Contractors from Sovereign Flooring, which has locations in Bognor Regis and Hayling Island, were commissioned to install a range of floorcoverings throughout the new development. The first phase involved work in a new sports bar, eatery and adjoining kitchens, bathrooms and stairways.
Initial preparation
They began by making sure that the newly-installed concrete screeds were suitably sound and smooth in all areas, using hand tools to remove loose materials and debris.
A moisture test conducted by an F. Ball technical representative indicated that subfloor relative humidity (RH) levels were higher than the maximum 75% threshold for floorcoverings to be installed without a moisture management solution in place. If left untreated, the subfloor moisture would likely cause damage to floorcoverings and adhesives, which could potentially result in complete floor failure, so F. Ball’s Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane was applied where vinyl floorcoverings were to be installed. The solvent-free, two-part epoxy resin system cures in as little as three hours to create a barrier against excess subfloor moisture where relative humidity levels are up to 98% with a single application.
Creating a smooth base
In the groundfloor sports bar, kitchen and bathrooms, Sovereign Flooring applied F. Ball’s Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance levelling compound to create a perfectly smooth base for the vinyl floorcoverings.
Stopgap 1200 Pro is a low odour, fast-setting, fast-drying, two-component levelling compound that is suitable for preparing sound internal subfloors prior to the installation of new floorcoverings. It offers the benefit of being suitable for use over old adhesive residues (including bitumen and carpet tile tackifiers), in which case there is no need to prime beforehand.
Stopgap 1200 Pro was also used to patch fill areas where carpet was to be fitted in the eatery, which is situated directly above the sports bar.
Resilient choice
Contractors then used F. Ball’s Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive to install a combination of luxury vinyl tiles and safety flooring.
Polyflor Expona wood-effect vinyl planks were installed in the sports bar, and Polyflor Expona Endgrain vinyl planks, which create the appearance of wood blocks, were used in the area in front of the eatery bar. Safety flooring was installed in the areas behind the bars in both the eatery and sports bar, as well as in the kitchens and bathrooms.
The pressure sensitive nature of Styccobond F46 adhesive makes it ideal for installing LVTs. It provides a high bond strength, which increases as it is trafficked, and strong initial tack, meaning that tiles or planks won’t move around once positioned by contractors. The indefinite open time offered by the product negates the risk of late placement and makes it ideal for more complex designs or patterns.
Carpets and stairs
Sovereign Flooring used F. Ball’s Stopgap P131 primer to prime the subfloor area in the eatery where carpet would be installed before using a moisture resistant adhesive to install underlay followed by carpet to create a dual bond system, which would allow the carpet to be easily removed and replaced at a later date. Stopgap P131 enhances the application characteristics of subsequently applied adhesives. It also stops the undesirably rapid drying of levelling compounds applied over absorbent subfloors such as concrete.
Finally, Stycco Flex, F. Ball’s rapid-curing, flexible tube adhesive was used to affix the stair nosings on the central staircase that connects the sports bar and eatery. The adhesive is known for being able to bond almost any absorbent or non-absorbent material found in the flooring and construction industries. The high strength build-up and fast curing time means it can secure stair nosings and trims in as little as 60 minutes, without the need for mechanical fixings.