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What thickness of screed should be used?

Floor Microclimat / August 14, 2025

When installing underfloor heating or flooring, the thickness of the screed is crucial to ensuring strength, thermal comfort, and durability. If it is too thin, it may crack; if it is too thick, it may slow down heat diffusion and unnecessarily weigh down the structure. In this article, we will guide you in determining the ideal thickness for your project and the type of screed you have chosen.
Installation of underfloor heating

1. Hot water floor heating (hydraulic system)

For a hot water floor heating system, the screed plays an important role, as it must surround the pipes to ensure that the heat is distributed evenly.

In general, the screed should be between 1.5 and 2 inches thick.

  • Why this thickness?

The screed must be thick enough to surround the pipes and ensure good thermal conductivity (i.e., the heat will be better distributed throughout the room).
It must also be solid to support the weight of everything that will go on top of it (tiles, parquet flooring, etc.).

  • Liquid screed or traditional screed?

If you choose a liquid screed (which is increasingly used), you can opt for a slightly thinner thickness, around 1.5 inches. It is easier to install and dries more quickly. If you choose a traditional screed (cement), you will be looking at around 2 inches.

Other points to consider

  • Type of flooring: If you are planning to use flooring such as tiles, you won't have any problems, as they conduct heat well. If you are using parquet or PVC flooring, the heat will take a little longer to spread, but it is still possible with the right thickness of screed.
  • Insulation: Before laying the screed, it is recommended that you insulate the floor well (with insulation boards or moisture-proof plastic sheeting). This will prevent heat from escaping downwards and maximize the efficiency of your underfloor heating.