F_BALL_SUBFLOOR_PREP_BROCHURE-Jan-26 - Flipbook - Page 4
4
Subfloor
System LVT
Preparation
Range | High
Guide
performance
| All aspects
products
of subfloor
for first
preparation
class floors
and floor covering installation
SUBSTRATES AND
CONSIDERATIONS
Preparation of the substrate
Considerations - Old concrete and screed surfaces.
Application guidance for F. Ball products or systems
should be followed at all times and are essential for
the success of the finished floor. In order to minimise
problems and save any possible additional costs, it
is essential that specifiers, clients, main contractors
or installers of subfloors such as concrete, sand/
cement screeds and calcium sulphate screeds, should
have tested and be satisfied that the surfaces are to
specification and are adequate for the intended use
prior to the installation of our products.
Old surfaces are often contaminated, worn or degraded
and often present a greater risk than new substrates.
BS 8204-1 should be used as a guide to good flooring
methods. In order to minimise problems and save
additional costs, it is essential that specifiers, clients,
main contractors or installers of F. Ball systems have
the floor tested, and are satisfied that surfaces are
adequate for the intended use.
The company recommends the procedures mentioned
in this guide for the preparation of concrete, screeds and
other surfaces prior to the installation of our products.
In the case of vertical surfaces, extra consideration
should be shown due to possibly greater absorbency
of many of the surfaces i.e. brick, blockwork, plaster, etc
and the surface regularity may be insufficient.
A surface tensile pull-off strength of at least 1.5 N/mm2
or in-situ crushing resistance test, with a maximum
depth of indentation of 3mm, in accordance with BS
8204-1, is required onto a prepared subfloor before the
application of floor smoothing compounds and serves
as a good guide as to the integrity of the floor.
Coverage rates of materials may be affected by
the selected method of surface preparation and due
allowances should be made for any increase or decrease.
Contaminated surfaces
In the case of contaminated surfaces, the depth and
type of contamination should be checked to ensure that
removal and subsequent adhesion can be ensured. It is
often advisable to take cores from the most contaminated
areas to be sure of penetration depth and the soundness
of substrate. For instance, oil can penetrate many
centimetres into concrete, and although the surface
may be cleaned, it can migrate back to the surface.
Adhesion of a Waterproof Surface Membrane (WSM),
compound or adhesive may be compromised or in the
worst cases be non-existent. If in doubt, do not progress
any further work without management instructions.
Further discussion with our Technical Service
Department may be advisable before proceeding.
