Underfloor heating in screed is a popular way to heat any large floor area as the heat radiates from the surface of the flooring – it also doesn’t blow dust around like forced air heaters so can be ideal for allergy sufferers. In addition, in screed electric heating costs can be much lower than traditional systems as you don’t need to pay for a boiler and its ongoing maintenance and running costs.
There are two main types of in screed underfloor heating; dry and self-leveling. Dry screeds are the more traditional option and are made by mixing cement and sand at a ratio of 1:3-5, along with fibre additives to prevent cracking and water and other chemical additives to speed up drying time. Self-leveling or liquid screeds (which are also known as flowing screeds) are more recent developments and are made from calcium sulfate, sand, water and other chemicals which are mixed and poured or pumped onto the floor.
Underfloor Heating in Screed: Maximizing Heat Distribution
In either type of in screed underfloor heating, it’s vital that any pipework is correctly laid to maximise the performance of the system. This involves ensuring that the pipework is positioned under insulation boards and within a suitable screed thickness that will be able to accommodate anticipated floor loadings.
It’s also important that any sharp bends in the loops of pipework that lead to and from the manifolds are avoided as these can restrict the flow of water. Additionally, a vapour barrier should be installed directly under liquid products to ensure that the insulation boards are protected from moisture that could damage them over time.