"wood block and strip flooring"

Cordek were invited to propose a re-useable formwork solution to pre-cast the two spiral staircases within Phase One’s residential block, Circus West. A combination of detailed planning and modern digital methods of manufacture resulted in a cost effective formwork solution which achieved the quality and multiple reuses required from this demanding project.

Robust and Functional Acoustic Solution delivered by Colinwell for a Multi-Purpose Hall.The pupils of St Bronagh’s have a long tradition ofchampioning environmental improvement projects. So it was no surprise when d-on architects ltd chose Colinwell's EchoCheck Acoustic Block, which is manufactured from 65% recycled agregates, for the interior of the schools Multi-Purpose Hall.

Demolition of an existing 1960’s student accommodation block and its replacement with a new building comprising 84 en-suite student bedrooms.InterLace designed, manufactured and installed blackout and sheer curtains throughout all student rooms. Curtains were the perfect solution, maximising natural light during the day, and maximising privacy during the night.

The grounds at St. Patrick’s Church in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, was redeveloped with a traditional style landscape created with Tobermore’s Tegula and Tegula Setts block paving. The charming, aged aesthetics of the product complemented the historic church building beautifully and the creation of a celtic-themed circular paving design was used to create a focal point and enhance the character of the site.

Client: Sunderland City CouncilLocation: Sunderland, UKSector: Mixed-Use FacilityYear: 2021Project Size: 3,500 m²System: vebro Classic TerrazzoA durable, attractive, impressive terrazzo flooring solution for the atrium, staircase, café, walkways and breakout spaces in the new City Hall development in Sunderland.FaulknerBrowns’s City Hall scheme provides a mix of private and public uses comprising two blocks, one five-storey and one six-storey tower, linked by a covered central walkway.Project backer Sunderland City Council is expected to move around 1,200 employees into the seven-storey building on the plot which, until recently, had laid dormant since the brewery’s demolition in 1999.Bringing together council staff from eight different offices around the city under one roof, the project is set to deliver net operational savings to the council of around £22 million over 25 years. The building will also include customer services areas, a fitness room, and an employment centre.The former Vaux Brewery site in Sunderland has been redeveloped as part of an ambitious £500m plan to deliver state-of-the-art commercial offices, residential, retail, leisure, hotel, and dining space.The brownfield site, which sits to the north-west of the city, is being developed in phases to bring a new mixed-use neighbourhood to the area. With the first phase that originally commenced in 2016 now complete, the second phase of the plan (Vaux 2) comprises the 17,775 square metre, £42 million City Hall, Sunderland.Vebro Polymers supplied its decorative epoxy terrazzo flooring system, vebro Classic Terrazzo, in two unique colour blends, RAL 3009 Red Oxide and RAL 7044 Silk Grey as part of the flooring package at the new Sunderland City Hall, which has been expertly project managed from prep through to finish by the team at MJF Group over a 4 month period.These terrazzo materials have also been used to create several pre-cast elements including the dining hall counter, central feature stairwell, and other items of furniture.vebro Classic Terrazzo is a highly decorative, but highly durable and long-lasting epoxy terrazzo flooring system. The material is installed as a slurry of wet components mixed with a blend of handpicked decorative marble aggregates onto the primed substrate.MJF Group is an established support services company providing specialist solutions to businesses nationwide.Since 2006 the company has built an enviable reputation in the commercial cleaning market, fuelling a later expansion into site services and specialist flooring alongside growth from local to national level.MJFs dedicated team of flooring experts are a group of highly skilled professionals who deliver a first-class service, ensuring all of their flooring solutions achieve outstanding results within an efficient and timely manner.MJF pride themselves on offering their clients extremely competitive prices, without ever compromising results.

Canon Green Court is a large residential scheme in Greater Manchester refurbishing an iconic 1960s high-rise tower block on Salford's skyline and building an 11-story building containing 108 one and two-bedroom apartments. This development is the largest affordable housing development in the area, with the new building joining two pre-existing blocks that have been upgraded. The site is named after Canon Peter Green’s pen name, 'Artifex', a published writer who dedicated his life to supporting poor communities. The refurbishment has a simple building shape with a high-quality terracotta rain-screen façade, combined photo voltaic on the roof and shared high-quality placemaking landscape.Cellecta ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Corstorphine & Wright for this project due to its excellent impact and airborne acoustic performance. ScreedBoard was recognised in the housebuilder awards and took home the winner's award for 'best internal/interior product'.Willmott Dixon was awarded the contract to construct this 6,500m² development.

A small farm cottage in a Cornish Village has been transformed with a stunning large modern extension and balcony.The team of Camel Glass installers have been heavily involved in this home with the installation of windows, doors and the glass balustrade. This home is situated on the grounds of an old quarry, with views over the valley towards an engine house. The customers wanted to be able to enjoy their view to the maximum and using glass balustrade provides a safe and solid railing. This home is highlighted throughout with copper oxide furnishings, the front door and elements of the kitchen follow this theme while the sink splash back is made from glass petals in a beautiful glass meadow scene. The balcony glass was the last outside job to be done, having to wait for the kitchen counter to be installed through the French doors it was safer to install the glass after this had been carried over the balcony. Now that winter is coming the indoor jobs can be finished off and the home owners can enjoy their newly renovated home! This installer has used POSIglaze base-fix in black. Balcony Seal® has also been used to ensure water can run off the balcony under the channel without causing water ingress. Most balconies and flat roofs are built with a slight pitch to encourage rainwater to drain towards the edge of the roof. In these cases, the balustrade installer needs to allow for drainage points under the channel, to avoid water pooling around the edge of it. The Balcony Seal® system works by subtly raising the channel a few millimeters above the substrate on drain blocks. Notches on the top side of the drain blocks locate into the rebates of the POSIglaze channel, locking it into position before the system is bolt-fixed to the substrate through each block. 

A small farm cottage in a Cornish Village has been transformed with a stunning large modern extension and balcony.The team of Camel Glass installers have been heavily involved in this home with the installation of windows, doors and the glass balustrade. This home is situated on the grounds of an old quarry, with views over the valley towards an engine house. The customers wanted to be able to enjoy their view to the maximum and using glass balustrade provides a safe and solid railing. This home is highlighted throughout with copper oxide furnishings, the front door and elements of the kitchen follow this theme while the sink splash back is made from glass petals in a beautiful glass meadow scene. The balcony glass was the last outside job to be done, having to wait for the kitchen counter to be installed through the French doors it was safer to install the glass after this had been carried over the balcony. Now that winter is coming the indoor jobs can be finished off and the home owners can enjoy their newly renovated home! This installer has used POSIglaze base-fix in black. Balcony Seal® has also been used to ensure water can run off the balcony under the channel without causing water ingress. Most balconies and flat roofs are built with a slight pitch to encourage rainwater to drain towards the edge of the roof. In these cases, the balustrade installer needs to allow for drainage points under the channel, to avoid water pooling around the edge of it. The Balcony Seal® system works by subtly raising the channel a few millimeters above the substrate on drain blocks. Notches on the top side of the drain blocks locate into the rebates of the POSIglaze channel, locking it into position before the system is bolt-fixed to the substrate through each block. 

Zentia helped with sound and sight in a new teaching block. The two to three-storey steel-frame building replaces a 1970s three-storey CLASP-type teaching block to bring accommodation into the 21st Century and was designed to BREEAM “Excellent” and BIM Level 2 standards.Zentia Axiom Knife Edge canopies with Ultima+ tiles and were specified by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for the £12.5 million new secondary teaching block at Ystalyfera Welsh Medium Comprehensive School in the upper Swansea Valley in South Wales.Used throughout the new 6,500 m² building, the Axiom Knife Edge with Ultima+ Vector tiles were used, and in addition Perla 600 x 600 mm mineral fibre tiles were also fitted in classrooms and toilet areas.The 19-month long build by main contractor Dawnus Construction as part of the South Wales Regional Contractors Framework was challenging due to the tight site and restricted working spaces. A team of eight from specialist sub-contractor SAM Drylining installed the Zentia canopies and ceiling tiles.SAM Drylining contracts manager Ian Bartlett said: “This was a large extension to a comprehensive school and consisted of several different ceiling make-ups, including Zentia’s Knife Edge canopies, all floating in different areas with no ceilings above, and then several thousand metres of Zentia Lay-In grid."“The programme was a challenging one but was co-ordinated closely with all other subcontractors on site. If alterations to sequence or design were required Zentia’s technical team attended to site to discuss and were able to agree changes at site level, making the installation as painless as you’d expect.”

Project: Kingsgate Primary SchoolProduct: Shiluvit by Oranit in White Washed Nordic PineArchitect: Maccreanor LavingtonInstaller: Lacunar LtdKingsgate Primary School, London (2018) Photos by Michael Whitestone PhotographySpecification:
Shiluvit 7-501White Washed Nordic Pine
20 x 45mm Blades with 40mm Gaps
Quantity:
1300m2LSA Projects Ltd are delighted to share with you a new award winning Oranit installation at Kingsgate Primary School in London.The £18 million, 5000m2 school has created over 420 new primary school places at the purpose built facility which is comprised of two connected two storey teaching blocks with generous picture windows throughout for an abundance of natural light.The site also has ample external space including running tracks, a science garden, and covered playing spaces in addition to being part of a community development project linking the site to a neighbouring park developed from unused green space in the area.The saw-toothed roof and external appearance of school was designed to reflect its industrial past and the cool tone light brickwork and generous windows bring the design up-to-date with current trends and the requirements of a modern building.Inside the school there is a consistent airy and neutral palette with white walls and ceiling interspersed with pale wood feature walls and stairways in addition to the white washed Nordic Pine Shiluvit panels.Oranit Shiluvit panels were chosen in part for the ceilings of the spaces due to their impressive acoustic power; the configuration chosen which included LSA Black High Density Acoustic mineral wool achieves an overall rating of Class A for acoustic absorption making it perfect for ensuring minimal reverberation across the spaces helping to keep a calm atmosphere.Nordic Pine timber was chosen for its depth of texture as well as its PEFC Certification, the timber was then white washed for a clean and bright appearance.

Used car sales have dominated the automotive market in recent years, and this trend has subsequently boosted BCA ‘s business, creating the need to expand one of their popular auction grounds at Paddock Wood, Kent. Jacksons were approached to supply 56 metres of 2.90m high Barbican® vertical bar fencing in a standard galvanised finish.

Burton Green Primary School is located in the historic city of York, an outstanding school at the heart of a local community this primary school strives for excellence. The challenging and nurturing learning environment allows children to learn and grow, while achieving the highest potential possible in all areas of the 21st century curriculum.When the roof began showing signs of ageing, it was clear that a long-term solution was required. Working with Project Managers Charles Garth and Principal Contractor Castle Special Projects, Polyroof would work towards providing the best solution to refurbish the ageing roof.The work required and condition of the roof needed to be established first, to do this a survey was scheduled to take place. The survey was conducted on roofing area and it was determined that there were 6 flat roofs that required refurbishment. Areas 1 to 2 were constructed of a built up felt with mineral cap sheet, 50mm PUR insulation, bituminous vapour control, asphalt, 12mm fibreboard and a 50mm woodwood slab deck with timber joists. Areas 3 to 5 were constructed of a built up felt with mineral cap sheet, 50mm Jablite insulation, bituminous vapour control, asphalt, 12mm fibreboard and a 50mm wood wool slab deck with timber joists. Roof area 6 was made up of built-up felt with mineral cap, plywood and timber joist. The original build-up of roofs 1 to 5 needed to be stripped back to the asphalt due to the aged condition of the built-up felt, numerous leak reports were reported. Roof 6 and its original waterproofing was to be retained and made good, later this surface would act as the substrate for the new waterproofing system.Once the survey was completed, a bespoke specification was written and it was recommended that the roofing areas would all benefit from a high-performance waterproofing system. In addition to this it was specified that the roof would be thermally upgraded to reduce the risk of condensation and provide lower fuel bills and energy consumption for Primary School further adding benefits to making improvements to the roof.Liquid Roofing Limited an experienced roofing contractor and Polyroof Approved Contractor was chosen to undertake the work to this project. The proposed system for this project would be Polyroof Protec Warm Roof System. Protec’s liquid roof membrane has a unique flexible hybrid polymer formulation and can be applied to virtually all common roof surfaces.The areas that were required for installation firstly needed to be stripped and removed back to the asphalt, areas 1 to 5 required this. Area 6 was then repaired of any defects and made good where necessary. All roofs required a deep clean, removing any dirt or debris that remained from the first stage. Once this preparation was completed an Air & Vapour Control Layer (AVCL) was then installed to roof areas 1 to 5 making sure that all surfaces are smooth and without voids.Using a Polyroof Twin Pack Insulation Adhesive the Polyroof RES insulation (T&G) boards were bonded and laid to each of the 6 roof areas completing the second stage of the warm roof upgrade. Before the last stage of the installation could begin all joints in the insulation were sealed using taping matt and Polyroof Protec Resin. Polyroof’s extra-tough GRP trims were then installed to create neat and robust edge detailing for exposed perimeters before the main Protec system application commenced.During the project there were some challenging aspects that required care and attention. The project featured a large array of different details ranging from installation of new substrates and trims for parapet walls to the removal of and preservation of tiles/cladding so that the Protec system could be applied correctly. These features required delicate work so that the original tiles/cladding could be reinstated after the application of the system was completed. During the project the rooflight that was originally in place was removed and replaced with a new, before this could happen the Protec system was taken up the upstands and then sealed under flange.Once the project was completed within the relevant time frame of the client and within the budget specified, the Polyroof Technical Services team conducted a detailed inspection showing a high level of workmanship which lead to the client gaining the trusted Polyroof Accredited System Guarantee.

Housing Association Cross Keys Homes manage four blocks of flats between Grove Court and Tower Court in Peterborough. Sporting flat roofs since they were built in the late sixties, it became apparent that significant repairs were required when problems with the internal roof drainage system were causing water ingress and damp problems in the flats and maisonettes...

Location: Salford, UKSpecwall was instructed on a retail unit situated below a residential apartment block in The Crescent Salford. The unit needed to be separated into three with a split-level mezzanine aspect which presented some serious design issues for both blockwork and metal frame walls. The versatility of Specwall and the ease of installation made it the perfect choice to complete this job

When Robert Doyle Ecobuild Ltd won the contract to build the 3,000 sq. ft. €2 million homes at Dalkey Avenue, the contractor sought hard landscaping products that could perform well over time while complementing the distinct aesthetics of the properties. Tobermore surpassed expectations with the provision of attractive permeable paving, block paving and kerbing products for the scheme.

This stunning contemporary home situated in Waterford features Kingston Facing Brick from Tobermore. MDP + Partners’ concept was to create an introverted house, using two separate forms. These blocks were defined in material and scale, to create a private garden that the home is centred around. The one-off build incorporates indoor/outdoor living by connecting the south-facing garden.

Due to a high demand from our valued customers, we are proud to announce the latest product to our range - electric meter cover. Our Fire Rated Overboxes are a retrofit solution for keeping your gas and electrical meters safe from fire and tamper. These are ideally suited for refurbishment and newbuild products for multi-occupancy properties such as apartment blocks.

Bucking the trend for dairy brick, Brooklyn Brewery opted for close to 8,000 sq. ft. of urethane cement for major upgrade works to its manufacturing facility located at the former matzo plant where it has operated since 1996.

Gent Sint-Pieters railway stationCHALLENGE Gent Sint-Pieters, the main railway station in Ghent, is undergoing a spectacular metamorphosis today. The listed main building, constructed for the 1913 World Exhibition, has to remain untouched. Behind the old building however the platforms, waiting rooms and the central passengers corridor are being entirely refurbished. Architect Voncke’s objective was to create a pleasant atmospheric site with a 35,000 sqm open and attractive central hall, broadened and completely covered platforms and renovated rails. Functional, well-designed and above all spacious! As the 12 rail tracks had to stay on ground level, the passengers alley was excavated to a lower level under the railroad tracks. This necessitated permitting considerable daylight to enter the underlying levels.SOLUTION Transparent canopies, featuring large glass sections and translucent floors were all designed with this purpose in mind. To gain even more light the architect chose RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT for waterproofing the platform canopies. The six long rectangular platform blocks, differing in height, are interconnected and make one large roof. The white highly reflective RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT membrane on top of the construction reflects the daylight through the high side windows. A clever way to add extra day-light to the underlying areas. 

Riverside Heights is a collection of contemporary six and seven storey apartment buildings in a Norwich riverside setting. Timber cladding on several flanks of these structures needed to be replaced with fire-safe facades which had to match those being removed as closely as possible. Rockpanel were able to fulfil the brief using five super-realistic surface designs from its Woods Collection. 

Bayside Apartments is a stunning new development on Worthing's seafront. With a resident's lounge, communal courtyard space and spa, Bayside truly makes the most of its incredible seafront home. Taking inspiration from the coast, 'Bayside Vista' - the 15 storey structure is enveloped in swooping balconies with wood-grain tile, supported by Ryno RPF Fixed-Head Paving Support Pedestals.

Washroom installed new male and female washrooms using bespoke design elements to create a unique space to complement the rest of the building. The full height Alto toilet cubicle doors were finished with a striking dark wood effect Engineered Veneer, which ensures a consistency of colour for each cubicle door, and the bespoke floating trough vanities were manufactured in white Silestone.

The GemA full redesign and refurb took place at the ground floor of 111 Piccadilly in the heart of Manchester to accommodate a multifunctional co-working space within an independent coffee and lounge.IQ Projects have created a sculpture-like façade, using triangle structural glass panels in combination with our bespoke made, real oak veneered Technowood panels.Extraordinary design with extraordinary limitationsThey wanted to build a façade that is not only artistic and beautiful from the outside, but it is also practical and part of the interior design as well.All the glass panels are functioning as windows, letting light into the lounge and providing visibility to the outside.The complex structure had to use minimal sections too, so it can achieve the design. IQ has used steel instead of aluminium to build the structure, so it remains slim.The other challenge was the wooden elements. A specialist product was needed. Wooden panels that are strong, large and thin enough to be used.Panels that will stand the weather conditions, and requires minimal maintenance.We were able to supply these open grain oak veneered panels, that is rich in texture.Technowood eliminates the design limits of wooden elementsUsing real wood veneer has been popular for decades, the reason it gained popularity was to achieve better designs while saving on cost.Technowood has leveraged the benefits of this method and created patented solutions that ensures the veneers will last externally on all kinds of materials, such as Aluminium.With Technowood we can create the most unique pieces of real wood finished products. Some of the key benefits of Technowood products:It can be A2 fire ratedMuch lighter than solid timber or even composite materialsUp to 60% quicker on installationNo flitch beams nor unnecessary reinforcingNo visible fixingsWarranted for 20 yearsFSC and Environmental Product DeclarationAnd it looks like timber … because it is wrapped in real timber veneer. We do have in-house designers that offer solutions should you require. You can visit our office and showroom which is based in the Sky House design Centre, Amersham. Easily accessible by public transport (metropolitan line) or by car (M25 J18/M40 J2), please make sure you book an appointment.

Salisbury Walk is part of the Girdlestone Estate in London, and the last phase to be upgraded by landlord the London Borough of Islington as part of their commitment to delivering decent homes standards.The TaskWorking to our detailed specification, Opus stripped the existing profiled metal roof and built up our TA-30 Flat Roofing System, installing insulation to achieve 0.18W/m2K as advised by current Building Regulations. Ventilation and rooflight hatches were also upgraded and new upstands fitted.The Outcome“Having achieved such a positive result in the refurbishment elsewhere on the estate by utilising the services of Langley and Opus, it gave peace of mind for all stakeholders to re-apply that formula in other works. It brings us a valued perspective, enabling us to make informed decisions going forward about the condition of the estate, knowing we have consistency in approach, design, materials and application. We also have the peace of mind, going forward, that the roofs are all upgraded to a high standard and are assured for decades to come.”Theo Petrou, Mears Group Project Manager

This Laudescher LINEA Bespoke 2.4.3 acoustic slatted panels with the purpose of managing the reflective nature of the walls within the main entrance area. The extremely specific design of the ceiling panels here where each slat cut from a glulam block so as to achieve a curve that is not stressed. The same product is used inside and outside so as to achieve a seamless finish through the glass.

Elephant Park, in essence a sculptural work of art, features rocky boulder mounds over two metres high, covering an area of 420sq metres and is constructed entirely from 600 colourful Prima Porphyry stone blocks and boulders, an igneous rock formed 230 million years ago, all meticulously sourced by Hardscape from a quarry in the Albiano region of northern Italy. 

Transformation of a 1960's office block to a state-of-the-art student accommodation. Metal Technology’s System 17 Silicone pointed and High Rise curtain walling was used extensively thought-out the project. The end result is testament to System 17’s limitless flexibility and aesthetic appeal whilst meeting all structural requirements and delivering high levels of thermal and weather performance

Eastside Locks is a 17-storey student accommodation block located in the heart of Birmingham. High-performance aluminium windows and doors from Technal have been incorporated into the off-site modular design. The £30m construction at No.1 City Locks is on what was a brownfield site alongside the Digbeth Branch Canal and forms part of the city's long-awaited Eastside Regeneration Project.

NORclad supplied nearly 7,000/LM of pre-coated Thermowood across this contemporary project in Berkhamsted.Thermowood is a great timber when it comes to applying a coating, after going through the heat treating process, the Finnish grown European Redwood/Whitewood (Scandinavian Pine/Spruce) is more stable. It is suitable in conditions of changing humidity, and its thermal insulation properties are improved, ideal for use in exposed areas such as External Timber Cladding.The heat treatment process enables the use of Scandinavian Redwood in areas requiring a service life of up to 30 years without the need for any further preservative or coating to be applied. The process removes resin from timber, as a result there is no resin leakage or “bleed” through the surface coatings. The effect of this together with the improved stability can lead to a lower maintenance requirement, combined with the application of the Sansin SDF system, which will further protect the outside of wood.The SDF product also protects the inside by allowing the timber to ‘breath’ – helping to prevent moisture from getting trapped in the wood and causing rot.

Wall dividers custom made by Technowood demonstrate style and substance in this twisted design. The room dividers allow visibility through the space whilst creating the feeling of exclusivity, you can see some but not all… a semi secluded room divider.The stylish interior design of the Endless Art Hotel was accompanied by the natural wood texture and elegant aesthetics of Technowood products. The project was designed by Apart Design & Architecture and completed in 2017.The nature of TechnoWood products allows the touch and feel of real wood, the organic flow of the grain adds to the biophilic nature of the product.Considering the complexity of creating this in sold timber would have been costly, steaming and veneering would have had issues from the start. Technowood overcame the problems of using solid timber and offered a substantial cost saving.Do you have a complex project, have you designed the unachievable… want us to take a look… I’m sure we can help.Credits and Further informationArchitect: Apart Design & ArchitectureLocation: IstanbulProduct: Twisted vertical louvresCompletion: 2017

THE LOCATIONHounslow House is the new headquarters for the London Borough of Hounslow. The new facility creates a distinctive architectural form that gives the new building a strong civic presence within the community, with the design promoting a feeling of openness and creating connections between the public and private functions of the building.THE PROJECTThe seven-storey structure is the new civic centre for London offering a library, adult learning classes and a reception area to help with any enquires. The other floors are offices for the local council workers with a civic chamber placed on the top floor. The new civic chamber is a prominent feature of the building framing the views of Hounslow.THE PRODUCTThe Safety Letterbox Company discussed the requirements and strategy for both mail and parcel delivery, giving suitable consideration to future demands, and the inevitable growth of parcels.Hounslow House decided on COM2 letterboxes in Pearl Gold with manual parcel boxes in the same colour. Hounslow ordered 500 boxes to be placed in their blocks A-D. This mail and parcel combination was a bespoke piece as it’s a free-standing combination including a bespoke table and back braces. These popular COM2 mailboxes from our classic range provide a quality solution, manufactured from aluminium and steel, they provide a strong and attractive solution for mail delivery.Hounslow House also added myRENZbox to make sure they could manage their Parcel deliveries. The myRENZbox modular has ten extensions with different size doors in order to maintain their parcel deliveries. The Safety Letterbox Company has an algorithm to work out how many parcel boxes a building requires. myRENZbox was polyester powder coated with the colour RAL 9005 Jet Black with a Matt finish. Copper House also opted for a barcode scanner to help deliveries become more efficient. myRENZbox has also futureproofed Hounslow House with the option to extend the intelligent parcelbox in the future.

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, and Styccobond F48 PLUS temperature tolerant fibre-reinforced adhesive have enabled a fast-track LVT installation as part of barn conversions to create three holiday cottages in rural Nottinghamshire.Flooring contractors installed floorcoverings in bedrooms, open-plan living and dining areas and corridors of three previously disused farm buildings of varying size, a total area of over 200m2.Work began by sanding down the new concrete bases, which had been installed as part of the renovation of the properties, by mechanically preparing them, removing any laitance, contamination, dust and debris, to leave a solid, sound, micro textured surface to receive floor preparation products.A moisture test was undertaken by one of F. Ball’s technical representatives to ensure that the building’s subfloors were dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Surfaces were then primed using Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer to promote the application characteristics of subsequently applied subfloor preparation products.Stopgap 1500 AquaPro was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings. 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. The product 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. As it is moisture resistant, it can be applied to damp subfloors prior to the application of a waterproof surface membrane.Flooring contractors then used Styccobond F48 PLUS to adhere 7-inch wood-effect vinyl planks in each of the three cottages. The temperature tolerant adhesive holds floorcoverings in place when subject to high temperatures, which may be an issue as a result of solar gain caused by large patio doors. This can cause tenting and gapping at the edges of vinyl floorcoverings as a result of repeated expansion and contraction over time. Fibres in the adhesive also provide high initial grab, a benefit when installing LVTs.Commenting on the project, Anthony Holmewood, fitter at Forester Flooring, said: “Using Stopgap 1500 AquaPro meant that we could complete the work in less than a week. We opted for Styccobond F48 PLUS to install LVTs mainly because we like the adhesive, but also for the reason that floorcoverings are exposed to direct sunlight in some areas.”

In a picture-perfect setting, Atlas Concorde's concrete-effect porcelain tiles give the Hotel Garden Park in the Vinschgau Valley an elegant, contemporary look. Learn moreIn a modern space with a refined flavor, Atlas Concorde's concrete-effect porcelain tiles help to bring out the elegance and relaxing ambiance of Hotel Garden Park.In a perfect blend of minimalist esthetics and the elegance of sophisticated contemporary apartments, the Hotel Garden Park in the heart of the Vinschgau Valley presents itself to guests with a simple style and a great attention to detail.A key focus when designing the rooms was the choice of surfaces, colors, and furnishings that best represent the atmosphere of comfort and rest typical of the facility. Atlas Concorde's concrete-effect porcelain tiles were therefore the ideal solution for furnishing various areas of the hotel, giving them a refined look and bold visual impact.Floor and wall tiles with a troweled concrete effect and soft touch enliven the bathrooms of the rooms through a neutral nuance capable of conveying a style with a strong identity and creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and relaxing. Combined with the dark wood of the furniture, the concrete effect makes the bathroom a corner that evokes the beauty of craftsmanship, an expression of value and attention to detail.The hotel's dining room also speaks a modern and elegant language thanks to concrete-effect ceramic surfaces that give free expression to a setting where it’s easy to feel at ease. Floors that recall the strength of concrete feature a smooth, continuous look for bright interiors and relaxing atmospheres where even the minimalism of the furnishings helps to give the flooring a simple, refined look.The decisive character of the concrete-effect porcelain tiles and the neutral tones of their palette combine in the wellness area of the hotel, where the technical performance of the material and the esthetic research coexist without compromise in ceramic solutions that achieve new levels of excellence. Using different formats, the concrete-effect porcelain tiles have made the space dedicated to relaxation an environment able to satisfy modernity and classicism, minimalism and comfort, design and functionality, all characteristics of a contemporary style but that also represent essential elements for the construction of a spa.Thanks also to the anti-slip 120x120 cm format and to the 20 mm thickness specific for exteriors, the concrete-look porcelain tile solutions of Atlas Concorde have contributed to the creation of a total look with a powerful visual impact both in the flooring of the hotel’s terraces and in its outdoor spaces.The versatility of the concrete effect speaks a modern language in any kind of environment, opening up multiple avenues for design.

Floor preparation products donated by F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have enabled an outbuilding to be turned into a therapy room for Jack Tyreman, from Burythorpe in Yorkshire, who was left with severe head injuries after a road accident four years ago when he was 18.The room provides a space with amenities, including an entertainment system and sofa, where Jack can relax and enjoy spending time, with the potential for it to house exercise equipment to assist with rehabilitation in the future.After a botched construction left the original building unusable while exhausting initial funds raised for the project, local tradespeople, including Richard Forbes, owner of Forbes Flooring, stepped up to offer their services for free to complete the project. F. Ball technical representative for the North East, John Rowlands arranged for the donation of flooring installation products. Floorcovering manufacturer Interface also donated LVT and carpet tile floorcoverings.A team of three fitters from Forbes Flooring began the flooring installation by grinding the surface of the new concrete screed to ensure it was suitably smooth. A moisture test indicated that subfloor relative humidity levels were low enough to proceed with the installation without the requirement of a moisture management solution.Contractors then primed the subfloor using P131 general-purpose primer before applying Stopgap Fast-Track 30 levelling compound – the fastest setting levelling compound on the market allows floorcoverings to be installed in as little as 45 minutes after application.Once the levelling compound had cured, a combination of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) and carpet tiles was installed over the 40m2 area. Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive was used to adhere Interface ‘Studio Set’ wood grain LVTs on one half of the room. Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier was used to secure Interface graphite-coloured ‘Employ Lines’ carpet tiles. The adhesive dries to a permanently tacky film that will hold loose-lay carpet tiles securely in place when subject to normal foot traffic while allowing them to be lifted and replaced at a later date should they become damaged or worn.Commenting on the project, Richard Forbes said: “At first, we were asked if we would undertake the work for a fee, but we didn’t want any payment for it. Things can be very cutthroat nowadays, and it’s good to be able to look out for other people. I’d like to thank David Edmondson at Interface as well as John Rowlands at F. Ball for supporting the project. Using F. Ball’s Fast-Track 30 meant that we could achieve a quick turnaround, allowing other trades to do what they needed to.”On the benefits of the therapy room for Jack, his mum, Julie, added: “It’s got all the things in it a young lad needs and to help him get on with life, as well as a place to relax on his own and with other people. He loves it.”

This unique bathroom is typically Brazilian in design. The bathroom adjoins a spacious, well-furnished bedroom, and sits under a large skylight. A wall of green foliage acts as a backdrop for the Amalfi bath, which only adds to the clever allusion of bringing nature into this home.Both the bedroom and the bathroom play with texture and material; wood, leather, stone and foliage.Photography: Felipe AraújoDesign: mf+arquitetos

Chamberlain, based in Edgbaston, is a brand new student accommodation development comprised of a 21-storey tower and three low-rise blocks. The student rooms have been fitted with the Aperio® solution, which required full integration into the Gallagher Command Centre, which is an industry leading critical business platform, delivering organisational security and operational continuity... Click on the link below to read more.