F_BALL_SUBFLOOR_PREP_BROCHURE-Jan-26 - Flipbook - Page 14
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Subfloor Preparation Guide | All aspects of subfloor preparation and floor covering installation
Ceramic, Terrazzo and Quarry Tiles
Power Floated Concrete Slabs
Providing they are sound and well bonded to a solid
base with no cracks or lipped tiles, the surface should
be mechanically prepared by either shot blasting or
grinding. The surface should then be cleaned using
Styccoclean C140, rinsed with clean water and allowed
to dry. The tiles should remain well bonded after this
process. Prime the surface with neat Stopgap P141,
allow to dry, then a minimum 3mm skim application
of the appropriate Stopgap floor smoothing compound.
These should be treated in the same way as traditional
concrete and sand/cement screeds. In some cases it
is possible to use a pressure sensitive adhesive such
as Styccobond F46 or F47 or a tackifier adhesive such
as Styccobond F40 or F41 direct to the power floated
slab, providing the moisture content of the slab is below
75% RH. Checks should be made with Technical Service
before proceeding.
Ceramic, terrazzo and quarry tiles are unaffected by
moisture but dependant on their water absorption
may be sufficiently permeable to allow the passage of
moisture vapour and are often laid in areas which do not
incorporate a damp proof membrane. Where this is the
case, Stopgap F77 Waterproof Surface Membrane can
be applied, providing the substrate has been sufficiently
prepared by mechanical means and the grout lines lightly
raked to remove any contaminants. In both cases this
should be followed by priming with neat Stopgap P141
and allowed to dry before applying a minimum 3mm
of the appropriate Stopgap floor smoothing compound.
If either method is not possible, lift the tiles and relay
the floor. Stopgap Isolator Membrane may also be used
in certain situations.
Note:
Stopgap 1200 can be applied direct without the need to prime.
Stopgap 1500 can be applied directly over old adhesive residues
such as bitumen and carpet tile tackifiers without the need for priming.
Old installations may involve a substrate consisting of ash, sand or soil
which can become unstable if covered up. Checks should be carried
out to establish the integrity and makeup of the substrate. Under no
circumstances should F. Ball and Co. Ltd. products be laid on these areas.
Note:
Most power floated slabs will be treated with a curing agent. In most
cases this will be acrylic based, however, wax based curing agents or
certain silicate based products may be present that will inhibit the bond
to these surfaces and should be removed by mechanical means such
as shot blasting. Power floated concrete slabs, especially those treated
with curing agents, will take a considerable amount of time to dry, if the
RH level is greater than 75%. Waterproof surface membranes such as
Stopgap F77 should be used providing the surface has been shot blasted.
