SITUATION:

Westminster Cathedral is one of the busiest churches in the United Kingdom. Located in the heart of London, it is the Catholic mother-church of England & Wales. To mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, the barrel vault ceiling and main arches of the Chapel of St George and the English Martyrs underwent a complete redesign.

The new design was commissioned to renowned artist Tom Phillips CBE RA and was made of hand cut Venetian glass and gold-faced tesserae. Over 500,000 pieces covered the 120 m² area.

CHALLENGES:

• Active church, minimal disruption allowed
• Centuries of candle soot on the ceiling
• Over 500,000 pieces of glass and gold-faced tesserae

SOLUTION:

TMRC was awarded the renovation project, headed up by one of the UK’s leading specialists, Gary Bricknell. Bricknell worked with Adam Willmott, ARDEX Business Development Manager, to create a system for rendering the concrete ceiling and the brick side walls with decades of soot contamination. ARDEX AM 100 Rapid Hardening Tiling Render was chosen for application to a mechanically fixed expanding metal lathe. ARDEX AM 100 is pre-blended, meaning it can be easily mixed with an electric paddle mixer at the workface, as use of a cement mixer in the busy church was not an option. ARDEX AM 100 allowed the tiles to be fixed after only 2 hours, minimising the overall installation time.

ARDEX X 7 Flexible Tile Adhesive provided a good working time window for the intricate mosaic with an impressive 5 hour pot life. ARDEX-FLEX FS Flexible Tile Grout, a water and dirt repellent tile grout, is tested to ensure a uniform colour distribution which eliminates streaking during mixing.

PARTICIPANTS:

Specialist: Gary Bricknell
General Contractor: The Mosaic Restoration Company (TMRC)
Artist: Tom Phillips CBE RA

SITUATION:

The Giant Panda House is located in Ocean Park. It is home for not only two giant pandas Yingying and Lele, but also many rare and cute animals such as cuddly red pandas and giant salamander.

CHALLENGES:

Repair a 200m² defective floor in 24 hours.

SOLUTION:

Existing flooring of the Panda House were found debonded, cracks and broken. This is not only a substandard appearance but also a hygiene issue for the Pandas.

A 24-hour-renovation for the floor was planned. Scope of work including hacking off of the existing defective floor around 500m² in 6 hours. Install a new screeding (ARDEX A35) and a rapid dry self-levelling (ARDEX R 105 E).

Products with Ardurapid™ formulation like ARDEX A35, offer the perfect solution as it provides a rapid dry function and allow the next step of work to go on. Water being mixed in our product will be dried by chemical reaction which is a totally different concept than in the other ordinary products.

ARDEX Engineered Solution presents a new house for our Pandas in only 24 hours!

PARTICIPANTS:

Installer: Kingsley Specialist Engineering Ltd.

SITUATION:

The Centro Especializado de Alto Rendimiento de Atletismo is a high-level sports facility equipped with two gymnasiums with a long jump, pole vault, high jump and launches. The outdoor area holds a devoted area for all test launches. The building’s floor areas needed to be aesthetically pleasing and durable. It also had to be easy to clean and easy to polish.

CHALLENGES:

• 2,800 square-meter installation area
• Two-month installation time frame
• Jointless floor surface desired
• Floor to withstand heavy foot traffic and rigorous cleaning

SOLUTION:

The project’s architect specified a jointless decorative floor with geometrical drawings etched into the surface. The architect also required a mechanically strong and wear resistant finished floor. Before the installation began, the Seire Sales Professionals visited the jobsite with Pavimentos MKI installers to check the floor’s support quality, joints and measurements. Seire recommended SEIREPOX IMPRIMACION Primer, SEIREPOX TERRAZZO with Arid Marble and SEIREPOX TERRAZZO Sealer. SEIREPOX TERRAZZO was developed specifically for installation in commercial premises because of its mechanical strength and chemical resistance making it the perfect product for the Centro Especializado de Alto Rendimiento de Atletismo.

PARTICIPANTS:

Applicator: Pavimentos MKI
Construction Company: Isolux Corsan – Madrid, Spain

SITUATION:

The great city of Prague on the banks of the Vltava is one of the oldest and largest in Central Europe. Besides boasting a huge variety of culture and diverse architectural styles, it is also home to the famous football club Bohemians 1905, whose stadium has been given a facelift in the shape of refurbished grandstands.

SOLUTION:

Of course, this project called for nothing but the very best quality products. And what product could be better than ARDEX S 21? This water- and frost-resistant, rapid-hardening floor tile bedding mortar is also able to repair damage and compensate for uneven substrates indoors and out. Wearing courses make use of the stable and rapid-setting ARDEX A 46 external repair mortar. Not just easy to use, this product also withstands freezing temperatures and de-icing salts in accordance with Austrian standard ÖNORM B 3303, and is ready to accept foot traffic within just a few hours.

Visible success is certainly the nicest form of recognition. Viewed in this way, fans can now feel confident again about sitting in the uppermost row.

SITUATION:

The Iserlohn Roosters have a lot planned for this season. The Sauerland team wants to score not only in the German ice hockey league, but also with its fans and sponsors. As a result the ice rink at Seilersee was recently converted and expanded. The new and exclusive VIP area in the gallery in the northern side of the hall has become the trademark of the team. The individually designed flooring with its traditional terrazzo look has been seamlessly laid over 350 m2 to striking effect. Quality with a unique character.

Terrazzo flooring has become a rare sight. The designer was challenged to counteract the stylish and formal entrance to the VIP Lounge with an artistic and individual floor design. A stylish, natural, homogenous and generous effect was chosen which was tough, fast to install and yet still tough.

SOLUTION:

The new flooring with its decorative mineral aggregate and fast drying cement was developed as a quality alternative to a traditional terrazzo floor. The option of creating a unique design and the quick and cost-efficient installation process made the decision easy. Building delays by other trades meant that the contractor had less than 2 weeks to complete the installation work. The floor in the VIP Lounge has a light grey tone, created by the colour of the binding agent. This is how a large-scale, clear vision was created.The decorative mineral aggregate ensures an eye-catching feature with its small or large aggregates decorated in black white or red.Perfectly in line with the theme of the room.

The brass rails used to form the casting bays further emphasized the features with their form and black undertone. Even the team logo for the Iserlohn Roosters was carefully prepared with templates and incorporated directly in the middle of the surface.

This is how the floor with its own look and individual form was seamlessly created over 350 m2. A unique piece, in following with the century-old tradition of terrazzo flooring, was completed in just 11 days – from preparation to the finishing touches – and completely satisfied with its look and practical efficiency.

SITUATION:

Another attraction has recently made its impression on the German capital’s skyline: the spectacular new multifunctional arena “O2 World”. This massive, oval events arena is one of the most modern architecture in Europe. In just a few hours it can be transformed from ice hockey stadium to splendid concert hall. A glimpse of the interior indicates its huge scale: It can accommodate up to 17,000 people. The building extends over a length of 165 m, is 130 m wide and rises to a height of 35 m. According to the operator’s plans, over 300 sporting and entertainment spectacles are expected to be staged here in the first three years alone, bringing in over three million visitors and making the arena the perfect platform for top-notch events.

CHALLENGES:

• The construction has to be completed in just 24 months
• Around 7,000 m² of flooring and 2,000 m² of wall coverings had to be installed on two levels in the arena’s public concourses
• Laying the large areas of flooring accurately in the oval posed a special challenge for the craftsmen involved.

SOLUTION:

In preparation for laying the floor, the floor screed was first shot blasted, cleaned and then primed with ARDEX P 51. All surfaces were then precisely levelled using the highly durable ARDEX K13 and ARDEX K70 floor levelling compounds, the choice depending on the required thickness. These were pumped in efficiently at a rate of up to 1,000 m2 per day. The extensive floor areas were ready to accept foot traffic again after roughly 2 hours.

Now the 30 x 60 cm tiles selected had to be laid throughout the oval with absolute accuracy from start to finish, without any misalignment or joints straying from the correct line. The right choice of adhesive was crucially important in these high-traffic areas where thousands of people walk and goods are also transported. The flooring contractor decided in favour of quick, reliable ARDEX X 78 MICROTEC premium pourable thin set mortar. Thanks to its special raw materials and coated fibres, this adhesive sets new standards in reliability for laying floor tiles. To finish off, the surfaces were grouted with the rapid-hardening grouting compound ARDEX FK. The experienced tilers stuck with the ARDEX system to tile the 2,000 m2 of wall surfaces in the public concourse areas of the arena, opting for ARDEX X 7 G Flex.

SITUATION:

In shenzhen China, new stadiums and entertainment facilites were built in preparation for Universiade 2011. As the event date approached, the construction schedule was behind and the flooring needed to be installed in a short time frame. Once the construction site was ready, ARDEX was asked to provide a fast track solution to the corridor space of the Shen Zhen Stadium.

CHALLENGES:

• Large size area (5000 m² / 53,821 ft²)
• Expedited installation time frame
• Cold temperatures
• Heavy and frequent foot traffic

SOLUTION:

In this situation, ARDEX recommended ARDEX K320 High Early Strength Wear-resistant Self-leveling Topping. ARDEX K320 is an extremely durable product and is appropriate for high traffic areas. ARDEX K320 is walkable in just four hours, allowing foot traffic and additional work to take place quickly after the installation.

Following correct substrate preparation protocol, ThyssenKrupp Xervon mechanically prepared the corridor area. By mechanically preparing the substrate, the installers could be sure all contaminates were removed so the ARDEX K320 would properly bond to the substrate. Once the installers created a suitable surface profile, a layer of ARDEX P 51 Primer was applied. ARDEX P 51 is a solvent-free primer used over standard absorbent concrete to seal and improve the bond of ARDEX underlayments and toppings.

Once the ARDEX P 51 was completely dried, the concrete substrate was ready to receive ARDEX K320, as the final wear surface. Once the ARDEX K320 was poured and properly protected, construction trades could continue their work while walking on the new floor. Being such a high profile project, Shen Zhen Stadium demanded high-strength and aesthetically pleasing products to complete the design.

ARDEX provided technical support and quality customer service throughout the installation. Both the owners and ThyssenKrupp Xervon were pleased with the final result.

SITUATION:

The Prestige Shantiniketan consists of 603,869 m² (6,500,000 f²) of residential, commercial and leisure areas contained in a community of 23 towers, parking garages and parks. This project took nearly five years to complete, and as time was running, the interior flooring needed to be completed quickly. ARDEX ENDURA was called in to offer fast-track solution.

CHALLENGES:

• 400,000 m² (4,305,564.17 f²)
• Fast-track installation
• Limited time for underlayment curing

SOLUTION:

ARDEX ENDURA recommended ARDEX CL11 Commercial Leveling & Smoothing Compound be installed by Siddhi Coatings. Siddhi Coatings, a preferred ARDEX ENDURA installer, has attended ARDEX ENDURA product training and is trained on the ARDEX products installation. ARDEX CL11 can be pumped into place and receives most floor coverings in 24 hours. ARDEX CL11 also saved time as other trades could walk on the installation and continue their work in two to three hours.

To prepare the concrete slabs to receive ARDEX CL11, Siddhi Coatings made sure the slabs were clean of debris and any contaminates that could break the bond between the underlayment and the structural slab. Once the areas were clean and dry, ARDEX P 51 Concentrated Water-Based Primer and Bonding Agent was diluted with water and applied with a soft broom. ARDEX P 51 improves the bond between the substrate and leveling compound. ARDEX P 51 takes three to 24 hours to dry, minimizing the amount of down time on site. After the ARDEX P 51 was dry Siddhi Coatings pumped the ARDEX CL11 into place for a fast-track installation of the wood flooring.

ARDEX ENDURA and Siddhi Coatings were able to install all products within the required time- frame. ARDEX ENDURA Technical Service Department remained on site for the installation of ARDEX CL11 in 3000 residential flats to ensure a successful installation.

PARTICIPANTS:

Installer: Siddhi Coatings – Mumbai, India
General Contractor: IJM (India) Infrastructure Limited – Hyderabad, India
Architect: RSP Architects (Alexander Architects Pvt. Ltd.) – Bangalore, India

SITUATION:

Bad Füssing in Lower Bavaria is Europe’s most popular spa. The “Kurhaus” (spa centre) with its large “Kursaal” hall is the hub of the town’s annual events. Bad Füssing’s secret can be found in the therapeutic effects of its healing waters, bubbling up from a depth of 1,000 m, in alleviating joint complaints, rheumatism and back problems. Some 10,000 health tourists enjoy Europe’s most extensive range of spa facilities each day. A diverse selection of entertainment and leisure options assures variety; these also include the central Kurhaus and the Kursaal. In a multi-million euro project, the building was extensively renovated and modernised in time for the town’s fortieth anniversary of being officially recognised as a spa resort. For the interior, the client selected luxurious but durable flooring systems: A total of 327.15 m² of parquet adorn the in-house cinema, the new Internet café and the three meeting rooms, with no less than 502.46 m² of specially made carpeting laid out in the conference hall and reading room.

SOLUTION:

Before actual flooring work was started, it was necessary to prepare the substrate thoroughly. Removal of the existing flooring was followed by the labour-intensive task of grinding off remnants of adhesive – a process which revealed serious unevenness and well-advanced pitting in the screed underneath. After priming with ARDEX P 52, the entire surface was precisely levelled using highly durable ARDEX K 15 self-levelling subfloor smoothing compound, as much as 8 kg per square metre being required in certain areas. This product’s ease of application and fast, crack-free drying, even in thick layers, proved a particular advantage for this work.

Low-maintenance wenge double-layer parquet was selected for installation in the Kurhaus’s cinema auditorium. The flooring craftsmen chose solvent-free, extra-low-emissions ARDEX P 400 parquet adhesive for this operation. This product’s rapidly developed strength assures bonding of the parquet to the substrate within only a few minutes. No health hazards or odour nuisance occurred at any time during this work.

ARDEX P 400 was also used in the Internet café, for which oak parquet flooring of a bright and enlivening hue had been selected. The contractor again remained true to the ARDEX system for installation of the carpeting in the conference hall and the reading room, using equally low-emissions and (after curing) odourless ARDEX PREMIUM T 2250 textile-flooring adhesive to lay the fitted carpets created specially for the Kurhaus on the levelled surfaces.

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