SURFACE PREPARATION
THE TRUE COST OF PREPARATION
Many factors affect the method of preparation selected by contractors to provide the best surface for installing a resin screed floor. Few realise the cost of preparation in real terms.
Every floor is different; its history and planned usage determines the best specification, but even the best system only works if the preparation of the substrate is undertaken properly and thoroughly. This takes expertise, time and the right conditions; rarely can shortcuts be taken without risk of failure, or a penalty in terms of reinstatement cost, performance and longevity.
For over 10 years Paul Maton, Technical Manager at Resin Surfaces Limited (RSL) has been working extensively with contractors, promoting good practice and providing support and advice. The RSL Contractor Programme focuses on increasing the understanding of a wide range of preparation and installation techniques available, how to choose the best methods, and equipping staff with the practical skills
44
to achieve the best possible finish with long lasting results. Paul explains how Contractors can ensure a long lasting, quality resin floor for their client.
Whilst the preparation of a subfloor is critical to success, every flooring application is different. The composition and materials used in its construction, the method of laying and compaction, and the history and usage of the floor, all affect the selection of the most suitable method of preparation. The client is almost certainly looking for longevity, with the application time frame and cost being key elements, but the desired floor finish, size of the area and the quality of the substrate must also be considered. The objective of surface preparation is to achieve a surface that is clean i.e. free from oil, grease, water, food or other contamination, and it should achieve the most
appropriate mechanical key for the specified resin flooring system. The mechanical key is a measure of the openness and texture or roughness, this ensures that the primer or resin system is able to ‘wet out’ onto the surface and penetrate to achieve a strong bond between the sub floor and the selected resin finish. The primer will generally provide a tolerant coating that will penetrate and consolidate the surface where necessary, and create a sound stable and chemically compatible surface for the remaining floor system.
It is essential that in the design and construction stages, that the flooring contractor should ensure that the main contractor understands, and accepts the need to protect the subfloor from gross contamination during the construction phase, and to provide the right conditions
for the preparation and application of the floor system. There is no point in laying a high quality concrete slab, allowing it to be damaged before it has even been used, and then having to deploy heavy and aggressive methods of preparation to remove that contamination and paying for the mistake in both time and cost. Where a building is in use or is being refurbished, this can be more challenging and the level of preparation is to a large extent, determined by the history. The fact that preparation may have to be undertaken whilst the others are working in the environment; may limit the choice of methods, similarly plants may have to continue operations whilst relaying floor sections.
Martin Davis from leading flooring contractor Flo-Dek (UK) Ltd comments Preparation is one of the
www.tomorrowsflooring.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
