"in situ concrete floors"

To operate at optimum capacity, the Ricoh Arena required a floor access solution to reach under floor services carrying water, drainage, electricity and data to internal and external leisure amenities. Staff at the arena also needed to carry out regular checks on under soil heating, sprinkler systems and floodlighting. Howe Green’s 7500 Series floor access covers were selected to provide safe and easy access to the concealed services. Fitted quickly and unobtrusively with the Terrazzo flooring used throughout the stadium complex, the covers are double-sealed to meet the highest standards of hygiene and security.

Kindred House is a 25-storey block made up of 128 one to three bedroom residential apartments overlooking the Croydon Flyover. Of these homes, 60 are affordable, and includes above flexible office and retail space, and 1000m² of flexible commercial space adjacent to the road. These all act as a buffer for the affordable apartments on the opposite side of the plan. The building has been stabilised with RC lift cores and RC shear walls and supported on reinforced concrete piled foundations.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD5 was specified by Pitman Tozer Architects on this project for its excellent high impact sound deadening properties ideal for a block of flats. It is a lightweight, easy to install non-crosslinked polyethylene foam.Henry Construction was awarded the 10,000m² contract to construct these modern apartments.

Cardiff City Football Club has expanded into the new east Stand extension at Cardiff City Stadium. The expansion added a further 5000 seats to the stadium’s capacity followed by the addition of another 2,500 to 3,000 seats at each of the ends, raising capacity to a total of 38,000 seats, it also includes new corporate hospitality facilities. The stand is said to include plans for a concourse area on either side with a plush corporate area and catering facilities incorporated in the centre.Cellecta’s HEXATHERM XFLOOR 500 has been specified by Arup due to its high compressive strength insulation boards that were used under a concrete slab to comply with part L Building regulations.Lang O'Rourke was awarded this 350m² contract to construct this expansion.

Project detailsIn 2008 the MPT consortium* was awarded the Manchester’s Metrolink phase 3a extension project, a 49 stop, £275 million extension to the Manchester Metro. The new build allowed contractors to shop around for the best products for the job, but one essential product could not be found. Throughout this three-year development, best practice and user health and safety have been the priorities. Steps were designed to minimise risk of trips and slips for pedestrians, the disabled and visually impaired. Each of the 1,400 pre-cast concrete steps on the new platforms required a non-slip front edge and MPT scoured the world for suitable products. The design criteria required that the nosing would be: Suitable for heavy use in an external environment Compliant to the Building Regulation Part M Providing a solution in accordance with BS8300 2009 Inner B Code of Practice, against the finished concrete in both wet and dry conditions Our solution Adrian Rowe, MPT Engineering Manager and his team tested a wide range of products, short listing three, including Firm-Step Edge®. Our product met the design criteria but was unavailable in the required specification, size and colour. Not wanting to let this opportunity pass us by, we took up the challenge and developed an exclusive version of Firm-Step Edge® in black, with a 70mm tread and 55mm riser. “Watco was brilliant in sorting out our problem, giving us excellent service throughout. They understood our needs and delivered prototypes in a week. They also developed an exclusive version of their Firm-Step Edge®, in the specified black shade, with a 70mm tread and 55mm riser that fitted on to the rebated precast step to keep the nosing flush. It also had perfect internal angles so it sat snugly on the standard profile of the nose on the precast concrete steps.” Following the first installation in February 2011, Firm-Step Edge® is now being screwed and bonded to steps at every stop along the 49 stop extensions. Firm-Step Edge® is an economical, quick to install safety feature. Firm-Step Edge® offers a tough GRP base that is resistant to stretching, warping and swelling. We offer two grades; medium for internal and coarse for external stairs, both of which are easily glued using Watco Adhesive Mastic or drilled for screw fixing. The textured finish offers excellent slip-resistance and a chamfered back edge minimises trip potential. Available in white or yellow, Firm-Step Edge® can be cut on site if required using a hacksaw or similar cutting tool or we offer a cut to size service. *MPT (M. Pact Thales) is a consortium comprising Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Thales UK.

MJ Quinn and subcontractors, HT Installations Limited, have used UltraCrete’s market-leading Flowable Installation System to repair a faulty carriageway frame and cover on the B4299 in Carmarthen.BackgroundA large section of a rural road in Carmarthen was severely damaged. The area in question is located at the bottom of a hill and over time, the relentless force in which cars and tractors have hit the road surface has severely deformed the surface.The consequence of this damage also caused structural damage to a nearby carriageway frame and cover.The ChallengeLocated on the B4299, this rural road is the main thoroughfare for the village, with tractors and cars using the road daily. The repair needed to be carried out quickly to minimise disruption, and most importantly, it needed to be a first time permanent repair to prevent any further disruption and damage to the surrounding road surface.In this instance, HT Installations Limited, the subcontractor working on behalf of MJ Quinn, the main contractor for Wales for Openreach, were only responsible for repairing the frame, cover and trim back area. However, in order to prevent further deterioration caused by the deformed road surface, HT Installations went above and beyond and replaced the heavily deteriorating asphalt on the CW2 frame and covers leading edge. This would ensure a longer life expectancy for the new carriageway frame and cover installation and avoid costly return visits.The SolutionHT Installations Limited utilised UltraCrete QC10 F flowable fibre modified concrete to repair the brickwork chamber and their Envirobed® Flowable Installation System to install the replacement CW2 frame and cover – a process used by Openreach for all their carriageway repairs.To begin, the entire area was excavated and spoil removed. The contractors assessed the chamber and utilised the Mortar Buoy® installation aid within the chamber as an alternative to formwork/shuttering. They proceeded to mix and pour UltraCrete QC10 F, rapid set flowable concrete, to repair the damaged concrete chamber. Utilising Mortar Buoy® significantly speeds up the repair process, helping to save you time and money.QC10 F sets in less than 20 minutes, so a very short time after being poured, Mortar Buoy® was re-inflated inside the chamber and the CW2 frame dropped into position ready for levelling with the existing road surface. A sand bund was then formed 50mm beyond the flange edge, as opposed to shuttering, to retain the flowable mortar.UltraCrete Envirobed® CD534 Flowable Red was mixed and applied to fully encapsulate the frame flange up to 20mm above and 50mm beyond the frame edge. Envirobed® CD534 sets within 20 minutes, allowing the sand bund to be swept clear and site prepared for hot asphalt application, really quickly.ResultsThanks to the rapid high strength gain and setting superior performance qualities of UltraCrete’s Flowable Installation System, HT Installations were able to carry out their repairs quickly, safely and permanently, much to the delight of MJ Quinn, Openreach and the local residents.

PROJECTED BRICK DETAILING USING MARSHALLS CONCRETE BRICKS FORMS THE CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS OF THE TIMPSON UNIVERCITY.The retail service provider group’s new training centre near its head office in South Manchester.Designed by the Manchester office of award-winning architect practice tp bennett, the purpose of the new state-of-the-art building, known as The Nest, is to host training to 500 staff a year, including ex-offenders and those on day release.“We wanted to create the best training facility in the UK; a welcoming and comfortable building that inspires people to be their best within an environment that is fun, calm, spacious and collegiate,” explains Timpson Facilities Manager, Natasha Nelson.The single-storey, 9,258 sq foot brick-built building comprises a boardroom, training and meeting rooms as well as a breakout space and garden area. Originally, the project architect, whose intent was to add architectural interest using a projected brickwork technique, specified a white clay brick, externally.Working alongside the architect and main contractor John Turner Construction, brick expert and LBT Brick & Facades Ltd Commercial Manager Steven Leggott, specified Marshalls Castleton Stock facing bricks, he explains: “Originally the architect was looking to specify a white clay brick. I proposed some alternative options and the Castleton Stock brick came out as the preferred choice. It provided a competitive clay alternative – it’s a concrete brick that met both aesthetic and technical requirements.”THIS BRICKWORK DETAIL PROVIDES THE PERFECT BACKDROP TO THE BUILDING’S SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE SIGNAGE.Running the full length of the entrance façade, Marshalls Castleton Stock facing bricks add texture and relief. The bricks have been laid using a natural mortar to create a projected pattern from the ground up to a two-third height, with the bricks protruding 20mm. This brickwork detail provides the perfect backdrop to the building’s simple yet effective signage.The Castleton Stock facing brick is part of the Marshalls frogged, contemporary range. With an industrial chic feel and a smooth face, it works well when creating modern designs.TIMPSON UNIVERCITY SITE HAS SAVED 12.4 TONNES OF CARBON.What’s more, this particular brick is Green Guide rated A+, as Marshalls concrete bricks have significantly less embodied carbon than clay bricks – almost 49% less over their whole lifecycle. By selecting the Castleton Stock brick as an alternative to a traditional clay brick, the Timpson UniverCity site has saved 12.4 tonnes of carbon.Commenting on the finished building Timpson Group Facilities Manager Natasha Nelson said: “The building is a huge hit with our colleagues and external clients, from the minute you approach the entrance, the brickwork detail makes such a first impression - setting the professional tone for what’s happening inside!”

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.

Re-designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, Metalskolen conference centre on North Zealand, Denmark, has undergone a complete transformation. The new, contemporary interior features a total of 2,300m2 15mm Oak Classic plank flooring, fitted throughout circulation and breakout areas as well as in all conference rooms. Delivered unfinished, the solid oak flooring was finished on-site using Junckers’ Rustic Oil in White to create a pale floor which reflects a lot of natural light. True to architectural traditions commonly applied in the Nordic countries, SHL has created an inclusive and nurturing space, providing the perfect setting for learning, reflection and relationship building. Not only concerned with light and aesthetics, SHL base their work on democracy, welfare, sustainability and social responsibility, a commitment which results in buildings with a high degree of wellbeing. A light-coloured floor helps enhance lighting levels, reducing the need for artificial light and therefore saves energy. In contrast to a dark surface, which absorbs and holds heat and subsequently releases it back into the room, a pale floor will not contribute to overheating, reducing the need for air conditioning systems. With a perfectly smooth surface, a solid wood floor from Junckers 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 any electrical equipment. 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. 

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.”

At this new-build shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush, West London, the new underground car park was experiencing high levels of water ingress through two movement joints that had failed. Newton Specialist Contractor ASF Waterproofing, who are specialists in injection resins and structural repair work, was therefore called in order to provide a quick solution and fix the leaking joints.Following an initial investigation, the technical team from ASF decided to use the 5-part acrylic rubber sealing resin Newton 324-SR to seal the joint, as it reacts to form a very durable and flexible seal that exhibits exceptional adhesion, making it ideal for movement joints.ASF began by drilling holes at angle into the concrete, and at regular intervals for the 10mm injection packers above the joints. The injection packers were then fitted to each hole, and foam backing rod was used to temporarily block the joint and prevent uncured resin from escaping as it is injected.The five components of the PC 509 Rubber Acryl are mixed to make two solutions, whilst the curing time of the resin can also be adjusted by changing the quantity of initiator used. The resin was then injected through the packers and into the joint using a three-component stainless steel pump.Finally, once the resin was cured and the joints were effectively sealed, ASF ground back the surface of the concrete to either side of the joints and applied Newton 106 FlexProof, a flexible liquid waterproofing material, to provide a final protective seal and finish the job.With two leaking movement joints in a finished structure, the client required a swift resolution to get the area back into use quickly. With the benefit of Newton’s advanced resin and waterproofing products, ASF got to site and delivered the sealed joints within the client’s tight timeframe.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.” 

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.

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.

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.

The 110m, 29-storey curved on plan Westmark Tower is the tallest residential tower to have been completed in central London in 2021. Part of Berkeley Homes Central London’s prestigious West End Gate development in Marylebone, it features more than 14,000m2 of unitised curtain wall designed and supplied by aluminium fenestration specialists AluK and installed by envelope contractors Martifer. What makes this project really stand out is the collaborative approach that was demonstrated by AluK and the other consultants involved from the outset. With Berkeley at the centre of the process, the technical and commercial elements of the façade were successfully de-risked at pre-tender stage because AluK were able to work directly with lead architect Squire & Partners, delivery architect Design Delivery Unit (DDU), façade consultants Cladtech Associates and structural engineers WSP on a RIBA 4 system design for the unitised envelope. The challenge for AluK was to work with DDU to deliver a design that was true to the architect’s original intent whilst addressing the technical issues of a curved on plan façade from the second to 29th floor. All the unitised cells needed to be dead loaded back to a post tensioned concrete frame with a 3-dimensional floor bracket, whilst catering for the varying facets of the façade.The final unitised solution features more than 2200 unitised cells of three principal configurations. Each floor comprises: a vision cell, typically housing AluK’s concealed vent and full height glass panes, a panel cell, specifically designed to house specialist internal framework to carry articulated GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) feature piers and spandrels, and a recessed balcony cell with an integrated floating glass balustrade.With 36 different angles to overcome in a faceted design ranging from 0° to 15°, AluK developed a series of common aluminium extrusions to close the joints and reduce the number of profiles required. The horizontal stack joint uses an aluminium profile to carry the gasket and avoid the incidence of crimping as the cells are stacked around the building structure. What is also significant is that every cell connection provides four lines of system seal to ensure that the façade meets the stringent Cladtech performance specification and the CWCT Sequence B test.AluK’s system, extruded from 6063 T6 alloy, extracted benefits from both a mitred corner and a square cut system by creating a hybrid to suit both the client’s aesthetic desire for a mitred joint to the corners and Martifer’s manufacturing requirements of a square cut for economy.AluK also extruded tailored aluminium bracketry from a structural 6082 T6 alloy which was capable of supporting the system weight and allowing for 3-dimensional adjustment for precise installation.From the onset of the project, the Berkeley director team set out a time and design model of early engagement, specialist designers and fabricators all within a clear programme. This also included a series of productive workshops sharing client expectations and considerations. AluK not only facilitated these meetings but also bought into the collaborative ethos and contributed to a highly successful project for Berkeley.AluK’s designers are all from a fabrication/installation background and, as such, they design a value engineered solution from the outset. Part of this was using 14,000m2 of AluK’s AW86 unitised curtain walling system with minimal bespoke profiles and gaskets, yet it meets every challenge the project presented whilst offering a significant cost reduction in metal and accessories compared to the original specification in a competitor’s system. As part of the project team, AluK worked collaboratively alongside consultants Squire & Partners (concept architect), Buro Happold (thermal and acoustics), WSP (structures), Design Delivery Unit (delivery architect) and Cladtech (façade consultant). The façade design meets the thermal efficiency requirements of the building at 0.95W/m2K, as a weighted average. Using a 43dB Rw(+Ctr) acoustic glass, it also meets the sound reduction targets. Because AluK was involved at such an early stage in the project, the complete RIBA Stage 4 system design enabled façade contractors Martifer to realise significant cost savings for their tender and several months of time saving against their usual post-tender design and iteration phase. This also offered cost certainty for Berkeley and significantly de-risked the post tender delivery of the façade.Alongside the unitised curtain walling, the finished Westmark Tower will feature 241 AluK SC156 lift and slide doors, 750 concealed vents and 58 swing doors.West End Gate is Berkeley Homes’ latest luxury development being built on a 2.66-acre site. Described as a modern interpretation of classic London, it will feature a series of contemporary mansion blocks alongside the 29-storey curved stone tower. Work began on the first phase of West End Gate in the Spring of 2018 and was completed in Spring 2021, with internal fit out nearing the end.