Two North West screed projects built on recommendation
Recommendations matter in this line of work. When an underfloor heating company recommends a screed contractor, it is usually because they have already seen how the screed was installed, how it performed with the heating system, and how the job was handled on site. That is how two recent projects in Aspull and Hale came to Clockwork Screed. One came through a UFH supplier and manufacturer, the other through a UFH installer. In both cases, the recommendation was based on previous experience of Clockwork’s work and the standard of finish delivered.
The two jobs were different in scale, but the requirements were similar. Both involved liquid screed over underfloor heating, both needed a consistent finish, and both needed a process that would work properly on site without creating unnecessary delays. That is the type of work Clockwork Screed carries out across the North West, using cementitious liquid screed, poured insulation and mobile screed plants that batch material on site and pump it directly to where it is needed.
The Aspull project came to Clockwork through a UFH supplier and manufacturer who had previously worked with the team on a small housing estate. They had seen the finish on that earlier job and were confident enough to recommend Clockwork again. That kind of recommendation tends to carry weight, particularly when it comes from a company whose own product depends on the screed being right.
On the Aspull job, 30m³ of liquid screed was installed. Even without a full specification, that points to a substantial area where consistency matters. With underfloor heating, the screed needs to flow properly around the pipework, avoid voids and air pockets, and be laid to a controlled depth across the whole area. If that is done properly, the result is a smooth base for the final floor finish and better conditions for the heating system to work evenly.
Clockwork’s cementitious liquid screed is designed for this type of application. It self-compacts, does not create voids around pipework, and can be laid as thinly as 25mm, which helps the system respond more quickly and distribute heat more evenly. On jobs where underfloor heating is central to the design, that is a practical benefit. The screed is not just there to level the base; it has a direct effect on how well the heating performs once the building is in use.
The way the screed is delivered also matters. Clockwork uses dedicated mobile screed plants to batch the exact amount needed on site, then pumps it directly to the area being treated. That reduces waste, avoids unnecessary handling and keeps the process under the control of one specialist team. On residential sites, where access, sequencing and available labour can all affect progress, that setup can make the work more straightforward for everyone involved.
The Hale project was a high-end residential home, introduced by a UFH installer. Clockwork installed liquid screed to 650m² over two floors. That is a larger job, and one where the expectations around finish and coordination are usually higher.
On this type of property, the screed needs to do two straightforward things: provide a smooth, level base for the chosen floor coverings, and work properly with the UFH system so heat is delivered evenly through the house. Cementitious liquid screed is well suited to this. It gives good contact around the pipework and can be finished to the standard expected in high-end homes.
The scale of the Hale job also shows the benefit of Clockwork’s mobile plant. Clockwork states that its mobile screed plants can cover over 1,000m² in a day, and that screed can be pumped directly to upper floors and hard-to-reach areas from the truck. For a 650m² house over two floors, that means the installation can be carried out efficiently, with fewer delays between areas and less disruption to the wider build programme.
From the UFH installer’s point of view, the requirement is clear. The screed needs to go in at the right depth, work properly with the pipe layout, and dry in a predictable way so the rest of the build can continue. If the screed is inconsistent or poorly placed, it can affect heat output, create issues with floor finishes and lead to avoidable problems later on. A well-installed screed helps avoid that.
These two projects are useful examples because they came from two different parts of the underfloor heating sector: one recommendation from a supplier and manufacturer, the other from an installer. In both cases, the reason for the recommendation was the same. The screed had been seen on previous work, the finish was good, and the process on site had given confidence that the same standard would be delivered again.
They also show what Clockwork’s service is built around. The company supplies and installs cementitious liquid screed and poured insulation, works regularly with underfloor heating, and uses mobile screed plants to batch exact quantities on site. That gives clients and contractors a simpler process, fewer separate deliveries and one team responsible for the screed installation.
For projects in places like Aspull and Hale, the benefits are straightforward. The screed is installed efficiently, the finish is consistent, and the underfloor heating has the conditions it needs to work properly. When that happens, the result is not just a good-looking base, but a screed installation that performs as expected and is worth recommending to the next client.
