Commercial floor screeding
Commercial floors need deeper screeds and are run to a programme. Floating minimums go up: 75 mm sand and cement, 40 mm calcium sulphate, 60 mm cement-based liquid screed. Bay sizes, laying rates and loads drive the method.
Liquid screeds cover large areas fast: up to 1,500 to 2,000 m² a day, against about 150 m² for sand and cement.
Free, no obligation. One local screeding contractor prices it, not five.
Bays and joints by product
| Unheated bay | Heated bay | Other limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 m², 40 m long | 300 m², 20 m long | Aspect 8:1 unheated, 6:1 heated |
| 1,000 m² | Up to 300 m² | |
| 80 m² | 40 m² | No side over 8 m |
| 150 m² | 100 m² | |
| 36 m², 6 m long | Aspect 2:1 |
Loads and use
- A levelling screed carries a floor finish; it isn't a wearing surface. A liquid screed is non-structural and non-wearing: it's the layer under the floor finish.
- Light partitions up to 50 kg/m² can stand on floating cement-based liquid screed where there's no sound requirement.
- For higher loads there are stronger calcium sulphate mixes, with care over the insulation under them; for high-rise, mixes made to be pumped up from ground level.
- In-situ crushing resistance is checked with the BRE screed tester: a 4 kg weight dropped 1 m, four blows, indentation measured.
- Wearing screeds and concrete wearing surfaces are a different part of BS 8204 (Part 2). Industrial floors.
Programme on a commercial job
Plan pours by bay, with joint formers fixed first. On liquid screed, the floor is closed for 48 hours to 7 days depending on product, then opened for drying; underfloor heating zones are commissioned before finishes. A 40 mm calcium sulphate floor dries in about 40 days in good conditions, a 75 mm sand and cement floor in about 100. Drying and programme.
Screed laid by the contractor who takes your call
Calls on this site ring JAM Floor Screeding: James Mulhall, based in Portlaoise, 25 years laying floors. Lines open Mon to Sat, 7am to 6pm. These are his jobs.
“JAM were punctual, professional and efficient and did an outstanding job on pouring our new floor as part of a renovation. Very highly recommend!”
“Excellent work, laser level finish, neat and tidy worker, highly recommend.”
“Top class work by james and his crew, highly recommend”
Quoted word for word from JAM Floor Screeding's Google reviews. Read them on Google
Send the job in 4 quick taps
Tell us about the job. It goes to one screeding contractor who covers your county, and they ring you to price it from the drawings.
Floor Screeding guides & price breakdowns
Straight answers to what people ask most: itemised costs, specifications, planning or grants, and what to check before you book.
More guides & resources: All guides & calculator hub · Technical & trade glossary · Frequently asked questions · All areas covered · About this site
Commercial floors questions
How thick is a commercial floor screed?
Floating: 75 mm sand and cement, 40 mm calcium sulphate, 60 mm cement-based liquid screed.
How much liquid screed can be laid in a day?
Up to 1,500 m² or 2,000 m² (cement-based liquid screed) for trained crews, the makers say.
Can partitions go on a floating screed?
A floating cement-based liquid screed takes light partitions up to 50 kg/m² where there's no sound requirement.
How is screed strength tested on site?
With the BRE screed tester: a 4 kg weight dropped 1 m, four blows, and the indentation measured.
Floor Screeding across all 26 counties
Requests from all 26 counties go to one vetted local specialist who covers your county — from Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick to Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Waterford and Donegal. Pick your county below for local prices, specifications and advice. Compare all areas covered →
Send the job for a price
Four taps and your number. One screeding contractor who covers your county rings you and prices it from the drawings. Nothing is booked until you say yes.