Porsche Centre Nanjing – China
Installer:
- Shanghai Gangliang Building & Decoration Company, LTD
Contractor:
- Shanghai Gangliang Building & Decoration Company, LTD
ARCHITECTS:
- Gansam Partners Architecture Design and Planning
Product Featured:
- ARDEX EG 8 Cement/Epoxy Hybrid Grout and Adhesive
Challenges:
- Large tiling area (1000 m2 / 10,764 ft2)
- Large format tiles required
- Fast-track installation
- Contaminated jobsite
- Competitive products originally specified
- High-durability products needed to handle vehicle weight
Problem:
Porsche China has always used competitive products to set tile in their showrooms. However, they decided to redesign the look of their showrooms and were interested in learning about new products for setting the large format tiles they selected. Porsche Centre Nanjing was the first dealership to undergo the renovation of the new showroom design. They wanted a grout and tile adhesive designed for quick installation. Porsche was concerned about the weight from the vehicles in the showroom cracking the tiles, so a durable adhesive that maintained a strong bond between the substrate and the tile was needed. Another concern was the potential discoloration of the grout from vehicle and foot traffic.
Solution:
After reviewing the project and the owner’s concerns, ARDEX China recommended ARDEX EG 8 Cement/Epoxy Hybrid Grout and Adhesive. This high performance grout and adhesive combines performance properties of an epoxy-based grout while offering the installation ease of cement-based grouts. ARDEX EG 8 is often recommended for areas requiring high levels of cleanliness and treatments from harsh chemicals to maintain a sterile environment. With compressive strengths of 4750 psi (33 N/mm2) ARDEX EG 8 has no problem withstanding the weight of the vehicles. ARDEX China worked with an installer approved by Porsche to complete a trial installation of ARDEX EG 8 with the selected large format tiles. During the installation, ARDEX China’s technical team remained on the job site to answer any questions and offer guidance to the installers. By offering a trial installation and superior customer service, Porsche was very satisfied with the installation and the ARDEX product. ARDEX will continue to support Porsche on future requests.
Lotte Department Store – Korea
GENERAL CONTRACTORS:
- Lotte Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. – Busan City, Korea
Product Featured:
- ARDEX ABA 660.V Acrylic Primer
- ARDEX STS 8 Superior Tensile Strength Tile Adhesive
- ARDEX E 90 Mortar Admix for use with ARDEX Cement-Based Adhesives
- ARDEX FG 8 Flexible Colored Grout for tile joints 1 to 8 mm wide
- ARDEX PANDOMO® Wall (PANDOMO W1) Decorative finishing render
Challenges:
- Porcelain tile installation over a busy train station (8,000 m2 /86,114 ft2)
- PANDOMO® Wall installation in the food court (1,600 m2 /17,223 ft2 )
- Cellulose Fiber Cement (CRC) board substrate
- Expedited installation time frame
Problem:
Built over a busy train station, the eight-story Lotte Department Store in Seoul, Korea would challenge most tile installations and wall renderings. A tile adhesive was needed to absorb the trains vibrations and have a longer working time because of high temperature in Seoul, Korea. ARDEX was asked to test their tile adhesives for the project. After the tests proved successful, ARDEX tile adhesives were approved for the installation. The developer of the project also requested the Pandomo® materials to be used on the exterior of the building. Since Pandomo® Wall is specifically designed for interior applications, the ARDEX Technical Team worked with the contractor to find a solution.
Solution:
Lotte Engineering & Construction started by coating the installation surfaces with ARDEX ABA 660.V Acrylic Primer. An acrylic primer was specified for this project, because it not only creates a strong bond, but also for its flexibility. ARDEX ABA 660.V uses the most advanced acrylic polymer technology; it is totally resistant to reemulsification in the hot humid conditions associated with the summer months in Korea. Tile installation areas received a combination of ARDEX STS 8 Superior Tensile Strength Tile adhesive and ARDEX E 90 Mortar Admix. Developed for use in areas where movement is anticipated and over fibrous cement board, the combination of these two products creates a superior bond and offers increased flexibility. Once the tiles were placed, joints were filled with ARDEX FG 8 Flexible Colored Grout. ARDEX FG 8 was selected, because it is polymer fortified, making it flexible to resist cracking from the vibrations caused by the train station below. ARDEX FG 8 is mold and water resistant, and its smooth finish also reduces the amount of trapped pollutants, making it perfect for a busy department store installation. To give the food court a luxurious feel, ARDEX PANDOMO® Wall was applied. ARDEX PANDOMO® Wall was the best choice for this installation because of its bond strength, and superior tensile strength. ARDEX PANDOMO® Wall can be customized to create a unique visual experience by selecting from various color options and textures. These properties help guarantee a long-lasting beautiful installation. Because of the ARDEX Sales and Technical Teams, Lotte Department Store can expect their beautiful, low maintenance installation will last over a long period of time.
Wurth Art Museum – France
Installer:
- Kessler GmbH – Schliengen, Germany GENERAL
Contractor:
- Z. I. Ouest (Würth Group) – Erstein Cedex, France
ARCHITECTS:
- Jacques und Clément Vergély – Lyon, France
Product Featured:
Challenges:
- 1,600 m2 (17,223 ft2)
- Smooth, seamless floor
- Fast track installation
- Durable
Problem:
Nestled in an industrial area of warehouses and offices next to the Würth headquarters, the Würth Art Museum needed a functional floor that was unobtrusive to the art in the museum. The new building was created with white plaster walls and designed to allow natural light which compliments a simple yet elegant space to display the art. With this in mind the floor design had to be beautiful and unique while remaining durable.
Solution:
The architect and the contractor chose a PANDOMO Floor, which met their demands for design, workmanship and durability in the museum. PANDOMO K1 is a cementitious based, self-leveling floor system which offers a multitude of individual architectural possibilities with various design and color options. The natural feel of the PANDOMO Floor played a decisive role in making a visual continuation of the exposed concrete as envisioned by the planners. The speed of installation also played an important role on the building site. The floor installers from Kessler Schliengen, installed the entire floor in just 2 weeks. After preparing the substrate with PANDOMO PR Primer to prevent air bubbles and assist in the bond to the subfloor; the ARDEX PANDOMO K1 White was carefully colored with PANDOMO CC Color Concentrate and set in layers of 5mm using a pumping process. It was then polished and oiled three times with PANDOMO SL Stone Oil to help protect the floor, and giving it a silk like gloss. This created a completely uniform floor, free from joints and edges, and is durable and resistant to abrasion and water. This innovative material not only convinced the architects, contractors and workers of its visual quality, but also practicality. To take all guess work out of the care of a PANDOMO Floor system, ARDEX has developed a complete line of care and cleaning products. For this type of floor, PANDOMO PF Maintenance Oil should be used to rejuvenate any areas that may become dull from heavy traffic.
St Vincent Hospital – Dublin Ireland
Architect:
Scott Talon Walker Architects
General Contractor:
John Paul Construction
Installer / Applicator:
Advance Flooring & Crean Mosaics
Featured Products:
- Ardex K11 Smoothing Compound
- Ardex P82 Primer
- Ardex Epoxy Waterproof Coating(EWC)
- Ardex K301 Exterior grade smoothing compound
- Ardex EB2 Rapid hardening Cement
Challenges:
26,000m2 Total flooring in two blocks
Pre-smooth floors using K301
Fast track project
Underground link corridor 1500m2
Problem:
Pre-stress concrete slabs used in the project design process created undulations in the subfloor. Ardex Ireland proposed the use of K301 to pre-smooth the prepared base prior to the application of the waterproof system. The K301 was an ideal choice as it is suitable for use under an effective DPM system.
Solution:
Ardex Ireland proposed the use of rapid hardening products such as K301, Ardex K11, and Ardex EB2 to prepare areas on a tight program schedule. Ardex worked closely with the design team to ensure the project was successfully completed on schedule to the high specification required.
Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health – Thailand
Project Name:
Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health Bangkok, Thailand
Featured Products:
ARDEX P 51 ARDEX CL 11
SITUATION: The time schedule was tight to minimize the disruption of hospital service as much as possible. Also, floor-levelling compound with high compressive strength was an essential requirement for this project. Because of heavy traffic in the halls, the owner needed the subfloor to be strong and durable. Environmental friendliness was another crucial property to concern as well.
CHALLENGES:
– Fast track timeline and 10.000 sqm renovation area
– Heavy traffic area in hospital
– Minimal disruption of other areas
SOLUTION:
ARDEX P 51 Primer and bonding agent and ARDEX CL 11 Commercial Smoothing and Levelling Compound were proposed as the ideal subfloor preparation system prior to the following vinyl floor installation. Both products are easy to use and have an outstanding workability. The impressive compressive strength of ARDEX CL 11 ensured the subfloor hardness. Furthermore, ARDEX CL 11 is odourless and environmentally friendly, so that it well-matched the healthcare institution project requirements. With its fast drying property, the floor could be early utilized and this excellently allowed an efficiently progress of the job.
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital – Singapore
Project Name
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital &
Jurong Community Hospital, Singapore
Installer/Applicator
Song Furniture Construction & Trading See
Construction & Trading, Singapore
Floor covering supplied by
NSK Baustoffe, representing Gerflor, Singapore
General Contractor
G S Engineering & Construction Corp, Singapore
Architect
CPG Consultants, Singapore
Featured Products
ARDEX CL 11
DUNLOP UFL
ARDEX P 51
ARDEX Feather Finish
Challenge
Floor area of 90,000 m
2to be prepared with ARDEX Feather Finish and primed with ARDEX P 51 before levelled with ARDEX CL 11 and Dunlop UFL. All bags needed to be delivered within 3 months. During application of the self levelling, most of the wall still has not been erected which causes the self levelling to set faster than usual. ARDEX Technical and Sales team provided best services and some adjustments of the working time of the products has been done to suit the special site conditions.
Unique Elements
Self Levelling to be carried out in multiple locations by different Flooring Contractors using ARDEX CL 11 and Dunlop UFL. With two months to finish the project, the time frame was tight. However, due to its excellent service and product performance, ARDEX managed to achieve the perfect result on time. Designed for environmental sustainability, the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital has received the following awards within the building industry:
- BCA Green Mark Awards 2013 (Platinum), Category: New Non-Residential Buildings
- European Healthcare Design Award 2016, Category: Architecture FuturArc Green Leadership Award 2016 (Merit), Category: Institutional
- Urban Planning, Architectural Design Competitions 2012 (1st Prize)
Quang Ninh Stadium – Vietnam
Project Name:
Quang Ninh Stadium,
Vietnam
Featured Products:
ARDEX K 310
Architect:
SAMOO & IBST
SITUATION AND CHALLENGES:
The multipurpose stadium in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, with 5000 seats was built over 22 months and opended in February 2018.
It is one of the biggest sport stadiums in this region and will held both international and national sport games competitions.
The floor with a total area size of 3.300sqm had to be professionally levelled with a high quality and reliable construction material. That’s why the architect has chosen ARDEX K 310 for the sport court area for competitions in Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, etc.
SOLUTION:
ARDEX Floor Levelling compounds ensure absolute product compatibility and market leading performance.
ARDEX K 310 Self-smoothing Compound as Underlayment is rapid setting and ideal to prepare floors prior to laying finishing polyurethane sport flooring system. Its Green Label certifies that it is both user- and environmentally friendly.
After having prepared and primed the floor properly, ARDEX K 310 was applied with a trowel with the required thickness of 3mm.
Due to the fast-drying properties and early strength development, the floor allows light foot traffic after only 3 hours and is ready to receive the PU floor covering after 48 hours.
This is exactly what was required to open the stadium punctually.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport II – Malaysia
Project Name:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport II, Sepang
Vinyl floor & PANDOMO Terrazz Micro Installation
Installer/General Contractor:
Vinyl floor installation:
Tian Cern Trading (M) Sdn Bhd
PANDOMO Terrazz Micro installation:
DESIGNER FINISH (Malaysia) SDN BHD
Architects:
Vinyl floor installation:
A. Hanapiah Architect
PANDOMO Terrazz Micro installation:
HL DESIGN GROUP
Featured Products:
Vinyl floor installation:
ARDEX CL11
ARDEX FEATHER FINISH
ARDEX P 51
PANDOMO Terrazz Micro installation:
Unbonded screed – PANDOMO ATS 50 to 75 mm thick
Finished Layer – Terrazzo Micro Black 10 to 12 mm thick
Challenge:
• Large scale of work with many trades working at the same time
• As little as one-week notice for next installation
• Multiple installations
PANDOMO 4000 m2
80,000 m2 Rubber Floor underlayment
Customs area, boarding area‘s walkway,
bridge – Sector 1,3,4,5,6,7,8
• Complex two-year construction schedule Situation It is normal in Malaysia to find concrete substrates badly leveled with numerous cracks and a very porous surface. The pump which the contractor provided was insufficient for the scope of the job. The short notifications caused ARDEX Singapore to rush both production and delivery for each order. Often damage to the CL11 by other trades was found, as much as 5 mm deep in areas of 50 to 100 m2.
Solution:
ARDEX P 51 was recommended to ensure minimize air bubbles and seal porous surface. ARDEX CL11 was installed, allowing rubber floor underlayment material to be placed in just one to two days compared to three to five days required for local self-leveling material.
ARDEX FEATHER FINISH was used to patch damage caused by other trades. Combined with the speed of ARDEX CL11, these products significantly reduced installation time.
ARDEX ATS unbonded screed was used for levelling the subfloor without directly contacting the concrete surface, reducing costs and time required for proper subfloor preparation.
ARDEX Singapore worked closely with the applicator and successfully ensured on-time delivery, consistent quality products during the installation period. As many as 50 men completed the entire job in only five months.
Kings Cross – United Kingdom
Contractor:
- DMC Rail Ltd – Tilbury Essex (United Kingdom)
Other ARDEX products:
- ARDEX A 35 Rapid Setting and Drying Cement for Floor Screeds
- ARDEX S 21 Rapid Hardening Floor Tile Bedding Mortar
- ARDEX-FLEX FL Rapid Setting & Hardening Flexible Grout
Challenges:
- Smooth floor surface to receive large format tiles
- Fast turnaround with minimal downtime
- Very heavy traffic area
- 4,300 m2 (46,286 ft2 )
- Underground (below grade)
Problem:
As part of London’s investment program, the Department for Transport (DfT) funded the DMC Rail for a new ticket hall to be built at King Cross & St Pancras. Originally opening in 1852, King Cross & St Pancras is where six underground lines meet and is used to access several of the UK’s most important destinations. With that in mind, the new ticket hall needed to be completed as fast as possible to minimize any loss of function. The new ticket hall also required a flat durable surface that would handle a large amount of foot traffic. Even though King Cross & St Pancras operate separately, travelers use the two stations as a single complex for interchange purposes.
Solution:
Working alongside DMC Rail, ARDEX UK recommended an 85mm (3.34 inch) layer of ARDEX A 35 rapid drying screed for its fast-track performance, as well as for its ease-of-use and cost effectiveness. ARDEX A 35 is a rapid drying screed that hardens fast enough to allow foot traffic in only three hours and dries adequately to receive floor coverings in just 24 hours at any thickness. Most competitors’ products take as long as 28 days before a project can move forward and reach a similar compressive and tensile strength. The fast-drying properties allowed DMC Rail to move forward with placing tile much faster than scheduled.
The project specified a large format tile, so ARDEX UK recommended ARDEX S 21 mortar bed. ARDEX S 21 was selected not only because it is designed to use with large format tile, but also because of its fast hardening properties and ease of use. ARDEX S 21 is a pourable tile bedding mortar that can be walked on and grouted in just three hours, again saving valuable time, money and labor costs associated with troweling a large area.
Finally, DMC Rail needed a grouting option that allowed for wide tile joints. Because of its flexibility, water repellency, dirt resistance, ease of use and a rapid drying time, ARDEX-FLEX FL rapid setting flexible tile grout was recommended and used to grout the tile. ARDEX-FLEX FL has an initial set of one hour, a final set of 75 minutes and a final hardness of 50 N/mm2 (approximately 7,250 psi). ARDEX-FLEX FL is considered a favored choice by tile contractors in the UK because of its versatility, features and many color options.
Dave McCartney of DMC Rail Ltd stated, “Teaming up with ARDEX to complete this prestigious project, not only assured proven product performance, but we also benefited from their outstanding technical support which was consistently excellent throughout the project.”
Kaohsiung Subway Station – Taiwan
Installer:
- Hommounkang Mosaic Studio
Product Featured:
- ABA 662.V General Purpose Substrate Bonding Primer
- ARDEX STS 8 Superior Tensile Strength Tile Adhesive
- ARDEX E90 Mortar Admix For Use with ARDEX Cement-Based Adhesives
- ABA 680.J Cement-Based Tile Grout
- ABA 695.J Polymer Modified Cement-Based Grout
Challenges:
- Mosaic tile design on floors, walls and statues (360 m2 / 3875 ft2 )
- Humid and hot environment
Problem:
In creating the Koahsiung Rapid Transit System (KRTS), the Koahsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC) hoped to increase development to the Kaohsiung region in South Taiwan. Eventually they realized high quality design should be beautiful and functional if it is going to attract attention. The KRTC incorporated a mosiac display into the transit station design to support public art and become a driving force in improving the surrounding community. Part of this art installation design was pieced together with the assistance of ARDEX products. Since the temperature was extremely humid, a thinset with a sufficient open time and extended pot life was needed.
Solution:
Mosaic tiles were to be installed on the concrete floors, enamel walls and decorative statues. Through the use of design maps, the installation was quickly implemented using ARDEX STS 8 Superior Tensile Strength Tile Adhesive and ARDEX E90 Mortar Admix. High humidity allows for limited working time and causes tile adhesives to set extremely fast. Due to the high humidity, workers needed to install the tile quickly. The use of design maps allowed workers to cut tiles into the desired shapes to expedite the installation.
Each substrate was initially treated with ABA 662.V General Purpose Emulsion Bonding Primer to create a strong bond for the tile adhesive without a need for mechanical treatment. ABA 662.V is used to seal absorbent, porous substrates and improve the adhesion of ARDEX Tile Adhesives. ABA 662.V can be used indoors and outdoors, for residential or commercial applications and on walls or floors because it is fast drying and contains no hazardous solvents. Once the ABA 662.V dried, Hommounkang Mosaic Studio applied a slurry of the ARDEX STS 8 Superior Tensile Strength Tile Adhesive with ARDEX E 90 Mortar Admix. This product combination increased the bond strength between the tile and the substrate.
Once tiles were placed, ARDEX recommended two types of grout: ABA 680.J Cement-Based Tile Grout for indoor installations and ABA 695.J Polymer Modified Cement-Based Grout for outdoor installations. ABA 680.J and ABA 695.J can be used with every type of tile, and are especially suited for tile installations with joint widths of 5 to 10 mm wide, as there is no shrinkage when drying. ABA 695.J is ideal for outdoor installations because it is mold resistant, water repellent and does not trap dirt. These properties improve the likelihood that the tile artwork would not become damaged over time from outdoor weather conditions in a tropical climate. Both grouts are available in a wide range of colors to further customize installations and can be used for indoor and outdoor installations.
