ARDEX UK have once again proved the versatility and performance of their premium quality tiling and flooring products by providing the total system solution for a refurbishment and new build project at the Jackson Square Shopping Centre in Bishop’s Stortford. Completed in May, the improved facilities include a 6500m2 Sainsburys food store, 4000m2 of shop units some with mezzanine capacity, plus 1500m2 of restaurant space. Sub-contracted by the main developer, Wilson Bowden Developments, specialist tiling and flooring contractors Telling Finishings of Mansfield were required to complete the work overnight as it was vital that trading hours remained unaffected.

The refurbishment constituted 3500m2 of shopping malls, starting with the removal of the existing ceramic tiles, ARDEX A 35 MIX pre-blended rapid screed repair and screeding mortar was then used to patch repair any damage incurred to the existing floor screed during the removal of the tiles. Proven as the most reliable and versatile pre-blended fast track screed in today's marketplace, ARDEX A 35 MIX provided easy and convenient on site working because the cement is already blended to the correct ratio with carefully graded quality sands and fine aggregate. ARDEX Rapidry Formula technology meant that, just 24 hours after application, the hard, dry and flat ARDEX A 35 MIX screed repairs were ready to receive a pump applied levelling layer of ARDEX K 15-B.

ARDEX K 15-B rapid drying sub-floor smoothing compound is perfect for use in installations where fast track performance is necessary as it combines innovation, cost effectiveness and ease of use to deliver outstanding results. The unique ARDEX Rapidry Formula technology incorporated within ARDEX K 15-B ensured rapid drying and hardening so that the surface was hard enough to walk on just 2 hours after application, and dry enough for floor tiles to be fixed after only 4 hours, irrespective of application thickness.

ARDEX's ultra rapid setting tile adhesive, ARDEX-FLEX 6001, was used to fix the majority of the floor tiles as it is renowned for premium performance with all types of tiles including porcelain, fully vitrified and mosaics. ARDEX-FLEX 6001 is easy to apply with excellent workability and enabled the tiles to be walked on and grouted just 90 minutes after application. To complete the ARDEX system solution, ARDEX-FLEX FL rapid setting, flexible tile grout with built-in admix was chosen to grout the tile joints. The rapid hardening properties of ARDEX-FLEX FL meant that the floor tiles could be walked on and back in use only 90 minutes after application, guaranteeing the shortest possible down time.

ARDEX A 55 advanced self-levelling sub-floor smoothing compound was utilised within the café area to pre-level the floors. Thanks to rapid hardening and rapid drying properties, ARDEX A 55 receives floorcoverings in only 1½ hours making it the perfect choice of product for this stage of the project where speed was critical due to a completion timescale of just three hours! ARDEX S 16 grey rapid drying wall and floor tile adhesive with ARDEX E 90 admix was then used to fix tiles to various timber backgrounds throughout the shopping centre. The final stages of this project required ARDEX-FLEX 5001 grey flexible tile adhesive to fix the specially selected porcelain tiles to various plasterboard walls throughout the malls. ARDEX-FLEX 5001 has high initial grab with excellent slump resistance and is suitable for all tile types, including fully vitrified, porcelain and mosaics.
“When project briefs dictate challenging timescales such as overnight installations, we rely on ARDEX. Their product range has been developed to provide a total system solution that is reliable, fast track, and user friendly, and once again, they delivered outstanding results”, enthused Phil Telling of Telling Finishings.

Email: info@ardex.co.uk