Commercial

In October 2019, Ancorite had the pleasure of contributing to the refurbishment works on the landmark 215,000 sq. foot Sunlight House on Manchester’s Quay Street – an iconic city building seeped in heritage.

 

With the project requiring extensive remodelling of the reception area, an upgrade to public areas (including a café) and a Cat A refurbishment of the 13th floor, the Ancorite team delighted in contributing expertise and impeccable attention to detail to install new striking Flowcrete Mondeco Terrazzo flooring to the ground floor, together with brass accessories and perimeter Precast Terrazzo Cove Skirting.

 

This project, which saw the Grade II listed building undergo an impeccable restoration as commissioned by Aberdeen Standard Investments, was named Commercial Refurbishment of the Year at the 2019 Insider Northwest Property Awards.

 

The art deco style Sunlight House was built in 1932 by architect and developer Joseph Sunlight and today offers exceptional quality office space in the heart of the City’s business district.

 

For more information on this project or to discuss how we can help, please get in touch with the team.

Following the decision of Royal London Insurance Group to relocate from Alderley Road to Alderley Park, Ancorite worked alongside the appointed contractor to ensure that its new northern offices were fit for purpose and showcased a high-quality finish.

 

The building’s central atrium required a complete flooring refurbishment and, following the success of the award-winning Sunlight House project in Manchester, Ancorite was once again chosen to execute the redecoration.

 

Once complete the building, which was previously home to Astra Zeneca’s R&D facility, would be the workplace of more than 1,200 employees.

 

With this in mind, a decorative Flowcrete Mondeco resin terrazzo floor, laid in two colours with aluminium preformed expansion joints and transition strips between colours, was chosen for the 600m² central atrium for its durability and stunningly elegant finish.

 

The use of Terrazzo precast skirting and column surrounds provided a striking finishing touch.

 

Ancorite delighted in employing astute project management and careful attention to detail to execute the installation of the resin terrazzo floor and finalise with a highly polished decorative finish.

 

The project was completed to an exceptional standard.

 

For more information on this project or to discuss how we can help, please get in touch with the team. services

Project Type:
Commercial

Installation Type:
Decorative Flake

Finish Type:
FeRFA Type 4

ACC Flooring Ltd was appointed by Illingworth & Gregory Ltd to install the resin flooring works to Britain’s first farm shop.

Eight years after fire engulfed their farm shop, work has now been completed to a £2.5m project to build state-of-the-art premises at Hinchcliffe’s Farm Shop and Restaurant in Huddersfield. Four months after the fire the business moved into its temporary home, two massive marquees pushed together.

The substrate to the 380m² area was mechanically prepared by enclosed diamond grinding to remove any laitance. ACC Bulk, a resin rich heavy duty, granite reinforced, trowel applied polyurethane repair mortar was applied to the perimeter of the area to reduce the undulation.

ACC Bulk is ideal for use as an underlayment or infill on concrete or polymer modified cementitious screeds and to form falls or ramps prior to application system. Applied at thickness of 10 – 60mm the product is available for light pedestrian traffic after 8 hours and over-coating in 16 hours.

ACC Maintain Floor Repair was applied to 12m² of unsound area. This product is a low odour concrete specifically designed to provide an easy to use floor patching compound offering outstanding durability, impact and abrasion resistance and good chemical resistance. Installed at thickness of 5 – 10mm, the product is available for light pedestrian traffic after 6 hours.

The expansion joints were diamond saw cut and re-instated with ACC Expand polyurethane modified epoxy expansion jointing compound.

Ten floor boxes which had been fitted by others were filled in and made good with ACC Bulk.

ACC Flake system @ 1.5mm was installed throughout. The system included a coat of Altro Tect high build epoxy coating in Winter Grey which was fully blinded with decorative acrylic flakes and left to cure overnight. The excess flakes were swept off and 2 coats of Altro Screed clear seal applied to complete the installation.

The installation was completed in time for the Farm Shop to open on the 13th September 2019.

 

 

After a lengthy tender process a Leeds  construction company appointed ACC Flooring to carry out the epoxy resin flooring installation at the new Pendragon Jaguar Land Rover car dealership in Newcastle upon Tyne. The £5.5m design & build scheme covers over 4,000sq metres of floor area.

The newly laid concrete substrate to the Workshop, Drive Through, Parts Manger, Parts Store, Overnight Delivery and Unit Repair/Large Tool Store areas was prepared by enclosed shotblasting and diamond edge grinding.

A high build epoxy coating in RAL 7031 Mid Grey which provides a hard wearing protective floor finish was installed throughout. This product is resistant to chemical spillages and benefits from ease of application, is non dusting and available in a gloss appearance in a wide range of both standard and bespoke colours and is ideal for medium duty vehicle traffic.

264m of demarcation including a Zebra Crossing was marked out and again installed in a high build epoxy coating in RAL 7035 Light Grey.

These two specific RAL numbers are Jaguar Land Rover’s corporate colours and the result was quite stunning. The attention to detail with the demarcation was outstanding and provided an eye catching appearance to the Workshop and Drive Through areas.

ACC Flooring was asked to provide a solution for 5 conference rooms & a small corridor at the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre in Halifax. All rooms had carpet tiles which were beginning to look tired.

The carpet tiles were uplifted, removed & disposed of to leave a concrete substrate with areas around the perimeter of each room of uneven & unlevel wooden boards which had been access points for the services. However, these were now redundant & required a solution to make the substrate level with the adjacent concrete to avoid any potential cracking at the transition.

The wooden boards were prepared & infilled with ACC Maintain Floor Repair, a polyurethane floor patching kit & made level. The concrete substrate was prepared with hand held vacuum diamond grinders, removing any laitance left from the carpet tiles. The failed expansion joints were diamond saw cut & infilled with flexible mastic.

A coat of ACC HB SF solvent free high build epoxy coating was laid throughout & Cumulus decorative acrylic flakes fully broadcast into the coating. On curing the excessive flakes were swept off, a coat of Altro Screed Seal and a coat of Altro Seal WB Matt were then applied to complete the installation.

ACC Flake system has a life expectancy in a commercial environment of 8 years & is ideal for medium duty locations including atria, reception areas, corridors, walkways and communal areas.

IFT was contracted by Craigmarloch Nurseries Ltd to carry out the refurbishment of an existing industrial floor at their factory in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

The existing substrate was fully prepared using our range of specialist floor preparation equipment. Correct surface preparation is the vital difference between success and failure of a complete flooring project and it pays to get it right first time. IFT have the skills and the tools to be able to implement the best service – from organising machinery and labour, we ensure the floor preparation is carried out properly, safely and with minimal hassle, disruption and mess.

Once the surface was fully prepared we proceeded with the application of two applications of high build epoxy, providing the client with a light to medium duty, easy to clean, chemical resistant floor coating.

IFT were contracted by Bute Fabrics Ltd to supply and install over 1,500sqm of resin floor finishes throughout their premises on Rothesay.

All substrates were fully prepared using our range of preparation equipment – this is a critical part of the process and helps to ensure the longevity of the finished floor.

The resin finishes included a 4mm resin quartz system to various areas. This provides a moderate level of chemical and impact resistance and is suitable for use in medium to heavy duty areas.

We are delighted to have been able to work with Bute Fabrics on this project. Founded in 1947 by the 5th Marquess of Bute, with the sole purpose of providing employment opportunities for service people returning home from the Second World War, Bute Fabrics is now an internationally acclaimed textile business.

In 2020, the company head office of Muvi Cinemas at Riyadh were expanded with a key requirement of the project being a heavy-duty, hygienic and decorative protective flooring system for specific zones.

Nitoflor SL2000 was introduced as a seamless, decorative, durable, hygienic and easy to clean flooring that combines both aesthetics and durability with the highest standards. The resin-based technology provides attractive high gloss coloured floors for a modern flooring environment. Nitoflor SL2000 is extremely durable providing a lasting solution to floor maintenance problems. As a high standard floor topping, Nitoflor SL2000 has key features including good abrasion resistance, ease of application that minimises downtime, good resistance to a wide range of chemicals and ease of cleaning. It complies with the requirements of hygienic flooring systems by providing dense, impervious and seamless floor surface that will not support bacterial growth.

The flooring solution exceeded the customer’s expectations and met the targeted performance Muvi Cinemas were looking for, providing a durable and modern aesthetic flooring system for their expansion project.

IFT installed screed at a new development in Glasgow’s West End. Designed by architects with interiors specialists, the new  development sits within a parkland setting at the former Strathclyde University site.

The IFT team laid minimum 30mm renovation screeds, reinforced with glass fibre mesh, on the ground floors of the apartment block, and Cemfloor high performance, free flowing, self-compacting screed to the upper floors. A contractor completed the insulation and underfloor heating design and installation.

The design for this project was complex in order to allow for the best performance and maximum output, while being limited to a minimal floor thickness due to floor zone restrictions. The screeds chosen by the IFT team can be laid in very thin sections on underfloor heating whilst still providing excellent strength and thermal conductivity.

6mm ultra-thin high performance Superfoil SF-UF insulation was laid in two layers, with 12mm pipe fixed with mounting rails that were nailed down, and a mesh laid above to assist with supporting the 30mm screed.12mm pipe was chosen as this allows for a thinner screed to be laid, while still providing optimal output and distribution from the heating medium. The controls chosen were programmable thermostats that allow for time (scheduling) and setpoint control.

Sika supplied the super-flat, seamless waterproof flooring for a TV news studio that broadcasts to an audience of millions around the globe.

CNN is a 24-hour TV network revered for its coverage of breaking news stories whenever and wherever they happen in the world. For the flooring refurbishment at its UK HQ in Shoreditch, London the client required a surface which looked as good it performed, as it would be being beamed live into homes worldwide. It led to the specification of Sikafloor^® MultiDur ES-24 ECF, a proven, high-quality flooring system for TV studio and media projects.

With the studio floor’s refurbishment beginning in March 2019, the first task for contractor Zircon Flooring was to repair a number of defects within the existing substrate. The challenge thereafter was to deliver a durable, resin-based anti-static floor with a tolerance of +/-1mm over a 3-metre straight edge, a reading which far exceeds the British Standard, and one Sikafloor’s system was more than capable of achieving. The finished floor also needed to attain SR1-BS 8204-6:2008, the code of practiced pertaining to synthetic floorings, screeds, bases and in situ floorings. This was required to ensure cameras remained still during filming.

Following the subfloor’s repair using moisture tolerant repair mortar, Sikadur^®–31 CF,

Sikafloor® Resiplot was applied. This patented system is ideal for treating internal cementitious floors where conventional surface preparation is not viable. It comprises mechanical anchored epoxy/glass-fibre mesh layer, which provides a sound base for subsequent layers of synthetic resin. It was installed over the full area to bond together the screed of the finished floor level.

To overcome random static charges, which can affect sensitive electrical components and wreak havoc in a busy TV studio, Sikafloor^®-262 AS, a two-part electrostatically conductive textured epoxy coating was applied. With good chemical and mechanical resistance, this slip-resistant flooring system is designed to deliver the ultimate in static control. Further static control was provided in the form of Sikafloor^® Earthing Kit, a conductor system comprising copper earthing tapes and points. A layer of Sikafloor^®-220W anti-static primer was added, and once cured, the flooring was finished with Sikafloor^®-262 AS.

Stewart Draper at Zircon, said: “This was an extremely challenging project in terms of its location. Our installers had to manually transfer 30 tonnes of plant and material to the building’s basement, as well as engineer and install a stainless-steel bund to protect the floor and electrical machinery from ingress. Working in conjunction with Sika and its superb flooring system meant we were able to overcome such incumbencies and deliver a surface that was seamless, durable and exceeded the British Standard for tolerance.

Zircon is an experienced installer of anti-static Sikafloor solutions for TV studios, car plants and pharmaceutical facilities. In 2018, the companies’ collaboration on a complex, time-critical floor installation at Leeds Art University won ‘Small Commercial Project of the Year’ at the industry-acclaimed FeRFA resin flooring association best practice awards.

The completion of the CNN studio project – a BREEAM site – to the client’s one-month deadline, despite the  aforementioned logistical challenges, provides further evidence of Sika and Zircon’s collaborative ability to deliver quality, safe, durable flooring. Carrying a 10-year guarantee, Sikafloor^® MultiDur ES-24 is a TV studio solution that deserves viewing in high definition.

After first being contacted and visiting this landscaped podium area within the Greenwich Millennium Village back in July/August 2014, Total Protection finally undertook the required resurfacing works this summer.

Our client undertook several years of investigation work to try and determine the reasoning behind the failure of the original, previously installed Resin Bound Gravel system, followed by necessary fundraising and scheduling before being able to proceed.

Access issues alongside weight restricted adjacent surfaces were overcome by the use of a specific crane as well as a scaffold rubbish chute within an independent scaffold tower, complete with access gantry from the podium, of which all enabled materials and plant to be transferred and all waste to be suitably disposed.

Access for the residents was of paramount importance, and therefore daily information was communicated along with the original schedule and information provided prior to the works taking place.

Removal and disposal of the existing Bound Gravel took place, followed by regulating and re-grading of the existing loose aggregate sub-base in order to strengthen and provide a suitable surface upon which to install the new surface dressing.

Following lengthy discussions regarding the solution to all of the issues previously experienced, Addagrip’s Terrabase Rustic product was selected.

This system enabled the existing sub-base to be utilised and eliminated the necessity to install a new macadam substrate.

‘Oak’ was the chosen colour blend that has really enhanced the podium area and complemented the adjacent soft landscaping.

It has also once again helped to provide a bright and relaxing space for the residents to view and experience.

The 778m² Terrabase installation was completed over a period of x8 days, utilising an average sized team of x4 operatives of who’s experience helped to manage the high temperatures as well as the logistics and management of resident access.

All parties concerned were extremely pleased with the result.

Total Protection were proud to complete the surfacing within the prestigious Hythe Imperial scheme

This private housing estate development is located within the revamped 19^th century hotel grounds, including 3 to 4 bedroom, contemporary style homes overlooking the beach and stunning nine hole golf course.

Total Protection were again selected to apply the Resin Bound Gravel to the access road and driveways of the new dwellings.

 ‘6mm Trent’ was the selected colour blend and was applied to a combined area size of 1,665m2.

Area Size: 1119m²

6mm ‘Riverbed’ UV Resin Bound Gravel at 18mm depth.

Having undergone a full renovation, the driveway at this gated property was the final area to be completed.  Total Protection were appointed to supply and apply the Resin Bound Gravel to this generous private driveway.

The existing driveway area consisted of a macadam substrate bordered with raised silver granite setts, which were to remain in place. On inspection we found that the macadam had been applied at a greater depth than required. To reduce the costs for our client, we regulated the required areas with excess Resin Bound Gravel prior to applying the final application.

It took four days with a combination of 26 operatives to complete the works. Working with such a large number of operatives on site assisted with minimalizing the amount of ‘day-joins’ required.

The client’s choice of our 6mm UV ‘Riverbed’ blend was the perfect complement to the property and existing flowerbeds. The addition of the Resin Bound Gravel to complete the driveway really has made this property a statement of sophistication.

Total Protection Ltd were honoured to be awarded the works at this prestigious property on the outskirts of Brentwood. The client opted to have Terrabase Rustic ‘Oak’ installed to a combined area size of 605sqm @ 30mm depth.  The areas covered included a driveway to one of the dwellings on the estate as well as the pathway areas to the main gardens which stretch over extensive grounds.

Existing concrete pathways throughout the grounds of the garden area were showing signs of cracking. In view of this Total Protection advised that the concrete be removed and replaced with a well compacted loose aggregate. This provided a suitable substrate to accept the Terrabase Rustic system. The surface finish of this system provides the desired aesthetics required by the client. It also eliminates the risk of future cracking due to its flexibility.

The driveway area consisted of a Tarmac substrate laid by others before our arrival, which was ready to receive the Terrabase Rustic system immediately.

The addition of the Terrabase Rustic to the driveway and pathway areas look simply stunning.  It makes the perfect frame to the ornamental ponds, and extensive gardens.

Works took place over 6 days.  The client was delighted with the results, stating, “it looks even more amazing than we’d imagined.”

Both the client and Total Protection very much look forward to returning to complete the works to the driveway areas of the main house next year.

Sika’s seamless, durable flooring system helped transform an empty storage area into a fully-operational TV studio and event space. The building, owned by specialist fit-out and finishing contractor which is located in Wrotham, Kent. To facilitate the storage space’s renovation into a TV studio capable of hosting and broadcasting events, the company required a robust surface adept at withstanding foot traffic wear and tear. It also needed to allow for the smooth movement of heavy recording equipment. This led to the specification of Sika ComfortFloor^® PS-23, a seamless, resin-based system, which not only enhances user comfort and safety, its odourless, solvent-free properties contribute to a healthy indoor environment. In addition, its flat surface makes it quick and easy to clean, further contributing to occupants’ wellbeing. The ComfortFloor^® solution was installed across a 120m² area incorporating a corridor and studio entrance. Initial work involved applying a layer of Sikafloor^®-161 primer to the building’s concrete substrate. This was followed by a wear layer of Sikafloor^®-330, before a top coat of Sikafloor^®-305W. The smooth, durable yet comfortable and aesthetically pleasing finish was installed using a trowel, squeegee and spiked roller. The new flooring will also be used to showcase a range of Sika resins and ComfortFloor^® finishes. The Contracts Manager, said: “The new studio is designed for use by people from a range of industries. Therefore, it was vital the floor’s make-up ensured it enabled the highest durability, whist showing the studio in the best possible light. The Sika ComfortFloor^® system was absolutely ideal for the task.” The studio’s floor was installed over a three-day period The three-part Sika ComfortFloor^® system’s rapid installation and impressive finish has helped put the smart new TV studio on sound footing.

Sika supplied the perfectly-level, anti-static floor system to protect highly-sensitive IT equipment on behalf of one of the world’s leading banks.

The project involved the installation of a safe and stylish surface at a new building attached to the existing premises of global bank and finance services firm.

The new construction was built to contain a host of vital computer software, requiring flooring of the utmost smoothness, strength and anti-static properties to safeguard the efficiency of the company’s hi-tech communications. Sika’s supremely-smart and reliable built-up system proved more than ideal for the task.

The contractor, said: “We specified Sika for this extremely high-profile project as we believed it offered the best-quality finish – we were not wrong. Not only did Sikafloor® MultiDur ES-24 ECF perform as well as we expected, Sika offered invaluable technical advice throughout the programme.”

Despite interruption from other on-site trades, the contractor was able to install the new surface to the agreed time-frame and the client’s complete satisfaction. This was due to the superb diligence and skill of the installation team who worked seven-day weeks to complete the huge project in two phases over a two-month period. The result is a smart, perfectly-smooth floor which carries a Sika guarantee of its anti-static properties. You can bank on Sika to produce high-quality flooring.

Sika supplied the perfectly-level, anti-static floor system to protect highly-sensitive IT equipment on behalf of one of the world’s leading banks.  The project involved the installation of a safe and stylish surface at a new building attached to the existing premises of global bank and finance services firm.

The new construction was built to contain a host of vital computer software, requiring flooring of the utmost smoothness, strength and anti-static properties to safeguard the efficiency of the company’s hi-tech communications. Sikafloor’s supremely-smart and reliable built-up system proved more than ideal for the task.

The floor surface was prepared by diamond-grinding the substrate before installing a 30mm layer of Sikafloor® Level-30, a fast drying, cementitious screed to the new 1,000m2 surface.  Sikafloor®-161, a two-part epoxy primer for concrete substrates with excellent bond strength was then applied, followed by a conductive layer including a copper tape grid.

The surface’s anti-static layer was provided by Sikafloor®-220W, a two-component, waterbased epoxy coating with high electrostatic conductivity. Sikafloor®-262 AS N supplied the smooth, high-gloss finish. The multi-purpose binder also offers optimum mechanical and chemical resistance, making it the ideal solution for a variety of highly-trafficked work spaces.

The client said of Sika “We specified Sika for this extremely high-profile project as we believed it offered the best-quality finish – we were not wrong. Not only did the product perform as well as we expected, Sika offered invaluable technical advice throughout the programme.”

The result of this project is a smart, perfectly-smooth floor which carries a Sika guarantee of its anti-static properties. You can bank on Sika to produce high-quality flooring.

• Electro-static discharges can easily damage sensitive electrical components
• Floors that actively remove static electricity from a person are vital in many market sectors
• This article explores how anti-static flooring systems work and why they are important

State-of-the-art technology can achieve incredible things – but only if each and every delicate component and piece of equipment is protected from a wide range of issues.

While viruses and physical impacts might seem like a more immediate threat, sensitive circuitry can just as easily be ruined by a single touch from one statically charged finger.

In fact, many components can be destroyed by a discharge of only 300 volts, however one person walking across the floor can quickly generate up to 3,000 volts! This voltage is built up through a process called triboelectric charging, which basically means that when someone moves on a floor they build up a negative charge and if the person is not insulated then this charge increases the more they move around.

If the charge is large enough, then when an earthed object nears the charged object the charge will jump through the air to go to earth. This results in a spark, which if a person is the earthing object will be experienced as a mild static shock, however if it is a piece of equipment that the charge has gone through then it could just have been irrevocably damaged.

This obviously has significant implications for anywhere that relies on delicate computer equipment, such as data warehouses, R&D sites, clean rooms and laboratories. It’s a particular problem for the electronics manufacturing industry, which loses significant sums of money every year in damaged goods and broken equipment.

For some sectors, static electricity poses an even more dangerous risk – as if there are any explosive substances, gases, vapours, fogs or dust present then a small electro-static discharge can be an ignition source. This is often the case with environments such as munitions manufacturing, hyperbaric chambers, oil & gas facilities and military installations.

How an Anti-Static Floor Works

To avoid this problem, anti-static floor finishes can be installed that actively removes any charge being built up in a person and safely takes it away to an appropriate earthing point.

Anti-static floors are ordered into categories depending on how quickly electricity can move through them, a property which is measured in ohms. Surfaces with the least resistance are defined as conductive, dissipative floors allow electricity to flow through at a controlled speed and the most resistant floors are called insulative.

Anti-static floors work by incorporating specialist conductive materials that take away any charge a person has built up as soon as their foot comes into contact with the coating. This contact kicks off a chain reaction that results in the charge being safely removed down through the floor and away from the sensitive working environment.

Next, the charge hits a conductive primer that has been filled with carbon to ensure a very low level of resistance. Finally, the charge goes into a copper tape buried under the floor coating which is connected to a safe earthing point.

It’s important to bear in mind that this is an ideal scenario and in practise there may be more or less steps. For example, it is possible to create a floor that removes static charge without using copper tape, however it won’t be as conductive as a floor that does.

Some Points About Earthing Points

One thing that the floor definitely needs is the earthing point, without this the floor cannot be considered anti-static, as charges that go into it will simply build up. In practise an earthing point is usually a highly conductive metal rod driven deep into the building’s slab, however other options could include using the building’s steel beams or using a plug socket.

Typically, one earthing point per 200 square meters should be sufficient, but the exact requirements need to be specified by an electrical engineer to ensure that the resistance measurements are appropriate.

To determine if the floor is up to the task at hand, its electrical resistance should be tested at each stage of the application. The BS EN 61340-5-1 standard includes a method for determining the resistance of a floor through point to point conductivity testing. The result of this will determine whether the floor can be categorised as conductive, dissipative or insulative.

When testing the floor, it is best to move the contact points around to ensure that a footprint sized space has been checked, as this is the practical contact area through which any charge held by a person will be transferred.

Making sure that a floor finish meets a site’s anti-static needs requires an understanding of the location’s operational activity, how the floor build up works to remove this threat as well as the role that other factors such as testing and personnel clothing play.

To get a full picture of all of these factors and how they interact, it is important to talk through the flooring specification and materials with the manufacturer and contractor to ensure that the final coating will provide the required standard of conductivity.

Flowcrete UK has published an eBook that goes into more detail on anti-static flooring, which can be downloaded from its website. To discuss a specific project in more detail, get in touch with Flowcrete UK’s expert team today.

IFT was appointed by the main contractor to provide the screeding and resin floor finishes for the refurbishment of the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. The category-B listed Kelvin Hall re-opened to the public in August 2016 having undergone a three-year development which transformed the 90-year-old venue into a multi-purpose sports, culture and education building.

IFTs integrated approach provided the client with one point of contact for their screed and resin flooring requirements to deliver a high quality of service and finish.

The screeding involved a combination of sand/cement and self-level products in order to satisfy the various floor finished and tolerances.

The resin element involved the installation of Mondéco Mirrazzo to floor, coves, landings and treads/risers. This product was also installed to the reception desk and to a feature wall within the entrance lobby.

Mirrazzo is a seamless epoxy resin terrazzo floor finish that utilises a blend of recycled crushed clear, coloured and mirror glass & metallic particles. It is suitable for airport and railway terminals, shopping centres, restaurants, hotels and environments where design aesthetics and durability are of paramount concern. Changing the colour of the resin matrix with the same aggregate blend can create a totally different effect.

Benefits:

• Aesthetically pleasing – enhances the working environment
• Seamless finish
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Abrasion resistant

 

IFT were delighted to have played an integral part on the transformation of this iconic Glasgow building which has received a number of accolades including: RICS Awards 2017 Project of the Year, RICS Awards 2017 Tourism and Leisure category, and Scottish Property Awards 2017 Award of Merit.

Flowcrete is contributing to the latest interior design trend by providing artistic flooring that reflects the architecture of the host building.

Architecture can be described as an expression of cultural principles that have been manifested in a deliberate design, often using technological advancements pertinent to the time of the build. This is why the design of buildings appear to get more creative as technology advances, and why historic architecture is held in such high regard due to the sheer skill needed in the absence of these technologies.

More and more often, cities can be identified by their skyline alone thanks to the interesting and unique architecture of buildings. Examples include the Empire State building in New York, the Gherkin in London and the Bank of China in Hong Kong.

With such impressive exteriors, it is no surprise that designers are looking to reflect this in the interior design as well. As Kurtich and Eakin (1993) once said, an “interior architecture” is applied to the inside of a building as design elements are carried to the exterior, distinguishing a “holistic creation”. This all-encompassing design not only provides continuity, but also a sense of bringing the outdoors in, and reminding visitors that they are part of something larger.

The Arte S buildings were set to alter the skyline of Penang in Malaysia forever. With the rippling exterior design and unique glass-fronted PODs set into the construction, these buildings surely stand out and provide a talking point all on their own. What makes these buildings even more impressive is the designer’s choice to continue the ripple aesthetic within the interior as well.

With the aim of replacing reality with fantasy, curves and ripples can be seen everywhere in the lobby from the rounded chairs and stools to the demarcation used in the flooring. As well as looking visually attractive, the line markings, created using Deckshield UV Linemarker from Flowcrete also work to separate the light and dark grey hues, as well as the hot pink colour that spreads from the floor to the stairways of the building.

For the flooring, 382 m² of Flowtex PT, a heavy duty, epoxy screed with high impact resistance was used, coated with the self-smoothing epoxy resin Flowshield SL 1000 in Steel Grey and striking pink hues. As well as being aesthetically pleasing and complementing the lobby furniture beautifully, this floor finish is suitable for areas of high footfall, trolley and rubber wheeled traffic, which are likely to be experienced in a busy lobby area.  

For further continuation, the same flooring systems and colours used in the lobby were used in the PODs, as these areas provide residents with a communal area to entertain guests.

This flooring system from Flowcrete is extremely easy to clean meaning that the floor finish in both the lobby and POD areas will maintain a fresh, bold and bright visual for an extended period of time. 

In a similar vein, Hackney Town Hall undertook an innovative flooring refurbishment in its atrium area in order to create a space for entertainment and events. The Grade II listed building required a modern flooring system that reflected the heritage of the building, and used the highly decorative seamless terrazzo system Mondéco Classic to achieve this. 

The three custom colours chosen by the client matched the interior design scheme and were separated by inlaid brass strips, which effectively paid homage to the original 1930s art deco style panelled ceilings throughout the Town Hall as well as the building’s exterior façade. 

This traditional flooring design neatly disguised the modern underfloor heating system Isowarm, which was applied along with the early drying heavy duty Isocrete Fast K-Screed layer from Flowcrete.  

Whereas the Arte S and Hackney Town Hall have utilised grey hues and demarcation to mirror the respective constructions, textures can also be experimented with to bring a little of the outdoors inside.

The Menai Science Park, based on the isle of Anglesey in North Wales, UK has taken this approach by specifying textured flooring for the reception area that mimics the building’s exterior.

As well as looking just like the stone walkways in the external landscape, Rustik Natural Stone from Flowcrete provides added slip resistance thanks to its texture, as well as noise reduction, helping to keep visitors safe and also minimising sounds that could distract those working in the space.

In addition to its attractive aesthetic, Rustik Natural Stone is hard wearing and extremely versatile, meaning that it can be laid in bespoke patterns and styles in areas that need extra durability.  In this case, the design of the flooring is a direct continuation of the white ‘ribbon’ architecture that is found on the exterior of Menai Science Park.

Throughout the building, crisp, modern white and light grey Peran Comfort has been used as a nod to the forward-thinking and innovative work that Bangor University encourages within the Menai Science Park, or M-SParc as it is also known.

Peran Comfort is a matt, self-smoothing polyurethane-based floor coating with excellent abrasion and chemical resistance properties, ideal for minimalist, contemporary environments.

Sika ComfortFloor® supplied the superior surface solution as part of a major overhaul of the ‘home of rugby’. 

Twickenham Experience, the official provider of match day hospitality and conference facilities at the famous stadium, has been working to create a number of event spaces following an overhaul of its East Stand area. New flooring was required, hence Sika worked closely with the architect and client to establish resin as an improved sustainable and durable surface alternative to vinyl. The flooring also had to meet the client’s aesthetic aspirations for the development’s final finish. Sika® ComfortFloor® PS-27, a tough-elastic polyurethane self-smoothening flooring system was agreed as the ideal solution.

Following a tender process, MJF Specialist Flooring Contractors was selected to install flooring to the East Stand’s hospitality areas on behalf of main contractor. Preparation work involved an assortment of captive shot-blasting to concrete, as well as vacuum-controlled diamond grinding to screed areas. A total of 3000m2 of Sika® SCHÖNOX FPL PLUS levelling screed was then applied to ensure a quality finish. This process also aided the project development time, with its quick curing allowing for foot traffic after just four hours.

Sika® ComfortFloor® PS-27 system was then installed, whilst concrete repairs were carried out to four levels of the stadium. The system’s increased hygienic functionality, as well as its easy-to-clean properties make it the idea flooring for heavily-trafficked public places where health and safety and appearance are crucial. Sika® ComfortFloor® PS-27 offers endless colour and design options; superior acoustics, seamless floor-to-wall connections, and a soft ergonomic walking and standing surface.

Nils Braude, Catering and C&E Director at Twickenham, said: “We are very excited to offer over six new event spaces as a result of our East Stand refurbishment. The variety of space on offer adds to the wealth of options for events at Twickenham, especially for bespoke events and private hire. After much planning, it is so exciting to finally see the project come to life and we are looking forward to unveiling the finished result in autumn 2018.”

Despite the challenging nature of the installation, Sika® ComfortFloor® PS-27 system’s durable, functional, aesthetically-pleasing finish has resulted in flooring as magnificent as the stadium itself. The system was delivered and serviceable in time for the facility’s official opening in lieu of some high-profile rugby matches. Proof, as if any were needed, Sika® ComfortFloor® PS-27 is the flooring solution for the big occasion.

For the refurbishment of a popular visitor attraction, the client required a single flooring solution that helped maintain the highest health and safety standards and enhanced the aesthetics of its exotic exhibits. The seamless, anti-slip Sika ComfortFloor® PS-24 system proved ideal for the project.

Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire is home to Europe’s largest collection of sharks, as well as a host of stunning sea-life such as rays, otters and tortoises. Due to the differing floor finishes throughout the attraction’s ‘Venom’ display area, the client required a single flooring solution that made for a clearer, less confusing viewing experience for visitors. The new floor had to offer high levels of slip resistance on account of over-spray from a nearby cascading waterfall feature creating wet surface areas, hence the specification of Sika ComfortFloor® PS-24, a tough, solvent-free, polyurethane, seamless system.

Contractor, Mike Thelwell Flooring, was selected to install the new surface, which had to be built-up in places to correct the removed floor’s differing heights. As well as its robust resistance to heavy footfall and slippage – even when flooring becomes wet – Sika ComfortFloor® PS-24’s decorative properties were crucial to its specification. It is available in a wide range of bespoke colours to suit all environments, with the client choosing a two-tone effect to create an ‘earthy’ feel in the aquarium’s Venom area. The system’s seamless aspect provided another appealing feature, as it makes the flooring simple to clean and hygiene standards easier to uphold in busy, commercial spaces.

Mike Thelwell, Director at Mike Thelwell Flooring, said: “The project was complex and specific to the client’s requirements, but Sika ComfortFloor® PS-24 ensured challenges were easily overcome. We worked closely with Sika and the client to ensure the surface was fitted within the agreed timeframe. We are extremely proud of the floor we’ve provided for this popular attraction. Our team’s installation skills, in conjunction with Sika’s superb floor system, made for a very successful project.”

With the Sika ComfortFloor® PS-24 system, which comprises Sikafloor®-3000 and Sikafloor®-300, two-part elastic, aliphatic, low-VOC, self-smoothing polyurethane resins, the aquarium has been furnished with a surface that looks as good as it performs. Anti-slip, smooth and stylish, the new floor succeeds on many levels, helping enhance the visitor experience for the many thousands of people who cross the attraction’s threshold throughout the year.