"in situ concrete floors"

The ChallengeFounded in 1432, Sevenoaks boarding school is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country with some of the buildings dating from the 17th Century. The client requested an easy-to-use, energy-efficient underfloor heating solution in rooms of different uses across the school that would have a negligible impact on floor heights. The installation of the system would also have to be considerate of the historic nature of the building.The SolutionDue to the need for a low floor build-up and with a project featuring a mix of floor finishes, our Foil Heater was the ideal choice for an easy-to-use and quick to install underfloor heating system. The Foil Heater is perfect for use with the school’s carpeted and wooden floor finishes and was installed in conjunction the Dual Overlay System when fitted with the carpeted flooring for a stable subfloor solution that can handle heavier load areas. Warmup’s StickyMat System was installed throughout the school’s bathrooms, which can be fitted directly within the layer of tile adhesive or levelling compound, therefore having little-to-no effect on floor heights. Our Tempo Thermostat was installed for accurate floor heat control alongside overall control by a Building Management System.The ResultThe beautiful and historic Sevenoaks Boarding School has now been given a 21st Century update with a responsive Warmup heating solution that didn’t substantially raise floor heights. The staff and pupils can now enjoy radiant warmth throughout the year, leading to better comfort levels and therefore a happier space in which to study and work.

City of London Academy Shoreditch Park by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios forms a part of The Britannia Project, regenerating a thriving London community with new facilities and amenities including new housing, a new school and community leisure facilities. Built to cater for the anticipated expanding population, the new development forms a harmonious addition to the existing neighbourhood with new, high-quality public spaces. The new secondary school for 900 local students plus a 200 student sixth form school had complex underground constraints to take into consideration in the design process, a challenge which informed every part of the building, including the choice of flooring and its installation in the school sports hall. Proposed Crossrail tunnels beneath the building meant the sports floor had to be able to cope with a much larger amount of structural movement than what would be considered normal for a building of this kind. Junckers’ technical department worked closely with the architect exploring a number of options to finally help them arrive at a solution which could accommodate an unusually large amount of structural movement and at the same time retain the sprung quality of the floor for sports and other activities. Junckers Approved Contractor V.A. Hutchison fitted Junckers 22mm solid Ash Champion over New Era battens with 125mm insulation between battens. Line markings for four badminton courts as well as basketball, netball and handball courts ensure the sports hall will serve the school and the wider community as a hub for multiple events and activities. The floor is area elastic and fully complies with EN 14904 class A4, a high-performance sprung floor which will serve the school and community for decades to come. A 22mm Junckers sports floor can be sanded and refinished up to ten times without losing performance, and with regular sandings in 12-year intervals, a lifespan of 60+ years as set out by the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge can easily be achieved. Funding for schools issued by the Department for Education is now dependent on fulfilling strict sustainability criteria. Junckers has independently verified certification to show its flooring fulfils these criteria, In addition to the sports hall, Junckers flooring was specified for the school’s main hall, which is used for drama and other activities. The original specification was for a vinyl floor, but as a more sustainable solution, Junckers’ 22mm Nordic Oak in the Classic grade was selected. V. A. Hutchison Flooring installed the oak floor on New Era battens with 125mm insulation, including an area of 91 m2 of extra battens for support in the main hall. Jo Gimenenz, Architect at FCBStudios added: “We have worked with Junckers for many of our projects, CoLASP being one of the most recent and they always provide an excellent technical service. Particularly so on this project where we had to overcome a complex structural movement joint detail in our ground floor Main Hall, due to proposed Crossrail tunnels beneath the building. A Junckers flooring system was also installed in our Sports Hall. For this space we opted again for a solid timber flooring in lieu of a vinyl topped raised floor as it was a more sustainable solution.” 

Eastbourne station is located in East Sussex. It was originally built in the 19th century and is classified as a Grade II listed building. Over the years, the station has undergone several renovations and upgrades.Back in October 2020 it was announced £5 million would be spent on restoring Eastbourne Railway Station to its ‘former glory’. Work done includes canopy refurbishment, slate roof replacement, masonry work to the front of the station, and new roofing above the atrium.Twinfix were approached to replace the glazing panels on the 32 lanterns on the station’s train shed with something hard wearing, sustainable and modern but without losing the period look. The change was needed because, according to the plans, the existing fixtures were ‘life expired and inefficient’.Twinfix supplied their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) roof glazing system, glazed with 6mm solid obscure polycarbonate. The new glazing spanned 1243 square metres and was installed by Gable, on behalf of Main Contractor BAM Nuttall.The Multi-Link-Panel NF system is an innovative roof glazing product that has been well utilised for many years on station canopy roofs, and it has been thoroughly tried and tested in that time.It was the chosen system for this project for a number of reasons:sustainability– these panels are virtually unbreakable in manufacture, transit and in situ, meaning that, unlike glass, maintenance costs will be eliminated. The system is also completely recycleable.safety– Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF (Non-Fragile) conforms to the HSE recommended test method ACR[M]001:2019 (as outlined in document HSG33) and achieves a ‘B’ Classification.off-site construction– The panels are pre-assembled in Twinfix’s factory ensuring strict quality guidelines are adhered to, which is not always guaranteed when roofing products are assembled on site.ease of access– The Multi-Link-Panel NF system can be fitted with In-Line Access Hatches, to allow cleaning of gutters and roof. These hatches are hardly visible and allow safe access through the glazing without needing to get on the roof.weight– The Multi-Link-Panel NF is light in weight and due to its modular format, it is very quick to install which allows for short rail possession works. A slight redesign of the original roof allowed 96 access hatches to be installed, making maintenance easier. Installed it’s almost impossible to detect the modern materials that have been used to bring this historic structure back to life.During the renovation work, Shaun King, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said, “The quality of work on site is being completed to a very high standard and we’re taking great care to restore the Grade II listed building to its former glory.”

Eastbourne station is located in East Sussex. It was originally built in the 19th century and is classified as a Grade II listed building. Over the years, the station has undergone several renovations and upgrades.Back in October 2020 it was announced £5 million would be spent on restoring Eastbourne Railway Station to its ‘former glory’. Work done includes canopy refurbishment, slate roof replacement, masonry work to the front of the station, and new roofing above the atrium.Twinfix were approached to replace the glazing panels on the 32 lanterns on the station’s train shed with something hard wearing, sustainable and modern but without losing the period look. The change was needed because, according to the plans, the existing fixtures were ‘life expired and inefficient’.Twinfix supplied their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) roof glazing system, glazed with 6mm solid obscure polycarbonate. The new glazing spanned 1243 square metres and was installed by Gable, on behalf of Main Contractor BAM Nuttall.The Multi-Link-Panel NF system is an innovative roof glazing product that has been well utilised for many years on station canopy roofs, and it has been thoroughly tried and tested in that time.It was the chosen system for this project for a number of reasons:sustainability– these panels are virtually unbreakable in manufacture, transit and in situ, meaning that, unlike glass, maintenance costs will be eliminated. The system is also completely recycleable.safety– Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF (Non-Fragile) conforms to the HSE recommended test method ACR[M]001:2019 (as outlined in document HSG33) and achieves a ‘B’ Classification.off-site construction– The panels are pre-assembled in Twinfix’s factory ensuring strict quality guidelines are adhered to, which is not always guaranteed when roofing products are assembled on site.ease of access– The Multi-Link-Panel NF system can be fitted with In-Line Access Hatches, to allow cleaning of gutters and roof. These hatches are hardly visible and allow safe access through the glazing without needing to get on the roof.weight– The Multi-Link-Panel NF is light in weight and due to its modular format, it is very quick to install which allows for short rail possession works. A slight redesign of the original roof allowed 96 access hatches to be installed, making maintenance easier. Installed it’s almost impossible to detect the modern materials that have been used to bring this historic structure back to life.During the renovation work, Shaun King, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said, “The quality of work on site is being completed to a very high standard and we’re taking great care to restore the Grade II listed building to its former glory.”

Altro flooring now standard for welsh social housing providerAltro Wood, Altro Aquarius“We have a longstanding and very strong relationship with Altro. Our decision to exclusively use their flooring going forward will ensure consistency and a high level of quality, durability and aesthetics across the homes we have available where we have developmental control.”Elliw OwenSenior Development Surveyor at AdrassueAdra, a leading affordable housing provider in North Wales has constructed a large scheme of mixed housing units in Caernarfon, Wales. The scheme offers 46 properties comprising two, three and four-bedroomed houses and bungalows available as market sales, rent to own and social rented units. Adra creates comfortable, affordable, contemporary and stylish homes for their clients using quality interior components.ApproachAltro’s wide range of colours offers choice and flexibility in terms of design, enabling Adra to match to kitchen units and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) recommendations, making this housing scheme accessible for all. With proven durability combined with good looks, performance and impressive safety credentials, Altro products have delivered great results for Adra over many years with long-term sustainability of quality and standards, and it is for these reasons that Adra have chosen Altro as their standard flooring supplier on all their new-build programmes.SolutionAltro Wood safety flooring was fitted in all kitchens on the scheme in a choice of three colours. All bathrooms and shower rooms were fitted with Altro Aquarius safety flooring in the colours Swan, Cygnet, or Tern.“We have not had one problem with the flooring, and the 12-month assessment reported it looked as good as the day it was fitted,” said Elliw Owen, Senior Development Surveyor at Adra. “Another big plus for us is that our local flooring installers love working with Altro flooring because it’s an easy product to lay and work with. This means we don’t need to bring in expensive specialist flooring contractors, and we can keep it local.”“We want to offer our residents beautiful, stylish flooring they can be proud of. We are pleased to be working with Altro; their flooring ticks all the boxes for us.”Elliw OwenSenior Development Surveyor at Adra

CHALLENGE The first of its kind for Quebec, the “living street” required a paving grid that would provide multi-purpose access along the street whilst also allowing for the aesthetically pleasing natural look to be maintained. A woonerf is a living street that is traditionally implemented as a traffic calming aid and to enforce low speed limit areas. They are often shared space streets where equal priority is given to all modes of transportation including automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians; usually with separate rights of way. The province of Quebec was looking to do a “pilot project” in the city of Montreal to create a woonerf that would not only provide the required access, including disabled access but that would also have a long-lasting beneficial impact on the environment. They were looking for an environmentally friendly ground reinforcement product which would provide the strength and durability required for a heavily used area. As a “living street”, the product needed to allow the growth of natural vegetation and contain no harmful preservatives which could affect the environment in which it is placed. The harsh weather conditions in Quebec also needed to be considered. With such extreme conditions in both winter and summer, the material needed to withstand the temperature fluctuations. Ground reinforcement products traditionally used such as concrete are susceptible to cold crack in winter as it is a porous material. As a requirement, the desired product was to absorb only limited heat in order to promote growing vegetation. The only suitable material for a project with such challenging conditions was hanit®’s recycled plastic heavy duty ground girds, with their durability and environmental credentials meeting the requirements.SOLUTIONhanit®’s Heavy Duty Ground Grids are manufactured from a blend of high-quality recycled plastic polyolefins extracted from post-industrial and post-consumer mixed waste plastics. Heavy Duty Ground Grids have a high impact resistance which makes them suitable for all vehicle access. They have an interlocking system which improves stability and also allows for quick and simple installation. As the woonerf needed to provide numerous different access levels it was important that the Heavy Duty Ground Grids were versatile. They can be filled with either grass, seed/topsoil or gravel. For this project, wheelchair access was provided through a gravel filled pathway.The rest of the “living street” was mostly completed with grass filled areas. As hanit® products transfer limited amounts of heat, they dry out the soil less than concrete. This works as a benefit to the vegetation growing through the grids. Recycled plastic material is not porous and therefore does not absorb any moisture. This gives added benefits in the winter as when absorbed moisture freezes in concrete it causes cold crack. Their open structure also allows for quick infiltration of any rainwater into the ground allowing for sustainable urban drainage requirements to be met.hanit® Heavy Duty Ground Grids are strong and durable and require no maintenance. They are not affected by weathering and decay; therefore once in place, they have a much longer lifespan than any other competing products. Made from 100% recycled material, the woonerf has been an extremely sustainable project. Providing Montreal with a living street has not only added more vegetation to the area but also allows the city to contribute to an environmentally responsible sustainable urban drainage solution. As the products are chemically inert they do not affect the environment and are harmless to all flora and fauna. In total the project has used 8,500 units of Heavy Duty Ground Grids. This equates to almost 77 tonnes of recycled plastic waste which has been saved from going to landfill. The woonerf has been an extremely well celebrated project that has won prizes for its conception and green initiatives. “I recommend Les Dalles Vertes (Heavy Duty Ground Grids) to all my clients. We laid out nearly 30,000 square feet of these pavers for the Woonerf project and it took us half the time and resources that were required to install the old concrete grass pavers." - Tony Scirocco, Ventec

Arranged around several courtyards and atria, Jaguar Land Rover’s new Advanced Product Creation Centre by Bennetts Associates is a series of inspirational, creative spaces designed to foster interaction and collaboration. As part of a refined materials palette, over 5,000m2 of Junckers solid Nordic Oak Classic flooring has been installed to define zones and provide a warm, natural surface. High levels of natural light fill new offices, restaurant and a 400-seat multipurpose hall, all linked by generous internal streets. The company’s latest vehicle models are proudly displayed on the ground floor, where the flooring had to be able to accommodate both the cars and a Stringo, a specialist vehicle moving truck. Working with AC Flooring Ltd, Junckers provided a solid hardwood floor able to take the weight of a five-tonne load. Richard Aylen, Junckers’ Technical Manager worked with AC Flooring and the architects to find the best solution for the floor to withstand heavy loads: “The wooden floor at Jaguar Land Rover’s new Advanced Production Creation Centre was glued to the subfloor using our Parkett Adhesive. Given a suitable subfloor, this is usually the method that will bear the highest loads. Worryingly, there is a trend towards substituting proprietary adhesive products for cheaper brands. A cheaper adhesive generally contains more filler, which will bulk out the product but do nothing for its adhesive properties. The high amount of filler in in the cheaper adhesives has reduced the bonding ability and projects where such products have been used are beginning to fail with large claims being fought in parts of Europe. This is an issue many flooring contractors may be unaware of. By choosing Junckers Parkett Adhesive the client can be confident that they have the best long-term result.” 

In this stunning interior design project, Whiteriver’s “Oak Mocha Herringbone” hardwood flooring from the Barista range takes center stage in a beautiful country home. This premium flooring product, with dimensions of 130mm x 14mm x 725mm, creates a warm and inviting ambiance throughout the entire space. The “Oak Mocha Herringbone” flooring adds a touch of timeless elegance and rustic charm to this country home.

Architect Hawkins\Brown specified Howe Green 7500 Series Medium Duty Stainless Steel Floor Access Covers for one of the office spaces within BT Sport located at Here East, the new digital quarter for East London. The covers were required to address the challenge of easily and safely accessing drainage junctions located beneath a raised floor system in the corridors of the building. The 7500 Series were specified with stainless steel Z profiles to provide additional support to the access cover within the raised floor. The access covers were initially covered with plywood and then infilled with a vinyl flooring finish.

Howe Green Ltd supplied over 850 specially designed and manufactured floor access covers for an underground station which required safe, secure and easy access to building services concealed beneath the flooring. Howe Green designed bespoke duct covers based on the 7500 Series Medium-Duty Floor Access Covers. With a 69 mm depth the access covers were manufactured with an extra thick base plate and reinforcements to meet the demands of what will be a highly trafficked area. The access covers were infilled with two different types of flooring dependent upon their location - Conservation Smooth pavings from Marshalls and Granazzo.

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

Immerse yourself in a serene oasis of beauty and tranquility at the renowned K Club in Ireland, enhanced by the breathtaking appearance of Whiteriver’s Serene / Frappe Chevon Engineered Flooring. Elevate your surroundings with a touch of sophistication, as this exquisite flooring effortlessly blends nature’s elegance with modern craftsmanship.Step onto the floors adorned with Whiteriver’s Serene / Frappe Chevon Engineered Flooring and experience a harmonious blend of visual splendor and calming tranquility. The Chevron pattern, meticulously designed and crafted, adds a captivating allure to any space. Its timeless appeal and sophisticated style make it the perfect choice for those seeking to create an atmosphere of refined luxury.

Commercial flooring specialists, Shire Flooring, have used UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer and Level IT Two to complete an extensive flooring project at Swanwick School and Sports College.BackgroundSwanwick School and Sports College have extended their outstanding premises to include a new educational block. To install the various floor coverings, experienced flooring specialists, Shire Flooring, used UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer and Level IT Two.The ChallengeBefore any levelling could commence, the team at Shire Flooring identified that they would be working on a calcium sulphate screed – a notoriously difficult substrate to work with. With that in mind, UltraFloor’s Area Sales Manager, Mark Berry and Technical Training and Site Manager, Martin Pouncey, visited the site to carry out extensive moisture testing to ensure the moisture level was below 75% RH.The SolutionTo ensure an accurate moisture reading, the laitance was grinded off the surface of the screed. Once the correct moisture levels had been achieved, priming could commence.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 150m² at 3:1 dilution and a second coat at 1:1, Prime IT multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.After the screed had been primed and fully dried, Level IT Two was applied across the new building.There are many reasons why Level IT Two has become UltraFloor’s most popular floor leveller. Its exceptional flow characteristics make it a very easy material to apply to a variety of subfloors in both commercial and domestic flooring projects. Its low odour formulation means this fantastic all-rounder leveller is equally suited to confined areas, proving particularly popular in the education, health and hospitality sectors.With a set time of 2.5 hours, Level IT Two can receive bonded floor coverings after just 8 hours, making it an ideal choice for projects with a tight deadline. What’s more, because Level IT Two is available as a two component system, it takes the guesswork out of mixing, reducing site errors and guaranteeing a perfect application every time.After just a few hours, the various floor coverings were then installed across a number of classrooms, corridors and toilets.ResultsThe project completed on time and the pupils and staff at Swanwick School and Sports College are now able to enjoy their new facilities.

Committed to supporting the NHS, F. Ball helped support frontline NHS workers by donating floor preparation materials and adhesive to assist in the installation of temporary flooring at a former aircraft hangar, which was turned into a food distribution centre for the SalutetheNHS.org initiative. Styccobond F46 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive, Stopgap 460 Exterior Repair Compound and Stopgap Isolator Membrane were used by flooring contractors to complete the transformation.

Our client, Spar, required a flooring which was quick and easy to install over the old flooring, could handle heavy weights, suitable for high traffic retail areas while being easy to clean and maintain.They also wanted a stylish and attractive finish. Having met all their regulations and requirements, the Design Tile Shalestone interlocking loose lay flooring tiles were chosenwith beautiful results.

Manchester Airport Group (MAG) is a leading UK airport group that owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports, together with a significant property business.In 2011 they began a project of upgrading their entire airport perimeter security fencing and gates to cope with an increase in passengers and estate traffic.The BriefSecurity was paramount when it came to the brief for a new perimeter fence line and physical access control. There are a number of features that have not been included in this case study for security reasons.The fence had to have the ability to be erected in a variety of ways, including on concrete, dug in, base plated and ground buriedSecurity Toppings were requiredStrong anti-cut wires on any meshAnti-climb properties to prevent scalingCost effective due to the size of the fence line

Project DescriptionThe capital of Austria, Vienna, is home to one of the country's most powerful structures: The parliament building from the 19th century comprises the seat of the two chambers of parliament, the National Council as well as the Federal Council of the Republic of Austria.As part of the general renovation of the historic building complex on Vienna's Ringstrasse, Lindner GmbH was involved in the construction project with numerous products and services. In addition to the repair of damage to the building fabric, the main objective was the general  modernization of the property within the framework of the preservation of historical monuments. The combination of Lindner's modern hollow floor system FLOOR and more® and the historic overlay therefore met all the requirements. In order to continue to preserve the classic look of the wall and ceiling surfaces, the entire building services were installed in the access floor - completely in line with the maxim of sustainability.Completed Works:Floors: Calcium sulphate panels                   9300 sqm         - FLOOR and more® comfort         11000 sqm         - FLOOR and more®Cement fibre panels:                        410 sqm           - HYDRO comfort Ceilings:Heated and Chilled Plasterboard Ceilings -Plafotherm® GK HEKDA®Insulation Engineering

The multi-million pound transformation of London Stansted Airport required a floor access solution that could accommodate very specific site conditions and meet the required loading. In two separate phases of work Howe Green supplied over 250 bespoke floor access panels and frames for the Satellite One and Departure Hall refurbishment. Howe Green adapted the 2500 Series and 5000 Series Stainless Steel Floor Access Covers to custom depths and incorporated an additional base plate reinforcement to meet the clients exact requirements. Single floor access covers and multi-part covers were supplied to provide safe and easy access to service utilities.

F. Ball products have been used to install vinyl safety flooring at the Great Western Railway train depot in Penzance. Flooring contractors installed 400m2 of flooring in the depot. Firstly, to combat the excess subfloor moisture, which can cause extensive damage to floorcoverings and lead to costly remedial work, contractors used a combination of Stopgap F77 and Stopgap F78 Waterproof Surface Membranes. The fast-setting, minimal preparation Stopgap 1200 Pro smoothing underlayment was then applied over the area. A short time later new Polyflor Polysafe Standard PUR flooring was installed using Styccobond F46, a solvent-free pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.

The stunning Oak Da Vinci flooring adds a touch of sophistication and elegance to the space, while its durable and high-quality construction ensures it can withstand everyday wear and tear.This versatile flooring option is easy to maintain, making it ideal for busy households. Its engineered construction also ensures that it is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems, making it the perfect choice for homeowners looking to incorporate modern heating solutions into their home.Whiteriver’s Oak Da Vinci flooring is not only beautiful and functional but is also eco-friendly, manufactured using sustainably sourced materials. The end result is a stunning floor that adds value to any property while being kind to the environment. 

In the retail sector, a design-oriented, hard-wearing floor is essential for balancing aesthetic impact and practical demands. Floor coverings from Amtico meet these high requirements perfectly because not only are they beautiful, but they are also flexible, durable and sustainable. This makes them first choice for a vast array of projects, and it was precisely these properties that made Haus der Mode: For men in Schweinfurt choose a floor covering from the Amtico Signature collection.

Carrefour, Saint-Jean-de-Braye, France required a flooring which was quick and easy to install over the old flooring, could handle heavy weights, suitable for high traffic retail areas while being easy to clean and maintain.They also wanted a stylish and attractive finish. Having met all their regulations and requirements, the Design Tile interlocking loose lay flooring tiles were chosenwith beautiful results.

An elegant neutral base give Basilica Salt an artisan porcelain finish, mixed with the sleek look of Limed Grey Wood.Floor design by Dynargh Design, images Eden Flooring & Interiors.

The ChallengeThe extensively refurbished Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane required an acoustic underlay solution to effectively control impact sound with the marbled tiled floors of its guest bathrooms. Due to the prestigious nature of the hotel, superior impact sound attenuation needed to be achieved to exceed Part E requirements.Furthermore, having undergone a vast refurbishment programme the Four Seasons Hotel London now accommodates eight floors of guest rooms, so as well as attenuation of impact sound between floors it was necessary for the acoustic treatment to be easy to handle and install.The SolutionThe extensively refurbished Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane required an acoustic underlay solution to effectively control impact sound with the marbled tiled floors of its guest bathrooms. Due to the prestigious nature of the hotel, superior impact sound attenuation needed to be achieved to exceed Part E requirements.Furthermore, having undergone a vast refurbishment programme the Four Seasons Hotel London now accommodates eight floors of guest rooms, so as well as attenuation of impact sound between floors it was necessary for the acoustic treatment to be easy to handle and install.The ResultAchieving high levels of impact sound attenuation with a tiled floor finish, Regupol® 4515 Multi (REGUPOL sonus multi) exceeds the minimum requirement of 62dB or less specified by Part E regulations.Russell Coleman, senior project manager, Beck Interiors, commented: “As one of the finest examples of a world class hotel we needed complete peace of mind that the acoustic flooring solution we applied in the guest bathrooms provided more than effective impact sound isolation, especially with the marble floor finish. The technical support that we received from CMS Acoustics in order to specify Regupol® 4515 Multi (REGUPOL sonus multi) was excellent, with a member of the technical team taking the time to visit the site.”

The company’s Dalton manufacturing facility required a new floor coating system, after the previous finish had worn away and become unsafe in places.Any flooring works had to be completed with minimal disruption to continuing operations, reducing the impact to production as much as possible.After suitable mechanical preparation during the first phase, vebrores EP HBC was installed across the 1,000 m2 floor area in RAL 7038 Agate Grey.

Standing derelict on the south bank of the River Thames, Battersea Power Station renowned for its four chimneys and art deco design is undergoing a massive phased transformation in a multi-billion redevelopment programme.A ComFlor® composite floor system throughout was chosen for a number of reasons including its ability to provide a solution that is strong and robust and one that was capable of achieving the load and long span requirements. It has a low floor self-weight, obtains good load optimisation and offers fast build times.Prodeck Fixing installed over 135,000m2 of our ComFlor® floor decks on this project which will support the flooring system for the whole project using a mix of ComFlor® profiles

The Milton Keynes Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department was undergoing a refurbishment. The overall aim was to create a child-friendly environment that would appeal to children of all ages.AD Architects designed the new unit and chose Altro Orchestra to create two colourful, reception play areas. The variety of different shades and textures gave scope for an enchanted woodland forest theme to be created using Altro Orchestra throughout. Altro Suprema safety flooring was also fitted in the new unit’s observation areas, treatment bays and examination rooms. The new unit was built by Parias Commercial Interiors, and the Altro flooring fitted by Total Flooring. Altro Orchestra flooring helped to transform the Paediatric Emergency Department to a wonderfully bright, colourful area that children love to play in. Altro Orchestra offers comfort underfoot making life easier on the feet for staff and visitors, and with a palette of 40 colours and designs — varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature to vibrant shades — it creates the right atmosphere every time. The Altro Suprema flooring provides a great, practical flooring which is ultrasafe, but also very stylish and it really adds to the environment. The hospital staff are thrilled with the result.

Long-standing UltraFloor customer, Specialist Screed (Flooring) Solutions Ltd have used UltraFloor’s expert subfloor preparation materials at a brand new medical centre in North London.BackgroundA new medical centre has recently been built to service the residents of North London. Before the centre could be opened to patients, the floors needed to be primed and levelled in preparation for the flooring installation.The ChallengeWith vulnerable patients using the facilities daily, it was imperative that the new medical centre was a safe, calming and hygienic environment for both visitors and staff. A variety of Polyflor vinyl and skirting were due to be installed across the centre and therefore subfloor preparation materials needed to be suitable to install each of them, without delay.The SolutionFollowing a bespoke specification written by UltraFloor’s technical team, Specialist Screed (Flooring) Solutions Ltd used UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer and Level IT Two to install a range of Polyflor vinyl’s across the 800sqm medical centre.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 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.After the screed had been primed and fully dried, Level IT Two was applied across the new building.There are many reasons why Level IT Two has become UltraFloor’s most popular floor leveller. Its exceptional flow characteristics make it a very easy material to apply to a variety of subfloors in both commercial and domestic flooring projects. Its low odour formulation means this fantastic all-rounder leveller is equally suited to confined areas, proving particularly popular in the education, health and hospitality sectors.With a set time of 2.5 hours, Level IT Two can receive bonded floor coverings after just 8 hours, making it an ideal choice for projects with a tight deadline. What’s more, because Level IT Two is available as a two component system, it takes the guesswork out of mixing, reducing site errors and guaranteeing a perfect application every time.After just a few hours, the various floor coverings were then installed across the medical centre.ResultsThe team at Specialist Screed (Flooring) Solutions Ltd began their work at Green Lane Medical Centre in the early part of 2022 and completed the 800sqm project by May 2022. On working with UltraFloor, Riley Goatham, Procurements and Project Co-ordinator at Specialist Screed (Flooring) Solutions Ltd commented: “The products were very good as usual with good technical back up from the UltraFloor team.”

There’s no greater accolade for a building products manufacturer than being specified by architects for architects, and that is exactly what specialist partitioning board supplier fermacell® achieved at the University of Portsmouth. The £9 million building comprises large lecture theatre, seminar room, café and shop over the ground and first floors, and open-plan offices for academic and administrative staff and a post-graduate centre on the upper floors via floor plans which are easily divided and flexible.

The first homes at Barratt Homes’ new energy efficient Hanham Hall development feature Posi-Joists as the floor system of choice. Each home is constructed using highly insulated materials and is fitted with a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system, which is why Posi-Joist was the natural choice for the floor system. Kingspan Potton have been involved throughout the design and delivery of the project, supplying both Structural Insulated Panels and the Posi-Joist floors.

The new Faculty of Arts building at University of Warwick designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios brings the departments of the Arts and Humanities faculties under a single roof for the first time. The light-filled, timber-lined space is formed around and imposing internal staircase clad in Junckers’ solid ash flooring.The stair rises from a base of amphitheatre seating andrises through the building connecting teaching, social learning, public exhibition, and departmental spaces throughout which all branch off the central staircase. Entirely clad in Junckers’ solid ash, the central stair forms the main route through the building’s open, inviting, and flexible spaces. “The stair provides a space for daily informal meeting as well as a place for events and occasions such as documentary filming, graduation photographs and whole faculty celebrations. The use of natural timber, combined with natural light brings a warmth and a sense of timelessness to the space.”David Harris, Associate, Feilden Clegg Bradley StudiosJunckers’ solid ash has excellent strength properties and makes a hard-wearing, long-lasting floor. Often used in contemporary interiors, ash flooring adds natural warmth and character which can provide a good balance to clean lines and hard surfaces. The unique grain structure of ash makes it a characterful floor, similar in pattern to oak but with its own distinct colour tones. With its capacity to reflect an abundance of natural light, it is an ideal flooring choice for the project.The flooring contractor was Capital Floors Ltd. 

The Allsop family started planning their kitchen renovation project in September 2021 and wanted to create an inviting room featuring special touches such as glass work surfaces alongside the latest in energy-saving technology. As they had already installed underfloor heating in their home before, they knew that an electric floor heater would be the ideal heating solution due to its ease of use, sustainable technology, and low running costs. The DCM-PRO was chosen as the most efficient solution, offering rapid installation times and increased and huge savings on energy bills due to its efficiency, further enhanced after being paired with our 6iE Thermostat. This system was perfect for use with the Allsop’s new Karndean vinyl floors and is also ideal for kitchens with stone or ceramic floor tiles as its decoupling technology helps protect tiled floors from damage. The low-profile design of the DCM-PRO is also perfect for all types of refurbishment projects in rooms with fixed ceiling heights as it will have a negligible impact on floor levels.

Manchester Museum has opened a new gallery dedicated to South Asian culture where Junckers’ solid wood flooring forms an integral part of the interior scheme. The new gallery celebrates the lived experiences and contributions of the South Asian diaspora and is part of the Hello Future initiative, a Heritage Lottery Fund project to encourage diverse communities to visit the museum. Architects Purcell created a new two-storey extension which includes two new galleries, as well as re-designing the original buildings to add a new main entrance, foyer, and visitor facilities. The new building has achieved BREEAM Very Good standard and was designed to adhere to the conditions required for museum collections. The design also places a strong focus on inclusivity, with improved accessibility for all visitors. The interior, designed by Studio C102 and Mobile Studio Architects, takes its inspiration from South Asian architecture and design with a material palette of rich colours and textures. Junckers Oak Natural Pearl flooring is paired with hand-patinated brass panels and a deep ochre wall colour that brings South Asian culture and creativity to life, a fitting backdrop to the many interesting exhibits on display. Junckers’ oak flooring provides the museum with a durable surface to accommodate high foot traffic. Made in solid wood, the floor is easy to care for and maintain and with a proven long lifespan, the floor can easily outlast the building’s design life of 60 years. Junckers flooring contributes to a healthy indoor climate and helps minimise any static from electrical devices and equipment. Having undergone rigorous degassing and odour tests to ensure there are no chemical substances in the flooring which adversely affect the air quality in a room, all Junckers floors carry the Danish Indoor Climate label certificate. The South Asia Gallery is a British Museum partnership. 

Klaudia and Michal purchased a brand-new property in Staffordshire in November 2021, built by David Wilson Homes. The couple’s chic, minimalistic design aesthetic soon gained a following on Instagram with clean lines, sleek finishes, and a focus on simplicity. @ThePolishedGosford has become a popular account with other new-build homeowners with similar proportions and layout.In their quest to enhance their interior design aesthetic, the couple sought out an artistic addition that would perfectly complement their existing décor. They received a recommendation from a friend suggesting KEIM Colourwash, and they eagerly embarked on a project to create captivating feature walls in both their kitchen and master bedroom.Klaudia and Michal desired to incorporate a concrete effect, a task that is often challenging and time-consuming when using conventional materials. Seeking advice, Amie Paxton, Creative Finishes Designer at KEIM, provided personalised colour choices combining KEIM Innostar & KEIM Colourwash to achieve the desired outcome.Available in over 200 colours, KEIM Innostar is an innovative interior paint, requiring just a single coat application to achieve full coverage and a luxuriously fully matt finish. Klaudia commented: “The paint was really easy to use, and the application was better than other brands we’d used in the past.”KEIM Colourwash offers a convenient and hassle-free solution for achieving a beautiful limewash effect. Unlike traditional limewash, which can be time-consuming and potentially hazardous, KEIM Colourwash provides a safe and easy alternative. When used in combination with KEIM Innostar, a trendy “perfectly imperfect” aesthetic can be applied to both bare and previously painted walls and ceilings.Using a KEIM Oval Brush, the couple applied KEIM Colourwash to their selected feature walls, transforming the plain surfaces in a remarkably short time frame of less than 20 minutes per wall. Michal commented: “We originally wanted a concrete effect on our kitchen wall, which seemed very complex to do, unlike using KEIM.”

Increased awareness of need for sustainable solutions is causing the construction industry to lean towards wood materials, thus strengthening the position of wooden buildings in the real estate sector.At the Latvian Construction Annual Award 2021 and the Latvian Construction Engineer of the Year 2021 contests, the new regional Customer Center building of Latvijas Valsts Meži was awarded 1st place in the category “Wooden Structures”. The project was developed following the best practices of sustainable buildings, including energy efficiency, material optimisation, and minimising the negative impact on the environment in both the short- and long term.Riga Wood birch plywood was used in various stages of the whole construction process, too. For this project, two Riga Wood birch plywood products were chosen – Riga Decor and Riga Form. Riga Decor is a common choice for interior solutions where functionality shouldn’t overshadow aesthetics. The decorative appearance allows it to be used for the design of furniture and other interior elements. Meanwhile Riga Form, another birch plywood product applied in this project, is among the top choices for concrete shuttering.“For us, this has been a project full of customised solutions – starting from the technical specification to the provided services. Close collaboration between our sales team and customer, as well as mills and the logistics, led to a high-quality end-result,” comments Uģis Ozols, Riga Wood Baltic director. Customer oriented service solutions integrated in the customer’s production line is among top services provided by Riga Wood and Latvijas Finieris team.It’s well known that construction sector accounts for a hefty amount of CO2 emissions, and a wave of urban growth is increasing the global building stock. Construction materials such as concrete, steel and aluminium are among those contributing a notable share of generated emissions globally. Nevertheless, by using smart technologies and shifting one’s way of thinking, constructions can become global CO2 sinks that support climate stabilisation. Wood is the key factor.

Instarmac International’s Swedish partner, Pekuma, have supplied world renowned UltraScape flowpoint to joint 300sqm of paving at Växjö’s newly refurbished bus station and city hall.BackgroundIn the station area, along Norra Järnvägsgatan, is Växjö’s brand new station and municipal building. The old town hall now boasts a better working environment for its 600 employees and a 1,850sqm station which includes waiting area, shops and restaurants.Växjö’s beautiful new town hall has been designed to the highest environmental standards and is fondly known as the ‘greenest city in Europe’.The ChallengeAs part of this exciting project, 300sqm of cobblestones and concrete slabs were installed directly outside the entrance to City Hall to create walkways for pedestrians and stop/start sections for buses.It was imperative that the jointing material used to grout the 100 x 100mm cobblestones and 210 x 210mm concrete slabs would not only fit in with the aesthetic of the newly refurbished building, but would also provide a durable finish that could withstand the constant trafficking from pedestrians and vehicles.The SolutionInstarmac International’s Swedish partner Pekuma, supplied UltraScape flowpoint to Skanska, the contractors working on this project.UltraScape flowpoint smooth is a flowable grout which allows for large areas of paving to be grouted quickly. Suitable for joints from 3mm to 50mm and as deep as 200mm, flowpoint smooth has been developed over a number of years to provide a durable finish which will not crack or stain.With an initial set after just 15 minutes, and a walk on time of one hour, it is unsurprising that flowpoint smooth has become synonymous with fast application, cost-effective and robust jointing.UltraScape flowpoint is available in four varieties – original, eco, smooth and fine – and two colours – Natural Grey and Charcoal. UltraScape have jointing solutions for all designs and tastes.ResultsThe project was completed on time with residents, visitors and employees of City Hall now enjoying the beautiful new station and town hall.