Floor screed is a smooth, level layer applied over concrete subfloors to create a flat surface for final flooring installation, commonly used in UK new builds and renovations. It's necessary when installing underfloor heating (to embed pipes, increasingly popular in UK extensions), leveling uneven concrete, providing thermal mass for heating efficiency (important given UK heating costs), creating falls for drainage in wet rooms (required by Building Regulations Part H), or achieving a durable surface for high-traffic areas. We install traditional sand and cement screeds (typically 65-75mm thick), rapid-drying liquid screeds like Gyvlon or Tarmac Topflow (perfect for underfloor heating at 35-50mm), and self-leveling compounds. Traditional screed typically requires 1 day drying per mm thickness, so 50mm screed needs about 7 weeks in UK conditions before flooring installation, though rapid screeds can be ready in 24-48 hours.