The Pool of Reflection, Sydney

LOCATION: Hyde Park, Sydney, Australia.
BUILDER: Structus Pty Ltd
WATERPROOFING: Soleace Waterproofing Pty Ltd
TILING: Nationwide Tiling

ARDEX Australia is proud to be involved in the restoration works surrounding the 1450sqm ‘Pool of Reflection’ Memorial which is located in Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD. The upgrade of the physical pond was undertaken to repair leaks and improve water circulation and filtration. At each stage of the project, the Memorial was visited by dedicated ARDEX staff to provide support.

The Pool of Reflection is a peaceful space where passersby may pause for a moment of quiet contemplation. For manyveterans the still waters of the ‘Pool of Reflection’ evoked memories of the Somme River and its accompanying canals in France. The AIF (Australian Imperial Force) fought some of its bloodiest battles in the Somme Valley in 1916, 1917 and 1918.

CHALLENGE:
There were various challenges that ARDEX had to overcome in this project. One of the key challenges included containing water within the pool while at the same time keeping water out – the pool has expansion joints in the substrate and the concern was that the water coming up from the ground would push the moisture out.

SOLUTION:
ARDEX advised that an outlet was required before the pool was lined. This was done by running the ARDEX WPM 1000 Undertile Butynol Waterproofing Membrane parallel with the expansion joints, resulting in the membrane being turned into a joint with a stainless steel angle and then sealed off with ARDEX RA 88 Multipurpose Epoxy Repair Adhesive. A system of the ARDEX DS 60 Decoupling Mat was installed under a strip of ARDEX WPM 1000 to allow the gas and moisture build-up to escape. Also, ARDEX arranged for ARDEX WPM 1000 to be pre-cut to suit each of the joints, saving on time.

UNIQUE ELEMENTS:
The Pool of Reflection’s tiles could be bonded directly below the water line to the ARDEX WPM 1000 Undertile Butynol Waterproofing Membrane using ARDEX’ X 18 Fibre-Reinforced Flexible Non-Slump Wall and Floor Tile Adhesive, an adhesive that adds strength to a tiled area in addition to ARDEX E 90 Admix for Cement-Based Tile Adhesives. The installation was completed using ARDEX’ new ARDEX EG 15 Easy Clean High Performance Epoxy Grout providing contractors ease of use in addition to a complete system solution.

The installation of the main ARDEX WPM 1000 membrane was carried out by being fully glued with ARDEX WA 98 Butynol Adhesive. At the rear of the pool there is an overflow which the granite stone plinth has been fixed with ARDEX WA 100 Two Part Epoxy Adhesive for Natural Stone.

Opera House Western Foyer, Sydney

INSTALLER: Better Tiles
BUILDER: John Holland
ARCHITECT: Original Architect: Jørn Utzon & son Jan Utzon
COLLABORATOR: Johnson Pilton Walker

CHALLENGES:
Reproducing Jørn Utzon’s original vision
Irregular shaped glass reinforced concrete tile was produced specifically for the project the first of its kind in Australia, as Jan Utzon wanted a seamless floor finish construction while building was being used
Floor movement from stages & loading docks underneath foyer
Silicone used in perimeter & expansion joints needed to match the floor to create a seamless look

PROBLEMS:
Design improvements included irregular tile shapes & glass reinforced concrete tiles with clear silicone expansion joints to create a seamless floor. Frequent floor movement was expected because of the stage & loading docks below the foyer, which could potentially cause the tiles to crack.

SOLUTION:
To prepare the original substrate for the new tile installation, ARDEX recommended ARDEX Multiprime Water Based Primer which is designed to improve adhesion of ARDEX products to various porous substrates. This primer dries fast allowing subsequent products to be installed quickly.

When applying the screed, ARDEX Abacrete Bonding Agent was specified. It is a liquid polymer additive that greatly improves the shear & tensile bond strength of the screed.

To place the specialty tiles, ARDEX X 77 high performance, fibre reinforced polymer modified adhesive was used in addition to ARDEX E 90 Admix for Cement Based Tile Adhesives. ARDEX X 77 is reinforced with ARDEX Microtec ® Technology. The combination of these two products enhances bond strength for use in high volume foot traffic areas. When mixed with the ARDEX E 90 additive, it has water repellent qualities & improved sag resistance. By using the combination of the two products together, the specialty tiles were less likely to move while the adhesive was drying, maintaining an even surface.

ARDEX SE Coloured Silicone for Sanitary Installations was used to fill perimeter, expansion joints and ARDEX Abapoxy High Performance Epoxy Grout was sprinkled over the silicone for a matt finish. This enhanced the seamless look of the tile installation. To grout the rest of the area, ARDEX Abapoxy was selected for its permanent colour capabilities. It also has a high resistance to chemicals, so commercial cleaning required for a high traffic area would not have an adverse effect on the grout.

Each of the ARDEX products used were low in VOC, allowing the Sydney Opera House to remain open during the installation.

St Barnabas Church, Sydney

INSTALLER: Honestone – www.honestone.com.au/
BUILDER: Buildcorp – www.buildcorp.com.au
ARCHITECT: FJMT Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp – www.fjmt.com.au
PROJECT ADDRESS: Cr. Mountain Street and Broadway, Ultimo

On the morning of May 10th 2006, residents at Broadway in Ultimo were in shock as they stood hopelessly watching a huge fire destroy their famous St Barnabas Church or Barneys as they better knew it. As sixty fire fighters battled the blaze, nothing could be done to save the 150 year old building. Hours later, the disaster was too big to bear by the Church Community, who were immediately determined to rebuild their home Church.

It was a huge challenge for the appointed architect to come up with a design concept for the new St Barnabas Church that would require architecture above and beyond normal trends. The final concept featured a modern design with distinguished use of space and natural light.

“Architecture is not only about accommodating functions and issues of utility; it is also about embodying human values and aspirations. St Barnabas Church is an inspirational project considering its spiritual and historical background. So it was very important for us to reflect the immaterial quality and symbolic attributes of the project and this is where we envisaged the use of PANDOMO® products on the floor and walls in the main auditorium, lower level entrance and lift lobby.” Commented the team of architects from FJMT Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp.

PANDOMO by ARDEX was always the stand out option to achieve the desired outcome.

Working closely with FJMT Architects, Buildcorp and the PANDOMO® installer Honestone, ARDEX Australia recommended a well engineered system designed specifically to solve the many complex situations which appeared during the construction stage. The concrete slab was installed with a setdown of around 50mm, which caused potential issues in relation to the height of the finished floor. ARDEX recommended the use of ARDEX A 38 advanced rapid cure cement screed to fill the gap created by the setdown; ready to be primed and finished with 6mm of PANDOMO® FloorPlus.

Another challenge was the application of the curved Concrete walls using a “shotcrete” spray method. The curved wall had a very rough surface which required smoothing prior to the application of PANDOMO® Wall. ARDEX A 45 patching and repair mortar was used to fill-in surface imperfections.

The colour matching between PANDOMO® FloorPlus and Wall was also an interesting experience. Many colour samples were produced and even site samples were installed in order to assist the Architect to approve the final colour concept.
After the long wait and overcoming many obstacles during the construction process, the project was completed and handed over to the Church Community. PANDOMO® products comprising a total of 600sqm of PANDOMO® FloorPlus and 280sqm of PANDOMO® Wall were applied in the main foyer at the lower level and in the main auditorium at the upper level including the lifts lobby and the feature curved walls. PANDOMO® FloorPlus achieved an R10 slip rating.

The project won 1st place in the American Society of Concrete Contractors cement overlay section and 2nd place in the vertical application section for an international project at the World of Concrete awards in Las Vegas.

Springs Day Spa & Fitness Centre, Noosa

INSTALLER: Thorburn Tiling Pty Ltd M&M Waterproofing Contractors & Sales
BUILDER: Starco Developments Pty Ltd.
ARCHITECT: Alan Starkey & Associates

CHALLENGES:
High quality materials & finishes needed to match the expectations for the $400 million five-star resort (1,030,000 m² / 11,087,190 ft²)
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 with a history of destroying Portland cement structures
Areas with heavy gym equipment

PROBLEMS:
When Noosa Springs Resort decided to upgrade to a luxury five-star venue, only top performing materials would ensure the prevention of flooring failures in their state of the art facilities.

The fitness centre includes heavy exercise equipment & free weights. Therefore, the floor had to be durable to withstand the weight of the equipment. Onsite spa amenities include infrared saunas, steam rooms, blitz showers, a HydroMassage pool & large floating pools.

Each of these features created demanding challenges for the builders, as flexible & strong products were necessary to ensure a quality & long lasting installation.

SOLUTION:
To prepare the new concrete for tile and stone applications, installers used ARDEX WPM 265 Water Based Primer. ARDEX WPM 265 is an acrylic primer system that creates a positive bond between substrates & water- based coatings.

ARDEX WPM 300 Water Based Epoxy Membrane was used because it has superior water resistance & prevents efflorescence while withstanding hydrostatic pressure. It provides excellent adhesion to most substrates, including damp surfaces & freshly laid concrete, & it can be used as a one coat primer for other applied finishes like ARDEX waterproofing membranes & 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 Two Component Undertile Waterproofing Membrane was applied. Recognized as one of the fastest drying acrylic membranes on the market, it can be tiled 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 was 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 successful completion of a world class standard in the Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort.

Lightning Ridge Olympic Pool

Lightning Ridge, well known amongst Australians as the home of the black opal, is located nearly 800 kilometres from Sydney with an official population of around 3000 people. Earlier this year, the ARDEX NSW Sales Manager and NSW Key Account Manager made their way to the Lightning Ridge Olympic Pool Site. Both were excited about potentially being involved in this project and later worked with the tiling contractor to ensure the project ran seamlessly.

CHALLENGES:
There were various challenges that had to be overcome for this project to run to schedule. The indoor heated pool (25m by 33m) had a depth of 2.5 metres at the shallow end through to the middle and 5 metres at the deep end. The time frame was only two months, which in itself was a huge challenge. The pool had never been emptied since it was opened in 2011, so there were a lot of unknown factors, such as, how long would the pool take to empty, to dry out, how difficult would it be to get the old paint off, would anything happen to the overall structure of the pool when the water was drained and what tiles would be best for the project.

PROJECT REQUIREMENT:
To complete the project from beginning to end in two months – empty; repair; tile; refill; treat water; choose a tile that would look great but at the same time suit a commercial heated pool; and a tiler who could work within the two month timeframe.

UNIQUE ELEMENTS:
The complex’ staff were able to purchase Italian glass tiles for the project which look outstanding and give the pool a contemporary look. In addition, the tiler and his team who completed this project were town locals.

To date, a children’s 200 sqm pool and the diving pool spanning 1200 sqm have been tiled.

ARDEX provided a System for the project that included ARDEX X 18, a superior polymer tile adhesive for wall and floor because of its extended open time and non-slump benefits.

In addition, ARDEX E 90, a synthetic dispersion additive provided a water repellant mortar for the two pools.

The grout used was ARDEX FG 8, a flexible coloured grout for tile joints 1 – 8mm wide,in addition to ARDEX Grout Booster that provided improved adhesion, strength and flexibility.

The Canberra Centre, Canberra

CONTRACTOR: PDA Marble & Granite

CHALLENGE:
The challenge posed to ARDEX was that the 6000m² of walkways at The Canberra Centre needed an upgrade; however, minimal disruption to the walkways was of key importance to allow shoppers to move freely around the centre.

This meant that the new screed and tile adhesive would be subject to heavy foot traffic in a matter of hours.

As some of the work conducted was to outside areas in the middle of winter, the temperature also provided a challenge to ARDEX as the temperature would get down to as low as 2 degrees.

SOLUTION:
Working with Marble and Granite specialist PDA, ARDEX specified the ARDEX A 38 Rapid Set Screed to be used to re-screed the walkways after existing tiles and screed were removed. Large areas of the project could all be done in the one night as the ARDEX A 38 screed has a walkability time of 8 hours and achieves 20MPa compressive strength after 1 day and 35MPa after 28 days. The shopping centre walkway could then be covered to allow foot traffic in the morning and throughout the day.

Areas which had a smaller depth to level before tiling were levelled with ARDEX LQ 92 Under Tile Levelling Compound, which can be accessed in 4 hours after installation in suitable conditions, to a thickness of up to 25mm.

The ARDEX S 16 Rapid Drying and Hardening Tile and Natural Stone Adhesive, mixed with ARDEX E 90 Admix was then used in order to allow the tiling to be completed on the second night. With it being trafficable after 2-3 hours in suitable conditions, ARDEX S 16 allowed the tiling component of the project to be performed efficiently to allow the walkways to be open and ready for foot traffic at the start of the day.

A special batch of the ARDEX A 38 Rapid Set Screed was produced for the 500m2 external areas, which experienced single digit temperatures throughout the winter installation.

In addition to the high performing system components, ARDEX’ Key Account Manager for Tiling NSW, ensured that the products were on site when the project required; and installation guidance combined with advice was always available to ensure the project ran smoothly.

Using a complete system by ARDEX ensured that all components were working together to provide an efficient, robust base and floor at The Canberra Centre which was backed by an ARDEX System Warranty. A special batch of the ARDEX A 38 Rapid Set Screed was produced for the 500m2 external areas, which experienced single digit temperatures throughout the winter installation.

In addition to the high performing system components, ARDEX’ Key Account Manager for Tiling NSW, ensured that the products were on site when the project required; and installation guidance combined with advice was always available to ensure the project ran smoothly.

Using a complete system by ARDEX ensured that all components were working together to provide an efficient, robust base and floor at The Canberra Centre which was backed by an ARDEX System Warranty.

Westfield Miranda, Sydney

BUILDER: Westfield Design & Construct
CONTRACTOR: Terrazzo (Aust), Marble Pty Ltd (Existing areas), Saba Tiling (New areas)

CHALLENGE:
In consultation with Westfield Design & Construct, Terrazzo (Aust) Marble Pty Ltd engaged ARDEX to investigate different options for the re-tiling of the existing centre of the Westfield Shopping Centre at Miranda, in Sydney’s south.

The main criteria when looking at the different options were speed of curing for the screed and tiling adhesive as work had to be completed at night and the centre to be ready in the morning for minimal disruption to walkways.

A traditional sand and cement screed was compared against the ARDEX A 38 Rapid Set Screed to view what the best solution for the project.

SOLUTION:
The ARDEX A 38 Rapid set screed was chosen to rescreed the walkways following removal of existing tiles and screed. Having the ability to accept heavy foot traffic within 8 hours of installation, the ARDEX A 38 screed system ensured that strict timeframes were met during the installation of this critical part of the project.

Achieving a compressive strength of 35 MPa and being dimensionally stable, the ARDEX A 38 ensures the base of the tiling system contains the perfect mix of strength and flexibility.

With its high compressive strength, scissor lifts can be employed directly on the screeded floor, something that is difficult to do with traditional sand and cement screed. The ARDEX A 38 and ARDEX S 16 system meets the low VOC emission requirements of the Green Building Council of Australia Green Star IEQ-13, which were also a consideration for this project.

As ARDEX are committed to ensuring contractors are exposed to high quality training in the installation of their products, ARDEX conducted on site training of the ARDEX A 38 rapid set screed at Terrazzo (Aust) Marble’s head office, with representatives from Terrazzo (Aust) Marble and Westfield attending.

The following night the areas containing the A 38 screed were cleaned and prepared for the ARDEX S 16 Rapid Hardening and Rapid Drying Tile and Natural Stone Adhesive to install the terrazzo tiles and natural stone.

Besides being ideal for installing natural stone Susceptible to moisture sensitivity, the main benefit of using this adhesive on the project is the curing time and the ability for traffic to walk on the flooring, 2-3 hours after installation in suitable conditions. This allowed large areas to be tiled overnight and ready for trading each morning with no disruption to shoppers.

Although the system was originally specified on the existing shopping centre flooring, Westfield were so happy with the performance of the products and the response from ARDEX to ensure the project ran smoothly, they specified the system on the new areas of the shopping centre being installed by Saba Brothers Tiling. In all, the project totalled approximately 12000m².

Warnbro Shopping Centre, Warnbro

ARCHITECT: Hames Sharley
CONTRACTORS: Marble & Cement Works

When Marble & Cement Works were approached to retile the Warnbro Shopping Centre, there were some stringent expectations placed on them.

Work had to be completed at night with the flooring sections needing to be reopened and trafficable by the public by the morning.

Coupled with this were weight & moisture concerns with a 25mm x 600mm x 300mm Chinese Granite weighing approximately 70kg m2.

Working in close conjunction with the ARDEX team in Western Australia, and ARDEX technical services the
recommendation was for ARDEX S 16 white natural stone adhesive which is a rapid hardening & fast setting adhesive for natural stone.

The unique ARDEX Rapidry Formula Technology locks in moisture, thereby reducing the risk of efflorescence and water marks on certain natural stone tiles.

The ARDEX S 16 natural stone adhesive also allowed the newly tiled floor to be trafficable after 2 – 3 hours, which meant night work did not disrupt the ability of the shopping centre to be functional in its opening times.

The original plan was to utilise the ARDEX S 16 adhesive in a grey but were changed to the white at last minute to assist with cleaning up due to the tight time frame.

Although this was on the Western side of the country, ARDEX head office in Sydney responded quickly to ensure material was available in a short period of time.

To ensure things were installed to ARDEX’s recommendations an ARDEX trained applicator was used on the project. This gives peace of mind as the high quality training ARDEX invest in is beneficial to the contractors undertaking courses.