THE latest advancements in cement technology have enabled F Ball and Co to create a next-generation fast-track, water-mix smoothing underlayment that can be applied over old adhesive residues, says the company, naming it as Stopgap 1500 AquaPro.

Says the company: ‘A new addition to the F Ball range of high performance, water-mix smoothing underlayments, it’s suitable for preparing a wide range of sound internal subfloors prior to the installation of a new floorcovering. It can be applied over bitumen, carpet tile tackifiers and ceramic tile adhesives, eliminating the need for mechanical preparation and in these applications, there’s no need to prime beforehand, saving further time and expense.’

It continues: ‘Fast-setting and fast-drying, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro is walk-on hard in as little as 60 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings from just four hours. As a water-mix smoothing underlayment, no bottle is required, meaning less plastic waste is produced by the flooring industry.

‘It’s suitable for use over a range of subfloor types, including sand/cement screed, concrete, granolithic, terrazzo, asphalt, steel, old vinyl asbestos tiles, epoxy and polyurethane resins, ceramic and quarry tiles, as well as Stopgap waterproof surface membranes.’

The company adds: ‘Stopgap 1500 AquaPro is also moisture resistant, meaning that it can be applied to damp subfloors prior to the application of a waterproof surface membrane. This is suitable where a rough or uneven screed would result in a liquid waterproof surface membrane pooling in undulations on the surface, often requiring a greater quantity of the product to achieve full coverage.’

Furthermore, its low-odour, protein-free formulation makes it suitable for use in biologically sensitive settings, such as hospitals and laboratories, and allows installations to proceed while adjacent areas remain in use, says F Ball.

The company concludes: ‘Stopgap 1500 AquaPro is available in 20kg units, which will achieve coverage of an area about 5sq m applied at a thickness of 2-3mm.’
www.f-ball.co.uk