TOP OF THE CLASS
Products from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have been used to deliver a first-class floor finish in the refurbishment of Glasgow University Library.
F. Ball products, including F77 waterproof surface membrane, Stopgap 1200 Pro high-performance smoothing underlayment and F46 pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive, have been used to install 2,700m2
of floorcoverings as
part of a renovation project at Glasgow University Library. Contractors from A&H Flooring were commissioned to install a variety of floorcoverings on multiple floors of the university library, over a combination of raised plywood and concrete subfloors with old adhesive residues present.
To begin with, old linoleum floorcoverings were removed from the concrete subfloors. Using F. Ball’s digital hygrometer, a moisture test was then carried out to determine the relative humidity levels of the subfloor. It is essential to ensure subfloors are dry enough (RH<75%) to receive floorcoverings. Where relative humidity levels are greater than 75%, the application of a waterproof surface membrane is required to prevent floor failure.
In this instance, everywhere was sufficiently dry enough to receive floorcoverings, except from a 20m2
section of
concrete subfloor, which had an RH of 92%. Over this area, the contractor applied Stopgap F77 high-performance waterproof surface membrane. Stopgap F77 impedes the passage of construction moisture and rising damp up to 98% RH with a single coat application. It is fully cured after three hours at 20°C, making it ideal for when flooring needs to be installed as quickly as possible.
Ahead of the application of a smoothing underlayment, the contractor applied an F. Ball primer over the areas of raised plywood flooring, before applying Stopgap 700 Superflex fibre reinforced smoothing underlayment. Stopgap 700 is a fast drying, fibre-reinforced, self-levelling smoothing underlayment
30 | CONTRACT CARPETS
designed especially for use on flexible subfloors, such as plywood and steel, prior to the installation of new floorcoverings.
On the concrete sections of subfloor, Stopgap 1200 Pro high- performance smoothing underlayment was applied. Stopgap 1200 Pro is a two-component smoothing underlayment specially designed for use over old adhesive residues, without the need for priming. It is low-odour, self-smoothing and fast drying. Applied at a thickness of 2-5mm, the compound will be dry enough to receive floorcoverings from as little as four hours.
Contractors then installed a variety of floorcoverings onto the prepared subfloors. F. Ball’s Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier was used to install luxury Milliken carpet tiles on approximately half of the total area. Styccobond F41 dries to create a permanently tacky film that prevents ‘loose-lay’ carpet tiles from moving, but allows individual tiles to be lifted and replaced easily when worn or damaged; ideal for high- traffic areas like the library entranceway.
Styccobond F46 pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive was selected to install both wood effect vinyl sheets and vinyl safety flooring on the other sections, including the plywood subfloor areas. Styccobond F46 is designed to provide a strong initial tack, high bond strength and pressure-sensitive properties. It will also reduce the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl floorcoverings.
Roy Henderson, of A&H Flooring in Glasgow, said: “This was a tricky project because the building is always in use and other tradespeople required access to the site, but F. Ball’s products meant we could do areas separately and quickly; minimising disruption at the university. I’ve used F. Ball products from the start of my career – they’re dependable and they do what they say on the tin.”
www.f-ball.com
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