PRODUCTS from F. Ball and Co’s System LVT range, including the company’s fast-track, fibre-reinforced transitional adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS, have been used to install LVTs in an ‘ambitious, modern’ self-build property in rural Cambridgeshire, says the company.

Contractors from 4 Floor Fittings began by thoroughly vacuuming the building’s concrete subfloor to remove dust and debris. F. Ball’s technical service team recommended treating the subfloor as a newly installed screed for the purposes of moisture management, despite being installed months earlier, owing to it being left exposed to the elements. Therefore F. Ball’s Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane was used to create a barrier to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and floorcoverings, potentially causing floor failure, says the company.

It adds: ‘Once the waterproof surface membrane had cured, the surface was primed using F. Ball’s primer for use over non-absorbent surfaces, Stopgap P141. The company’s Stopgap 300 HD heavy-duty smoothing compound was applied over the entire ground floor to create a smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings. The product’s high compressive strength and excellent self-levelling properties help create a flawless finish when installing LVTs, while ensuring a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing floor finish even when subject to high levels of wear.’

The contractors then used Styccobond F58 PLUS and F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS temperature tolerant, moisture resistant, pressure sensitive adhesive to install wood-effect LVTs over the 372sq m area. Styccobond F49 was used where floor-to-ceiling windows were likely to cause temperatures to rise significantly because of solar gain.

The adhesive is said to hold floorcoverings in place when subject to extreme temperatures from -20deg C and up to +60deg C, which can cause floorcoverings to expand and contract significantly, leading to tenting and gapping at the edges of LVTs over time.

Styccobond F58 PLUS was used to install vinyl tiles everywhere else. The fast-track adhesive is described by the company as enabling floorcoverings to be installed from from as little as five minutes after application, transitioning from a wet-lay adhesive to become pressure sensitive. Reinforcing fibres in the formulation are said to provide resistance to lateral movement, holding tiles in place and reducing the potential for them to slide around when working. The adhesive’s high-bond strength and strong initial tack also prevent excess adhesive oozing between joints, facilitating easier application, says the company.

All products used in this installation feature the company’s System LVT range including subfloor preparation products and adhesives which, when used in combination, are said by the company to help achieve optimum results when installing LVTs.

Commenting on the project, Richard Argyle of 4 Floor Fittings, said: ‘It’s the best screed I’ve ever done. The smoothing compound had no imperfections whatsoever. Styccobond F58 PLUS allowed floorcoverings to be installed over large areas in one go while helping with the precise alignment of LVTs. The result is a visually striking finish in keeping with the rest of the project.’
www.f-ball.com