Laying self-insulating screed - save money

By Staenis | 25/06/2021

Laying your own insulating screed: discover how and save

You can install an insulating floor structure at home yourself. Use the StaenisGrid screed grid and fill it with insulation screed. Level, finish, and you’re done! Discover all the benefits of insulation screed and check the ideal floor structure for your project.

Why insulate your floor?

As a (re)builder, you must comply with increasingly strict insulation standards. Insulating your home is therefore a must. Fortunately, you are rewarded with the benefits of insulation: a lower energy bill, more living comfort, and a more favorable E-level. Roof insulation already makes a big difference, but for optimal effect, it is best to also insulate your floors. Here, insulation screed can be of service to you. That is screed and floor insulation in one. With an insulating screed, your floor also feels warmer than when you use regular screed. As a result, you need to heat less. That’s good for the environment and your budget. An insulated floor also dampens sound better, making it easier for you to relax at home. Watch the video and discover how to install your own insulating screed.

Insulation screed helps save space

A floor can be insulated in various ways. As indicated above, you can choose floor insulation where the insulating material is incorporated into the leveling layer (insulating screed). An alternative is to place loose insulation boards on the leveling layer, or to use spray foam. Why would you choose insulating screed? With insulating screed, insulating material is already added to the screed. Because you do not have to install separate floor insulation, you save space. Insulating screed is therefore very interesting when you have little space available to install your floor. After all, there is no need for an extra layer of floor insulation boards, which increases your build-up height. In addition, insulating screed can serve as an extra form of insulation. View inspiring projects with insulating screed.

How well does insulation screed insulate?

A screed without insulating filler has a very limited insulation value: between 1 and 1.3 W/mK. Screed will therefore transmit cold or heat rather than insulate. The average insulation values of insulation screed are much more favorable. They range between 0.045 and 0.087 W/mK. Read more about the insulation value of standard insulation screed and tileable insulation screed.

Install your own insulating screed and save

Of course, you can have insulation screed installed by a professional screeder. But in many situations, it can be much cheaper to do it yourself. With the StaenisGrid, you as a DIYer can easily install your own insulating screed. If it suits you better, you can spread the screed work over several days. How does it work? The plastic StaenisGrid consists of slats and legs, which you easily click together and adjust in height with a screwdriver. You pour the insulation screed into the compartments of the StaenisGrid. This way, you can fill your floor lightly and insulate it, and then cover it with OSB or Durelis wooden boards. You don't need any experience for this, just being a bit handy is enough. The result: an even, insulating screed floor structure that will remain beautiful for years. Discover all the technical advantages.

Level your bathroom floor with tileable insulation screed

Planning to screed your bathroom? If you fill the StaenisGrid with tileable insulation screed, you will achieve a lightweight, insulating floor structure that can be tiled directly. Tileable insulation screed dries quickly, allowing you to screed, tile, and fully finish the floor within just a few days. Tiling can be done after only 3 to 4 days of drying time, provided you apply primer and a thin layer of self-leveling compound at the same height as the top of the StaenisGrid. This eliminates all irregularities from the insulation screed and installation. Good to know: with 1 bag weighing between 9 and 13 kg, you can install 1 m² of insulation screed floor at a thickness of 7 cm. Watch the installation video here.

Should I place a membrane under the insulation screed?

If you use standard insulation screed as a filler for the StaenisGrid, you may use a foil. You can later cover this with OSB boards or Durelis tongue-and-groove boards. Standard insulation screed as a leveling layer (without StaenisGrid), on the other hand, should always be installed without foil. Also, tileable insulation screed is best installed without foil, so that it adheres to the substrate. Except if there is a risk of rising damp, in which case a foil is needed. Optionally, you can place a screed reinforcement mesh on the foil (in combination with the StaenisGrid) to prevent the insulation screed from bulging. Tip: moisten the concrete substrate the evening before the work, so your standard or tileable insulation screed will adhere even better.

What is the price of insulation screed?

The price of insulation screed averages 150 to 180 euros per m3. The final price of this screed per m3 depends on the type of insulation material, the number of square meters, and the thickness of the floor. Are you planning to lay your insulation screed yourself? Then it is best to buy ready-to-use insulation screed in bags. At Staenis, you will find insulation screed with a very fine structure, which allows you to work very evenly. Use the quantity calculator to calculate how many bags of ready-to-use insulation screed you need for your project.

With the innovative Staenis self-build system, you can quickly and evenly install your insulating screed, even if you are not an experienced DIYer. Use the floor build-up tool and get more information about your ideal floor build-up. You can easily order your StaenisGrid, your ready-to-use tileable or non-tileable insulating screed in bags, and your installation tools online via the Staenis webshop.