WHAT'S INCLUDED
Level Floors, Laid Properly
A good screed is what makes a floor actually flat, not just level enough to notice when a fridge starts rocking. Jamie PlasterPerfect lays traditional sand and cement screed, self-levelling flow screeds for underfloor heating, and levelling compounds over existing concrete before tiling or laying LVT, across Stourbridge and the surrounding Black Country. Extensions, kitchen refits, garage conversions and underfloor heating installs are all routine work for us.
A traditional floated screed for new floors, extensions and garages, laid to the correct fall and thickness.
A pumped, free-flowing screed ideal for underfloor heating systems and large open-plan floor areas.
A thinner self-levelling layer over an existing uneven concrete floor, ready for tiling or LVT.
Durable screeded floors for garages, workshops and outbuildings that need to take real weight.
THE DETAIL
Screed Types, Drying Times & Getting The Depth Right
Traditional Sand & Cement vs Flowing Screed
Traditional sand and cement screed is mixed and floated by hand, worked to the correct fall and thickness with a straight edge, it's a skilled job to get right and has been the standard approach for decades. Self-levelling, or flow, screed is a liquid screed pumped into place that finds its own level across the floor with minimal manual working. It's quicker to lay across a large open-plan area, gives a very flat, accurate finish, and is the usual choice where underfloor heating is involved, since it beds evenly around pipework without leaving air gaps that traditional screed can trap.
Drying Times: The 1mm-A-Day Rule
Screed drying is one of the most misunderstood parts of the job. The long-standing rule of thumb for traditional sand and cement screed is roughly 1mm of thickness per day to fully dry, so a standard 50mm screed can take around 50 days before it's genuinely ready for moisture-sensitive flooring, considerably longer in cold or poorly ventilated conditions. You can usually walk carefully on it after 2-3 days, but that's not the same as dry enough to tile or lay timber and LVT. Rushing this is one of the most common causes of problems on a job, tiles lifting, timber floors cupping, or the screed itself cracking once flooring traps moisture underneath that hasn't fully escaped. Self-levelling flow screeds generally dry faster than traditional screed, but still need a proper drying period, not just a couple of dry-looking days.
Screed Depth For Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating changes the specification. A floating or unbonded screed laid over insulation boards is typically 65-75mm thick to give the floor enough mass and strength. Flow screed laid directly over UFH pipes or mats is usually thinner, often 50-65mm depending on the system, with a minimum cover of around 25mm over the pipework itself, always checked against the specific UFH manufacturer's requirements rather than a generic figure. Getting the depth wrong either under-strengthens the floor or affects how efficiently the heating system performs.
When A DPM Actually Matters
A damp-proof membrane sits between the sub-floor and the screed to stop ground moisture rising up into the floor build-up above. It matters most over a new concrete slab, ground floor extensions, and anywhere moisture-sensitive flooring like timber or LVT is going down, since those floor coverings can be damaged or fail if moisture works its way up from below. We check whether a DPM is already present or needed as part of assessing the floor, it's not something to skip to save time on a ground floor job.
WORTH A LOOK
Signs Your Floor Needs Screeding
Furniture that rocks or a ball that rolls on its own means the floor underneath isn't level.
Old screed breaking up needs addressing before any new flooring goes down on top of it.
UFH needs the right screed spec laid at the right depth to work properly and heat evenly.
New floor areas need a proper screeded base before any finished flooring can go on.
Movement in the floor below is a common cause of tiles and grout failing above it.
An old solid floor with no damp-proof membrane can let moisture rise into the room above.
JAMIE PLASTERPERFECT
Why Choose Us
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
Our Reviews
How We Work
Call or message with the floor area and what it's for (tiling, LVT, underfloor heating) and we'll give you a clear price.
Substrate checked, damp-proof membrane and insulation boards laid where needed before any screed goes down.
Screed laid to the correct depth and levelled accurately, ready for the drying period before flooring goes on.
Site cleared and a realistic drying timeframe given before we leave.
Floor Screeding: Areas We Cover Across the Black Country
A sample of the towns we regularly work in for floor screeding, see the full coverage area.
Stourbridge Kingswinford Halesowen Wolverhampton Dudley Brierley Hill
Get A Free Floor Screeding Quote
Send a few details or photos and we'll get back to you with a clear, honest price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does floor screed take to dry before I can walk on it?
You can usually walk carefully on a traditional screed after about 2-3 days, but it needs far longer than that to fully dry before flooring goes down, often 4-6 weeks for a standard sand and cement screed, depending on thickness and ventilation. Self-levelling screeds are usually quicker. We'll give you a realistic figure for your job.
What's the difference between screed and concrete?
Concrete is a structural material used for the sub-floor itself. Screed is a thinner, more refined layer laid on top to give a smooth, flat, accurate surface ready for the final flooring.
Is self-levelling screed the same as traditional screed?
No. Traditional screed is floated and trowelled by hand to a fall or level. Self-levelling (flow) screed is pumped in as a liquid and settles itself flat, it's the standard choice for underfloor heating and large open floors.
Do you lay screed for underfloor heating systems?
Yes, self-levelling flow screed is the usual choice over underfloor heating pipes or mats, since it beds around them evenly without air gaps.
Can you level an uneven concrete floor before I tile or lay LVT?
Yes, a self-levelling compound over the existing concrete is a common job, giving tilers and flooring fitters a flat, even surface to work on.
How thick does a floor screed need to be?
It depends on the application, a bonded screed can be as thin as 25-40mm, while an unbonded or floating screed over insulation is usually thicker, often 65-75mm. We'll specify the right depth for your floor.
Why has my screed cracked?
Usually drying too fast, being laid too thin for the application, or movement in the floor beneath it. Correct mix, thickness and curing conditions prevent most cracking, and we'll flag any risk before we start.
Can you screed a garage floor to take a car's weight?
Yes, garage and workshop floors need a different specification to a domestic room floor, and we lay to the correct depth and mix for the load it needs to carry.
What preparation do you need before screeding starts?
A sound sub-floor, any damp-proofing or insulation in place, and the area cleared. We'll tell you exactly what's needed for your specific job when we quote.
Do you offer a guarantee on screeding work?
Yes, ask us for the specifics when you get your quote, we stand behind the finish we leave.
What areas do you cover for floor screeding?
Stourbridge and the surrounding Black Country and South Birmingham towns, see our full coverage area or just ask, if your town isn't listed we may still cover it.