Pump planning
Planning hose routes and pumping logistics for a liquid screed pour
A look at how hose routes are worked out ahead of a pour, focused on route planning rather than pump distance and cost.
Need to plan access for a tricky site?
Send us photos or a plan of your access route and we'll advise on the pumping approach.
Or call our landline on 01392 237700
Getting screed from the pump to the pour area sounds simple, but the actual route often has to negotiate doorways, corners, changes in level and finished surfaces that need protecting along the way.
Planning this in advance, rather than improvising on the day, reduces the risk of damage and keeps the pour moving efficiently. This is particularly important on occupied or partially finished buildings, where the hose route may pass through spaces that have nothing directly to do with the screeded area itself.
A well-planned route also affects how the pour itself runs, since an overly long or awkward route can slow pumping and make it harder to maintain a consistent flow, which in turn can affect how the finished surface looks and performs.
Need to plan access for a tricky site?
Send us photos or a plan of your access route and we'll advise on the pumping approach.
Or call our landline on 01392 237700
Protecting the building, not just the floor being poured
It's easy to focus protection efforts only on the room being poured, but the hose route itself passes through other finished or partially finished areas that need boarding, dust sheets or corner protection to avoid incidental damage.
This is especially relevant on refurbishment or extension projects where much of the existing building is already finished and occupied, since the consequences of an unprotected hose route are far more disruptive than on a new-build shell.
Sequencing multiple rooms through one route
On larger or multi-room jobs, the pumping sequence is planned so that later pours don't require walking back across an area that's already been poured, which keeps the finished surface undisturbed while still curing.
Working out this sequence in advance sometimes changes which room is poured first or last, since the practical route through the building can be a bigger factor than which area was originally assumed to come first.
Planning routes through occupied buildings
Where a building is lived in or in use during the works, hose routes need to be discussed with the occupants in advance so they know which areas will be inaccessible and for roughly how long during the pour.
Where possible, an alternative route for occupants to use during the pour is agreed beforehand, reducing disruption and avoiding the need for improvised access arrangements on the day itself.
Dealing with unexpected obstructions
Even with careful planning, something occasionally changes between survey and pour day — furniture left in place, a doorway narrower than expected, or an area not yet cleared. Having a fallback route or approach discussed in advance avoids losing significant time working this out on the day.
Where a genuinely unworkable obstruction is found, the crew will discuss options on site rather than forcing a route that risks damage to the building or an unreliable pump setup.
Hose routes & pumping logistics — the points that decide it
- Hose routes are planned to minimise sharp bends and excessive lengths, both of which increase pumping effort and risk of blockage.
- Doorway widths and corner geometry are checked in advance to confirm hose sections can physically pass through.
- Any finished floors, stairs or joinery along the route are protected with boarding or sheeting before pumping begins.
- Where multiple rooms are being poured, the sequence and route often needs to change between areas, which is planned before the day.
- External hose runs, where used, need consideration of ground conditions and weather protection for the hose itself.
- A fallback plan is useful where an intended route turns out to be impractical on the day due to an unforeseen obstruction.
- Hose routes through occupied areas of a building need to be agreed with the occupants in advance, including likely timing and duration.
- Vertical runs to upper floors require additional planning around stair access and hose weight.
Hose routes & pumping logistics — your questions
In short
A look at how hose routes are worked out ahead of a pour, focused on route planning rather than pump distance and cost.
Need to plan access for a tricky site?
Send us photos or a plan of your access route and we'll advise on the pumping approach.