SMOOTHING UNDERLAYMENTS
GETTING EVEN
Mark Leigh, Divisional Manager for flooring at tremco illbruck, considers the best approach to dealing with uneven substrates.
There is little ambiguity to the intended purpose of smoothing compounds yet the success with which they achieve their aim can vary enormously.
Nowadays, both clients and specialist contractors expect to see specifications that have a minimum impact on the lives of building occupants, as well as the environment, accompanied by outstanding performance. This then is why they seek to work with manufacturers who can offer a well-proven and independently- accredited range of products.
As an internationally recognised supplier of construction product solutions, tremco illbruck can offer customers a comprehensive selection of flooring products, including ones able to achieve the highest environmental standards and capable of overcoming problems of very irregular or damp substrates.
One of the latest additions to tremco illbruck’s range of flooring products, which includes DPMs and a comprehensive selection of adhesives, is SX500 Rapid Drying Smoothing Compound, which facilitates fast-track installations for a variety of situations.
SX500 is a two-component, 40%-recycled content product that is compatible with all of TREMCO’s products but is particularly well- suited for use with ES600 Moisture Vapour Suppressant, as this facilitates a truly fast-track flooring installation.
The versatile, fast-curing smoothing compound is actually supplied in 22kg bags of the Part A dry powder, to be mixed with the 4.4 kg of activating liquid (Part B). Once blended, SX500 has a working time of approximately 10 minutes, but can be walked on in just half an hour, while installation of most floorcoverings can take place after 90 minutes.
The use of ES600 Moisture Vapour Suppressant and SX500 Rapid Drying Smoothing Compound is a preferred choice for clients and contractors who are looking to keep the building’s downtime to a minimum. The system is well-suited to retail re-fits, office refurbishment and social housing, where getting the building back to use in the quickest time is paramount.
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In situations where the existing substrate is particularly uneven and it is necessary to apply a smoothing coat before installation of a DPM, the contractor may well employ TREMCO SX300 NA. This has been specifically developed to be moisture-tolerant and contains no ammonia to minimise odour. It is also protein-free and conforms to HTM 61 requirements.
SX300 NA comprises a dry cementitious powder and a white latex liquid which are mixed together to offer a pot life of 20 minutes. It can be walked on in two to four hours. The high performance underlayment can be trowelled out at a thickness of up to 6mm but, where there are greater irregularities to be tackled, the mix can be bulked by adding 3mm granite chippings at equal volume increasing the allowable depth to 30mm. Where it is applied over a DPM, SX300 NA does not require a primer, provided the maximum thickness is 6mm.
Also available in the range is SX200 Smoothing Compound which is BREEAM-compliant and offers many beneficial performance characteristics.
Like SX500, Smoothing Compound is made from a blend of reclaimed and natural materials, and can be used in combination with other products from the tremco illbruck range to help achieve an environmentally-friendly installation. These include pressure sensitive adhesives and carpet tile tackifiers.
Whether the final floor surface is a sheet vinyl, carpet tiles, a rubber sports floor or some other contract floorcovering, achieving a sound, flat surface prior to laying is essential to the final success of the installation. Overall, contractors, consultants and building owners should seek to engage with manufacturers offering independently- tested products or systems and comprehensive technical support.
www.tremco-illbruck.co.uk
SMOOTHING UNDERLAYMENTS : TOMORROW’S FLOORING YEARBOOK 2014/15
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