Build-up costs
Insulation and Membrane Costs Within a Screed Quote
The screed sits on top of an insulation and membrane build-up that's just as important as the pour itself — and just as easy to leave off a quote by mistake.
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Liquid screed is almost always poured over a layer of rigid insulation (PIR or EPS) and a taped damp-proof membrane. That build-up governs thermal performance, especially with underfloor heating, and it needs to be correctly specified and installed before the pour — not as an afterthought.
One of the most common gaps between two quotes is whether this layer is included at all. Some quotes assume your builder is supplying and fitting insulation and membrane; others include it as part of our scope. Neither is wrong, but the difference matters hugely to the bottom line.
Here's what's actually involved, so you know what question to ask.
What's in the insulation and membrane layer
- Rigid insulation boards (PIR or EPS), thickness set by the U-value target and UFH design
- Taped joints between boards to stop screed migrating through gaps
- A damp-proof membrane, lapped and taped, isolating the screed from ground moisture
- Perimeter edge-strip foam to allow for thermal movement
Who typically supplies it
Builder-supplied
- Installed as part of the groundworks package
- We inspect and confirm before pouring
- Quote is for the screed pour only
Supplied by us
- Bundled into a single screed package quote
- One point of accountability for the whole build-up
- Useful on self-build or smaller projects without a groundworks contractor
Get the whole build-up priced
Tell us whether insulation and membrane need supplying or are already specified, and we'll quote accordingly.
Why we always inspect it before pouring, regardless of who supplied it
Even where insulation and membrane are installed by someone else, we check taping, edge-strip and levels before committing to a pour date — a gap in the membrane or an unfoamed edge can cause real problems once liquid screed is poured on top.
If we find issues on the day, we'll flag them rather than pour over a build-up we're not confident in — see our site preparation checklist for what we're looking for.
Insulation & Membrane Costs — questions we get asked
Keep reading across the site
Get the whole build-up priced
Tell us whether insulation and membrane need supplying or are already specified, and we'll quote accordingly.