Did you know a survey of Bristol residents found 86% of residents were concerned about the impact of climate change? As a result, contractors beginning residential and commercial construction projects must consider new options to make their projects environmentally sound. Though concrete has traditionally been a popular choice for flooring, liquid screed Bristol projects are gaining popularity. But why?
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What is driving residents in Bristol and the West of England?
- How can liquid screeding live up to these expectations?
- Why is this important for your project?
Problems with Concrete Screed
Concrete is created through burning limestone and clay. The process of burning triggers decarbonisation. During decarbonisation, the carbon in the limescale breaks down. This emits CO2. Every tonne of cement emits up to 622 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2). As a result, the cement industry alone contributes 7% of the total global CO2 emissions.
This has led to calls for alternative products in construction products. Researchers have found that liquid screed, also known as Anhydrite screed, is a far better option. They showed liquid screed takes far less heat to burn and create. In fact, they can lower emissions by as much as 20%. Liquid screed also has unique “rapid hardening or self-stressing” properties, making it an attractive choice for smooth and efficient screeding.
Concrete screed preparation requires more manual effort to apply. The screed must be mixed, then strenuously shovelled out and monitored to achieve a smooth finish. It is prone to shrinkage and cracking, so it has to be smoothed through several processes that make it time-consuming. On the other hand, Liquid screed will typically take less than 48 hours to be dry enough to walk on. A 25m2 only takes roughly 20 minutes to cover from start to finish. Offering significant yields on the cost of time and labour spent in floor preparation.
Carbon Footprint and Insulation
With many areas in the West of England considering ways to cut their emissions, it’s no surprise that liquid or flowing screed in Gloucestershire and other regions in the West is becoming more attractive. For example, Gloucestershire has already cut its C02 emissions by 97% in the last 10 years. With plans to become carbon neutral in the years to come. Bristol likewise has followed their example. They’ve cut their carbon emissions by 33% since 2005.
Insulation has drawn a lot of attention as a way to lower emissions. As a result, scientists recommend that insulation value be a key consideration for property development.
Despite this, less than half of homes in the West of England are well insulated. This presents exciting opportunities for property managers interested in liquid screeding.
The advantage of liquid screed over concrete is that it provides better heat transference since it can be applied in much thinner layers. Properties with underfloor heating systems are hindered by bubbles and cracks in concrete. However, since flowing screed is self-compressing, we don’t see this problem. There is far better heat insulation. In other words, flowing screed Gloucestershire projects can benefit from lower emissions.
Recycled Material
Another benefit of liquid screed is that it can be derived from recycled materials. Liquid screed comprises 36% recycled materials, and the binder is made from 98% recycled material.
This should be a key consideration for property managers in Bristol. The city sits far above the rest of the UK in its recycling effort. In fact, Bristol is 2.3% above the national average. With an increase of 47.4%, from 44.9% in 2019 alone.
If you’re trying to garner eco-friendly clientele for commercial or residential projects, liquid screed is an affordable and strategic move worth considering.
Takeaways
As we have discussed, liquid screed can be an environmentally sound remedy for developers with an understanding of local community drivers. In addition, understanding the local demographic is often influenced by garnering investment for new properties. In other words, it’s not only a good selling point but necessary for those interested in improving their projects to meet popular demand.
In 2020, more than 75% of the UK population said they were concerned about the impact pact of climate change. So for property managers and developers looking to appeal to UK contracts, liquid screeding is a viable and essential option that shouldn’t be overlooked.
