Ball, F and Co Ltd

F. Ball products have been used as part of a refurbishment of the Centrepoint Building in Tralee, Ireland, which will now serve as a HSE Primary Care Centre. The concrete subfloor of the building was primed using Stopgap P131, a general-purpose primer for absorbent subfloors. With a quick turnaround required for the job, the pump-specialising contractors needed a levelling compound which, in their own words, “had a quick curing time, could be pump-applied, and had high compressive strength.” Ticking every box was Stopgap Red Bag levelling compound, which contractors applied at a thickness of 8mm.

F. Ball products have helped to create a show-stopping floor finish in the Regent’s Park Rehearsal Studios. In studio 1, the raised plywood subfloor was firstly primed using Stopgap P131 primer to promote adhesion and prevent rapid drying of adhesives and levelling compounds. Since the studio would face heavy footfall, contractors selected Stopgap 700 Superflex levelling compound, which was applied prior to installation of vinyl dance floor coverings. Studios 3 and 4, had Stopgap P131 primer and Stopgap 700 Superflex levelling compound applied, followed by Styccobond F3 flooring adhesive to install cork rubber tiles over the timber subfloor.

High performance products from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have been used to install safe and hygienic flooring at Riverside Hospital, in Brentford, Middlesex. On the ground floor, where a plywood subfloor had been installed, Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance smoothing underlayment was used to provide a perfectly smooth base. Once cured, vinyl sheet floorcoverings were installed using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive. Stopgap 700 Superflex fibre-reinforced, flexible levelling compound was utilised on the first floor, where Stopgap P131 primer was initially used. Throughout the building, capping and coving was installed to meet clinical regulations using Styccobond F60 contact adhesive.

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, has been used alongside the company’s Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive vinyl adhesive to provide a time-saving solution for installing floorcoverings in Derbyshire’s largest hospital.Derbyshire Flooring Contractors installed an eye-catching bespoke vinyl flooring design in the waiting area and connecting corridors of the children’s outpatient ward at Royal Derby Hospital, a total area of 800m2.The floors in the ward required refurbishing as the old floorcoverings had become worn. Work needed to be carried out in the evening, in stages, so that it would not interfere with the day-to-day running of the ward. Requiring a time-saving solution, contractors opted to use Stopgap 1500 AquaPro water-mix smoothing underlayment, avoiding the need to remove old adhesive residues.Stopgap 1500 AquaPro uses the latest technology to offer a water-mix smoothing underlayment that can be applied over old adhesive residues, including bitumen, carpet tile tackifiers and ceramic tile adhesives. In such applications, there is no need to prime beforehand, saving further time and expense. Fast-setting and fast-drying, it is walk-on hard in as little as 60 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings from just four hours.Work began with the labour-intensive task of uplifting old floorcoverings. Stopgap 1500 AquaPro was then applied at a thickness of 3mm over the subfloors to create a perfectly smooth base for new floorcoverings.A bespoke two-tone design, resembling a river running through the children’s ward with ‘islands’ of colour either side, was created by cutting shapes from two different colours of Polyflor Classic Mystique PUR vinyl sheet flooring, with the pieces adhered using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive.Styccobond F46 provides instant grab, preventing floorcoverings from sliding when placed, helping with the creation of designs and patterns. The adhesive is also formulated to minimise the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl flooring potentially affecting the finished appearance of installations.Commenting on the project, Mark Grant, Managing Director at Derbyshire Flooring Contractors, said: “We like using F. Ball products – they’re really good quality and reliable. Also, their tech reps are always available, if needed, to provide advice on products to use and procedures to follow throughout a project, from start to finish, including keeping us up-to-date with the latest technology that can help us achieve optimum results efficiently. That’s how I found out about Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, which saved us a lot of time outside of normal working hours and enabled us to complete the work while the ward wasn’t in use, minimising disruption to services.”

F. Ball products have been used to create a high-quality flooring finish at a London Hospital for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Contractors were called to install a combination of vinyl sheet and safety flooring. Stopgap F78 was applied in two coats, to provide a quick and effective barrier against excess subfloor moisture which could attack subsequent adhesives and floorcoverings. Stopgap 300 HD levelling compound was then applied to provide a smooth, hard-wearing base for the receipt of new floorcoverings. The new vinyl sheet was then applied using Styccobond F46 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive.

High performance subfloor preparation products and adhesive from F. Ball have been used to create a high quality floor finish at Sky News studios. To provide a firm, smooth base over which the floorcovering could be installed, Stopgap 700 Superflex flexible levelling compound was installed over the plywood subfloor, having first being primed using Stopgap P131 general purpose primer. Once the levelling compound cured, wood-effect LVTs and Norament rubber sheet floorcoverings were installed across the room occupied by cameras and production crew. Styccobond F58 acrylic emulsion adhesive, was used to ensure the rubber sheets would remain firmly in place.

Styccobond F73 PLUS adhesive has been used for a rinkside flooring refurbishment at Slough Ice Arena. The flooring area surrounding the ice rink had already been prepared by removing old loose lay rubber floorcoverings, and the subfloor cleared of contaminants, including old adhesive residues. Once a suitably smooth surface was complete, the installation of rubber floor tiles commenced, using Styccobond F73 PLUS. With high initial grab and resistance to oil, grease, and water, once cured, Styccobond F73 PLUS was the perfect choice for use adjacent to an ice rink, where water deposited by skaters leaving the rink will be common.

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s rapid-setting, ultra-smooth floor finishing compound has delivered a fast-track solution for refurbishing the iconic Nelson Staircase at Somerset House, London.As part of ongoing maintenance and improvement works, flooring contractor Carpet Culture was commissioned to restore the steps and one of the main landings of the historic Beaux-Arts staircase, which spans six floors and dates back to the late 18th century, when the Royal Navy occupied the building.Contractors began by removing old floorcoverings and adhesive residues from the steps and the 40m2 landing.The landing was destroyed by a bomb in the Second World War and subsequently restored with concrete, meaning that it would require raising in order for floorcoverings to meet the level of the original stone border, but less than the minimum application thickness of a smoothing compound. Additionally, work required completing over two nights, between the hours of 6-11pm, while the building was unoccupied, meaning there was not time to mechanically prepare the concrete area.Contractors, therefore, applied two coats of Stopgap Micro Rapid floor finishing compound to create a perfectly smooth surface for the receipt of floorcoverings.Stone effect LVTs were then installed on the landing and risers and treads of the stairs, and Stycco Flex rapid-curing, flexible tube adhesive was used to affix Gradus stair nosings. The high strength build-up and fast curing time of the adhesive means it can secure stair nosings and trims in as little as 60 minutes, without the need for mechanical fixings.Tom McCullough, senior flooring manager at Carpet Culture, said: “We were grateful to our F. Ball technical representative for suggesting using Stopgap Micro Rapid as an alternative to applying a smoothing compound so that we could complete the work out of hours, on time. It worked a treat, and we received compliments for how it looked even before the floorcoverings went down.”

The history of a 200-year-old lighthouse has been brought to life with a little help from F. Ball flooring installation products, which have been used to refurbish a popular visitor attraction on the North Wales coast.South Stack Lighthouse stands just off Holy Island and is the most westerly point on Anglesey. Built to warn passing ships of the perilous rocks that lie beneath it, the 28m-tall lighthouse is still operating today. Visitors to the landmark attraction can see the lamp up close, tour the original engine room, and learn about its history in an adjoining exhibition centre.Flooring contractors opted for Styccobond F46 adhesive to install Altro vinyl safety flooring throughout the centre’s 100m2 display rooms, as well as staff areas, toilets, corridors and kitchen. Extreme weather conditions meant there were logistical challenges, with several attempts required to deliver materials to the remote island via sea and air before contractors could begin work on the job.The visitor centre subfloor, comprising mostly old wooden floorboards, was subjected to moisture testing using a Protimeter MMS2 in WME mode, the results of which provided readings below the 17% threshold, enabling contractors to proceed with overboarding the subfloor with plywood which was then primed. A finishing compound was used to fill indentations formed by screws used to affix the panels and the joints between them in order to prevent imperfections showing through the final result.After sufficient time had been allowed for the finishing compound to dry, Styccobond F46 acrylic adhesive was used to secure the vinyl safety flooring. A solvent-free, pressure sensitive adhesive with a high-bond strength, Styccobond F46 is designed to minimise the effect of trowel serrations shadowing through thin vinyl flooring to give an aesthetically pleasing finish. The product dries to a permanent tacky film and it also has an infinite open time, is protected against biodegradation and is suitable for use over normal underfloor heating installations.A similar process was followed in the toilets, though this time, a concrete subfloor was levelled using a fast-track levelling compound, and capping and coving were installed at wall junctions using Styccobond F60 contact adhesive. The instant bond formed by the adhesive means that it is suitable for securing vertical flooring accessories. It will also withstand normal wet cleaning techniques.Commenting on the installation, Gary Hughes, Director at Oakwill Flooring, said: “As a business, we pride ourselves on high quality workmanship, using only the best products and suppliers, and if you’re putting down a floor with a 20-year guarantee, F. Ball is the go-to choice. The lighthouse was a challenging job, but we managed to turn mission impossible into mission complete.”

F. Ball’s Stopgap Fill and Prime thixotropic primer and Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound have delivered a fast-track solution for installing floorcoverings in one of the largest small-animal referral hospitals in Europe.Flooring contractors installed vinyl safety flooring and luxury vinyl tiles throughout a total area of 1100m2 at Southfields Veterinary Centre, in Basildon, Essex.Requiring a timesaving solution for working over chipboard as an alternative to overboarding with plywood, the contractors contacted their regional F. Ball technical representative, who advised preparing subfloors with Stopgap Fill and Prime prior to the application of a suitable levelling compound.Stopgap Fill and Prime is a cement-based primer that is designed for use over raised-access panels and flooring grades of plywood, chipboard, MDF and oriented strand board (OSB 3). It has a thixotropic consistency, meaning that it flows freely when stirred but sets to a gel-like consistency on standing, enabling it to fill gaps between panels to prevent imperfections transferring to the finished installation.Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was then applied in all areas to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings. The product is fast-setting and fast-drying and can also be applied over old adhesive residues, in which case there is no need to prime subfloors beforehand.Polyflor vinyl safety flooring was installed in the treatment rooms using Styccobond F44 solvent-free acrylic emulsion adhesive, which is designed to give a strong initial tack, high bond strength and a long open time.In the canteen, Forbo Allura Flex Wood luxury vinyl tiles were adhered using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive, which provides instant grab, preventing floorcoverings from sliding as tiles or planks are subsequently placed. The adhesive is designed to minimise the incidence of trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl flooring and potentially affecting the finished appearance of the installation. Styccobond F46 was also used to secure Polyflor vinyl safety flooring in the corridors connecting the treatment rooms.Capping and coving were installed in the corridors using Styccobond F60 contact adhesive. The formation of an instant bond makes it suitable for securing floor and wallcoverings on vertical surfaces.Commenting on the project, Ben Montgomery, head of projects at Veatu Flooring, said: “While we use a lot of F. Ball products and they’re our first choice because of their quality and availability, it’s the first time we’ve used the tech rep service. They came out and provided a tailored specification for the project we were working on, which ended up saving us a lot of time and expense.”Before any floor preparation work was carried out a moisture test was conducted, which determined that subfloor moisture levels were low enough that a moisture management solution was not needed.

Stopgap subfloor preparation products from F. Ball and Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive have been used to create a laboratory-standard flooring finish at a new facility for international laboratories operator Tentamus Group, at Pride Park in Derbyshire.Flooring contractors used Stopgap Fill and Prime and Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound to prepare 1500m² of metal raised access panels over two floors before installing vinyl sheet safety flooring throughout. Once the primer had cured, Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for the installation of floorcoverings. Contractors then used Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive to install Polyflor Polysafe Standard PUR heavy-duty vinyl safety flooring. Finally, Quantum PVC capping and coving was installed at the junctions between the floorcoverings and walls to produce a neat finish and allow for easy cleaning. 

F. Ball products have been used as part of the refurbishment of Grade I listed building, The British Library. Contractors had to install 800m2 of flooring in the second largest library in the world. When contractors arrived on the site, the old floorcoverings had already been taken up. Stopgap Fill and Prime was selected to fill in the gaps between the raised access panels and create a smooth, even, and primed subfloor. Styccobond F40 high tack dual bond adhesive, with its ability to provide a peelable bond for release underlays, was used to adhere the carpet in the library.

Products from F. Ball have been used to create a hygienic flooring finish as part of a refurbishment at The Doctors Laboratory, in Salford, Manchester.Flooring contractors used Stopgap Fill and Prime 700 Superflex flexible levelling compound to prepare 1500m² of metal raised access panels before installing vinyl sheet floorcoverings and coving. Once the primer had cured, Stopgap 700 Superflex flexible levelling compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth finish for the receipt of floorcoverings. With the subfloor preparation complete, the flooring contractors could install Tarkett IQ Granit Acoustic Vinyl sheet throughout the entire area using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive which possesses a high initial tack, making it ideal for the installing of floorcoverings over larger areas. Finally, the contractors used Styccobond F66 contact adhesive to install PVC coving. 

F. Ball products have been used to install carpet and vinyl floorcoverings as part of the refurbishment of Grade A Listed building, The Russell Institute in Paisley, Scotland. Stopgap 1200 Pro smoothing underlayment with its fast setting and fast drying properties was applied over a 700m2 area. Styccobond F3 flooring adhesive, which has high strength and good wet grab, was used to adhere the carpet floorcoverings. Finally, Styccobond F44, a solvent-free acrylic emulsion adhesive with strong initial tack and high bond strength, was used to secure the vinyl floorcoverings, providing the listed building with an aesthetically pleasing floor finish.

Products donated by F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have been used as part of ‘The Secret Garden’, a charitable restoration project at Glenfield Hospital. Work commenced with the removal of carpet tiles and a small area of vinyl tiles, in addition to flattening of a high point. After ensuring that the subfloor was sufficiently sound, dry and free of contamination, Stopgap 1200 Pro was applied to the floor at a thickness of 3mm to create a base for new floorcoverings. Finally, vinyl sheet was installed, with joints welded and a silicone sealant used to affix the floorcovering to skirting boards.

Stopgap 700 flexible smoothing underlayment and Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier have been used in the refurbishment of a thirty-year-old Routemaster bus to create a library for children at Tolworth Nursery. On the top deck of the bus, Stopgap 700 flexible smoothing underlayment was applied over a firmly secured plywood subfloor. On both floors, Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier was used to install premium fibre-bonded carpet tiles. Styccobond F66 solvent-free contact adhesive was used to install carpet tiles on the bus’s staircase. Stycco Flex, a rapid-curing flexible adhesive, was then used to attach the aluminium stair nosings.

Stopgap 800 Wearcoat self-levelling floor compound has been used to renovate warehouse floors at a branch of Travis Perkins in Long Eaton. After conducting a moisture measurement test and determining that the subfloor was dry enough to proceed, contractors primed the area with Stopgap P131, to promote good adhesion between the floor compound and concrete subfloor. Once the primer was suitably dry, Stopgap 800 Wearcoat was then applied due to the floor requiring a hard-wearing surface that could weather the high levels of daily foot traffic and movement of heavy products being sold in the builders merchant warehouse.

F. Ball products have been used to install floorcoverings in a waterside residential development at Swansea Marina. Stopgap 1200 Pro high-performance levelling compound was used to create a smooth base ready for the receipt of floorcoverings. Contractors then used Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive to install oak-effect Polyflor vinyl sheet in the kitchens and bathrooms, as well as to install purple Polyflor vinyl sheet floorcoverings in the building’s corridors, stairways and other communal areas. Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive was used to install Polyflor wood-effect vinyl planks in the living areas of each of the apartments.

F. Ball products have been used to install vinyl and rubber flooring, as part of the refurbishment of the Wellington College fitness centre, in Berkshire. Flooring contractors were called to install luxury vinyl tiles and rubber flooring. After removing the existing floorcovering, contractors built up the raised platform with timber and plywood and applied Stopgap 1200 Pro smoothing underlayment over the raised platform and the screed subfloor. Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS temperature tolerant vinyl adhesive was then used to adhere the floorcoverings. The adhesive enabled contractors to successfully install luxury vinyl sheet, wood effect planks, plus the rubber flooring.

F. Ball donated products for use in the creation of an on-site recruitment agency, bank and shop to help children with special needs and learning difficulties at a school in Surrey. Firstly, old floorcoverings were lifted, and old adhesive residue removed. Stopgap P131 primer was then applied over the subfloor to prevent unacceptable rapid drying of floor levelling compounds that were to be applied. Contractors then applied Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance levelling compound to create a smooth base ready for the new floorcovering. Pine-effect Polyflor vinyl planks were then installed using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.