JLP - Exeter

Kerakoll products were chosen for the screeding, vinyl application and tiling in the redevelopment of on of John Lewis’ most high-profile commercial buildings in Exeter. The existing 1960’s building posed a range of design issues for the Architects Glen Howells including limited floor depths to accommodate the required new build-up. Kerakoll’s specialist team were able to assist with technical advice and product guidance for the specification of a thin bonded screed throughout the 11,000m2 building.

The tiling contractors Spot On Services (SW) Ltd laid 9,500sqm of screed and 7,000sqm of tiles, utilising a workforce of approximately 30 tilers, screed specialists and labourers.

Damp proofing for the basement

The basement of the store needed damp proofing to isolate the new screeds from contaminants introduced by rainwater during construction and Kerakoll’s EP21 was chosen for this task, as the 2-component product is ideal for use in renovation work. This was then topped with a Keracem Eco screed and movement joints were filled with a Kerakoll joint sealant.

4000m² of low-thickness, highly stable screeds

Kerakoll Keracem Eco hydraulic screed binder was selected for use in 4000m2 of the store, due to its ability to be laid at low thickness, rapid-drying properties and high dimensional stability. The Keracem Eco screed was bonded to the sub-floor using Keraplast Eco P6 bonding slurry.

By bonding the screed with Keraplast Eco P6 to the concrete substrate, the Keracem Eco screed could be laid as low as 20mm while maintaining its high compressive and flexural strength. Keracem Eco has a working time of 3 hours which allowed the screeding teams to complete large areas without day joints. Keracem Eco screeds allow for foot traffic after only 8 hours, allowing follow-on trades to continue working while screeding progressed, assisting with programme times.

Elsewhere, the floors were levelled with a Kerakoll water-mixed, fibre-reinforced levelling compound, taking care to minimise the imposed loads over the existing slabs. Then tiling and grouting was completed using Kerakoll products. Vinyl flooring and carpet tiles were laid throughout the office areas using Kerakoll adhesives.