Smarter Floors, Warmer Homes:

What’s Next for Insulation & Screed in 2026

The demand for effective thermal insulation beneath screed floors in the UK is steadily growing. This increase is driven largely by evolving building regulations aimed at improving energy efficiency, alongside broader societal efforts to reduce carbon emissions and boost comfort in both residential and commercial properties.

Industry experts predict that as new materials and installation methods become more widely adopted, this trend will shape how flooring is specified and installed through 2026 and beyond.

Shifting Materials: From PIR Boards to Poured Insulation

For many years, rigid insulation boards such as polyisocyanurate (PIR) have dominated the market beneath screeds. PIR boards are valued for their high thermal resistance and relative ease of handling. However, their effectiveness can be compromised by gaps, joints, and cold bridges, especially in complex or irregular floor layouts, or where services like underfloor heating pipes need to be routed.

Poured insulation emerges as a practical and increasingly popular alternative that addresses several weaknesses of rigid boards. Delivered in a liquid form, it can flow and settle evenly across the entire floor base, filling gaps and voids and creating a completely continuous insulating layer free of thermal breaks. This seamless coverage is a particular advantage where floor spaces are non-uniform or have embedded infrastructure, as poured insulation adapts effectively, ensuring consistent heat retention and overall energy efficiency under the poured screed layer.

As awareness of poured insulation’s benefits grows, so too does interest in other evolving materials. Vacuum insulated panels (VIPs) and bio-based insulation products, like hemp or recycled fibres, are gaining attention as builders seek higher-performance, thinner profile, or more sustainable options. The uptake of these materials depends on balancing upfront costs, installation complexity, and long-term performance needs, factors that will vary between projects.

Sustainable Construction Practices Meet Screeding Innovation

Beyond thermal efficiency and heating compatibility, the Future Homes Standard also reflects a wider push for sustainability in construction methods and materials. To truly deliver on carbon reduction targets, the industry must minimise waste and reduce emissions associated with building processes themselves.

Clockwork Screed’s approach, featuring mobile batch-produced liquid screed, embodies this principle. By producing screed on-site with fully equipped batching trucks, transportation emissions are reduced and waste is cut to a minimum. This method also enhances quality control, reducing the likelihood of defects and the need for costly rework.

By integrating these sustainable practices, the screeding process contributes not just to the energy performance of the finished home, but also to the environmental impact of its construction. This holistic approach aligns with the broader objectives of the FHS to promote green building techniques throughout the supply chain.

Challenges and Collaboration Across the Construction Sector

Meeting the standards set by the FHS is not a task for any single part of the construction industry. It requires a coordinated effort across architects, engineers, builders, material suppliers, and specialist contractors. Each participant must understand and implement the new technical and regulatory requirements.

For floor screeding specialists like Clockwork Screed, this means staying ahead of industry changes by continuously innovating and refining screeding technology to meet stricter thermal and environmental standards. It also involves early collaboration with other project stakeholders to ensure that screed specifications align with thermal modelling and heating system design from the outset.

The Future Homes Standard represents more than a regulatory hurdle. It is an invitation to rethink how homes are built from the ground up, encouraging a more integrated, efficient, and sustainable approach to construction.

Looking Ahead: The Bigger Picture

The introduction of the FHS signals a shift toward zero-carbon housing in the UK. As such, it marks a critical turning point for all building materials and techniques involved in new home construction.

Advanced liquid screeds form a foundational element in this new build environment, supporting ultra-low energy heating technologies and improved building fabric performance. By embracing these changes, Clockwork Screed positions itself not just as a contractor providing a product, but as a forward-thinking partner helping to deliver homes that are warmer, greener, and more comfortable.

In a world where carbon reduction goals grow ever more urgent, and where homebuyers and regulators expect higher standards, adapting screeding practices to meet the Future Homes Standard is not simply a compliance exercise — it’s a pivotal contribution to creating a sustainable future for the built environment. The expertise and innovation in screeding deliver tangible value, helping the construction industry meet its climate commitments without sacrificing quality or practicality.

As we look ahead, the collaboration and technology advances embodied in floor screed solutions like those from Clockwork Screed will be central to the sustainable homes revolution. Together, these improvements ensure that new homes are truly fit for the future, efficient, low-carbon, and built to stand the test of time.