Contract Flooring in Cornwall were subcontracted to install 400m2 of flooring in the newly built depot, where a combination of Stopgap F77 and F78 waterproof surface membranes, Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound and Styccobond F46 Vinyl Adhesive were used to create an aesthetically pleasing floor finish.
Moisture management
A moisture test found the relative humidity (RH) levels of the floor to be higher than 75%, therefore a waterproof surface membrane (WSM) was required. To combat the excess subfloor moisture, which can cause extensive damage to floorcoverings and lead to costly remedial work, contractors used a combination of Stopgap F77 and Stopgap F78 WSMs in areas of varying moisture levels.
When dealing with serious cases of subfloor moisture (RH levels of up to 98%, for example), the solvent-free two-part Stopgap F77 WSM prevents construction moisture and damp from affecting subsequent floorcovering installations, allowing early installation of floorcoverings in fast-track building programmes.
When facing time restraints, water-based moisture management systems, such as Stopgap F78, can be used to isolate residual construction moisture where RH values are up to 95%. Stopgap F78 is a solvent-free, one component, ready-to-use system, which dries rapidly to provide a WSM.
Further preparation
Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was then applied over the area. Designed for use over a wide range of subfloor types, Stopgap 1200 Pro is suitable for use over old adhesive residues, including bitumen and carpet tile tackifiers, without the need for priming. It can also be used in clinical and biologically sensitive areas, making it the perfect choice for this installation.
In as little as four hours, Stopgap 1200 Pro is ready to receive floorcoverings, so the contractors were able to return a short time later to install the new flooring in the depot. Using Styccobond F46, a solvent-free pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive, contractors installed Altro Reliance 25 safety flooring.
The verdict
John Hudson, Managing Director of Contract Flooring, commented: “We always use F. Ball products and often work very closely with our local F. Ball representative. We’re very pleased to say that, as expected, the range of F. Ball products that we used at the Great Western Railway depot enabled us to create an aesthetically pleasing, durable floor finish of vinyl safety flooring.”