UFH/screed question

[Bournbrook]

This may be suited more the the flooring section of forum but I wasn’t sure. 
 

We are having UFH in our new build on the ground floor and obviously a screed will need to be poured over that. My question is, is there a type of screed that can be used that can then be polished and act as the main floor? If so, is this significantly more expensive as an option (obviously the saving of not using another flooring can offset this)?

 

 

[Harpham]

WE are at this stage also. New build GF UFH system and we are likely to go with Cemfloor and then have a microcement type top. Been quoted £75/m2 which i think isnt bad but ideally would like just to polish a screed up but im informed you cant. Especiall true for Anhalyted (Sp?) Gypsum screeds.

 

We want Wet UFH for upstairs also but on top of the Eggerboard flooring can you get a system that holds wet screed? Cemfloor do a Level Plus screed that says can be laid to 15mm and then we would microcement on top but our builder says hes not keen to do it. 

 

Any thought?

[Mike]

On 04/12/2024 at 21:02, Bournbrook said:

obviously a screed will need to be poured over that

The lowest cost option is to ditch the screed and put the UFCH in the concrete slab, which can be polished.

[Bournbrook]

On 10/01/2025 at 14:42, Mike said:

The lowest cost option is to ditch the screed and put the UFCH in the concrete slab, which can be polished.

Thanks Mike. So just to be clear (/idiot-proof), we would have concrete poured over the UFH pipes to the desired floor level and then have this polished? Rather than a liquid screed and then a microcement layer or similar over the top of that? This would be preferable as I could offset some of the flooring costs with the screed we’ve been quoted. Thanks 

[Mike]

31 minutes ago, Bournbrook said:

So just to be clear (/idiot-proof), we would have concrete poured over the UFH pipes to the desired floor level and then have this polished?

More-or-less :)

 

You'd typically install A142 reinforcement mesh, placed on pre-formed concrete spacers, at around 50mm above the insulation, then tie the UFCH pipes to that with cable ties. Then install a temporary manifold and pressurise the system for a couple of days, keeping it that way while you lay and polish the concrete. So the pipes would end up at the mid-point of the concrete, assuming a standard 100mm thickness.

 

There are some threads (and probably some photos) on here if you search.

[Chanmenie]

You can clip the UFH pipes directly to the insulation then pour fibre reinforced concrete on the top, thus saving the cost of rebar.
The main issue with polished concrete would be the need for expansion slots and potential cracks if it’s a large area 

Edited January 19 by Chanmenie