfect, long-lasting finish.