Beaucroft Foundation School in Wimborne, Dorset, caters for children and young people between the ages of four and 19 who are experiencing learning difficulties.
Originally built in 1911 and 1970, the school’s two blocks recently underwent a refurbishment to ensure they can continue to provide the best learning environment for pupils.
Flooring contractor, Fantasy Floors Limited, was appointed to install new flooring throughout the blocks, and turned to Bostik for its technical expertise and subfloor preparation products.
“Bostik were excellent to work with, providing smart recommendations, great products, and a can-do attitude that meant they were always available when needed. Their expertise and product knowledge were invaluable to us. We will certainly continue to use Bostik for their products and services in the future.” Mark Napier, Director at Fantasy Floors Limited
PREPARING THE FLOORS
Once appointed, Bostik’s technical team attended the site to inspect the subfloors and identify any factors that would require attention before the flooring could be installed.
These inspections revealed a variety of existing types of subfloor – from calcium sulphate screed to older sand and cement screed, vinyl floor coverings, wood blocks, quarry tiles, and bitumen adhesive residues.
Equipped with Bostik’s report, the floor layers removed all existing flooring to create a flat, sound base, free of any contamination that could impair adhesion of the new floor coverings.
In areas where the subfloor was damaged, the team applied Bostik Screedmaster Rapid Repair Mortar. A rapid-curing, sag-resistant cementitious compound, Screedmaster Rapid Repair Mortar successfully filled the various holes and cracks that were present.
Next, they primed the subfloors with Bostik GRIP A526 UNIVERSAL primer, which offers excellent coverage rates and will dry within one hour, depending on the conditions, making it ideal for fast-track installations.
This was followed by Bostik SL C500 ULTIMATE smoothing compound, which has excellent workability and flow characteristics, is self-smoothing, and can be trowelled to a feather edge.
On the timber subfloors, the team used Bostik’s SL C530 FLEX smoothing compound. Reinforced with fibres to enable it to withstand the fluctuations of wooden subfloors, this will help to protect the flooring from future failure.
THE ULTIMATE ADHESIVES
Once the subfloors had been prepared, the floor coverings could be applied using Bostik adhesives, each chosen for its compatibility with the floor covering in question. For the vinyl floor coverings, Fantasy Floors Limited used Bostik STIX A300 MULTI FLOOR, which provides a high initial tack combined with a long open time and exceptional handling characteristics.
Meanwhile, Bostik FIX A320 TACK was used for the removable carpet tiles in the offices. A solvent-free, non-staining polymer dispersion adhesive that provides a permanently tacky film when dry, FIX A320 TACK facilitates the easy removal and replacement of carpet tiles for easy maintenance.
Finally, the team used Bostik ROLL in 85mm size to install new skirting throughout the two blocks. A reinforced, solvent-free adhesive tape, Bostik ROLL is an effective alternative to water and solvent-based adhesives – providing a quick, simple, and clean installation that resists plasticiser migration.
“EXCELLENT TO WORK WITH”
Bostik’s technical expertise and quality products enabled Fantasy Floors Limited to install the new flooring to a high standard throughout Beaucroft Foundation School, helping to ensure that another generation of pupils will benefit from a good learning environment.
Mark Napier, Director at Fantasy Floors Limited, comments: “Bostik were excellent to work with, providing smart recommendations, great products, and a can-do attitude that meant they were always available when needed. Their expertise and product knowledge were invaluable to us. We will certainly continue to use Bostik for their products and services in the future.”
Chris Hooper, Area Sales Manager at Bostik, adds: “It’s great to have played a part in helping Mark and the team do a fantastic job at Beaucroft Foundation School. This was quite a tricky project due to the wide variety of subfloors, but this is exactly our area of expertise and we relish the opportunity to help our customers meet the challenge.”
