TEMPERATURES RISING
Bostik advises on how to get the best results from smoothing compounds in the coming hot summer months.
Site conditions for flooring contractors can vary from day-to-day and installation projects can be affected by a number of different factors. When it comes to subfloor preparation, temperature can have a big influence. As we move out of winter and projects start getting booked in for the warmer months, temperature needs to be carefully considered if you want to avoid landing yourself in hot water.
Dry, warmer weather can present challenging conditions as drying times for smoothing compounds are significantly decreased. This coupled with the prevelance of fast track products in the industry today, means that there are lots of elements that need to be factored into a job if you want to get the desired smooth surface.
So what needs to be considered when working in warmer conditions?
SITE CONDITIONS If the site conditions increase to over 20°C, the workability of a smoothing compound can start to be reduced and the time available to spike roller will also become limited. To give yourself the best possible chance, try to schedule the task early in the day before temperatures start to rise.
STORAGE OF
PRODUCTS When talking about rising temperatures, it isn’t just the site itself that needs to be considered, but also the conditions in which the product is stored before use. Get it wrong and it will have a massive impact on the performance of the product.
Keeping liquids in a van all day to get hot, using warm water from taps, leaving bags of products in storage where they will absorb significant
heat...these are all things that you need to avoid!
FAST TRACK PRODUCTS The phrase ‘time is money’ will be all too familiar amongst contractors, with modern-day working practices often dictating tight deadlines. A rapid curing
40 | SUBFLOOR PREPARATION
smoothing compound is specifically designed for a fast turnaround and allows flooring contractors more scope to carry out complete projects in a single day.
Compared to traditional sand and cement products, fast track solutions, such as the Bostik Screedmaster Speed 30, limit downtime and disruption and help to facilitate the early laying of floorcoverings, meaning that building work won’t suffer costly delays.
Fast track products have excellent benefits but need to reach a sufficient surface strength in a short space of time so are designed in a very different way than standard smoothing compounds. This means that in increased temperatures they can be very quick setting, which results in a short working time. However, as long as you understand the potential constraints and plan well in advance, using fast track products in warmer conditions doesn’t have to cause problems.
MANY HANDS
MAKE LIGHT WORK When it comes to working in warmer conditions time is of the essence. Using one person to mix and pour whilst the other applies the product can significantly speed up the process. Using a fast track compound also reduces the need for artificial drying, preventing the floor from cracking and curling.
Bostik’s Screedmaster Speed 30 has been designed specifically for projects that require a quick turnaround. It is a rapid-drying floor levelling compound with a walk on time of just 30 minutes — making it ideal for modern flooring contractors who require a fast track solution.
Formulated from the latest advances in cement technology, the Screedmaster Speed 30 will smooth sound, uneven surfaces prior to the laying of decorative floorcoverings in as little as 3 hours, with a loose lay time of 45 minutes.
www.bostik-profloor.co.uk www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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