Carew Academy

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s high flow, two-component smoothing compound, Stopgap 1400, has delivered a copybook finish at the newly constructed Carew Academy for children with special educational needs in the London Borough of Sutton.

Flooring contractors were tasked with installing floorcoverings in classrooms, corridors, a school hall, kitchens and WCs, over two floors at the new facility that will replace the current Carew Academy building and extend the provision for additional and complex learning needs.

The subfloor preparation process commenced with scabbling the concrete screeds to remove laitance. Moisture tests conducted with digital hygrometers indicated that subfloor moisture levels were low enough to proceed with the installation without the requirement of a moisture management solution. All areas were then primed using P131 general-purpose primer.

Contractors then applied Stopgap 1400 in all areas (over 5,000m² in total). The product uses the latest cement formulation technology to maximise ease of application. It is walk-on hard from just 90 minutes after application and ready to receive floorcoverings from 12 hours.

Styccobond F44 was used to install sheet vinyl in the corridors, hall, kitchens, WCs and some classrooms. The solvent-free, acrylic emulsion adhesive provides high bond strength, strong initial tack and a long open time and is suitable for securing a wide-range of vinyl sheet and tile and rubber floorcoverings.

In other classrooms, carpet tiles were installed with Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier. The solvent-free acrylic polymer emulsion adhesive is designed to provide a permanently tacky film which prevents ‘loose-lay’ carpet tiles from moving under normal traffic but enables them to be lifted and replaced easily when required, such as when worn or stained.

Styccobond F60 contact adhesive was used to install capping and coving at the intersections of floorcoverings and walls in wet areas.

Commenting on the project, Rudy Owens contract manager at Ideal Interiors Southern said: “We are delighted that our relationship with Kier Group meant that we had the opportunity to work on such a significant project. Everything has gone smoothly, with F. Ball’s Stopgap 1400, in particular, helping us move from one area to another efficienctly when latexing and meaning that we could continue with work upon returning the next day.”