TECHNICAL support and subfloor preparation products provided by F Ball & Co have reportedly helped contractors from Oxden Floors to overcome a flooring failure and deliver what’s described as a high quality, durable finish for the installation of a 1,250sq m sports hall floor at the recently constructed Christ Church Sports Centre in Canterbury, Kent.
Located on the site of Barton Court Grammar School and operated by Canterbury Christ Church University, the new Christ Church Sports Centre features a large multifunctional sports hall, which provides students and staff with court space for a wide range of activities, from football and netball to volleyball and tennis.
A cushioned, vinyl sports floorcovering was specified for the floor, but before it could be installed, the contractor had to firstly ensure that the subfloor was smooth and dry, as well as strong enough to withstand the repeated impact the floor would be subjected to over its lifetime.
Challenging site conditions resulted in failure of the original installation, causing the levelling compound used to level the subfloor to de-bond, which in turn caused the floorcovering to lift. Contractors from Oxden Floors turned to F Ball to help rectify the situation, inviting F Ball’s area technical representative to undertake a full inspection of the site, and to provide recommendations for reinstating the floorcovering.
F Ball recommended the mechanical removal of all previously applied surface preparation materials before using an F Ball waterproof surface membrane and Stopgap 300 HD levelling compound to ensure the subfloor was in sound condition before the floorcovering was reinstated.
Relative humidity tests indicated there was still a high level of construction moisture present within the subfloor. This was likely because it can take a while for new concrete floor slabs to dry out naturally. Therefore, a protective waterproof barrier was required to isolate floorcoverings and prevent any ensuing moisture damage.
Following the application of Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer, to promote adhesion of a levelling compound to the waterproof surface membrane, Stopgap 300 HD, F Ball’s heavy-duty levelling compound, was used to create a smooth finish ready for the receipt of floorcoverings.
Says the company: ‘Stopgap 300 HD was specified for its high compressive and flexural strength, which enables floorcoverings to withstand the stresses imparted by heavy and repeated trafficking. The self-smoothing and fast-drying properties of the product also meant that the compound could be applied quickly, and the floorcovering re-laid without delay. F Ball’s Styccobond F45 vinyl flooring adhesive was then used to secure the cushioned sports floorcovering to the prepared subfloor.’
www.f-ball.co.uk
