Site-Batched vs Truck-Mixed Liquid Screed Supply

Site-batched liquid screed uses a mobile mixing unit brought to the property, combining the raw materials on location and pumping the mixed screed directly to the pour area. This approach allows quantities to be adjusted more easily as the pour progresses and can be well suited to properties with restricted access where a large truck cannot easily reach or manoeuvre.

Truck-mixed supply, by contrast, involves the screed being mixed at an off-site facility and delivered by vehicle in a ready-to-pour state, with the fitted pump used to move it into place once on site. This method typically depends more heavily on good, unrestricted vehicle access and adequate space for the delivery vehicle to stand while the pour takes place.

The decision usually comes down to practical site factors: available access width and turning circles, the total volume of screed needed, whether the pour needs to happen in one continuous session or can be phased, and the programme's flexibility around delivery scheduling. Properties down narrow lanes or with limited turning space, common in parts of rural Devon, can favour site-batching, while larger new-build plots with clear access may suit either method equally well.

Whichever supply route is used, the mix should still be produced to meet the strength class and consistency specified for the project, with appropriate quality checks carried out during the pour to confirm the delivered material matches what was specified.

Regardless of whether the screed is site-batched or truck-mixed, the pumping equipment and hose run from the mixing or delivery point to the pour area need planning in advance, particularly on sites with multiple floors, tight internal access, or long distances between the delivery point and the room being poured. Poor planning here can slow the pour significantly or, in the worst case, mean the equipment simply cannot reach the intended area.

We walk the access route on site before confirming the supply method, checking doorway widths, floor levels, and any obstacles that might affect hose runs, so the chosen approach is workable on the day rather than discovered to be impractical once the delivery vehicle or mixing unit has already arrived.

Consistency of the finished screed depends on accurate proportioning of materials and correct water content, whether that mixing happens on site or at an off-site plant. Site-batched mixing relies on the calibration and operation of the mobile equipment being correctly maintained, while truck-mixed supply relies on the off-site plant's own quality control processes and the condition of the material by the time it arrives and is placed.

We monitor consistency during the pour regardless of supply method, checking flow and consistency against expectations, and keeping records of the batch or delivery information relevant to the strength class specified for the project.