"in situ concrete floors"

GEC Anderson’s stainless steel worktops, sinktops, doors and splashbacks have been chosen for the modern Café Bar at The Hepworth Wakefield art gallery in West Yorkshire, for their contemporary and accurate appearance as well as their hygienic qualities associated with food service. The stunning building is formed of ten different sized trapezoidal blocks constructed using pigmented, self-compacting concrete and recently listed in The Times ‘Top 50 Galleries in the World’. The continuous stainless steel worktop installed behind the main serving counter of the Café Bar incorporates sinks, plinth, cupboards doors and splashbacks, all in brushed satin stainless steel.

DescriptionSmet Supported Partner, B Team Shopfitters machine applied the LIDL External Render System onto Poroton blocks externally using as Base Coat: Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render and as Finish Coat; Mineral Finish Coat K.  As Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete and insulated plinths: Bauprotec RHS Multi-Purpose Render with the addition of Bauprotec SLP for plinths.The Internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of a base of Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render, sponge floated in warehouse areas, and skim finished in sales areas. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS is used.The LIDL render spec, available from SMET consists of:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory-produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.Mineral Finish Coat – K is a CE marked, factory-produced mineral-based, high-quality finish-coat render, specially designed for hand and machine application to EN 998-1, 2010.Bauprotec SLP is a CE Marked, factory-produced Lightweight Sand & Cement Render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET. SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering contractors across the UK and ROI.  If you’d like to speak to us about your Lidl job – contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available directly from Smet Building Products Ltd, which ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical backup in the machine application of the LIDL specification.Related DownloadsTDS CASEA Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec RHS – Multi-Purpose RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec SLP Tanking and Plinth RenderTDS CASEA Mineral Finish Coat – KSMET Render and Plaster Product Selector

Leading UK utility contractor, Telent, have used UltraCrete’s superb ironwork installation materials to repair and install a CW1 access cover in Sutton Coldfield.BackgroundAs part of their ongoing commitment to maintaining the UK’s national utility infrastructure, Telent have used UltraCrete’s latest product innovation Mortar Buoy® to repair a chamber and install a CW1 ironwork access cover in the West Midlands.The ChallengeLocated on a busy junction, it was crucial that the repair and installation of the CW1 cover was carried out quickly to minimise disruption to motorists. With a reputation drawing on decades of experience in the design, build, support and management of the UK’s critical infrastructure, it was imperative that Telent used reputable installation materials that had been tried, tested and proven to work in the road network.The SolutionUltraCrete’s independently tested and approved ironwork installation system was specified by BT Openreach to complete the project.The new CW1 cover was installed using the Install Plus method. To begin, Mortar Buoy® was inflated in the existing chamber to prevent debris falling into the cavity and causing potential damage to the network. Once inflated, the team were able to use Mortar Buoy® as internal shuttering and repair the damaged chamber using QC10 F rapid strength flowable concrete.QC10 F, part of UltraCrete’s range of high specification concretes, is rapid setting fibre modified concrete for backfilling around manhole frames and gullies and for surface repairs.To complete the installation, Mortar Buoy® was used as a dam and Envirobed® CD534 Flowable was poured around the edges of a chamber for a permanent installation.Specially formulated for utility reinstatements, Envirobed® CD534 Flowable high performance bedding mortar is BT LN550 and LN320 compliant and offers superior compressive, tensile and flexural strengths in just 3 hours.Mortar Buoy® is a ground-breaking, innovative, inflatable access frame that acts as a dam, allowing for a flowable mortar ironwork installation in seconds – revolutionising traditional methods.Enhance your specification and upgrade your reinstatement with UltraCrete Mortar Buoy®.ResultsThe project took place on a mild winter day in December 2021. The work was completed without delay and with minimal disruption. Using Mortar Buoy® instead of a traditional damming mortar increased the speed of the installation, reduced costs and made the install less labour intensive for the team.On the performance of Mortar Buoy®, John Doherty, Area Supervisor for Telent commented: “Mortar Buoy® makes life much easier versus traditional shuttering for both chamber repair and bedding the ironwork. It is also much faster.”

The nine storey timbered framed apartments completed giving a solid floor finish. SoundBar eliminating the normal wooden floor issues of creaking floor boards and sound transmission.

6500SQM OF OPTIMA FC IN COR-TEN WEATHERED STEEL RAINSCREEN PANELS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE STATE-OF-THE-ART STUDENT ACCOMMODATION ON RIVER STREET.As described by Architect Simpson Haugh, the student accommodation comprises three distinct volumes: a volume stepping from ten storeys fronting Garwood Street, down to five storeys facing River Street, and a 32-storey tower.Cor-Ten, a steel alloy which forms a rust-like appearance over 18 – 36 months, was selected for the project due to its striking appearance and in tribute to the copper shades surrounding River Street’s built environment. Cor-Ten is immediately recognisable with its bright red and orange tones.The strong textures of the Cor-Ten provide a fantastic contrast to the dark-blue glass cladding covering the inner elevations.Originally designed for use in coal carriages in 1930s American, the name Cor-Ten was patented in 1933 by U.S Steel, deriving its name from ‘Corrosion Resistance’ and ‘Tensile Strength’.Whilst it might look like the metal is rusting, the outer layer of the metal is actually undergoing a planned corrosion process under the influence of outdoor weather elements, which protects the metal from further corrosion over time.Referencing the corrosion process, Sotech Specification Manager Charlie Mclaughlin said: “Cor-Ten panels developed a patina in-situ on the buildings as a response to the elements. The local climate should be ideal. It was great to do another job with Simpson Haugh, especially on a site just a stone throw from their office.”Sotech’s Optima FC secret fix hook-on rainscreen system was installed to carry the panels, this fully tested system had the added precautions of stainless steel hooks and polyester powder coated rails to eliminate any bimetallic reaction between the Corten panels and aluminium support system.As you can see from the project photos, the Cor-Ten panels were perforated with hole cluster patterns positioned to coordinate with extractor vent outlets in the backing wall. This is achieved through a laser cutting process.As experts in the industry with over 30 years’ experience, Sotech wasn’t just involved at the manufacturing stage, but were engaged from design stage, offering details, advice and budget costs during the project.With 792 bedrooms and state of the art social space, the building fills a spot in Manchester’s landscape that had been empty for years.

The design brief for Suffolk St James’s focused on a comprehensive refurbishment to create CAT-A offices on the 1st to 4th floors, along with a striking reception on the ground floor. The lower ground space provides studio/gym, bike store, kitchen and a further CAT-A office. There is a large roof terrace on the 5th floor.The challenge on this project was to replace the existing single 10-person lift and create step-free access to all five floors, including the 2,000 sq ft roof terrace and lower ground floor level. 

Reaching depths of more than 30 metres beneath the streets of London, Crossrail Stations required unique solutions to ensure water tightness. GCP Applied Technologies, a leading supplier on some of the major stations including Canary Wharf, Whitechapel, Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street, reached into an extensive portfolio of high performing and easy to install Preprufe® waterproofing products to solve challenges presented by each station. Composed of durable HDPE, the Preprufe® waterproofing membrane adheres directly to concrete with Advanced Bond Technology™ to form an impermeable seal. Find out more from gcpat.com.

The new Student Centre at Queen’s University Belfast brings together student services and the Student Union in a spectacular new building. Designed through collaboration between Hawkins\Brown and RPP Architects, the building sits at the heart of campus and cleverly bridges the gap between the University’s heritage and future. An accessible, modern space with an open plan entrance area creates a vibrant hub for students to socialise, engage, collaborate, and access support and advice. The interior exploits the high ceiling and large-scale steel structure where a central staircase doubles as terraced amphitheatre-style seating. Clad in Junckers’ solid Nordic Oak flooring with nosing in contrasting Black Oak to achieve an LRV differential of 30 points, the stairs form a visual and social focus in the building, creating a flexible, infinitely useable space. “The central social stair is a key design feature that links the spaces on different floors and provides clear, intuitive wayfinding for visitors. The warmth and natural character of the Nordic Oak flooring complimenting the red laminate cladding helps visual orientation running up through the public spaces” said Alan Shields, director, RPP Architecture. The solid hardwood flooring forms a hard-wearing and long-lasting surface ideal for high traffic areas and the natural warmth of the timber adds to the material beauty of the interior. With strong sustainability credentials, Junckers’ flooring plays a part in the architects’ design to create a building which is more efficient and less costly to operate and maintain, future-proofed for generations to come. The building also houses a performance studio with Junckers’ sprung SylvaSport Beech flooring and the one-of-a-kind Union Bar which has been fitted with a reclaimed Junckers’ sports floor. With the old line markings intact, the floor has a rustic, industrial look which will hide a multitude of sins in a busy student bar. It was finished with Junckers’ High Performance Friction+ lacquer to provide a slip resistant surface. The reclaimed floor was sourced with the help of Junckers’ Buy Back Scheme. Junckers connects with flooring contractors who specialise in reclaiming wood flooring by providing details of projects where an old floor needs lifting, as well as acting as liaison between contractors sourcing a floor which can be repurposed. The sports floor fitted in the student bar by Oakvale Wooden Flooring was lifted from a school sports hall in England by Hargreaves Reclaimed Flooring. 

Professional flooring contractors, Elvet Flooring Solutions, have made a homeowner’s dream come true after installing 40sqm of luxury vinyl flooring at their property using UltraFloor’s expert subfloor preparation materials.BackgroundAs part of their extensive home renovations, a homeowner in Durham dreamed of installing beautiful Tarkett Mini Plank flooring throughout their hallway and kitchen – the perfect finishing touch to their modern and luxurious home.The ChallengeThe 40sqm area is the main thoroughfare from front door to garden and so the floor needed to be smooth and bump-free to keep the family, and dog, safe. It was also important that the flooring was installed speedily so as not to delay the rest of the renovations.The SolutionUltraFloor have a reputation for providing the flooring market with quality and innovative subfloor preparation materials. For this project Elvet Flooring Solutions first secured 5.5mm FG1 plywood across the entire area and then primed the surface using Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Once cured, Level IT Renovate was applied at a 5mm depth and left for 3 days before the LVT flooring was installed in a herringbone design.Developed for the renovation of existing floors, Level IT Renovate is fibre reinforced for added strength and to minimise the risk of hairline cracks – reducing a common cause of failure.Suitable for deep applications from 3-40mm, Level IT Renovate is multi-purpose for extensive use and boasts excellent flow properties, making this flexible and versatile floor leveller ideal for a wide range of flooring substrates.What’s more, Level IT Renovate can also be used externally, as a light wearing surface, can be walked on in as little as 2 – 2.5 hours and can receive floor coverings in just 4 hours.ResultsThe flooring took just 4 days to install from start to finish and the homeowner is now enjoying their beautiful new kitchen living area.On the performance of Level IT Renovate, Matt Williams owner of Elvet Flooring Solutions, commented: “The flow rate was very impressive and easy to work with. Perfect smooth finish ready for the LVT.”

When Bradford Academy needed a replacement for its sports hall floor they looked for guidance from Junckers. By going to the leading sports and dance floor systems manufacturer the academy knew that they would receive the right kind of advice and guidance to help them to steer their way through the overwhelming number of sports floor systems available on the market. Junckers worked in close partnership with the client, main contractor BAM and local Junckers’ Approved Contractor Harmony Contract Flooring to deliver the floor completed and on time. The client wanted a “sprung” floor which looked good and was easy to look after, and it needed to meet the performance standards for multi-purpose sports; EN 14904. The floor system selected meets category A4 standard, which means that the academy now has a floor which is recommended by Sport England and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA). The site constraints required a floor system with minimum construction height and Junckers’ EliteFlex 49 system, at only 49mm high was found to be ideal. The system is made from laminated foam-backed battens and 22mm timber deck with the 4mm vinyl layer bonded and welded on top. This provides a sports floor suitable for a range of activities from general education use through to elite levels of sport, dance and the like. Junckers was chosen as a supplier because over the many decades since it was founded the company has dedicated a significant amount of resource to developing the best “sprung” sports floor systems. This, and its “cradle to grave” technical and customer support and maintenance programmes sets it apart from other manufacturers, where the choice is often limited to a basic undercarriage system and various options for gluing a vinyl sheet to screed- an option which is no longer accepted by the ESFA as a suitable surface for sports. In the UK, Junckers has become a byword for high quality sports and activity floor systems, and for providing the technical and customer support needed to make every new Junckers floor one that the installer and client will be proud of. As part of continuous work to develop new products and constantly improve the ability to offer customers a broader choice of floor systems, Junckers has developed a range of vinyl sports and activity floors, based upon the established success of its undercarriage systems. One of Junckers’ main strengths is the variety of undercarriage systems it offers. Not only do these give different “sprung” performance characteristics with some suited to basketball, others for dance etc., thanks to experience and technical expertise Junckers is also able to take care of the less glamorous aspects of the installation, such as dealing with uneven sub-floors or those where there may be drying out problems. Junckers’ floors are all tested and certified to EN 14904, category A3, A4 or C3. In addition, Junckers own in-house testing and development centre assess the wider aspects of the floor’s performance such as point load bearing ability and lifespan issues such as fatigue testing. Junckers’ new vinyl floor systems are aimed at the education sector, sports halls, leisure centres and dance and fitness centres. When it comes to installation, vinyl floor customers have the same assurances that they currently have with Junckers solid hardwood floors because there is a network of fully trained Junckers Approved Installers on hand to make sure that the floor will be fitted properly.

RENOLIT ALKORPLAN scores high on Deltion College! CHALLENGE A sports field on top of the roof. A surprising and exceptional RENOLIT achievement that absolutely draws the attention… Deltion College in Zwolle (NL) really is an exceptional case. This college offers amongst others education courses to prepare for service in the Armed Forces - Navy, Army as well as the Air Forces. No doubt sports are an important part of life on the campus. Then came the inspiration to install an artificial grass sports field on top of the roof of the newly constructed multifunctional building. Space-saving and functional! The choice to specify RENOLIT ALKORPLAN as roofing material was a shrewd decision, as RENOLIT ALKORPLAN offers a solution not only for mechanically fixed roofs but also for ballasted roof systems… SOLUTION The highest rooftop, a steel frame construction, has been installed with a PES-reinforced mechanically fixed RENOLIT ALKORPLAN F roofing membrane. For the lower concrete roof – the sports field to be – a different product was required: RENOLIT ALKORPLAN L! A glass fleece reinforced membrane with an excellent resistance to microorganisms, specifically conceived for ballasted roofs. Before installing the insulation, a bituminous vapour barrier was placed on top of the concrete. Next came a first layer of 70 mm thick aluminium-faced PIR insulation, followed by a second layer of 100 mm thick unfaced polystyrene insulation. To avoid direct contact between the roofing membrane and the PS insulation a glass fleece separation layer was added. Afterwards the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN membrane was loose laid and hot air welded. In accordance with the RENOLIT installation instructions the seams were sealed with RENOLIT ALKORPLAN seam sealer. A little bit of effort for extra security! 

Just a stone’s throw from Baden-Baden’s famous festival hall, a trendy and exclusive hotel has opened its doors in the name of Hotel Roomers. The hotel’s rooftop bar is a stand-out feature. Its lightweight steel canopy connects to the main concrete structure with Schöck Isokorb® type KS elements to minimize thermal bridging in the construction. And when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, the stairwells are fitted with Schöck Tronsole® to stop impact sound transmissions and ensure a restful stay. The building itself is a hotel, medical centre and apartment block all in one, and its radiant white facade complete with full-height windows creates a striking effect. But the real highlight is how the facade changes its appearance depending on the guests decision to shut out the light in their rooms using the integrated window shading systems. It is not just the facade design that makes this hotel so special, but also its energy concept, which is testament to its ambitious efficiency targets. A crucial component of this concept involved minimising thermal bridges, which were a concern in the hotel’s landmark cantilevered entrance canopy. Without the Schöck Isokorb® type KS elements, it would have been difficult – if not impossible – to build the cantilevered element so efficiently and to decouple the structurally challenging thermal bridge at the point of connection between the freely cantilevered steel girders and the reinforced concrete slabs. All stairwells within the hotel feature the Schöck Tronsole®, which allow it to live up to the high expectations of the investors and building owner Franz Bernhard Wagner in terms of both energy-saving aspects and – of course – sound proofing.

THE PROJECTThe M3 Hackwood Road Bridge is located near Basingstoke on the M3 motorway. It required extensive concrete repair over large areas, due to water ingress causing the corrosion of the steel reinforcement through carbonation and chloride attack. The repairs were undertaken as part of the Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) for National Highways. Continuity and half-cell tests carried out revealed weak areas within the bridge’s rebar.THE SOLUTIONSacrificial anodes were installed to the perimeter of all repair areas prior to Renderoc DS being used to spray back replacement material. Renderoc was selected as the best product solution due to its low rebound performance, which is well-known and tested in the market, having been used in many similar applications. Renderoc DS is fully compatible with all anode systems due to its low resistivity. This is true for a majority of the Renderoc range, meaning it can be use alongside cathodic protection. Renderoc HB45 hand applied mortar was also used where access was limited. Each phase of the repairs lasted approximately 2 weeks, involving breakout, continuity tests, anode installation, area preparation, spraying, and a 3 day curing period before moving onto the next section.THE BENEFITSThe corrosion and potential spalling of the existing concrete meant that there was a risk to health and safety of the bridge. If left unrepaired this could have also affected the capacity of the asset on a major UK motorway. The application process for each section of the repairs was significantly faster due to the spray application method and ensured a comprehensive restoration of the entire structure. Volker Laser completed all works on time and to program.

A fine cooperation from our clients - the floor screed specialists at B Doherty Screeding Ltd | Mobile Screed Factory along with baseTherm® Ltd Liquid Floor InsulationProjectDCU Polaris Building | School of Health & Human PerformanceMain ContractorWalls & McKeown Joint Venture Floor Screed PackageB. Doherty Screeding & baseTherm® Joint VentureVoid Former500 m³ baseTherm® 200, supplied and installed by baseTherm®Floor Screed3,500 m² Rapidur® EB5 Floor Screed by ourselves B. Doherty Screeding LtdContact your professional baseTherm® team for efficient, fuss-free, floor insulation results: 🔥📞Philip +353 (0) 87 333 0683📞Eddie +353 (0) 87 223 2456📩 sales@basetherm.comFor stunning floor screed results give B Doherty Floor Screed a call:📞 +353 (0)74 9383654📱 +353 (0)86 6031230📧 info@bdohertyscreeding.com

A Mapei system of flooring products has been specified as part of a major refurbishment at the Imperial War Museum. The historic museum is being sympathetically transformed to mark the centenary of the First World War. Mapei’s high performance cementitious flooring system, Ultratop, was chosen to complement the exhibits and provide low maintenance, coupled with resistance to heavy pedestrian traffic. Mapei’s flooring system was specified throughout a 5,000m2 floor area. The system combined Mapei Topcem rapid-drying screed, Primer SN and Ultratop - a technologically advanced self-smoothing cementitious floor in Anthracite.

A large expanse of Junckers’ Nordic Oak flooring forms part of a new archive and research facility in Cornwall. Designed by Purcell, the landmark development comprises public search, exhibition, education and workshop spaces. Based on historic records, many of the original buildings’ remaining structures were restored. For the floor, the original granite flagstones were lifted and re-laid, installed alongside Junckers’ solid 185mm wide Oak Boulevard flooring in a white-pigmented Nordic finish. Junckers 20.5mm thick solid wood floor can be sanded and refinished up to ten times. A long lifespan, PEFC + FSC certified and produced in a CO2 positive facility, means specifying a Junckers floor is an environmentally sound option. The flooring contractor was Tre Concepts. 

The Custard Factory, built around a century ago to manufacture Sir Alfred Bird’s famous dessert, has recently been revamped into an arts and media quarter for Birmingham. Specialist subcontractors DSM Flooring were looking for a quality floor access solution to install in the highly trafficked entrance atrium in the development. Howe Green supplied the 5000 Series Light Duty Floor Access Cover to provide easy and safe access to the essential building services concealed under the flooring within the atrium. The 5000 Series cover lay flush with the flooring to prevent any slips or trips.

Flooring specialists Laceys Floors and Walls have used UltraFloor Level IT Hydra Bond to install 170sqm of flooring at Rushcliffe Country Park.BackgroundGreen Flag award winners since 2007, Rushcliffe Country Park is a popular visitor attraction in Nottinghamshire. Work is currently underway to renovate the visitor centre including staff office and toilets.The ChallengeExpert flooring specialists, Laceys Floors and Walls were the contractors commissioned to install 170sqm of flooring throughout the visitor centre. To complete the installation, Laceys Floors and Walls needed subfloor materials that would provide a super smooth finish to avoid any trip hazards and would withstand constant trafficking of visitors.The SolutionTo begin, Laceys Floors and Walls applied DPM IT damp proof membrane across the entire 170sqm area. DPM IT is a two component, solvent free epoxy resin system for use as a surface damp proof membrane. Designed to provide protection against subfloor moisture, DPM IT has a pot life of 45 – 75 minutes, a cure time of 5 hours and boasts a 98% RH floor moisture tolerance.Once fully cured, the team applied UltraFloor’s latest product innovation, Level IT Hydra Bond to a depth of 3-5mm.Level IT Hydra Bond is a super polymer modified smoothing compound which utilises UltraFloor’s unique technology – a process which enhances application and boasts unrivalled flow properties. What’s more, each bag of Level IT Hydra Bond also contains 20% recycled material.In addition, Level IT Hydra Bond can receive bonded floor coverings after 4 hours, has an extended working time of 45 minutes for optimal usability, and is moisture tolerant and protein free.To complete the project, Polysafe Wood FX and Verona flooring was installed throughout the visitor centre, office and toilets.ResultsThe flooring was installed with ease and Rushcliffe County Park’s exciting new visitor centre is due to open later this year.“Level IT Hydra Bond was a real pleasure to work with. It was easy to trowel and float on the floor and knitted together great between mixes. It even went nicely on the previous days screeding.” Richard Lacey, Director at Laceys Floors and Walls.

Highly skilled flooring contractors, Ransome Flooring Limited, have used Level IT Smooth floor leveller to install LVT flooring at a ground floor apartment in Bristol.BackgroundWith over 20 years’ experience and a reputation built on perfection, reliability and recommendation, Ransome Flooring Limited’s extensive nationwide flooring portfolio put them in perfect place to install 68sqm of LVT flooring at a ground floor apartment in Bristol.The ChallengeDue to the design of the apartment, a seamless transition between the various living areas was crucial. The products used also needed to provide a first time, rapid and silky smooth finish to minimise disruption and prevent any dangerous trip hazards for the homeowner.The SolutionAfter securing the project, Ransome Flooring Limited sought professional advice from UltraFloor’s team of product experts. After visiting site, and carrying out moisture testing, UltraFloor recommended the use of Prime IT Multi-surface Primer and Level IT Smooth – expert subfloor preparation materials that would meet the clients’ requirements perfectly.Formulated to promote adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200m² at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Prime IT Multi-surface Primer was applied to the substrate, and once both coats of primer had fully dried, Level IT Smooth was applied.Pump or trowel applied from 2mm to 30mm, Level IT Smooth has an extremely smooth finish, essential for installing LVT, and boasts a superior flow – perfect for larger flooring projects.With a coverage rate of approximately 5.5sqm at 3mm, Level IT Smooth is suitable for underfloor heating systems, has a working time of 20-30 minutes and can receive foot traffic after just 2-3 hours – allowing you to move on to the next part of your project quickly.The superior performance of Level IT Smooth is just one reason why this much-loved smoothing underlayment is being used on a daily basis up and down the country.The ResultsThanks to the expertise of Ransome Flooring Limited and UltraFloor’s superb subfloor preparation materials, the homeowner was soon able to enjoy their luxurious new flooring.

Technical advice and quality subfloor preparation products and flooring adhesives from Bostik have enabled the progress of a new hospital building.Built to address capacity and demand issues, the new 3,600m² three storey ward block at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will treat high-dependency patients and stroke victims across two of its floors, with the other floor actingas an acute medical unit (AMU).Nationwide Flooring Contracts

Dura Grating Riser Installation | Case StudyShard Place is the third phase of the £3.5 billion redevelopment of the estate next to London Bridge station, known as Shard Quarter. Reinforced concrete frame and groundwork specialists Getjar were appointed as the formwork contractor by the principal contractor Mace and chose the Dura Composites Riser Install team to take on some of the complex install challenges of the service risers.Dura’s unrivalled expertise and full install capabilities meant they could deliver a bespoke solution for a large triangular shaped riser on all 26 storeys that required the use of galvanized steel supports and bracketing in conjunction with GRP Dura Grating to allow for cutouts to be performed whilst maintaining the integrity of the riser.

Washroom delivered new washrooms, colourful staff shower facilities and two new reception for a Mayfair office refurb. Washroom's highly engineered Marcato SGL shower cubicles with full height bright yellow doors and light grey pilasters and partitions. Each spacious shower cubicle includes an integrated Legato bench in the same bright yellow. Forza solid grade laminate Z-shaped lockers with key-operated locks were specified in two shades of grey to create a striking stripe effect within each bank of lockers. Solid surface vanity units in a light grey concrete-effect finish with inset sinks complete the contemporary new changing area.

When refurbishing a building in the heart of London, innovative building solutions and construction processes are necessary. That’s why Schüco FWS 50 curtain walling and AWS 70.HI side-hung windows were specified for the renovation of University College London Hospital’s (UCLH) Ear, Nose & Throat Department.Being located in such a central and busy area, it was decided that a prefabricated façade system would be the ideal solution. The key challenge was for this system to be installed as a complete unitised panel on site while still using a standard stick system.The building façade comprises 28 prefabricated bays, each 4 m wide, constructed as hybrids of traditional hand-made bricks, precast concrete, aluminium and glass.

Howe Green has supplied around 400 bespoke access covers to the £150 million National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) being built on the University of Warwick campus. The floor access covers were required to provide safe and easy access to building services concealed under the raised flooring. The bespoke 7500 Series Medium Duty Stainless Steel covers were specified by award-winning architects Cullinan Studio. A reduced depth was required to enable the access covers to be infilled with the same flooring used elsewhere in the raised floor system - calcium sulphate floor panels, with the stone pre-bonded

We worked with specialist Mezzanine Floor supplier WSL to provide a Mezz Pro (500kg) goods lift to help Rockshop Wholesale to move heavy bags of semi-precious gemstones safely between floors. Like many businesses, Rockshop Wholesale was growing, importing more semi-precious gemstones from around the globe to meet the demand of its customers. The solution: a mezzanine floor, providing more space by adding a second floor and avoiding the costly requirement to move premises. They needed a safe and efficient way of moving heavy goods between floors. The MezzPro 500kg goods lift was the perfect solution

Flooring contractors, 14 Flooring, have used Level IT Super Flex 30 to create 44 luxurious bathrooms at the Radisson Red Hotel in London Heathrow – much to their guests delight.BackgroundLocated at one of the world’s busiest airports, Radisson Red Hotel provides the perfect location for holidaymakers to get a good night’s sleep ahead of their flight or to chill out after a long day of travelling.Forty-four bathrooms, across four floors, have undergone a makeover to provide guests with an even more magnificent stay.The ChallengeTime was of the essence at this location. With guests already booked in, it was imperative that the flooring was completed on time to allow other trades to finish their works in readiness for the agreed handover date.The SolutionCommercial flooring specialists, 14 Flooring, partnered with subfloor preparation experts, UltraFloor, to install 3sqm of flooring, in 44 bathrooms, across 4 floors at the hotel.In preparation of the Tarkett LVT large format tiles being installed, 14 Flooring primed the substrate using UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Once cured, Level IT Super Flex 30 was applied across the entire area, resulting in the smoothest of subfloors.Specifically designed for use over a wide variety of subfloors including steel mezzanine decks and flooring grade plywood, Level IT Super Flex 30 is a rapid setting and drying, fibre reinforced flexible smoothing finishing compound.Developed with a high polymer content, Level IT Super Flex 30 boasts superior flexible properties, making it the perfect smoothing underlayment for floors where movement is likely.What’s more, subfloors prepared using Level IT Super Flex 30 are available to receive foot traffic in as little as 30 minutes, bonded floor coverings after 1 hour and resin finishes and forklift traffic after just 24 hours, allowing you to move on to another project quickly.ResultsThe expertise and skills of 14 Flooring teamed with the fantastic performance of UltraFloor, meant that it took the team just six days to prime, latex and install flooring across the hotel bathrooms.On selecting UltraFloor for the project, Daniel Lunan, Director of 14 Flooring, commented: “I chose Level IT Super Flex 30 for its rapid setting and rapid drying properties. With many bathrooms to complete in a short time frame, the smoothing compound drying quickly, without airflow, enabled us to work and install flooring the same day, which was essential. Having used Level IT Super Flex 30 many times in the past, I knew I could rely on it to perform exactly how I needed it too.”For further information on Level IT Super Flex 30 and the other materials available from UltraFloor, please contact UltraFloor’s team of flooring experts by emailing ultrafloor@instarmac.co.uk or calling +44 (0) 1827 254402.

THE PROJECTWe start 2018 with a case study that is truly the epitome of ingenuity and design! What a privilege to be involved in Gas Holders.King’s Cross is inextricably linked to London’s industrial past. The telescopic gasholder was invented in 1824 and provided the storage needed to meet the demand of an ever-expanding city.The interlocking gasholder triplets were built and revised between 1860 and 1880 and now, some 150 years later, they are once again responding innovatively to The Capital’s ever increasing population. Architects Wilkinson Eyre have produced a truly stunning and extraordinary development.Luxury apartments designed by Jonathan Tuckey Design have designed internal beauty that benefit from a Regent’s canal waterside location, breath-taking communal roof gardens, and an array of amenities elegantly furnished and dressed by London interior designers No12 Studio. Amenities include spa and gym, residents lounge and a sophisticated entertainment suite including private dining and catering kitchen, a 14 person screening room, with an adjacent elegant games room, for use before or after the show.The Gasholders lobby displays extraordinary attention to detail in its integration of the building’s industrial heritage with contemporary design and style. A 24-hour concierge team operates from a bespoke desk made in natural stone, while polished concrete floors with brass inlay, a sweeping spiral staircase and feature light sculpture introduce guests to the drama of the interior. It also houses the bespoke brass mailboxes painstakingly developed and created by our Innovation team.THE PRODUCTBack in 2014, we were approached by Wilkinson Eyre Architects to create a curved bank of mailboxes with particular emphasis on the hinge and finish, the overall requirement for a suitably stunning yet functional solution.Houston Cox Central were awarded The Triplets contract to design, manufacture and install all specialist joinery, which included the solid brass bespoke mailboxes that formed an integral part of the reception area. The joinery design presented its challenges, working within a cylindrical building with zero design tolerance. All the joinery interfaced (between panels, doorsets, wardrobe and vanity units) with each other to form an integral part of each living space. As on previous projects, we worked closely with Houston Cox Central over many months to ensure the clients brief was met. The bespoke designed mailboxes aligned with full height panels following the curved atrium wall within the ground floor reception area. The unique design of the brass mailbox doors with robust solid continuous brass hinges are very fitting for this iconic building. Houston Cox Central are delighted with the end result, having completed the installation late 2017.

Project Name:Niles Bakery, St AustellProject Location:St Austell, CornwallProduct UsedCemfloor C30Based in the scenic town of St. Austell, this project consists of a ground floor baking factory over 630m2 and first floor office space of similar size.Cemfloor was chosen for this project thanks to its many benefits including easy installation and reduced drying time.The floor needed to be strong enough to carry the weight of the baking machines so Cemfloor c30 at75mm was the proposed solution for the ground floor.On the first floor, heavy foot traffic and office equipment needed to be considered and Cemfloorc30 at 50mm was installed.Time on site was limited and the screed needed to be installed in a short time frame. NMA Flooring started the pour at 8am and were offsite by 11:30am. Light site traffic work was able to commence 48 hours after the pour

Meadowbank Sports Centre has been the home of elite sport in Edinburgh since the 1930s. The historic Meadowbank stadium was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, which it also hosted for a second time in 1986. For nearly 50 years the centre was open to both elite athletes and the local community before it closed in 2017. Designed to high standards of sustainability by Holmes Miller Architects, the new centre is part of a wider regeneration of the surrounding area in accordance with the City of Edinburgh Council’s long-term plan to cut carbon emissions and at the same time improve the health and wellbeing of the local community. Providing access to state-of-the-art sport and physical activity on their doorstep, the new centre is first and foremost a community sports facility. There is an outdoor athletics track with a 500-seat capacity stand and inside facilities include two multi-sports halls with fixed and moveable spectator seating, two squash courts, a gym floor and fitness studios all fitted with Junckers’ solid hardwood flooring. The two multi-sport halls are fitted with Junckers 22mm Maple Champion flooring providing a durable and long-lasting floor that will easily withstand high levels of usage. Installed over Junckers UnoBat 45 subfloor system, the floor offers a safe and high-performing surface with excellent shock absorption and ball bounce, fully conforming to EN 14904 class A4. Installed by Junckers’ Approved Contractor Courtcraft, the floor has a 25-year warranty which includes a regular maintenance programme to keep the floor in optimal condition. The larger sports hall houses a large-capacity retractable seating unit which can be rolled out onto the sports floor when needed and stored away when not in use. With extensive technical expertise in this area, Junckers will advise on how to strengthen the sprung batten system to allow for heavy loads whilst leaving the sprung quality of the floor unaffected. A sealed solid hardwood flooring surface is very resistant to the type of wear and tear which may occur with retractable seating systems. Seating wheels will not mark or indent the Junckers floor whereas vinyl and other synthetic floors are often impossible to use because the wheels cause permanent tracking marks and scuffs. In addition, Courtcraft installed Junckers’ SylvaSquash flooring in two squash courts, a high-performance solid beech floor left unfinished to ensure high grip-levels; and Maple Champion in the two fitness studios. Junckers’ 22mm oak flooring was also supplied for standing-only plinths the gym area, fitted by GL Floors. A sporting and social hub for Edinburgh, Meadowbank Sports Centre offer participation and accessibility at the heart of the centre, bringing physical, mental, and social benefits to the local community and beyond for generations to come. The project was a collaboration between The City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure and sportscotland.

A dynamic, highly flexible building at the University of Cambridge has been fitted with Junckers solid wood flooring as part of a light-filled interior scheme. The West Hub, designed by Jestico+Whiles, is a hybrid building designed to cater for students, commercial tenants, and members of the public. A focus on fostering connection and collaboration through thoughtfully designed interlinking spaces is evident in the interior, which is bright, open, and welcoming. The new building combines structured spaces with generous circulation areas for breakout and informal social and study use. The large, light-filled rooms make use of Junckers Nordic Oak Harmony flooring finished in ultra matt lacquer as an ideal backdrop. Using materials in paler shades helps maximise levels of natural light reflected into the space, supporting user wellbeing as well as minimising reliance on artificial lighting. A large plate-steel orange staircase, clad in Junckers Nordic Oak, zigzags its way through the main atrium, providing a visual and circulatory focal point as well as connecting the building vertically. Each of the floors in the building were designed with a different ambiance in mind, from a vibrant and lively ground floor housing a café and dining area, to a more relaxed, calmer first floor and a quiet upper floor intended for study. The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent and adopts many aspects of the WELL standard, including plenty of natural light and elements of biophilic design. On the lower ground floor hospitality areas, plants and trees have been integrated into the interior, which coupled with Junckers solid hardwood flooring provides an environment with a connection to nature, an element proved to support wellbeing as well as performance. An ideal choice for a busy, user-focused building, A pre-finished, solid hardwood floor from Junckers has a perfectly smooth surface and cannot harbour dust or mites. As an all-natural material, wood contributes to an even and balanced indoor climate as it helps maintain temperature in a room and reduces static from electrical equipment. All Junckers’ floors hold the Danish Indoor Climate label and have undergone extensive degassing and odour testing to ensure there are no chemical substances in the flooring. Junckers also complies with EU legislation REACH. The floor was installed by PICA Floorings Ltd. 

The new London Awards 2019 Retail category winner, is the only Arcade on Regent Street. The development has breathed new life into this Grade II listed building.Part of the transformation was designing a stunning and inviting tiled floor space, which replaced the previous Regent Street column. InOpera Group closely collaborated with the architect BARR GAZETAS to create a beautiful terrazzo tile floor that complemented the aesthetics of the new entrance.The redesigned arcade features two floors of retail and an internal floor area of 3650 sq m. To maximise the 90-year-old building’s retail potential a large column situated centrally at the arcade’s entrance was removed, and replaced with elegant curved glazing and beautiful captivating flooring leading into the arcade.The intricately designed flooring that pays homage to M.C. Escher’s box artwork design. It consists of four cement-based Architectural terrazzo tiles: Ecru, Ghiaccio, Grafite, to form the ‘box’ design and Carbone to trim the edge of the flooring.The redeveloped arcade has achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating against the BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit Out 2014 methodology.

A faster drying screed required over Lewis metal decking system on a first floor. Gyvlon FD, the screed is compatible with the Lewis system and gave the client the re assurance that the 6 week deadline would comfortably be achieved. Floor was dry for floor coverings after 28 days.

For PCA Predict in Worcester, the need to choose new flooring came earlier than expected. Contemporary, sleek, practical and durable were the keywords for this flooring project. After a false start with the cork floor, Office Manager Philippa Jaine was keen to achieve a contemporary look, but one that would also be able to cope with the footfall and, most importantly, would cause minimum disruption to the staff during installation. Combining the main entrance and breakout area, the total flooring space measured 95m2.

The glamorous and newly reopened North Bar can be found on the third floor of the world famous Royal Albert Hall. This light, open and spacious venue offers stunning views over the Albert Memorial – a backdrop which also provided the inspiration for the new Amtico flooring design. The renovation of the 100m2 floor area needed to make impact and create an eye-catching feature so a bespoke pattern was designed. It laid over the top of the original flooring to preserve it and protect from damage.

Torbay Hospital is South Devon’s main hospital. The eye clinic at the hospital required a floor refurbishment as the old carpet floor tiles were no longer suitable. The hospital needed a floor in blue to complement adjacent finishes. Altro met with the ward and building supervisors to discuss floor options. The Estates Building Supervisor worked closely with and was fully supported by Altro to choose the right product for the clinic. It was decided to use Altro Orchestra in ‘Bassoon’ and ‘Soul’ and helped the hospital to create a design for the eye clinic.

Us&Co chose our popular Quadra Sparkling for all their teapoints including the bar on the top floor. All floors have their own coffee bars where everything is complimentary and Billi is proud to feature on each floor, offering pure water to keep the clients hydrated throughout the year.