BLADE Flooring was tasked with providing a seamless transition between all floor finishes in a new state-of-the-art David Lloyd Leisure Centre at Marham Park in Bury St Edmonds, Cambridgeshire.

The leisure centre comprises a gym, heated indoor and outdoor pools, fully equipped group exercise studios, with group indoor cycling, high-energy BLAZE, a mind and body studio area, and luxury indoor spa including saunas and steam rooms.

Also included are a clubroom with a family zone and indoor soft play area for young ones plus an adults-only area and business hub.

The project encompassed multiple high-traffic and speciality-use areas, requiring meticulous planning and execution to ensure durability, aesthetics, and seamless transitions between finishes.
Various floor finishes were installed, each selected for their functionality and design relevance to specific spaces. These included ceramic tiles, LVT, and carpet, all expertly integrated to support the facility’s diverse needs.

Special attention was given to achieving flawless transitions between these finishes, ensuring what the company describes as visual continuity and long-term performance across different areas.
A key challenge of this project was the complexity of the tile setting out, which required precise alignment and expert craftsmanship. The Blade Flooring team executed ‘advanced layout techniques and careful coordination to deliver a perfectly executed finish, maintaining design integrity and enhancing the overall aesthetic’.

Another challenge was levelling between different floor finishes, especially in the gym area where there were four different products each of different thickness with a flush finish required for seamless transitions between finishes. Expert prep work was required.

Blaze said, ‘To achieve a stable, even surface, mechanical subfloor preparation was conducted, removing imperfections and ensuring optimal adhesion for subsequent layers. A smoothing compound was applied to create a uniform base, enhancing the longevity and performance of the finished flooring.’

It adds, ‘This project exemplifies Blade Flooring’s expertise in handling intricate installations, overcoming challenges, and delivering exceptional flooring solutions tailored to high-performance environments.’

Involving 20 flooring operatives, the project lasted between July-September last year, and was commented on by Ryan McManus, project QS for KPS (part of Bowmer & Kirkland). ‘It was great to have a multi-discipline flooring contractor which had previous experience working with our client David Lloyd to create the seamless transition between floor finishes that they demand. They were always available with advice on challenges that they previously encountered on other David Lloyd projects right from the start.’

Blade Flooring used responsible tile sourcing which, for every square metre of tiles specified, led to a 40p donation to land purchase projects in Argentina and Kenya. It used local labour wherever possible to reduce carbon emissions and followed a stringent installation process to create long-lasting floorcoverings less likely to need replacing. Products were disposed of using manufacturer recycling schemes.

After having used adhesive-free floors at its vaccine support hubs in Colchester and Ipswich, the Trust knew that removing the requirement for adhesive cut down installation time by 50%, and there would be no contamination of sensitive areas by dust or odours. The floor is also 100% recyclable and reusable post-installation and reduces overall project costs.

‘The adhesive-free system allowed for refurbishment of numerous areas to the Trust’s timescale and requirements,’ says Jordan Beaumont, estates building manager, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust. ‘Without the technology, many areas would not have been able to be refurbished as we cannot close critical areas of the hospital.’

Using Altro adhesive-free floors can halve installation time compared with a traditional adhered installation, which made a huge difference on this project. ‘Installation was completed over two nights – if we had used a stuck-down floor, this would have taken four nights, causing disruption to our patients and staff,’ says Jordan Beaumont.

‘Adhesive-free floors provide a realistic solution to a problem many Trusts face: an ageing estate, in need of refurbishment but where closing areas is very difficult. There is a lot of choice of adhesive-free products, meaning we can install it in a variety of areas from wards through to our lecture theatres.’

Using Altro’s award-winning adhesive-free installation method, Altro Wood adhesive-free can be welded and walked on the same day, and at the end of its life can be removed easily, allowing it to be reused or recycled. It is ideal for busy public spaces where disruption needs to be minimal, plus there are no associated adhesive odours.
www.bladeflooring.com