RESILIENT FLOORING COMMUNITY SPIRIT
F. Ball has donated subfloor preparation products to support the refurbishment of the Coventry Caribbean Community Centre, helping transform the venue ahead of its reopening.
Products donated by F. Ball and Co. Ltd., including the company’s Stopgap 1200 smoothing compound, have been used to prepare subfloors as part of the renovation of the Coventry Caribbean Community Centre prior to its reopening to coincide with Coventry’s UK City of Culture status last year.
Opened in 1983, the centre was established as a permanent base for what was the Coventry West Indian Association, which aimed to promote integration of members of the Windrush generation and the wider community. Apart from serving as a meeting place, the centre hosted events, including weddings, charity fundraisers and Caribbean music performances. However, it had fallen into disrepair prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
A call-out for volunteers and sponsors was issued, with the aim of revitalising and relaunching the centre in 60 days. This was answered by instructors from the Amtico Training Academy in Coventry, who came forward to install luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs) in the 150m2 function room for free, with F. Ball supplying the subfloor preparation products.
Firstly, they removed old floorcoverings, revealing a rough screed. A moisture test also indicated that subfloor relative humidity levels were above the 75% maximum threshold for installing floorcoverings.
Installers therefore opted to use F. Ball’s Stopgap 1200 to smooth subfloors. The smoothing compound can be applied directly over minimal, well-bonded old adhesive residues. In such applications, there is no need to prime surfaces beforehand. It is also moisture tolerant, meaning that it can be used to smooth
rough or uneven subfloors prior to the application of a waterproof surface. This avoids the liquid waterproof surface membrane pooling in undulations and necessitating a greater quantity of the product to achieve full coverage.
F. Ball’s Stopgap F77 one-part waterproof surface membrane was then applied to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking floorcoverings and adhesives, potentially causing complete floor failure. The product dries in as little as three hours to create a barrier against moisture values of up to 98% RH with a single coat application. Once dry, the surface was primed using F. Ball’s Stopgap P141, which is designed especially to promote the adhesion of smoothing compounds to non-absorbent surfaces, including waterproof surface membranes. Another layer of Stopgap 1200 was then used to create a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of new floorcoverings.
Once the smoothing compound had cured, Amtico Spacia Metropolis Smoke stone-effect LVTs were installed in the majority of the floor area, with premium Amtico Form Opal hexagonal tiles positioned around the bar area for visual interest.
Commenting on the project, Paul Ager, Amtico technical training instructor, said: “We were very pleased to offer our expertise to help with this invaluable community project. Using F. Ball’s Stopgap 1200 Pro meant that we didn’t have to mechanically prepare the subfloors, saving time and avoiding disruption to other trades, helping to complete the renovation in the allocated time frame.”
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