F. Ball products used for the floor refurbishment included Stopgap P141 primer, Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound, Stopgap 850 Exterior, and Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS adhesive. The property dates back to the 1960s, and incorporates a 90m2 showroom, a 200m2 inner stockroom, and a 250m2 main warehouse.
A moisture test indicated that a waterproof surface membrane was required to stop excess moisture rising up and damaging the floor installation. The contractor’s choice of product was F. Ball’s Stopgap F77, a solvent-free, two-part epoxy resin system which cures to provide a high performance waterproof surface membrane, effective up to 98% relative humidity (RH) levels.
The showroom
The subfloor of the showroom was primed using Stopgap P141, an acrylic primer for non-absorbent subfloors. Priming prevents unacceptably fast drying of adhesives and levelling compounds, which can weaken the levelling compound and lead to floor failure, and it also helps to promote the adhesion of the levelling compound to a screed or waterproof surface membrane.
Since the showroom would face heavy foot traffic daily from customers and staff, the company selected Stopgap 300 HD as their levelling compound, which is specially designed for areas that are subjected to heavy-duty trafficking. In places where old walls had been removed, the contractors used Stopgap 400 Repair, which is designed to repair and make good internal floors, steps and stairs.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) were then installed for an impressive finish to the showroom, and since the area is glass-fronted, an adhesive had to be selected with temperature-tolerant properties. Temperature extremes can cause vinyl floorcoverings, especially, to expand and contract, leading to tenting and gapping over time. Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS adhesive was the perfect choice to combat these conditions, as it is designed specially for use in areas where floorcoverings have to withstand extreme temperature variations.
The warehouse
Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound and Stopgap 850 Exterior were used by the contractors in the stockroom and main warehouse respectively. Stopgap 1200 Pro is specially designed for use over old adhesive residues without the need for priming, and Stopgap 850 Exterior is specially designed to withstand light to medium duty trafficking. When both levelling compounds were fully set, a coat of floor paint was applied to both areas.
The verdict
Commenting on the project, contractor Merrick Smith said: “F. Ball is the main brand of product we use day-in day-out, and for good reason! We’ve always used them since our company began back in 1980, as the products are reliable and technical back-up is always sound.
“Stopgap 1200 Pro is a go-to product every time, along with Stopgap 300 HD, Styccobond F44, Styccobond F3 and Styccobond F49. We were very fortunate to have the local F. Ball technical representative, Steve Sinclair, visit the site and help survey which products would be most appropriate to give the best finish possible.”