TIP OF THE MONTH
TIP OF THE MONTH ON THE BALL
Top flooring tips from F. Ball and Co. Ltd.
One of the most common problems faced by modern flooring contractors is the need to complete installations to increasingly tight deadlines. Stephen Boulton, Technical Service
Manager for F. Ball and Co. Ltd., shares tips about how to speed up the subfloor preparation process and the fast-track systems that are now available to allow contractors to deliver complete flooring installations in record time.
Installing a new floorcovering is often one of the final stages of a new build or refurbishment project and, as such, is likely to encounter tough deadlines. Modern flooring contractors can find themselves competing for space on site with other tradesmen, compounding the pressure to finish their work quickly. Because a new floorcovering is designed to enhance the aesthetics of a finished project, it is imperative that contractors are able to deliver fast results without compromising on quality.
Regardless of time, it is essential that a subfloor is free from contamination, permanently dry and smooth before a new floorcovering is laid. Ongoing product developments and advancements in subfloor preparation technology now mean there are fast-track solutions to speed up the management of subfloor moisture management and the application of smoothing underlayments and adhesives.
PROTECTING AGAINST
MOISTURE Contractors must take care to ensure that the substrate is suitably dry before proceeding with a flooring installation. Should a moisture measurement test find relative humidity (RH) levels of 75% or above, (65% or above when working with wood floorcoverings), a waterproof surface membrane must be installed. Historically, waterproof surface membranes required a curing time of between 18 and 24 hours before
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a smoothing underlayment could be applied, but advancements in technology have significantly speeded up this process, with the latest products of this type curing in just three hours.
Water-based, rapid drying waterproof surface membranes impede the passage of residual construction moisture up to relative humidity levels of 95% in almost any flooring installation, and are ideal for use in new-build properties. Applied in two coats, the first coat takes approximately 15-20 minutes to cure, and then a further 30 minutes for the second coat to cure, resulting in an impenetrable barrier against residual construction moisture, achieved in less than two hours.
CREATING A SMOOTH
SUBFLOOR Having ensured that a subfloor is sound and dry, a suitable smoothing underlayment needs to be installed to create a uniform surface on which to apply the final floorcovering. For the tightest deadlines, rapid set and rapid drying smoothing underlayments incorporate the latest advancements in cement technology.
The fastest drying smoothing underlayments on the market achieve walk-on hardness after just 30 minutes and make it possible for subfloors to receive new textile and resilient floorcoverings from only 45 minutes. This means that in some instances an entire floorcovering installation can be completed within one hour.
ADHERING A
FLOORCOVERING Modern fast-track vinyl adhesives have been specifically designed to allow for maximum flexibility when installing a wide range of sheet and tile vinyl floorcoverings in fast-track applications. The fibre-reinforced formulation of F. Ball's solvent free Styccobond F5, for example, has excellent initial grab and fast drying properties that allow for early placement of floorcoverings.
Vinyl tiles can be placed immediately, although it is advisable to allow the adhesive to dry for just five minutes, which will significantly reduce the risk of tiles sliding. The highly versatile adhesive also offers an extended open time of up to 90 minutes. Once a floorcovering has been installed with Styccobond F5, the area can receive foot traffic immediately, minimising the downtime of the area, which is ideal for fast-track projects.
Regardless of the timescale available to complete a flooring installation, contractors must not take shortcuts, which could compromise the longevity of the finished floor. Technological advancements and ongoing product developments mean complete fast-track systems are now available which, when combined, will allow flooring contractors to complete a vinyl floorcovering installation in as little as three hours, delivering a guaranteed, lasting finish.
www.f-ball.co.uk www.tomorrowsflooring.com
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