Woodfield Secondary School, Surrey

F. Ball helps children with special needs

Children with special needs and learning difficulties at a school in Surrey are getting a feel for the world of work thanks to F. Ball donating flooring preparation products and adhesives for use in the creation of an on-site recruitment agency, bank and shop. The aim is to instil students with key skills relating to money and work to prepare them for later life.

Flooring contractors used Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound, Stopgap P131 primer and Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive vinyl adhesive to install wood-effect vinyl planks over a total floor area of 50 square metres in the new enterprise centre at Woodfield Secondary School.

The first step in the project was to lift old floorcoverings and mechanically remove old adhesive residues to reveal the concrete subfloor. A moisture test was then conducted which determined the installation could proceed without the application of a waterproof surface membrane.

Stopgap P131 primer was then applied over the subfloor to prevent unacceptable rapid drying of the floor levelling compounds that were to be applied’.

Contractors then applied Stopgap 1200 Pro high-performance levelling compound to create a smooth base ready for the receipt of the new floorcovering. An F. Ball spiked roller was used to smooth out any trowel marks and dispel trapped air inside the levelling compound following application to further reduce the chances of ‘pinholing’ occurring.

Pine-effect Polyflor vinyl planks were then installed by contractors. For this, they used Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive. After being applied over the subfloor with a notched trowel, it is then rolled with a pre-coated roller and allowed to dry. Floorcoverings were then laid into the adhesive before being rolled with a 68kg roller to ensure good contact.

Commenting on the project, Martin Murray, Managing Director of Period Flooring, said: “I’m really happy to be able to contribute to such a worthwhile project, which will have a positive impact on many young people’s lives. The F. Ball products used in the job performed to the highest standards as usual, meaning we could quickly and easily achieve a high quality flooring finish that will retain its appearance for many years to come.”