SITUATION

As an Australian first for the automotive powerhouse, Mercedes Benz opened a new flagship store in Newstead, Queensland. The five-story, 32,000 sqm Mercedes Benz Autohaus dealership includes a 539 sqm museum, garden pavilion, staff training centre, 45 vehicle maintenance bays, a rooftop restaurant and a function area and is the car dealer’s largest development of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

CHALLENGES

The sheer size of the project posed challenges for the general contractor. The five-story building required 15,000sqm of wall and floor tiling of various sizes and areas ranging from showrooms, workshops and amenities.

The tiles themselves were chosen specifically by principal and as such, a system was required that could work in conjunction with what was provided. The project also required a fast turnaround, so a product system was needed that could allow the builders and contractors to proceed at a faster than normal rate to meet the expectations of everyone involved.

SOLUTION

ARDEX tiling products were specified and chosen for this large project. The tiling contractor was an approved and trained installer of ARDEX products, helping to ensure that the ARDEX system was installed to the recommended specifications and eliminating the risk of product failure.

ARDEX K 15 MICROTEC self-levelling compound is rapid-drying and contains Microfibre reinforcement. Being rapid-dry the compound achieves high early strength and is walkable after 2 hours with most floor coverings able to be installed 16 hours later, allowing a fast turnaround of work.

ARDEX X 18 Non-Slump wall and floor tile adhesive is fibre-reinforced which provides added strength to the tiled areas – ideal for the intended use of the Autohaus. Being non-slump, the adhesive is also ideal for large format and heavy tiles.

Beyond the performance of the specified ARDEX products, the level of Customer Service and Technical Support provided also proved to be a determining factor in the success of the job. The Mercedes Benz Autohaus became one of the biggest tiling jobs outside of retail shops completed in Brisbane in modern times.

SITUATION:

De Fazio Commercial Tiling has recently completed the tiling of all common areas at The Emporium, a premium retail space in the heart of Melbourne CBD. The overall project took three years to complete with the tiling taking twelve months.

CHALLENGES:

Ardex Australia supplied a complete system for the tiling installation including waterproofing, adhesive and grouting products to all public areas. The tiling covered an enormous area of more than 21,000 m².

SOLUTION:

ARDEX S16 Rapid Hardening and Rapid Drying Tile and Natural Stone Adhesive, the main tiling product used, was chosen for its rapid drying and reduced risk of water-staining. Early access to the tiled area was viable which helped to fast track the installation. Ardex A38 rapid set cement screed was also supplied. It produces a screed that improves onsite efficiencies by allowing traffic shortly after application and the laying of the floor covering on the same day.

The project presented a number of challenges with much time spent on-site assessing the various areas for tiling and undertaking quality assurance for the Ardex system. Tiling was specified above 2.7 metres which required particular attention and utilised the Ardex WA100 epoxy.

The central CBD location made deliveries more challenging with Ardex having to adhere to very exact delivery times. The centre contains 225 stores over five levels so product had to be distributed throughout the entire centre. “Ardex Australia was thrilled to be involved with the overhaul of such an iconic building,” explained Fabian Morgan, Sales and Marketing Director, Ardex Australia. “The project demonstrated the scope of Ardex tiling products and combined with quality and skilled workmanship, has achieved an outstanding result.”

PARTICIPANTS:

DeFazio Commercial Tiling

SITUATION:

In consultation with Westfield Design & Construct, Terrazzo Australian Marble engaged Ardex to investigate different options for the retiling of the existing centre of the Westfield Shopping Centre at Miranda, in Sydney’s south.

The main criteria when looking at the different options were speed of curing for the screed and tiling adhesive as work had to be completed at night & the centre to be ready in the morning for minimal disruption to walkways.

A traditional sand & cement screed was compared against the ARDEX A38 Rapid set screed to view what the best solution for was the project.

SOLUTION:

The ARDEX A38 Rapid set screed was chosen to rescreed the walkways following removal of existing tiles and screed. Having the ability to accept heavy foot traffic within 8 hours of installation, the A38 screed system ensured strict timeframes were met during the installation of this critical part of the system.
Achieving a compressive strength of 35 MPa and being dimensionally stable, the A38 ensures the base of the tiling system contains the perfect mix of strength and flexibility. With the high compressive strength, scissor lifts can be employed directly on the screeded floor, something which is difficult to do with traditional sand & cement screed. The A38/S16 system also complies with low VOC emission requirements which were also a consideration for this project.

As Ardex are committed to ensuring contractors are exposed to high quality training in the installation of their products, Ardex conducted on site training of the A38 rapid set screed at Terrazzo Australian Marbles headquarters, with representatives from Terrazzo Australian Marble & Westfield attending.

The following night the areas containing the A38 screed were cleaned and prepared for the ARDEX S16 Rapid Hardening and Rapid Drying Tile and Natural Stone Adhesive to install the Terrazzo tiles and natural stone.

Besides being ideal for installing natural stone susceptible to moisture sensitivity, the main benefit of using this adhesive on the project is the curing time and the ability for traffic to walk on the flooring, 2-3 hours after installation in suitable conditions. This allowed large areas to be tiled overnight and made ready for trading each morning with no disruption to shoppers. As with the A38 screed, the S16 tile and natural stone adhesive’s low VOC rating meets Green Building Council of Australia Green Star IEQ-13 requirements.

Although the system was only originally specified on the existing shopping centre flooring, Westfield were so happy with the performance of the products and the response from Ardex to ensure the project ran smoothly, they specified the system on the new areas of the shopping centre being installed by Saba Brothers Tiling. In all, the project totalled approximately 12000m².

PARTICIPANTS:

Builder: Westfield Design & Construct
Contractor: Terrazzo Australia Marble (Existing areas); Saba Tiling (New areas)

CHALLENGES:

The 6000m² of walkways at the Canberra Centre needed an upgrade, however minimal disruption to the walkways was of key importance to allow shoppers to move freely around the centre.

This meant that the new screed and tile adhesive needed to be able to have heavy foot traffic walk on it in a matter of hours. As some of the work conducted was to outside areas in the middle of winter, the temperature also provided a challenge to Ardex as the temperature would get down to as low as 2 degrees.

SOLUTION:

Ardex specified the ARDEX A38 Rapid set screed to be used to re-screed the walkways after existing tiles and screed were removed. Large areas of the project could all be done in the one night as the A38 screed has a walkability time of 8 hours and achieves 20MPa compressive strength after 1 day, achieving 35MPa after 28 days. The shopping centre walkway could then be covered to allow foot traffic in the morning and throughout the day.
Areas which had a smaller depth to level before tiling were covered with ARDEX LQ92 Under Tile Levelling Compound which can be accessed in 4 hours after installation in suitable conditions & achieve a 0-25mm thickness.

The ARDEX S16 rapid drying and hardening tile & natural stone adhesive, mixed with ARDEX E90 Admix was then used in order to allow the tiling to be done on the 2nd night. With it being trafficable after 2-3 hours in suitable conditions the Ardex S16 allowed the tiling component of the project to be performed efficiently to allow the walkways to be open and ready for foot traffic at the start of the day.

A special batch of the Ardex A38 Rapid Set Screed was produced for the 500 m2 outside areas, which experienced single digit temperatures throughout the winter installation.

On top of the high performing system components, Ardex’s Key Account Manager for tiling, Ralf Sablowski kept in constant contact with the project, ensuring products were delivered within 24 hours, organising Ardex system recommendations so everyone on site was on the same page & being available to view installation & respond to any questions.

As the total system was supplied by Ardex a system warranty could be provided in order to ensure the high quality components are working together to provide an efficient, robust base and floor.

PARTICIPANTS:

Marble & Granite specialist PDA

SITUATION:

Congratulations to Andrew Doré and the team at Surface Archetypes who won 1st Place in their category, ‘Overlays less than ¼” over 5000 square foot’ for their workmanship at 480 Queen Street, Brisbane. This prestigious award was presented by the U.S. Decorative Concrete on the 17th January at the ‘World of Concrete’ that was held in Las Vegas. 480 Queen Street is a 32 storey office tower in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia where 3500 sqm (32670 sq ft) of ARDEX PANDOMO W1 decorative plaster was installed to walls and ceilings. The tower had a 6-star Green Star rating target, which was achieved in the design and a 5 star NABERS Energy target.

CHALLENGES:

Surface Archetypes supplied and installed PANDOMO W1 to high level ceilings, to stair walls, to light voids. At the time of the contract being signed by Surface Archetypes never before had this quantity of ARDEX PANDOMO W1 been installed in a single project and for Surface Archetypes, it was a chance to showcase their expertise in the eyes of the design world.

SOLUTION:

Surface Archetypes went through rigorous sampling showing colours and styles and countless hours were spent creating colour samples to achieve a finish that met the client’s requirements.

Once on site, the logistics of maintaining colour and effect across the 3500 sqm was a huge task. In the beginning, there were only 2 trowel hands applying the ARDEX PANDOMO W1, however at the height of the installation, Surface Archetypes had 9 trowel hands applying the decorative finish in adjacent areas. According to Andrew Doré, this was by far the most difficult aspect of the installation, ensuring that the pattern effect did not differ from one area to the next.

Andrew Doré from Surface Archetypes said, ‘I developed many grey hairs and tested the patience of myself and the trowel hands because this project was going to be viewed by many across the design industry, and it had to be faultless. The trowel hands had to accept that I was going to be relentless in my quality control mode’. Fabian Morgan, Managing Director of ARDEX Australia said ‘this is another great innovative use of ARDEX PANDOMO W1.’

PARTICIPANTS:

Architect: BVN Donovan Hill
Builder: Grocon Pty Ltd
Applicator: Surface Archetypes

SITUATION:

A major $80 million expansion of Newcastle Airport has recently been completed to transform the existing airport and create a second international airport for NSW. The expansion saw the terminal size double and facilities improved to cater for international flights. ARDEX was specified for the tiling throughout.

CHALLENGES:

A sample of the Natural Stone was supplied by Newcastle Tile Company to the ARDEX Technical Team and a specification was issued for the complete tiling system catering for this type of natural stone.

The natural stone was thermally sensitive (susceptible to the effect of heat and light) so a specialty tile adhesive ARDEX S 16 along with ARDEX E 90 was specified and used. In addition, the floor was also leveled where necessary to x undulations between old and new slabs.

SOLUTION:

ARDEX S 16 (with ARDEX E 90) was used to lay 1600 sqm of natural stone throughout the arrivals and departure lounges of the airport. ARDEX S 16 locks in moisture and reducing the risk of efflorescence and water marks on the natural stone tiles that were laid. Recently, ARDEX S 16 has been replaced with the superior ARDEX S 28 Neu, an Ardurapid, Microtec stone and tile adhesive.

ARDEX X 10 was ideal for use over the membranes and provides excellent slump resistance for both wall and oor tiles. ARDEX X10 provides mastic type properties. In addition to the Natural Stone, a further 1000m2 of bathroom tiling that included both walls and floors was also laid and waterproofed using the ARDEX WPM 155 Rapid Waterproofing System with ARDEX STB tape. This system allowed the wet areas to be tiled in as little as four hours after the application of the membrane, an added benefit particularly for projects with a tight timeline.

“The development of Newcastle Airport to accommodate international flights is a huge step forward for both tourism and the growing population in the area,” explained ARDEX Account Manager, Jeff Anderson. “It is exciting to witness investment in infrastructure and ARDEX is proud to be involved in such an iconic project.

PARTICIPANTS:

Newcastle Tile Company

SITUATION:

Canberra Airport’s stylish new international terminal has been praised as one of the best in the country.

The new terminal features duty free shopping, free wi-fi and a café bar. Luxurious furnishings by Walter Knoll and a striking sculpture by Japanese artist Hariyuki Uchida compliment stone floors and floor to ceiling windows, which provide natural light and a clear view of the runways.

SOLUTION:

Ardex was engaged by PDA marble to assist with the tiled flooring throughout the terminal.

The system comprised of the ARDEX DS 60 Decoupling mat which is ideal for large areas where crack isolation is imperative. This unique floating system isolates base movement whilst only being 0.4mm thick.

An unbonded ARDEX A 38 screed was then incorporated because of the high compressive strength it can achieve, which is critical over a floor with a great deal of foot and other traffic. The other key advantage of using the A 38 on this project is because it is an engineered screed system, tiling can commence after 8 hours, which greatly assisted in meeting deadlines for the new terminal to be opened up to start taking flights.

Finally the ARDEX X 18 Fibre Reinforced Flexible Non Slump Wall and Floor Tile Adhesive was used to adhere the terrazzo tiles. The X 18 contains specially developed fibres that add strength to the tiled area.

PARTICIPANTS:

PDA Marble

SITUATION:

As part of a redevelopment plan to turn Broadhead Beach into a high-end ‘live-work-play’ destination, an $850 million investment was provided to build two modern towers, the Oracle Broadbeach Apartments. Niecon Developments specified ARDEX products as the solution to this challenge. In doing so, they received complete peace of mind knowing ARDEX tile adhesives are high quality products compatible with marble, vitrified and ceramic tile.

The Oracle Beach Apartments were built in the high-profile area of Broadhead Beach. A 40 and a 50 level towers were new construction and tile has to be used throughout the majority of the spaces. The building consisted of residential, retail and office space.

CHALLENGES:

• Consisted of a 40 and a 50 level tower
• Mixed use development
• Multiple tile applications
• Reliable tile and water proofing systems were needed to prohibit any water leakage in the towers that would damage the spaces

SOLUTION:

BAT Tiling worked with ARDEX Australia to offer a SYSTEMARDEX solution. SYSTEMARDEX is a complete regiment of high quality, compatible tiling, flooring and waterproofing products matched with unparalleled technical and field support. Each SystemARDEX product is engineered through meticulous research and developed with feedback from contractors, specifiers, manufacturers and clients. Because of this thorough process, ARDEX customers have full confidence in the quality and end results of SYSTEMARDEX products.

Starting with one of the markets fastest drying acrylic membranes, installers applied ARDEX WPM 002 Superflex Bathroom and Balcony Two Part Waterproofing Membrane where needed. ARDEX WPM 002 specifically addresses internal moisture issues under tiles. Because ARDEX WPM 002 is microfiber reinforced, a reinforcing mat is not needed. In non-exposed permanent immersion areas, ARDEX WPM 155 Undertile PU Acrylic Hybrid Membrane was applied. This water-based, polyurethane-acrylic waterproofing membrane was developed for internal and external wet areas for high performance under tile waterproofing.

Once the waterproofing membrane was sufficiently dry, screeds were placed throughout the building. To ensure the screeds would have strong bonds, high shears and tensile strengths, ARDEX Abacrete Bonding Agent was added. ARDEX Abacrete is a non-toxic liquid polymer additive designed specifically for use with screeds and renders. This additive also improves water resistance in the flooring.To ensure the tile adhesives would bond appropriately to the substrates, ARDEX recommended ARDEX Multiprime Water-Based Primer. ARDEX Multiprime is easy to apply by using a sponge, brush or roller. This process saves time and creates a strong bond between the screed and adhesives.

Where necessary, ARDEX Abaflex Premium Polymer Modified Flexible Tile Adhesive was applied, and ARDEX DS 40 Impact Sound Reduction and Decoupling system was placed. ARDEX Abaflexs’ eight-hour cure time allows contractors to quickly move forward with the project. ARDEX Abaflex is a good choice because of its flexibility in accommodating cracks (up to .9mm) created by building movement. ARDEX DS 40 enhanced the luxury of the multipurpose building by reducing impact noise transfer from tenants above. ARDEX DS 40 acoustic mats are pre-cut for easy application and can be placed over various substrates. ARDEX DS 40 can also be directly tiled over using an ARDEX tile adhesive.

To accommodate the variety of tiles used in the building, ARDEX X 10 Flexible Non Slump Wall and Floor Tile Adhesive was recommended. ARDEX X 10 is a polymer modified, cement-based wall and floor tile adhesive created with mastic properties ideal for all tile types. The mastic properties prevent sagging and movement in flooring and wall tile installation, maintaining the level of quality required by general contractors. Once tiles were placed, ARDEX grouts were used as the final step. Where pigmented grout was required, ARDEX FG 8 Flexible Colored Grout for Tile Joints 1 to 8 mm wide was used. ARDEX FG 8 may be used on floors and walls and is easy to apply using a rubber trowel. Because it contains anti-mold agents and water repellants, the appearance and overall cleanliness of the rooms is easily maintained. ARDEX FG 8 also cures to a smooth finish reducing the amount of trapped dirt and airborne contaminates.

ARDEX Fine Textured Wall Tile Grout was placed in areas that required white grout with a joint size from 1 to 3 mm. This standard grade compressed grout was designed specifically for use on walls, and is an economical choice for ceramic and porcelain tiles. This helps reduce the cost of the project when a specialty grout was not necessary. Wherever a wider joint width occurred, ARDEX Wide Joint Sanded Cement-Based Grout was applied. This grout is shrink-resistant, and is especially suited for wider joints ranging from 5 to 15mm. It can be used for floor or wall applications, around swimming pools and showers, and is available in a range of colors. For all carpeted areas, ARDEX AF 266 Outdoor Carpet Adhesive was recommended. This water-based adhesive has a low odor, so it is ideal for indoor use additionally. ARDEX recommended this product, because it is resistant to the frequent, commercial grade cleaning expected in a luxury multi-purpose high rise.

Each of the products used for this project are part of the SYSTEMARDEX solution. With SYSTEMARDEX, not only are they receiving products that have been manufactured and tested to ARDEX procedures in accordance with Quality System Standard ISO 9001, but they are also warrantied for 10 years. With SYSTEMARDEX warranty and quality assurance, specifiers, contractors and building owners have complete peace of mind that installation was done right the first time, and will withstand heavy use.

PARTICIPANTS:

Installer/Applicator: BAT Tiling
General Contractor: Niecon Developments Pty Ltd – Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Architect: Niecon Developments Pty Ltd – Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

SITUATION:

The Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort is the home of a championship golf course, an award winning restaurant, and a convention center. When Noosa Springs Resort decided to upgrade to a luxury five-star resort, only top performing materials would ensure the prevention of flooring failures in their state-of-the-art facilities.

The fitness center includes heavy exercise equipment and free weights. Therefore, the floor needed to be durable and withstand the weight of the equipment.

Onsite spa amenities include infrared saunas, steam rooms, blitz showers, a HydroMassage pool and large floating pools. Each of these features created demanding challenges for the builders, as flexible and strong products were necessary to ensure a quality and long-lasting installation.

CHALLENGES:

• High quality materials and finishes needed to match the expectations for the $400 million five-star resort (1,030,000 m2 / 11,087,190ft²)
• Areas with large temperature fluctuations caused by infrared heating systems
• Fear of erosion to specialized flooring materials from underwater jets
• Use of high concentration chemicals and minerals with a history of destroying Portland cement structures
• Areas with heavy gym equipment

SOLUTION:

To prepare the new concrete for tile and stone applications, installers used ARDEX WPM 265 Sheltercoat Water Based Primer. ARDEX WPM 265 is an acrylic primer system that creates a positive bond between substrates and water based coatings.

ARDEX WPM 300 Water Based Epoxy Membrane was used because it has superior water resistance and prevents efflorescence while withstanding hydrostatic pressure. It provides excellent adhesion to most substrates, including damp surfaces and freshly laid concrete, and it can be used as a one coat primer for other applied finishes like Ardex waterproofing membranes and tiling adhesives. ARDEX WPM 300 is also safe for potable drinking water, removing risk of water contamination from materials in the many resort pool areas.

Next, ARDEX WPM 002 Superflex Bathroom and Balcony Two Component Undertile Waterproofing Membrane was applied. Recognized as one of the fastest drying acrylic membranes on the market, it can be tiled over within 16 to 24 hours at ambient temperatures of 23˚C. Its advanced acrylic polymer technology makes it completely resistant to re-emulsification.

ARDEX STS 8 Superior Tensile Strength Tile Adhesive was chosen because of its improved adhesion of heavy, large-format wall tiles otherwise prone to lipping and slumping. In a five-star resort, it is crucial that floor tile and wall treatments were not only functional but visually appealing. When necessary, ARDEX E 90 Mortar Admix was used to guarantee the adhesive was water repellent for resort showers and pools.

To finish the job, ARDEX ABAPOXY High Performance Epoxy Adhesive and Grout was selected for its strong resistance to harsh chemicals. This product was developed by ARDEX for applications requiring strict hygiene standards. It is completely solvent-free and suitable for walls and floors.

Starco Developments Pty Ltd selected ARDEX Australia to supply numerous products for the project that would perform well, provide longevity and expedite the installation process.
ARDEX products contributed to the completion of a world class standard in the Noose Springs Golf & Spa Resort.

PARTICIPANTS:

Installer/Applicator:

• Thorburn Tiling Pty Ltd
  Moffat Beach, Queensland, Australia
• M&M Waterproofing Contractors & Sales
  Noosaville, Queensland, Australia

General Contractor:

• Starco Developments Pty Ltd
  Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia

Architect:

• Alan Starkey & Associates
  Noosaville, Queensland, Australia

SITUATION:

The newly refurbished Faculty of Engineering and IT at University of Technology, Sydney, has featured Ardex panDOMO heavily throughout the multi-million dollar project. panDOMO is a range of advanced cement finishes suitable for the floor, wall and ceiling from Ardex Australia which give a stylish and robust design and can be used to open up a wealth of exclusive design options.

Over 5000 sqm of Ardex panDOMO FloorPlus was installed to fourteen levels of lift lobbies as well as promenades and walkways throughout the Faculty at Broadway giving a truly unique finish to the campus.

CHALLENGES:

The overall project which was led by Lend Lease and designed by Denton Corker Marshall cost $200M and took more than three years to complete. The panDOMO installation took six months and is one of the largest projects in Australia to date.

“Due to significant irregularities in the structural concrete substrate, this job proved to be quite challenging,” explained Fabian Morgan, Sales and Marketing Director, Ardex Australia. “We firstly had to correct all the floor heights and spent two months shaving high spots in concrete and filling up to 40mm of Ardex K 80 in the low areas.”

SOLUTION:

The UTS refurbishment was the first installation in Australia where a continuous pump was used to install panDOMO. “Importing a specialised pump from Germany made it possible to install 500 sqm of panDOMO in two hours and ensured that Honestone, the projector contractor could meet the very tight schedule for this project,” added Morgan. “Honestone has vast experience and unsurpassed quality in commercial flooring making them the natural choice for this project.

“Ardex Australia was pleased to be part of this project and help create an iconic, pedestrian friendly university,” said Morgan. “The overall finish of this project is second to none and will stand the test of time for generations of academics to come.”

Whether seeking a classic, refined, homogenous or entirely unique style, panDOMO floor toppings and wall finishes offer the perfect, cost effective solution for any project.

PARTICIPANTS:

INSTALLER: Honestone
BUILDER: Lend Lease
ARCHITECT: Denton Corker Marshall