COMMERCIAL KITCHENS & FOOD PREP RECIPE FOR SUCCESS


Neil Sanders, technical director at F. Ball and Co. Ltd., discusses the variables to consider when determining how to ensure long-lasting resilient flooring installations in damp and humid environments.


Flooring in kitchens and food production areas is exposed to varying degrees of moisture. This necessitates special consideration when installing floorcoverings in these settings to ensure that installations remain in good condition in between refurbishments.


Water that is allowed to get beneath resilient floorcoverings can attack adhesives, causing floorcoverings to blister and de-bond and damage subfloors that are sensitive to moisture, leading to costly floor failures and recalls. Key to preventing this is the use of suitably moisture resistant adhesives and floorcoverings (which depends on how much water they will be exposed to), as well as proper subfloor preparation.


SUBFLOOR PREPARATION


As with any floorcovering installation, appropriate subfloor preparation is imperative to ensuring a long-lasting, professional flooring finish and avoiding floor failure.


Before proceeding, it’s important to make sure that the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and free of any surface contaminants, including old adhesive residues.


In accordance with British Standards, F. Ball recommends the use of a pre-calibrated digital hygrometer to measure the relative humidity (RH) levels within the subfloor as part of any floorcovering installation. If subfloor relative humidity levels exceed 75% RH, a moisture management solution, such as a liquid waterproof surface membrane, will be required to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and damaging floorcoverings. The application of a suitable floor smoothing compound is also recommended to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings.


like other types of floorcoverings, such as wood, and can easily be cleaned.


˝If subfloor relative humidity levels exceed 75% RH, a moisture management solution will be


required to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and damaging floorcoverings.˝


Vinyl planks or tiles may be installed in humid environments, such as domestic kitchens. However, the installation of vinyl sheet is recommended in wet rooms and other areas where floors will be subject to high levels of moisture, including standing water and repeated wet cleaning. In these situations, seams must be welded to ensure a watertight seal and prevent an ingression of water. For the same reason, there should be seals where floorcoverings meet drains or capping and coving at walls.


In all cases, floorcoverings and vertical flooring accessories in bathrooms, wetrooms and other environments with high levels of moisture should be installed using a suitably moisture resistant adhesive.


ADHESIVE SELECTION


˝Styccobond F73 PLUS, has been specially developed to provide the high bond strength required to hold a wide range of


floorcoverings in place in the most demanding environments.˝


FLOORCOVERINGS


Resilient floorcoverings are an obvious choice for damp and humid environments because they are not affected by moisture


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Epoxy or polyurethane adhesives have traditionally been the recommended option for making flooring installations resistant to water, inside and outdoors, because of their high resistance to water, oil and grease.


The latest advancements in adhesives technology have enabled the creation of one-part, moisture-curing adhesives for internal and external heavy-duty applications, which are also solvent and isocyanate free, as well as easier to apply and faster curing than traditional alternatives, requiring as little as 90 minutes to secure floorcoverings.


These adhesives, such as F. Ball’s Styccobond F73 PLUS, have been specially developed to provide the high bond strength required to hold a wide range of floorcoverings in place in the most demanding environments, such as in areas subject to surface water, heavy loads and high foot traffic. The fast-setting properties allow welding of sheet floorcoverings to take place from as little as two hours. Fibres in the adhesive also limit lateral movement of floorcoverings while contractors are working: a particular advantage when installing LVTs.


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