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Weber floor screed keeps everyone on their toes at Everyone Active Leisure Centre

In the first phase of improvements to Watford Woodside Leisure Centre in Hertfordshire, one of two state-of-the-art facilities in the town managed by Everyone Active, high performance weberfloor 4310 fibre flow by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified by main contractor Bosun Design & Construction Limited (BDC), Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.

Everyone Active is the trading name for Sports & Leisure Management Limited (SLM), the UK’s longest-established leisure contractor. It manages more than 170 leisure and cultural facilities around the country in partnership with 49 different local authorities and trusts, and is currently carrying out a £1.8million improvement project across its Watford Woodside and Watford Central leisure centres.

“Working alongside Watford Borough Council, we are supporting local people of all ages and abilities to improve their health by offering them access to top-class leisure services and facilities,” said Gary Foley, Everyone Active’s contract manger in Watford. “This project to update both locations will make a huge difference to our members, providing them with a new fitness studio to cater for the growing demand in group exercise, refurbished changing facilities and a significantly improved fitness suite that will offer the latest state-of-the-art equipment.”

“We undertake contracts for Everyone Active at numerous sites in the south east,” comments James May, director at BDC, which is carrying out the work in Watford. “Multiple contracts are on-going at any one time. The process of selection is via tender direct to Everyone Active, which then works with the local authority. It is at this stage a preferred contractor is proposed.”

Included in the current phase of the works is the creation of a new mezzanine floor. It has been installed in the space above a former dance studio and adjacent squash court, and has enabled a brand new fitness studio to be created. The current studio has also been extended. The second phase of development is due to begin at both Watford sites shortly, for completion in early 2019. BDC is actively involved in both projects.

Subcontractor C E C Plastering, of Southampton, undertook the application of weberfloor 4310 fibre flow screed. Director Chris Crosby says: “Together with Bosun Design & Construction we specified this fibre reinforced self-smoothing compound which we pump-applied at various thicknesses from 35-50mm. It was quick and easy to install, very versatile, and has produced an excellent finish. We’re fans of this product and have used it before but, even so, we benefited from Weber’s technical support.” weberfloor 4310 fibre flow screed was applied to a steel framed block and beam floor construction which overcame the concerns around loading issues that might have arisen with the application of a traditional concrete screed.

The new floor was initially primed with weberfloor 4716, a water-based primer designed for use with all cementitious and hemi-hydrate floor screeds. It regulates the porosity of the substrate, improves the adhesion of flooring products while reducing the formation of pinholes in the levelling layer. It should be diluted with clean water and can be spray applied on large areas.

weberfloor 4310 fibre flow screed is designed for application at thicknesses between 5 – 50mm and formulated from special cements, aggregates, supplementary binders and chemical admixtures. It is supplied as a blended dry powder and designed specifically for renovation of existing floors and floating floor construction in domestic and commercial applications.

weberfloor 4310 fibre flow can receive foot traffic after just 2 – 4 hours and can be tiled after 12 – 24 hours, dependent on ambient temperature following installation. The fibre reinforcement aids durability and allows it to be used in conjunction with under floor heating systems and floating floors. weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics. It has low alkalinity and low emissions during drying and is casein free.

Almost 500 bags of weberfloor 4310 fibre flow were required to finish the 190m² mezzanine floor in preparation for a final wood sprung floor suitable for dance and other physical education where shock absorption is essential to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury.

weberfloor 4310 fibre flow is featured in Weber’s one hour long RIBA-Assessed ‘Introduction into Flowing Floor Screeds’ CPD which can be presented by Weber’s Specification Team at your premises or at a Saint-Gobain facility or Training Academy anywhere in the UK. It is free of charge and available on request. This comprehensive CPD presentation covers many subjects from why and where to use floor systems; the attributes of commercial floors; design considerations; the demands of the finished floor that will have an influence on specification, through to renovation, fast-track construction and drying times.

The CPD includes an application video showing the attributes of weberfloor 4310 fibre flow smoothing compound which is of specific interest to both designers and applicators.

Weber’s floor screeds and tile fixing products are manufactured in sustainable, modern manufacturing facilities in Bedfordshire, Shropshire and Ireland, ensuring product quality, conformity and availability, with reduced transportation costs and CO₂ emissions.

Weber has a team of experienced technical advisors who are available to provide advice both at the specification stage and during application. Detailed specifications can be provided for specific projects while site visits and on-site support can be arranged.

For more information about the Flooring CPD, to make a booking, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.uk.weber . CPD bookings can be made by email: mail@netweber.co.uk.
A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from the App Store and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
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weberfloor – the only flooring products for Weber HQ refurbishment

Major refurbishment is underway at the Saint-Gobain Weber HQ in Flitwick, Bedfordshire where weberfloor products are being used extensively. The work involves renovation of 240m² of industrial and commercial floor space.

The Flitwick warehouse project involves the demolition of the old training workshop to make way for a new product storage area. Here the floor area has been pre-treated and primed with weberfloor 4716 primer which is designed for use on all substrates prior to application of weberfloor products to achieve a thin but tight membrane. It regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion while reducing the formation of pinholes in the levelling layer. weberfloor 4716 primer should be diluted with clean water and can be spray-applied for use on large areas.

weberfloor 4160 industry top industrial floor screed was then applied to a thickness of 10mm. Compliant with BS8204 it is a pumpable, rapid hardening and self-smoothing floor screed for use as a surface layer on industrial flooring with a compressive strength of C35 and flexural strength F10. It is especially suitable where renovation time is limited and is ready for foot traffic 2 – 4 hours after application. weberfloor 4610 industry top is designed for intensively trafficked industrial floors with medium or heavy rolling loading where exceptional flatness is required such as factories, production areas or warehouses. weberfloor 4610 industry top does not require any finish but may be coated with a suitable resin and is ideal for use on both new floors and renovation projects.

In a separate area of the building work is ongoing in the creation of a new open plan office area. During the preparation stage a slip membrane was installed to create a floating floor and to effectively de-bond from the existing substrate. This has been reinforced with alkaline-resistant weberfloor 4945 glass fibre mesh. Mesh is normally used on weak substrates or in case the screed is laid un-bonded.

Fibre-reinforced for added durability, weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has been applied to the mesh at 25mm thickness but can be applied up to 50mm. This high performance, pumpable, levelling floor screed is ideal for solid and floating floors, in both commercial and residential applications. It has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics, is suitable for heated or wooden floors and, importantly on this project, can receive foot traffic after only 2 – 4 hours.

“Ease and speed of application has been critical to allow early access by following trades,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber. “These facilities are used regularly by staff and overseas visitors so downtime essentially had to be kept to a minimum.”

“The transformation of this space is really impressive,” continues Dempster, “and no one understands more than Weber that time is money and floors must be laid in the shortest possible time.” Weber’s comprehensive floor screeds, which are manufactured in the UK, have been developed for optimum speed, durability, strength and smoothness and are the most technically advanced products on the market.

For more information about this project, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.
A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
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weberfloor creates staff gym for Norwich recruitment agency

“Staff recruitment is exclusively a people business and providing the best possible facilities for my staff is priority. weberfloor 4310 fibre flow pumped screed was the fast flooring solution for our new recreation centre,” reports Jason Adams, founder and managing director of I4 Recruitment Limited, Norwich.

I4 has taken over the neighbouring premises to its office complex in the Vulcan Road Business Zone of the City. The commercial building had previously been a recycling centre and required major refurbishment which included renovating and levelling the main floor area. Smart Renders of Norwich brought their expertise and Saint-Gobain Weber products to the project. Ray Smart, managing director, surveyed the building and with support from Weber’s technical team drew up the technical specification.

“The existing substrate sloped down to a central gulley and this required a sand blinding to achieve a reasonable level which was then covered by a 100 micron weberfloor DPM. 60mm Expanded Polystyrene Insulation was laid and taped together with weber DB matting as a slip membrane covering. weberfloor 4945 glass fibre mesh reinforcement was placed over the membrane and weberfloor 4310 fibre floor self-levelling screed pumped into place at a depth of 25mm. The finish is excellent and will carry any type of surface covering easily. The speed of this 85m² project was impressive and very quickly transformed the quality of the premises,” explains Ray Smart.

weberfloor 4310 fibre flow is a pump-applied, fibre reinforced, levelling compound designed for application at thicknesses between 5 – 50mm. This floor screed is formulated from special cements, aggregates, supplementary binders and chemical admixtures. It is supplied as a pre-blended dry powder and designed specifically for renovation of existing floors and floating floor construction in domestic and commercial applications. It is suitable for covering with a wide variety of finishes including tiles, carpets, flexible floor coverings and parquet flooring. It can also be used in conjunction with under floor heating systems. The fibre reinforcement adds durability and weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics. It has low alkalinity and low emissions during drying and is casein-free.

“Colin Allport and I started Smart Renders five years ago and have used the webertherm External Wall Insulation on many projects throughout East Anglia. The local commercial and industrial picture is changing, and changing fast, with older style dirty businesses being phased out and new technical businesses coming in. This means premises like this one in Vulcan Road need to change from rugged workshops to commercial offices with smart staff facilities. The staff of I4 Recruitment will now have their own gym and recreation centre to break the pressure cycle of their business work. We see a big future for us with weberfloor products,” enthuses Ray Smart.

For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.
A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
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