Page 91 - CFJ_Jul26

SECTOR FOCUS FLOORING IN EDUCATION

Hampton School

‘F Ball achieves 100% at top London school’

PECIALIST floor smoothing compounds before the application of F Ball’s Stopgap In its absence, subsequently applied
Sand adhesives from F BALL AND CO Green Bag smoothing compound. adhesives and floorcoverings would have
have been used to install a mixture of Says F Ball: ‘The fast-setting, low odour been liable to attack from the excess
hardwearing, stylish textile and vinyl product was selected for its high strength, subfloor moisture, potentially resulting in
floorcoverings at Hampton School in making it suitable for an area which will be floor failure, adds F Ball.
southwest London, befitting of the subject to high levels of wear for years to ‘With the non-absorbent surface now in
independent school’s prestigious status. come. Once the smoothing compound had place, Stopgap P141 primer was used to
As part of the school’s ongoing cured, Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive promote the adhesion of a subsequently
development and investment programme, was used to secure the PVC-backed applied second layer of Stopgap 1200.
it was essential the installation was in carpet. Finally, the 100sq m area was finished
keeping with the standards set by one ‘Over in the maths’ corridor, contractors with wood-effect luxury vinyl tiles,
of the country’s top educators for young had to remove fibre-bonded carpet tiles creating a warm environment, ready for
people. affixed to wooden parquet blocks, leaving eager students to traverse again.’
Starting in the sixth form areas, behind old bitumen adhesive residues. Robert Wilks, managing director at
contractors from Teddington Carpet To prepare the subfloor, F Ball’s Stopgap Teddington Carpet Centre, said: ‘Hampton
Centre made a feature of the long and 1200 smoothing compound, which School was a challenging project with
narrow atrium by mirroring the footprint is suitable for use over old adhesive a number of requirements, but with
of the mezzanine floor overlooking the residues, including bitumen and carpet tile the support of F Ball and their long-
breakout area onto the floor below, using tackifiers, was applied. established products, we came out with a
a 50/50-split of Calgary Cement and Grey ‘Once cured, Stopgap F77 waterproof fantastic result.
Forbo Flotex carpets. surface membrane was applied as a ‘We have a close relationship with
To achieve this, the old fibre-bonded moisture test had indicated the presence Simon Jenkins at F Ball, who has a wealth
carpet in the 250sq m room was first of excess subfloor moisture, with relative of knowledge, and his expertise was
removed, revealing a sound, dry, concrete humidity levels exceeding the 75% invaluable, as were all the F Ball products –
subfloor, which was primed using diluted threshold for the project to progress anyone can probably tell: we’re big fans!’ 
Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer without a moisture management solution.’ www.f-ball.co.uk

www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk 91
@CFJMagazine CFJ July 2026