"cement board"

THE CHALLENGE Milner Hall, a former chapel in Winchester, is one of the oldest structures in the city and a building of great architectural and religious importance. Built by the Reverend John Milner in 1792, the hall is now used for community events and meetings. In addition to the significant heritage of Milner Hall, an X-ray of the western elevation found a number of voids in the foundation due to hundreds of years of water damage. What’s more, part of an inadequate retaining wall had collapsed onto the same elevation, with the potential to cause further damage if left untreated. When Tarmac’s Limelite team was approached regarding the Milner Hall project, they instantly recommended Tempo PCE who they’d successfully worked with a number of times. THE SOLUTION Tempo PCE commonly chooses Limelite 7 for its projects; a Tarmac grout with hydraulic lime content that’s specially designed for heritage buildings, especially ancient structures such as churches. This was the ideal product to suit the needs of Milner Hall where the grout would need to be injected at a low pressure from the outside, directly filling the internal voids. Tom Phillips, Director of Tempo PCE, said: “We regularly use Limelite products and Limelite 7 was ideal for the work required at Milner Hall. The technical support they offer is incredibly valuable, as well as their reach and industry-reputation. “We strive to only work with manufacturers who can offer value and work with us as partners to ensure the best possible product is provided for a strong finish. We certainly get that with Tarmac’s Limelite team.” Iain Spence, Technical Manager for Tarmac’s Limelite range, added: “Historic structures often present suppliers with a wide number of challenges when it comes to the specification of suitable materials, and their subsequent installation. “In the case of the work at Milner Hall, the requirement was for a fluid, low strength grout that would stabilise the void in the masonry of this Grade II listed building. The Limelite Heritage Grout system provided a breathable low-density solution for these works. “Given the often delicate nature of period and historical structural repair projects, working with dedicated and knowledgeable contractors is essential to achieving the correct end result. Tempo PCE completed the works at Milner Hall utilising their extensive application skills with the Limelite Grout, delivering a much-needed structural support to the building’s foundations which should add many more years to its operational life.” 

Conserving a Grade I listed building with renovating plaster.Halifax’s Grade I listed Piece Hall is a true monument to the town’s industrial heritage. As part of Calderdale Council’s ambitious plans to conserve the building and transform it into a cultural and commercial hub for Halifax, a series of delicate remedial works were outlined to future-proof the structure’s original features and ensure it would be able to live up to the rigours of 21st century life. Under the schedule of works, Tarmac’s Limelite renovating plaster was chosen to provide a durable solution which was both sympathetic to the age of the building, yet robust enough to provide long-lasting results.The ChallengeFirst constructed in 1779, the Grade I listed Piece Hall takes its name from its original use as a cloth hall, where local weavers were allowed to sell their ‘pieces’ at the height of the industrial revolution. As an iconic reminder of Halifax’s prominence in the Georgian wool trade, the site is understandably a treasured landmark for local people.The aim of the Piece Hall transformation project was to conserve the historic fabric of the building and create an outstanding heritage destination fit for the 21st century. This would see the property, which consists of 315 rooms centred around a 66,000 sqft piazza, return to its previous grandeur and be reinvented as a new cultural and commercial centre for the town.The Piece Hall transformation project was delivered by Calderdale Council and made possible by funding from the Council, a generous £7 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund – thanks to National Lottery players – and kind support from both the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Wolfson Foundation. The Piece Hall is now operated by an independent body, the newly formed charity The Piece Hall Trust.It was vital that a specialist heritage renovating plaster was specified, to ensure that any remedial work undertaken would be in keeping with the property’s original features and sympathetic to the materials used during the building’s original construction in 1779.The plastering contractors chosen to undertake the work, Manchester Screeding Contractors (MSC), were challenged with plastering the inside of the iconic arches which surround The Piece Hall’s piazza, as well as re-plastering walls within a number of rooms on the ground floor. Given the need to use a specialist heritage plaster, MSC turned to Tarmac’s Limelite team for help.For the interior work, damaged and ageing plaster had to be removed, revealing solid stone walls which needed to be plastered in keeping with the heritage of the building. Time and weather had also eroded the exterior arches, and an appropriate solution needed to be found.Installation time was also a challenge on the project as the construction phase was nearing hand-over to The Piece Hall Trust, with the building due to be reopened to the public in August 2017.The SolutionTo satisfy the specification, MSC first chose to use Tarmac’s Limelite Easy Bond as a primer, given its ability to effectively control suction and salts, as well as improve the level of adhesion when working with difficult substrates. Following this, two coats of Limelite Renovating Plaster were applied as a backing plaster to the surfaces to remove undulation.Tom Emery, Specifications Co-ordinator at Tarmac’s Limelite division, comments: “A traditional lime plaster could take months to dry out whereas renovating plaster only takes 24 hours to dry per coat. This was essential in helping the team to cope with the tight timescales of the project.“Moisture, damp and mould growth were also found in the building. Renovating plaster is ideal in scenarios like this, as the level of breathability it offers will allow moisture to easily pass through it. It is this breathability that will significantly reduce the likelihood of damp occurring.Tom continues, “The renovating plaster was followed with a final coat of Limelite’s High Impact Finishing Plaster. The High Impact Finishing plaster is extremely durable, which is ideal given the municipal use of the building. What’s more, it’s great for use in heavily trafficked areas as it provides a shell to the backing plaster.”In total, seven tonnes of product were supplied to the project in the two-month timeframe, with MSC working through the weekends to get the job done.Karl Hodgkiss, Managing Director of Manchester Screeding Contractors, commented: “Internal and external plastering as well as restoration plastering are key specialist areas for our business, and this was a significant project for us that we were excited to be a part of. I had used Limelite’s renovating plaster before in smaller quantities and knew it would provide a breathable covering for the original stonework.”

The Host Helix building, also known as the “Helter-Skelter,” was a unique and striking structure built in 2011 with stunning views of North London and Wembley Stadium. Over time, the building experienced general wear and tear and water began to enter the buildings’ complex structure.Polyroof Products were called in to consult with the clients and offer a seamless, encapsulated solution that could address the many unusual details associated with the building’s design.The SolutionA full survey of the roof terrace areas was conducted by the Polyroof Technical Services, after which a bespoke specification was produced for the works. The proposal document detailed a comprehensive set of recommendations for producing a seamless solution to encapsulate the problematic roof, therefore solving the issues that had arisen over the years due to its condition and age, as well as the issues associated with the original design of the pitched, curved roof.Polyroof SA Carrier Layer was then applied over the cement particle boards with Polyroof pre-formed GRP Drip Trims fixed to the external edge. For continuity and to create a uniform finish, the SA Carrier Layer was extended onto the main roof sections as a substrate for the Protec system.Any details requiring local reinforcement were treated with Protec Resin and 75mm wide Polymat 450. The curing process was allowed to take place. To accommodate structural expansion / contraction movements at appropriate details, 25mm disbondment tape was installed prior to local reinforcements.The first coat of Protec Resin and Polymat 450 was applied at a minimum coverage rate of 1.3 – 1.5Litres/m² (0.66 – 0.77m²/Litre) and was allowed to cure. To complete the system, a second coat of Protec Resin was applied at a minimum coverage rate of 0.5Litres/m² (2.0m²/Litre) and was allowed to cure.ComplexitySuch an iconic building in the local community, the client wanted to protect the original aspects of the building to the fullest extent, so the Protec system installed at the perimeter was color-matched to the original blue and grey colours. This was achieved by blending pigments until they matched the desired colors, in turn the pigment was then blended into the Protec resin before application. The survey revealed concerns about the original building designs from 2011 and the roof’s drainage system. Due to the roof’s pitch, rainwater was cascading down the curved slopes at high velocity and causing water to bounce into the building under the original capping.After many discussions between the main contractor and Polyroof, as well as the provider of the external cladding, it was agreed that the perimeter detail needed to be encapsulated with the new waterproofing system to prevent further water ingress. Fire-retardant cement particle boards were fixed to the internal and top faces of the external parapet walls, and the Polyroof SA Carrier Layer was applied over them with Polyroof pre-formed GRP Drip Trims fixed to the external edge.The Protec System was then applied to encapsulate the entire parapet detail, meaning its waterproof integrity would be covered under the Polyroof Guarantee. The curvature of the building added complexity to this process, and the contractor took great care in cutting the trims to size and fixing them to the external edge to ensure they followed the profile of the structure. Due to the building’s height, all the trims were face-fixed to prevent wind uplift.WorkmanshipIn order to improve drainage and prevent water from accumulating in hotspot areas of the roof, the contractors were instructed to install new internal curved gutter channels at the point where the roof and building met. These channels were designed to have a sufficient height and angle to effectively direct rainwater towards the outlets, preventing water from pooling on the roof. However, the installation process was made more complex due to the curved nature of the building’s architecture, which required careful measurement and customization of the gutter channels to fit the unique shape of the building.Additionally, the contractors had to consider the many joins of the gutters and how they would hold up to the elements over time as the building structure expands, contracts and moves. Extra steps were taken to ensure the gutters liquid membrane was properly sealed and secured to prevent leaks.The contractors were instructed to repair all protrusion and mansafe post details as necessary in order to allow the Protec System to be installed to a minimum height of 150mm, and to terminate it underneath a suitable weathering flange or jubilee clip. In addition, all right angles were to be reinforced with double taping. Any protrusions that were liable to significant movement was required to have disbondment i.e., bond break, tape applied to it to stop the external coating from stressing on expansion. Furthermore, all pipes were to be abraded, solvent wiped, and where necessary, primed in accordance with the Polyroof coatings manual. A flashing detail was also to be created with a weathering flange or seal.All outlets were inspected to ensure that they were functioning properly. Any outlets that were deemed unsuitable were replaced with new ones. The outlets were cleaned, prepared, and primed as necessary. The Protec system was then dressed into the outlets as far as was practical. The inspection and replacement of the outlets and the preparation of the Protec system helped to ensure that the drainage system functioned effectively.ConclusionThe refurbishment of the roof was completed within the client’s target timeframe and budget. Following a final inspection by Polyroof Technical Services, which highlighted quality workmanship of Tower Asphalt Ltd, the client received Polyroof’s trusted Accredited System Guarantee and now has the peace of mind the roof will be leak-free for decades to come.

Having won a bid for £15m of capital funding in 2020, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) commissioned a new children’s emergency department – including upgraded, expanded facilities and a new overnight observation ward – at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury.Completed in March 2023, the 3,500m2 extension not only provides a dedicated area for children but has also freed up much-needed capacity for adult patients in the existing emergency department, and has reduced overcrowding and improved infection control. The plans also included new facilities to improve access to maternity and gynaecology outpatient services in a modern, purpose-built environment. The buildings adjacent to the children’s department house the hospital’s A&E department and maternity ward, so it was crucial that construction could go ahead without causing any disruption to day-to-day access.Throughout the project, the emergency department drop-off route, blue light route, maternity drop-off route, and A&E entrance remained in use at all times. Designed by London-based architects Hunters, the two-storey buildingwas made using modern methods of construction (MMC) at the main contractor Western Building Systems’ purpose-built in-house manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland.The decision to build using modular construction resulted in minimal disruption to the hospital, both in terms of number of deliveries and overall time to build. Hospital buildings require many services to be installed so the subcontractors worked closely together, supported by quantity surveyors from MESH Construction Consultancy Limited. Steel structure modules were made at the Western Building Systems factory in Coalisland to form the frame of the building. They were then sheathed in 12mm cement particle boards and wrapped in breather membrane.The modular design specified an efficient, certified External Wall Insulation (EWI) system that met all stringent safety standards. EWI systems have huge thermal benefits for any building by conserving energy, minimising heat loss and reducing CO2 emissions. In addition to this, having a fully certified non-combustible solution offers great peace of mind, as well as a fast-track way to provide an attractive and durable façade.  Once the frame was in place on site, render and EWI specialists from Clarke ECO Wall Ltd installed Saint-Gobain Weber’s webertherm XM – a system they are familiar with, having used it on projects previously, including University Hospital Limerick.The EWI system included webertherm MFD mineral fibre insulation board with carbon tip screw fixings, weberend LAC rapid adhesive render coat and silicone enhanced webersil TF decorative finish. This building was made up of two types of wall: one which used 170mm of external insulation and achieved a U-Value of 0.12 W/m2K and another which used just 70mm of webertherm MFD yet still reached a U-Value of 0.18 W/m2K. Both were combined with additional insulation installed within the frame. The system was finished using webersil TF – a highly weather-resistant silicone decorative finish – in Winter White. “The team from Weber were very helpful,” said Michael Clarke, managing director of Clarke ECO Wall Ltd. “They provided all the specification and completed the necessary pull-out tests, fixing patterns and condensation analysis – ensuring everything was approved and there were no grey areas – and offered our team application support while carrying out the work. They took a very collaborative approach.”A representative from Weber made weekly site visits to support the applicators to ensure the system was installed in line with Weber’s recommended best practice. The EWI system was installed in two phases, totalling eight weeks, between April and November 2022.

The Kingspan TEK Building System and Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel have been installed as part of the new Seaton Jurassic visitor centre in Devonshire, forming the gateway to the region’s historic Jurassic Coast. BREEAM ‘Very Good’ was a central requirement on the project, and the Kingspan TEK products delivered the excellent thermal and airtightness performance that was needed in a single operation. As a result, costs were reduced and speed of construction was significantly increased when compared with a traditional stud wall approach.

Products from Kingspan Insulation’s Kooltherm and Therma ranges have helped to transform a derelict water tower in North Yorkshire into a striking family home, as featured on Channel 4‘s Restoration Man. By using insulation that delivers outstanding thermal performance from minimal thicknesses, the owners have been able to create a home that is not only sensitive to the building’s industrial past, but that functions as a cosy yet spacious family home.

The 36 storey Grade-II listed, white-concrete high-rise tower, has been completely overhauled. Previously containing offices, but has now been converted to accommodate 82 apartments, including a penthouse ranging in price from £3 million to £55 million.During the refurbishment architects clustered corridors and bathrooms in the centre of the tower, making room for living areas and bedrooms to run alongside the windows, to make the most of the London skyline view.With approximately 12,700m2 of medium density gypsum fibre panels engineered with tongue & groove edges for ease of installation to create a monolithic robust surface over underfloor heating trays and 6mm Isorubber working as an impact vibration reduction mat. The panels installed were chosen due to their excellent thermal conductivity, a requirement for the system to work in conjunction with the desired underfloor heating system.

Project brief:A monumental restoration project for the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral spanning 15 years and costing £40 million. It was the first comprehensive restoration project that the Cathedral has gone through and this extensive cleaning, repair and renovation programme was one of the largest of its kind ever in the UK.The Project:It doesn’t get much more high profile than this when it comes to historic building restoration. As part of the London skyline for over 300 years, the requirement was for materials that perfectly balanced the strength and performance to do the job with the delicate nature of working with such a fragile and weathered structure. The sheer scale of the project also dictated the need for an extremely consistent product.Help from Tarmac Building Products – St. Pauls Grout Mix:Pozament, from Tarmac Building Products Ltd, boasts the heritage range of Limelite Grouts and Mortars specifically designed for such tasks. Yet in a project of such epic proportions and with the stakes so high our technicians instead produced an all new low strength blend of PFA, lime and special additives, that was capable of penetrating the fine voids and fissures in the Cathedral’s structure, whilst remaining sympathetic to the existing materials.The new grout, now named St. Paul’s Grout Mix, is easily mixed and in addition can be placed using gravity feed techniques, which are often used to ensure low pressures that are needed to avoid damage to delicate structures, such as in the case of St. Paul’s Cathedral.St. Paul’s Grout was designed to achieve a low strength of approximately 2.0 N/mm2 at 28 days, which was sufficient to strengthen and fill voids in the heartening of the masonry walls at St. Pauls Cathedral. The mix also contains a special plasticiser/wetting aid, so that when used at a water solids ratio of 0.4, a very fluid mix capable of penetrating fine voids and fissures is produced.Outcomes:The St. Paul’s Restoration project was finally finished in June 2011. To this day Tarmac continue to produce the St. Paul’s Grout when required and since then, it has been used successfully on many similar restoration projects including York City Wall, Winchester Cathedral and other English Heritage projects.

Ulticolour, Tarmac's coloured asphalt was used to surface the redeveloped Promenade at Morecambe. The buff colour complemented the clean, modern design of the new sea wall. It provided an accessible, trip-free surface with minimal maintenance requirement. The existing surface was an old hot rolled asphalt which was suffering from cracking. To resist cracking in the new surface and extend pavement life, ULTIMAT SAMI, Tarmac’s innovative stress absorbing membrane interlayer was also used. For more details visit the Tarmac website.

The essential plaster for restoration and repairs Older houses rarely feature the levels of insulation and damp proofing we take for granted today, so damp walls and brickwork are often a problem. That’s why Limelite is the clear choice in repair and restoration projects. Following treatment with an injected damp proof course, Limelite will help older, damper properties dry out by allowing balanced moisture movement through its coating. The superior workability of Limelite products means they can be applied to any sound substrate as easily as conventional gypsum based plasters. They can even be used on timber and lath walls, which still crop up in refurbishments after existing plaster layers have been hacked away.

Holland Park Villas has set a new benchmark for quality in the super-prime central London residential development market. Unparalleled interior finishes combined with exceptional landscapes to show what a truly world-class team can deliver.On arrival, an impressive 30 year old Acer Palmatum tree takes centre stage. Granite paving, hornbeam trees, ornamental planting and a water wall further add to this sense of elegance and quality.This level of quality and attention to detail continues to areas not easily seen by the new tenants. Around 13,200 m2 of Soundis High density dry screed panels able to span between joists were installed by our installation partner UK Acoustic Systems as a raised access floor system. Chosen primarily for the ease of maintenance and future extensions of the underfloor network, the system is also an integral part of the underfloor heating system.Not only does this system demonstrate its practical heating properties, but the new apartments will also benefit from the pleasant acoustic characteristics provided from the floor system.

Black KlasseCLAD™ has recently been installed on the roof of this incredible £30m+ project and the result is truly stunning.

Gripsure non-slip decking is providing the perfect platform for families to enjoy an unforgettable wildlife experience. Around 3,000 meters of Gripsure Classic decking has been installed outside eight new luxurious lodges at West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley, Worcestershire, meaning guests can make the most of their prime position, gazing out over the elephant or cheetah habitats from the decking area of their lodge.The Safari Lodges, which officially opened in April, have already proved to be a huge hit, with bookings being taken right up until November next year. Six of the lodges offer the UK’s only overnight accommodation experience with elephants, while two more lodges offer views of the park's cheetahs – also the only experience of its kind in this country.Gripsure’s easy maintenance, non-slip and all-weather design is ideal for the lodges’ external decking areas. The spaces allow families to enjoy a meal or just sit and unwind, overlooking the incredible wildlife. Our durable classic non-slip timber decking achieves the highest safety rating on the market. The low-maintenance FSC and PEFC certified timber boards are crafted from slow-grown Vth grade European Redwood Pine.The overall finish looks the part, too, with the lodge decks blending in with the safari-themed wooden buildings. The double-storey elephant lodges are authentically styled, with thatched roofs, accommodating up to five people. They have large, open-plan living spaces with a lounge, dining area and kitchenette. The balcony with outdoor seating offers views to watch the elephants – Latabe, Five and Sutton – as they approach their pool.The two, single-storey, detached cheetah lodges can sleep up to six guests. The living spaces feature large windows spanning one side of the building, offering panoramic views of the cheetahs in their new habitat. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedrooms mean guests can watch cheetahs Azrael and Bappe run and play.The Safari Lodges Team at the Park say Gripsure has ticked all the boxes for this ambitious project. “Using Gripsure has not only provided us with a safe and secure decking solution for our external verandas at Safari Lodges, it has also succeeded visually and aesthetically by blending in with the authentic and natural surroundings that our lodges are nestled within,” said a spokesperson, adding that the Gripsure team have been a pleasure to work with.“We would definitely recommend Gripsure to other attractions,” said Project Manager, Neil James. “Their professional manner and great communication skills really made us feel confident throughout this huge project, particularly during such unprecedented times with the pandemic.”All media is courtesy of West Midlands Safari Park. ©2021 West Midlands Safari Park.

The client required a durable, low-maintenance, all-season surface for this 3.3 km stretch of two-way, segregated cycleway in Birmingham that would offer clear demarcation and provide a safe, appealing route for cyclists.ULTICOLOUR, Tarmac’s durable coloured asphalt was chosen to surface this cycleway, in a mid blue colour, to provide clear demarcation from the existing road surface. Using a high performance clear binder it offers brighter coloured asphalts, ideal for demarcation. ULTICOLOUR SMA is BBA HAPAS approved for use on UK highways as a coloured thin surface course and has been in use on UK roads for over 20 years. It has proven to be highly durable, delivering lasting performance, even on highly trafficked roads. ULTICOLOUR can be laid quickly over large areas using standard paving equipment, just like a conventional surface course.

This major expansion of the deep-water container terminal at Liverpool docks would significantly increase the footprint and capacity of the site. The site handles the world’s largest container ships and connects road, rail and canal networks directly to the heart of the UK mainland. As part of this project, external concrete surfacing was needed that would deliver long term resistance to the high volumes of HGV traffic using the terminal. After discussions with the contractor, the solution proposed was Tarmac’s TOPFORCE fibre reinforced concrete with a combination of synthetic macro and micro fibres. TOPFORCE can eliminate the need for some traditional steel reinforcement, making it quicker and easier to place. It offers excellent longterm durability making it ideal for commercial and industrial sites used by HGV traffic. This solution would deliver a saving in both labour and material costs and avoid the budget impact of the rising cost of steel. As well as improving the durability and structural performance, the use of macro fibres also improved sustainability significantly by reducing embodied carbon compared to traditional steel reinforcement. 

This large car dealership in Dorset required a new car park surface for the external paved areas. Planning requirements meant that a porous system was required to enable sustainable drainage and avoid large scale run-off into the surrounding catchment. Using Tarmac's ULTISuDS porous asphalt sustainable drainage systems met the needs of the local planners by managing surface water and reducing direct surface water run-off, but also met the client’s requirement for a safe, accessible all-weather surface for their customers. By eliminating surface water, it also eliminates the problem ice patches that can occur in cold weather conditions. It would also be durable enough to cope with daily vehicle movement and static loading from cars that were on display. 

Cann Hall Skate Park in Waltham Forest, East London had been closed after the steel frame and plywood structure had fallen into disrepair. A refurbishment proposal was put together with funding from the Council’s Greenspace department, government funding secured by the Council’s youth service team and a donation from the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team. The designer chose TOPTINT coloured concrete as part of a high contrast design that would emphasise the bold geometric shapes used. Available in a wide range of colours, TOPTINT would deliver the smooth, durable finish required for the skate park surface in the bright, contrasting colours that the designer was looking for.TOPTINT coloured concretes use liquid colour pigment which is UV stable meaning that the colour will not degrade over time from natural sunlight. Also, because this liquid pigment is evenly mixed throughout the concrete, the colour resists surface wear, even in busy locations like skate parks.Read the full story at: https://tarmac.com/case-studies/coloured-concrete-for-london-skate-park/

Built overlooking the harbour in a Pembrokeshire town, this stunning property incorporated Cedral Click to create a contemporary finish to the coastal home

The client, a rugby club in Leicestershire, had recently upgraded their facilities to include new function rooms. They were now planning to improve their 4500m2 car park to replace the existing loose planings with a safe, permanent all weather surface. Using Ultifastpave reduced the construction time by half compared to conventional surfacing, generating a significant cost saving for the client. For more details visit the Tarmac website.

This new adventure village at a large Haven holiday park in Gwynedd, Wales required a safe decorative surface for visitors. The light buff coloured asphalt complemented both the design of the adventure village and the coastal setting far more than conventional black asphalts or block pavers.

The former Royal Military Academy overlooking Woolwich Common finds a new place in history with its stunning restoration, featuring Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System. The vacuum insulation panel system was chosen to most of the available space. The original beam and block flooring limited the ability to dig down, so installing the Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System in a 30mm thickness allowed for the maintenance of the existing threshold levels whilst also achieving excellent thermal performance.

This is the perfect example of future proofing a traditional building, bringing it’s thermalperformance up to a modern standard, whilst conserving the historic timber frame and thevisual beauty of five centuries of gentle settlement and movement.

The state-of-the-art new building provides a home for the Harper and Keele Veterinary School – a joint venture with Harper Adams University – on Keele’s campus. Black KlasseCLAD™ features heavily on the roof of this incredible project, providing an attractive aesthetic finish to the external ductwork.

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.

This high profile entertainment and tourist venue in Bishop Auckland, required a surface for the large pedestrian area next to its main arena. Ulticolour was chosen in a buff colour, which suited the visual theme of the site. The client was happy with the speed of the work and the smooth, even low maintenance finish.

Ulticolour coloured asphalt provided a new surface was required for the extensive footpaths at a new £12 million leisure park in Snowdonia. The buff coloured asphalt perfectly matched the surroundings and provided a safe surface for pedestrians and the site staff.

ULTICOLOUR asphalt was chosen as part of the landscaping design for this new high profile sports and leisure venue in North London. It showcases the difference that thoughtful selection of external paving materials can make to architectural design.

The new, purpose-built Community Fire and Police Station on a two acre site in Prescot required a durable surface for the main yard area, car park and access road. This was a large site, incorporated three fire engine bays, a practice drill tower and community meeting rooms. Having replaced two local fire stations it was expected to be a busy station used by a range of vehicles. With each fire engine weighing up to 13 tonnes and using power-assisted steering the new surface would be subject to extreme turning forces. It would need to offer long-term durability and loss of aggregate due to surface abrasion. After considering the options, Tarmac’s ULTIPHALT HD was chosen, a tough, high performance 10mm asphalt with advanced modified binder. ULTIPHALT HD has been proven to deliver enhanced resistance in challenging environments like container ports and distribution centres. The modified binder enhances durability but also helps to maintain workability and aid compaction, even in low temperatures.

The Problem:Associated problems caused by damp and flooding are commonplace throughout the UK’s housing stock. Growth of black mould and efflorescence caused by salt transfer can lead to thedelamination of the plaster and there is no simple resolution. Often the only choice left to the housing association or local authority is to remove the original plaster and treat the walls with a Damp Proof Course (DPC), before waiting for it to dry to receive a backing plaster – all at the expense of the landlord or local authority.The Solution: A Modern, Lightweight Renovating Plaster:Limelite Renovating Plaster solves all of these problems. Firstly, it can be applied to damp walls, saving an enormous amount of money for time that would be otherwise spent waiting for the walls to dry out – it effectively controls dampness passing through walls, as well as providing a barrier against salt transfer – ultimately allowing the substrate to dry naturally. Secondly, and crucially, Limelite Renovating Plaster will withstand damp issues caused by future events, which may be likely in properties susceptible to damp and flooding.Thirdly the Limelite plaster system offers Thermal Insulation by drying the walls rapidly, reducing loss of heat and insulating the internal walls to meet modern day standardsThermal Conductivity, λ10,dry,mat, P=50% = 0.17W/m.KThermal Conductivity (k) at 0% moisture = 0.13W/m.KAnother benefit with Limelite plasters for internal use is their fire resistance/protection as a non-combustible product (as defined by BS476:Part 4) which can be assigned Class O in accordance with the requirements of the National Building Regulations and Reaction to Fire = Euroclass A1 Making the Difference for Local Authorities Dudley Council in the West Midlands is among the many local authorities that specify the use of Limelite Renovating Plaster when tackling such issues in social housing.“Where a renovating plaster is required we use the original and proven, Limelite” said Andy Pratt, Specification and Design Manager for Dudley Council, which has been specified by the council for over 40 years.Where existing plaster is sound, a small area of plaster is removed and replaced with Limelite.In more severe cases where the existing plaster is unsound, all plaster is removed and the wall is treated with a DPC before Limelite Renovating Plaster is applied. Limelite Renovating Plaster is also used for patch repairs in areas such as window reveals, where again the damaged plaster is removed and replaced with Limelite.A BBA Approved SystemLimelite Renovating Plaster is a BBA approved solution, when used as the backing plaster in a 2-part system, finished with our High Impact Finishing Plaster - a hard, durable finishing plaster that produces a Grade D impact resistant surface.

With bright colours that improve demarcation on roads and cycleways and an impressive track record of long term performance on UK roads, Ulticolour was the natural choice for this sustainable transport project.ULTICOLOUR coloured asphalts are BBA HAPAS accredited for use on UK highways as a thin surface course and have been used on UK roads for over 20 years. ULTICOLOUR asphalts use a clear binder and colour matched aggregates to produce brighter coloured asphalts that provide effective demarcation on footpaths, cycle lanes and highways. They have demonstrated impressive durability and long-term performance, even on heavily trafficked routes like busy bus lanes. 

Ulticolour offered a distinctive, aesthetic surface for this modern housing development located on the River Irwell in Salford, to the north of Manchester. The chosen buff colour matched the contemporary architectural design.

Funding was secured to renovate a Grade II listed lido in Pontypridd. The lido, which had remained derelict since 1991, was given a new lease of life after the local authority clinched the funding required to restore it back to its former glory. As part of the scheme, the existing derelict buildings would be renovated and the Lido bathing area remodeled into three heated pools. The restoration included external covered showers, heated changing facilities and a learning and historical interpretation centre. The client needed a coloured product that was highly durable, easy to place and maintain, available in a range of colours and, most important of all, capable of retaining its colour and beauty. TOPTINT coloured was recommended as the ideal solution. TOPTINT contains an integral colour pigment which is UV stable meaning that the colour will not degrade from natural sunlight. Also, because a liquid pigment is used the colour is evenly mixed throughout the concrete. As this pigment is integral to the mix it is a long lasting and frost-resistant solution, requiring little on-going maintenance and therefore making it a more sustainable long term solution.

This leading residential housing developer, required a new surface for the car park at its headquarters. It was a large site, with around 200 parking spaces for staff and visitors. The new surface would need to withstand the impact of regular vehicle movement and the abrasion caused by power assisted turning. The surface would also be used by larger vehicles making deliveries. Tarmac’s ULTIDRIVE asphalt was chosen as the solution. Designed to resist the long term effects of daily vehicle movement, ULTIDRIVE is a high performance asphalt with a smooth and highly durable finish. An advanced modified binder provides improved resistance to scuffing and abrasion from power-assisted turning. It also reduces softening in hot weather. ULTIDRIVE also provides enhanced resistance to temporary fuel and oil spills compared to conventional asphalt.

The Glass Yard is a prestigious mixed office and retail development in Chesterfield, on the site of what was the once the largest manufacturer of domestic glassware in the UK. It has been designed sustainably and ergonomically by developer Blue Deer Ltd. for an open plan, daylight filled environment. The client approached Tarmac’s representatives looking for a safe, practical, durable and visually distinctive finish for the main external walkways and first-floor balconies that would complement the modern design and sustainable ethos of the building. After providing advice and number of samples, the client chose TOPTINT Glow a unique, glow in the dark decorative concrete that uses light sensitive chippings to help illuminate areas such as footpaths, cycleways and pedestrian areas. The glowing aggregate provided a passive and energy efficient form of demarcation to help guide clients along the balconies and walkways at night-time and in low ambient light conditions. This fitted with the building’s sustainable design ethos. The gentle glow provided by the light emitting chippings also provided an ambience that was sure to be a talking point for customers and would help put the new development on the map.

Heavy duty surfacing was required for new access roads and car parking areas as part of a project to extend this business park located close to the A1 near Biggleswade. Using HGV resisting Ultiphalt HD asphalt on access roads combined with ULTIPOROUS free draining asphalt on parking areas provided both sustainable drainage and long term durability.

The client, East Lindsay District Council, planned to build a brand new £7m state of the art Public Sector Hub facility in Horncastle, Lincolnshire to provide office space for the District Council, Boston College, along with Lincolnshire Police and local medical organisations. A sustainable approach was needed towards the construction of the large 220 space car park required to serve the new building to avoid surface run off and flood risk to the surrounding area.  Using Tarmac's ULTIPOROUS meant planning conditions and would keep the car park free from standing water, even after heavy rainfall. It also avoided the need for additional costly drainage systems and was far less labour intensive than alternatives like block paving, which helped saved time and cost for the client. The smooth, even finish also met the client’s requirement for a safe, low maintenance, all weather surface.