CES Hire Blog

Sustainable Projects: The Environmental Impact Of Flow Screed

Written by Jessica | Feb 1, 2024 10:51:30 AM

Many contractors are discovering the brilliant benefits of flow screed  from superior finish, quicker drying times and speedier install. There is also another positive point to consider and that is the eco-friendly credentials of flow screed.  With the carbon footprint becoming a key factor in building design as construction strives to achieve net-zero, selecting flow screed as your chosen flooring product can be beneficial in the building process.  Read on to find out more about this 'green flooring' solution.

Reducing Carbon Emissions

With climate change at the forefront of planning and policies, considering how your product is sourced is vital. Concrete has a much larger carbon footprint compared to flow screed due to the production of the material. Cement produces considerably more carbon emissions since it must be quarried/mined followed by heating and crushing and kiln burning at excessive temperatures of 1450°C. Producing liquid flow screed uses less energy consumption as flow screed uses the binding agent calcium sulphate in place of cement. This is made from naturally occurring gypsum which is both recyclable and requires less energy to process. Flow screed is generally made up of some proportion of recycled materials (this can vary from between 40-98% depending on your product choice).  Often recycled sand is used as a replacement for natural sand.

Eco-Friendly Install

The environmental benefits continue when installing flow screed. Far less energy is used in the application process as it is laid at a much thinner depth as well as being a lot quicker to install. Flow screed can be laid as quickly as 2000m² per day where as traditional screed can generally lay a maximum of 150m² per day. With application of flow screed being more accurate this often means less wastage which benefits the environment.  Find out more about the benefits of Flow Screed and how is compares to traditional screed here >

A Greener Way to Heat Your Home

The thermal conductivity of flow screed means this eco-friendly solution extends into it's usage with the homeowner. Flow screed completely encapsulates any underfloor heating pipes/cables allowing more efficient heat transfer. Consequently less energy is required to heat up the floor and there are much lower running costs in the long term. 

Find out more about the screed pumps we offer on a hire basis at CES .