With a large number of floor smoothing underlayment products
available on the market, a number of important factors should be considered prior to the selection of a system, including the subfloor composition, the type of floor covering being installed and the levels of traffic and loads that will be applied to the floor.
If the
wrong product is used, the entire flooring installation could be compromised, resulting in costly remedial work.
Bespoke solutions
High performance smoothing underlayments have been
formulated to meet a wide range of specific flooring requirements and to provide architects with bespoke solutions to a wide variety of conditions found on site. For wood floor coverings, or luxury vinyl tiles, a high strength
underlayment is recommended to support any movement in the floor from the inherent expansion and contraction, resulting from ambient climatic changes. Furthermore, products offering fast drying properties are ideal for areas with limited downtime. Where structural loading needs to be considered, for example, in
multi-storey developments or old buildings, a lightweight fibre- reinforced self-smoothing underlayment should be installed. Architects can also choose from a range of specialist products
with properties designed to meet the demands of individual building environments. For instance, formulations that are free from natural rubber latex should be selected for clinical or biologically sensitive areas such as healthcare facilities, where hygiene is a key priority. These products offer the same high performance as traditional latex products, along with the additional benefits of being low odour and protein-free, which helps to prevent bacterial growth in the subfloor. Effective preparation of the subfloor is essential to ensure long-
term performance of a floor and to avoid costly remedial work. To maximise the appearance and the durability of a floor covering, subfloor preparation products should be selected carefully, according to the demands of individual projects.
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