Contractors from Croydon-based ‘The Polished Concrete Co.’ were called to install F. Ball’s Stopgap 800 Wearcoat self-levelling wearing surface over a 200m2 area. Stopgap 800 was chosen to create a visually interesting natural appearance and a harmonious transition between inside and outside environments, along with Stopgap P131 primer and Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane.
Managing moisture
Before any work was undertaken, a moisture test was carried out to determine levels of moisture in the building’s concrete subfloor, which indicated relative humidity (RH) levels of 75–80%. Where relative humidity levels are greater than 75% (65% if wood floorcoverings are to be installed) a waterproof surface membrane is required to provide a barrier against excess moisture and prevent possible floor failure. Therefore, contractors installed F. Ball’s Stopgap F77 two-part, epoxy resin waterproof surface membrane over all ground floor areas.
Stopgap F77 is applied in a single coat and fully cures in as little as three hours to create a barrier against moisture or rising damp where relative humidity values are up to 98%.
Priming to perfection
With few exceptions, it’s essential to prime a subfloor before the application of a levelling compound, so a single coat of F. Ball’s P131 primer was applied to the area. When used over non-absorbent surfaces, such as Stopgap waterproof surface membranes, primers promote adhesion of subsequently applied levelling compounds. Stopgap P131 typically dries in less than 60 minutes when applied over non-absorbent subfloors, and is pigmented green to visually gauge coverage.
The finish
Contractors then proceeded to install Stopgap 800 Wearcoat throughout the entire area. Stopgap 800 is a self-levelling, industrial-grade floor compound used for upgrading and renovating new and existing internal floors in light to heavy-duty applications where floorcoverings are not required. While still wet, an F. Ball spiked roller was used to dispel any trapped air in the levelling compound and smooth out flow lines to achieve an optimum, uniform appearance.
Once dry, contractors polished the surface before applying a sealer to protect the surface from water and other liquids.
Commenting on the project, John Butt, managing director at The Polished Concrete Co., said: “It’s been great to be a part of this project. Not only is the building architecturally interesting, it’s situated in a very attractive location, and the finish of the Stopgap 800 adds to the aesthetic that has been created. Our customers love Stopgap 800 for its superior appearance to concrete.”