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. The finished profile is dependent on the size of the machine and the type and size of the flail selected by the operator. The company recommends the procedures mentioned in this guide for the preparation of concrete, screeds and other surfaces prior to the installation of our products. 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

The substrate should be prepared by mechanical means such as contained shot blasting. If a waterproofing admixture is known to have been used, further testing should be carried out with the proposed system to ensure complete compatibility and adhesion to the host substrate.The medium for shotblasting equipment is steel abrasive “Shot”. The most common grades are 390, 460 and 550. 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. that are not water soluble. However, for all other smoothing compounds at least 75% of the floor area should be exposed, 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.

During the laying of the floorcovering an ambient temperature of at least 18°C must be maintained along with a floor temperature of at least 10°C. The type and condition of the subfloor has a direct influence on the installation and performance of a floorcovering and the importance of subfloor preparation cannot be emphasised too strongly. The measurement of construction moisture can also be undertaken using the carbide bomb method. Readings of less than 2.5% for all cement based subfloors and less than 0.5% for Calcium Sulphate subfloors must be obtained. 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.

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In certain circumstances the presence of oil may stain the new decorative floorcovering. If water flows under partitions, walls, cover mouldings, equipment bases or furniture, these areas will take longer to dry out and may delay the installation. Putting paper or polythene sheet on the floor to keep it clean can retard the drying time. Residues or spillages of other trades such as plaster, paint, cement, oil (and sometimes roofing tar) are frequently present in new constructions and should be removed. Plaster and cement can be chipped up and wire brushed. Paint should be mechanically removed. Adhesives such as STYCCOBOND F40, F41, F46, F47 and B95 can be applied direct to epoxy STOPGAP Waterproof Surface Membranes. 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.