Christ Church Primary School

School hall fit for playtime thanks to F Ball


F. Ball’s high performance subfloor preparation and adhesive products have been used to renovate the floor of a 160m2 school hall at Christ Church CE Primary School in Kent.

A combination of Stopgap 600 deep section base compound and Stopgap 200 Smooth acrylic floor smoothing underlayment was used over a Stopgap Waterproof Surface Membrane, firstly to build up the subfloor to the required thickness and then create a smooth, durable surface on which the final floorcovering could be laid. Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive was used to secure the vinyl Polyflor XL floorcovering to the finished subfloor.

The complete overhaul of the floor was required because the subfloor was damaged and crumbling under the original wood flooring and it could no longer support the weight and foot traffic the hall receives. As a result, the whole subfloor had to be removed and re-installed.

Prior to the application of Stopgap 600, a Stopgap waterproof surface membrane was applied directly to the subfloor. Stopgap 600 Base, a deep section compound, was pump-applied in two coats and is ideal for heavy-duty areas, such as the school hall. Its fast-drying, low odour and protein free properties make it suitable for use within a school setting. The Stopgap waterproof surface membrane isolated residual construction moisture and rising damp, preventing the possibility of moisture damage to the final floorcovering.

The final construction of a smooth and durable surface which is able to withstand high levels of foot traffic was achieved through the application of Stopgap 200 Smooth. This is a rapid drying, self-levelling and low-odour acrylic underlayment.

Styccobond F46 acrylic adhesive was used to fix the vinyl floorcovering to the subfloor. A solvent free, pressure sensitive adhesive with a high-bond strength, F46 minimises the effect of adhesive shadowing through the vinyl floorcovering for an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Andy Hunter, main contractor at AJH Flooring Solutions Ltd, explains: “As a large, regularly used multi-purpose area, the hall was in need of renovating. By using F. Ball products throughout we knew that we would create a safe, hard-wearing and long-lasting floor for the pupils to play on.”