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, these bases should be covered with a layer of flooring grade asphalt complying with BS 8204. Alternatively, the use of a 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 P131 PRIMER and allowed to dry before applying a minimum 3mm of the appropriate STOPGAP floor smoothing underlayment. If either method is not possible, lift the tiles and relay the floor. STOPGAP ISOLATOR Membrane may also be used in certain situations. that are not water soluble. However, for all other smoothing compounds at least 75% of the floor area should be exposed, DESCRIPTION StopgapF77High-Performance Accelerated Waterproof Surface Membrane One-Coat Application System F. Ball and Co. Ltd. – the UK’s leading manufacturer of flooring adhesives and floor preparation products for the contract flooring industry.

The finished profile is dependent on the size of the machine and the type and size of the flail selected by the operator. Impedes the passage of construction moisture and rising damp up to 98% RH with a single coat application All these products are designed to generally repel water from entering into the concrete or screed or to form a barrier to prevent moisture escaping and adhesion will be impaired if a water based smoothing underlayment, adhesive or waterproof surface membrane is applied. The company keeps abreast of market developments by continually monitoring the needs of installers, distributors and specifiers and by maintaining on-going and close liaison with floorcovering manufacturers. Grinding would be selected for smoothing concrete, removal of coatings, adhesives, levelling compounds and contaminants. Grinding machines are also used to polish a variety of surface finishes.Membranes such as STOPGAP F76, F77 or F78 can be overcoated with smoothing underlayments or certain adhesives. When applying a smoothing underlayment onto a waterproof surface membrane, the surface should be primed with neat STOPGAP P131 PRIMER and allowed to dry before proceeding with the underlayment. The exception is STOPGAP F78 where the smoothing underlayment must be applied direct (within 12 hours of application) without priming. Typical applications are: removal of vinyl, rubber, carpets, fully bonded wood flooring, ceramic, stone and terrazzo tiles. Multistripping can also be used to remove levelling compounds, adhesives, thermoplastic markings and scrape surface contaminants. Most floorcoverings such as flexible vinyl, linoleum, rubber and textile floorcoverings must be removed and the substrate thoroughly prepared before fully bonded floorcoverings can be laid. Whilst there is a risk involved, some thermoplastic tiles can be overlaid with STOPGAP 1200 PRO or certain floorcoverings providing the tiles are firmly bonded to the subfloor and all traces of polish or any other contaminant which would prevent good adhesion are removed e.g. with STYCCOCLEAN C140 Floor Cleaner. If this cannot be achieved then the tiles must be removed, and the substrate suitably prepared. With some carpet tiles it is, however, possible to install direct to existing resilient and smooth floorcoverings with STYCCOBOND F41 adhesive providing there are no surface treatments that will prevent adhesion. Adhesives such as STYCCOBOND F40, F41, F46, F47 and B95 can be applied direct to epoxy STOPGAP Waterproof Surface Membranes.

Surfaces that will not allow water to pass through them can be regarded as non-absorbent. Surfaces such as asphalt, ceramic and quarry tiles, granolithic, terrazzo, paints and to some extent power floated concrete can all come under this heading. Note: Hard compositions may create a problem for smaller planing machines as there is not enough weight to cut into the surface. Any old adhesive residues should be removed by mechanical methods such as scraping, shot blasting and grinding etc. Certain underlayments such as STOPGAP 1200 PRO are

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Some acrylic based curing agents may be overcoated with certain STYCCOBOND adhesives and advice should be sought from F. Ball Technical Services before proceeding. If in doubt always mechanically prepare the surface. Wood mosaic panels require over pinning with flooring grade plywood in all cases. This is not practical on solid floors and panels should therefore be removed, along with any adhesive residues. Before the final treatment to bring a subfloor up to the standard required for the application of floorcoverings to begin, the condition of the base must be investigated and any necessary treatments or repairs carried out. Failure to do this increases the potential for premature failure, which is counter productive and expensive to rectify. However, in the majority of cases identifying the type of paint or coating will be difficult and it is most likely it will be brittle, worn, peeling or flaking off the substrate and is therefore not good enough to receive either a smoothing underlayment or adhesive. The easiest method of removing old paint is usually dust-free shot blasting. The asphalt should be flooring grade, comply with the requirements of BS 8204 part 5 and be the correct grade for its service condition. Providing the flooring grade asphalt is in good condition, sound, strong has not suffered rutting or any sign of softening and is free from any form of contamination, the surface should be cleaned with STYCCOCLEAN C140, rinsed with clean water and allowed to dry. The surface should then be primed with neat STOPGAP P131 PRIMER and allowed to dry followed by the application of 3mm of the appropriate STOPGAP floor smoothing underlayment. STOPGAP 1200 PRO can be applied direct without the need to prime.

Note: 1. 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 Worn or uneven floorboards should either be replaced or levelled by sanding, planing or by patch filling with STOPGAP GREEN BAG/114 Liquid or STOPGAP 1200 PRO floor smoothing underlayment before finally covering with plywood conforming to BE EN 636 Class 2 (Suitable for use in humid conditions) and should be constructed with hardwood veneer and EN314-2 Class 3 (exterior) for the glue bond. The medium for shotblasting equipment is steel abrasive “Shot”. The most common grades are 390, 460 and 550.

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Beam/Star flails are used for cleaning/removing soft composition materials from hard surfaces/concrete without damaging the surface but cannot be used on hard materials. This Subfloor Preparation Guide describes the different types of procedures available to produce the most acceptable substrate possible, ready for the installation of one or more of our products.