SMOOTHING COMPOUNDS THE RIGHT CHOICE
The application of a suitable floor smoothing compound helps to ensure a surface that is free of imperfections for the installation of floorcoverings. While formulations with specialist features are often advantageous, or even highly recommended, general-purpose options should be the ‘go-to’ for many situations, explains Neil Sanders, technical director at F. Ball and Co. Ltd.
F. Ball recommends the application of a smoothing compound as part of any flooring installation to create a smooth base to prevent subfloor imperfections affecting the appearance of the finished floor, as well as optimising the bond between the flooring adhesive and the subfloor.
Our technical service department will often advise flooring contractors to consider using a specialist smoothing compound. These products have been developed to provide a long-lasting, professional flooring finish, as well as to optimise the installation process, in particular situations.
FAST-TRACK APPLICATIONS
Examples of when it will be advantageous to use a specialist smoothing compound include working to tight timescales.
The fastest-drying products are walk-on hard from just 30 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings in as little as 45 minutes later. Another development that has sped up subfloor preparation is the arrival of smoothing underlayments that can be applied directly over old adhesive residues, eliminating the need to spend valuable time mechanically removing them.
When it comes to preparing floors that will be subject to heavy loads or high levels of foot traffic, a heavy-duty smoothing compound should be selected for its high compressive strength, which will ensure that installations can withstand this kind of treatment for years to come.
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www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk
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