MATERIALS AND EFFECTS: CERAMIC TILES BE PREPARED Specialist in surface preparation The Preparation Group outlines the process that its
contracting division, PPC, undertook when it was asked to assist with a department store refit that required a smooth surface for the application of ceramic tiles.
Preparing the subfloor correctly before laying floor tiles is essential to avoid costly failures. Removing old bedding compounds, previous floorcoverings and adhesives is the start, but the surface must be clean and flat with no undulations to ensure the bedding mortar/adhesives adhere, before positioning the tiles.
Preparing the background surface with mechanical surface preparation equipment is an efficient, cost- effective way to achieve a flat, uniform, textured surface suitable for the specified floor.
A main contractor had three months to strip back and refit a 4000m2
department store over two levels, with
a seven-day window allocated to prepare the floor. The Preparation Group’s Contracting division, PPC, was invited to survey the site and produce a recommendation for removing the existing floorcoverings, adhesives and levelling screeds back to the original concrete slab, ready for new ceramic tiles to be laid.
The area comprised of old vinyl tiles (some which had lifted and chipped, but the majority were firmly bonded) but what was unclear on first visual inspection was whether the tiles were laid directly onto the substrate or if they had been overlaid, as the original store was over 25 years old. The main contractor had documents and reports confirming that tests had been conducted on the tiles and adhesive for the presence of asbestos, showing
no evidence of presence in the floor. During the survey, PPC removed a sample area using the MSS150 Multi-Surface Stripper which revealed a 2-3mm levelling system onto which the tiles had been laid.
Due to the area size and programme constraints, two of the largest ride-on, gas-powered 600 Multi- Strippers were delivered to the site for the start of the project, each operated by a skilled and qualified driver. Medium-sized steel blades were attached to the front of the machines, uplifting the tiles and scraping some of the adhesive and levelling screed in the process - each machine removing in excess of 1500m2
on the first
shift. A bobcat fitted with a bucket emptied the tiles and debris into skips as work progressed. The same process was repeated on the second shift. Throughout the whole operation, industrial fans were positioned within the store to provide adequate airflow, with air movements and quality measured and recorded and carbon monoxide monitors employed to ensure safe working conditions were adhered to.
Whilst the machines were tackling the main area, teams used trolley-mounted M55150 Multi-Surface Stripping tools, which are ideal for smaller projects, to remove tiles and screed around the perimeter walls, manually collecting debris and transporting it to the skips.
What remained after the floor stripping process was an uneven surface of screed and adhesive deposits. To remove, smooth and clean back to the concrete, Terrco3100 Multi-Head Grinders connected to dust extractors and fitted with 40/60 grit metal bond diamonds were selected for their power and performance, quickly and efficiently removing the remaining deposits.
To smooth the perimeter edges, teams used 180 Grinders connected to M450 vacuums. The 180 enables preparation of confined spaces without kneeling or stretching.
The resulting clean, flat and smooth concrete surface was ready for the installation of the new ceramic tiled floor.
www.thepreparationgroup.com — 30 —
www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk
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