F. Ball has restyled and refurbished its own Staffordshire head office reception area and, in doing so, created a flooring showcase befitting the UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and flooring adhesives.
The flooring installation was undertaken by a team of F. Ball’s Technical Service Officers, who seized the opportunity to demonstrate that they really know what they’re talking about when answering contractors’ questions over the phone. The result, we have to say, is quite outstanding.
Textbook installation
Having removed the old floorcoverings, the Technical Service Team applied F. Ball’s high-performance Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound to create a perfectly smooth surface for the receipt of new floorcoverings. Because the levelling compound is designed to be applied over old adhesive residues, there was no need for mechanical preparation of the subfloor beforehand. In such applications, there is no need to prime either, saving further time.
F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS temperature tolerant, water-based pressure sensitive adhesive and Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier were then used to install a combination of grey luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs) and blue carpet tiles respectively.
Styccobond F49 develops the ultra-high bond strength to hold floorcoverings exposed to high temperatures and extreme temperature fluctuations (as low as -20°C and up to +60°C), a suitable precaution for the reception, where floor to ceiling windows can cause temperatures to rise on warm days. High temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations can cause vinyl tiles and planks to expand and contract significantly, which can lead to unsightly tenting and gapping at the interface between adjacent tiles or planks. The pressure sensitive characteristics of the adhesive made it easier to install LVTs by providing strong initial tack, with the long open time also reducing the risk of late placement.
Styccobond F41 solvent-free, emulsion adhesive is designed to provide a permanently tacky film to prevent ‘loose-lay’ carpet tiles from moving laterally under normal traffic while allowing individual tiles to be quickly removed and replaced, if they become worn, damaged or stained, for example.
Striking feature
Finally, F. Ball branded entrance matting was installed, using Styccobond F84, to create a striking feature when people first set foot in the building. The two-part epoxy adhesive is designed for installing a wide range of vinyl and rubber floorcoverings, sheet linoleum and textile floorcoverings onto Stopgap Isolator Membrane and other suitable substrates. When cured, the adhesive is resistant to water, oil and grease, and it is suitable for use in areas that are subject to surface water and areas that are heavily trafficked, including outdoors and in transitional areas, such as entranceways.
Commenting on the renovation, Darren Kenyon, F. Ball sales director said: “We are absolutely delighted with how the refurbished reception looks. Of course, the flooring had to be nothing less than perfect. It also shows off the versatility and performance of F. Ball’s products.”