Documentation
The drawings and screed schedules we work from on site
An explanation of how depth, build-up and level information is usually documented before a pour, and why gaps in this cause problems on site.
On anything beyond a simple domestic job, the pour is only as good as the information it's based on — and that information usually needs to exist on paper, not just in conversation. A screed schedule or annotated drawing sets out depths, build-ups and datum levels room by room, giving the installer a single reference point rather than relying on verbal instructions on the day.
This documentation matters most where a floor has several different zones — differing depths, insulation types or heated and unheated areas — since it's precisely in these more complex layouts that a verbal description becomes difficult to apply consistently across a whole crew working through the day.
Good documentation also protects everyone involved if a query arises later. A written schedule that was agreed and issued before the pour gives a clear reference for what was intended, which is far more useful than trying to reconstruct a conversation from memory weeks or months afterwards.
Need help interpreting your drawings?
Send over your floor plans and we can talk through how the screed schedule translates to site.
Or call our landline on 01392 237700
Why verbal instructions aren't enough on larger jobs
On a single small room, a quick conversation might be sufficient. Across a multi-room build with different depths, insulation zones or phased pours, a written schedule reduces the risk of a level being missed or a depth being misapplied in the wrong area.
A written record also helps when more than one person from the crew is working across different rooms simultaneously, since everyone can refer back to the same document rather than relying on information passed along verbally.
Who usually prepares the schedule
On architect-led projects, the screed schedule is often produced by the design team as part of the floor construction drawings. On smaller domestic jobs, we can help translate a general arrangement drawing into the specific depths and levels needed for the pour.
Where the schedule is prepared by a third party, it's still worth checking it against the actual site conditions found at survey, since drawings can sometimes lag behind changes made on site during construction.
What a well-prepared schedule includes
Beyond depth and datum, a thorough schedule usually notes screed type per area, any special edge detailing, and reference points for checking levels once the pour is complete, giving a clear basis for snagging if needed.
Including notes on drying expectations per area, particularly where heated and unheated zones sit side by side, helps everyone involved plan the following trades realistically rather than assuming a single uniform drying time across the whole floor.
Handling revisions and last-minute changes
Changes to depth, level or build-up are common on live sites, but should always be captured in an updated drawing or written note rather than passed on verbally between different people. This avoids a change made for one area accidentally being applied elsewhere.
Where a change is agreed close to the pour date, it's worth confirming who has seen and acknowledged the update, since a schedule that's been revised but not communicated to everyone involved offers little protection against error.
Drawings & screed schedules — the points that decide it
- A screed schedule typically lists each area, its build-up (insulation, membrane, screed type and depth) and the finished floor level or datum.
- Datum levels are usually referenced from a fixed benchmark so levels can be checked consistently across a large floor.
- Drawings should show where depth changes occur, such as at thresholds or steps between rooms, rather than leaving this to be worked out on site.
- Movement joint positions, where required, are best shown on the drawing rather than decided ad hoc during the pour.
- Revisions to depth or build-up should be communicated in writing, since verbal changes on site are easy to misremember or lose track of.
- Schedules often note which areas include underfloor heating and which don't, since this affects both depth and drying expectations.
- Where a project has multiple phases, the schedule should make clear which areas relate to which pour date.
Drawings & screed schedules — your questions
In short
An explanation of how depth, build-up and level information is usually documented before a pour, and why gaps in this cause problems on site.
Need help interpreting your drawings?
Send over your floor plans and we can talk through how the screed schedule translates to site.