Concrete Coatings and Flooring Materials During Winter
During the cold winter months, flooring and other over-concrete applications can be especially challenging. From transport to storage to installation and cure, special care must be taken when substrate and ambient temperatures are cool.
Best practices include checking a product’s technical data for ideal storage and installation temperatures. The industry standard minimum temperature is 50°F (10°C) for ambient, substrate, and material temperatures. Cooler temperatures tend to lengthen drying and/or cure times for bonded materials. To facilitate drying, always circulate the air above the surface, and never blow air directly on the surface of a material as it cures.
Liquids
Typically, liquids such as epoxies, primers, additives and sealers should not be allowed to freeze. Always check a product’s technical data for confirmation, and check with the product’s manufacturer to see if frozen liquids can be evaluated for installation suitability. Damaged materials that cannot be installed should always be disposed of in accordance with prevailing regulations.
Powders
Most cementitious, polymer-modified powders, such as underlayments and toppings, are stable to freezing temperatures. However, it is typically advisable to store them at temperatures above 50°F (10°C). When very cold, polymers may not perform as intended, possibly resulting in product failure. Additionally, products may not have a workable consistency and will take longer to set.
For these types of powder materials, it is best practice to avoid installation when temperatures will fall below 40°F (5°C) within 48 hours after installation. It is also generally not recommended to use warm water to compensate for cold temperatures, as this can impair the workability of the products.
Adhesives
While most flooring adhesives are freeze/thaw stable (check the adhesive’s technical data for confirmation), it is typically necessary to protect them from excessively low temperatures and multiple freeze / thaw cycles. It is best practice to use heated transit and heated storage.
Check with the adhesive manufacturer to verify the recommended procedure for frozen materials. Often, adhesives can be thawed gradually at room temperature and installed, provided they resume their original consistency.
Temporary Heat
While tenting and temporary heat is always an option in colder temperatures, note that heat sources that use fossil fuels and heat sources that are not properly vented can leave behind oily, bond-breaking residues on the surface of the substrate. Properly vented propane or natural gas heaters are best. Check with product manufacturers to verify proper temporary heating methods.
Tivona has been with ARDEX since 2010. Her areas of expertise are product documentation and jobsite recommendations, and she has been certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration. Tivona and her team of technical writers produce all technical documentation for the company, including technical data sheets, labels, project-specific recommendations and technical updates.
The ARDEX Rapid Flooring Installation System
This year has brought many changes to the construction industry, and everyone who is involved with it. More than ever, installers need to respond to changing demands fast. At the same time, they need reliable, high quality products that get the job done right, the first time. ARDEX offers complete product systems, to help installers do their best work, at a pace that will keep installations on the fast track.
One recent addition to the ARDEX portfolio is the Rapid Flooring Installation System, which is the fastest system on the market, letting our customers install the finished floor in less than 3 hours! The system consists of three products, the primer ARDEX P 4TM, ARDEX K 40TM RAPID self-leveling underlayment and finally the roll-apply adhesive HENRY® 647 PlumPro.
ARDEX P 4 is a pre-mixed, multipurpose primer that can be used with ARDEX Tile & Stone products as well as most ARDEX Underlayments. It dries in as little as 30 minutes and has a white color to clearly identify primed areas and achieve optimal results.
The rapid, high flow self-leveling underlayment ARDEX K 40 RAPID can be used to level and smooth interior concrete, terrazzo, ceramic and quarry tile, epoxy coating systems and non-water-soluble adhesive residue on concrete. It levels from 1/8” (3 mm) up to 1” (24 mm) thick and it’s rapid dry technology lets you install flooring after only two hours.
The last step in the system is the HENRY 647 PlumPro Fast-Track, Roll-Apply Vinyl Flooring Adhesive. It’s moisture resistant up to 99% RH and dry-to-the-touch in just minutes.
The complete system solution from ARDEX is both, reliable and fast! For more information on the system, or the complete ARDEX product line-up, visit our website at www.ardexamericas.com.
ARDEX RECOGNIZED AT 2020 STARNET DESIGN AWARDS
ARDEX Americas was delighted to be recognized at the 2020 Starnet Commercial Flooring Design Awards across different categories. Starnet, the largest network of independent flooring contractors, is committed to raising the bar in the flooring industry. This year’s awards drew nearly 40 applications from flooring contractors who used ARDEX or HENRY products for their installation.
“ARDEX is grateful to be included in a number of prize-winning installations from across the country,” said Robert Dalton, ARDEX Manager of Strategic Partnerships. “Starnet’s Design Awards provide a welcome opportunity to recognize outstanding flooring contractors, and we are pleased to be a part of it.”
The winning installations that named ARDEX, or HENRY, as a preferred vendor are:
The Idea Garage – Studio B2SJ: ReSource Colorado
Gold Winner: Corporate
About ARDEX, A Global Innovation Leader in High Performance Specialty Building Materials: Recognized by installation experts, ARDEX is a global leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of high-performance specialty building products for all aspects of substrate preparation, floor covering, tile and stone installation systems and architectural concrete systems for commercial and residential applications. As a family-owned company, the ARDEX Group leads through local customer interaction striving for excellence in all that we do. For more information about ARDEX Americas: www.ardexamericas.com, or call 724-203-5000.
Bruce Newbrough Memorial Scholarship Winner: Omar Shukri
The Flooring Contractors Association, FCICA, announced Omar Shukri as the latest recipient of the Bruce Newbrough Memorial Certified Installation Manager Program (CIM) Scholarship. Omar is a national project coordinator with FloorMax USA. The scholarship is provided in partnership with ARDEX Americas.
I feel that with my experience, I am capable of accomplishing anything in this field. With [the title Certified Installation Manager,] it will only be beneficial on my journey to my goals,” Omar said about wanting to become a CIM. “The Bruce Newbrough CIM Scholarship will help me advance with a title to prove my experience and knowledge.
The Bruce Newbrough Memorial Scholarship, created in remembrance of Bruce Newbrough, covers the costs associated with the entire Certified Installation Manager (CIM) program, including application, content and assessment fees. Bruce Newbrough was an ARDEX Director of Technical Services and later Applications Development, and had a passion for advancing the flooring industry through education.
Applications for the scholarship are accepted throughout the year. Visit the FCICA website: www.fcica.com/CIM to apply. Read the FCICA press release here.
About ARDEX, A Global Innovation Leader in High Performance Specialty Building Materials: Recognized by installation experts, ARDEX is a global leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of high-performance specialty building products for all aspects of substrate preparation, floor covering, tile and stone installation systems and architectural concrete systems for commercial and residential applications. As family owned company, the ARDEX Group leads through local customer interaction striving for excellence in all that we do. For more information about ARDEX Americas: www.ardexamericas.com, or call 724-203-5000.
About the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program:
The CIM program provides industry-specific training modules led by experts that speak from years of floor covering experience packaged with assessments to confirm the vast knowledge obtained. The program is completely online, allowing users to work at their own pace, on their own time. For more information about the CIM Program, go to www.fcica.com/CIM.
About FCICA: FCICA, headquartered in West Bloomfield, Michigan, is the resource for premier commercial flooring contractors. Promoting the advancement and continuous development of Certified Installation Managers (CIM). Providing technical education, business support and industry expert networking. Delivering skills and knowledge to enhance the professionalism of commercial flooring contractors. FCICA is an international association whose contractor members serve the continental United States, plus Canada and Guam. For more information about FCICA: visit www.fcica.com or call 248-661-5015; toll free (877) TO-FCICA.
FCICA Bruce Newbrough Scholarship Winner Ben Coplan
The FCICA announced yesterday the most recent recipient of the Bruce Newbrough Scholarship: Ben Coplan. The scholarship is provided in partnership with ARDEX Americas. Coplan works for Beckers, Inc. of New Brighton, Minnesota.
Caplan said,
[This scholarship] will provide me with a whole new set of skills and education in flooring that will help me grow as I transition from field to office.
The scholarship honors the memory of Bruce Newbrough, a former, long-time ARDEX employee with a passion for education in the flooring industry. It covers the costs associated with the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) program, which includes application, content and assessment fees.
Apply for the next available scholarship here: https://www.fcica.com/CIM. You can read the FCICA press release here.
About ARDEX, A Global Innovation Leader in High Performance Specialty Building Materials:
Recognized by installation experts, ARDEX is a global leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of high-performance specialty building products for all aspects of substrate preparation, floor covering, tile and stone installation systems and architectural concrete systems for commercial and residential applications. As family owned company, the ARDEX Group leads through local customer interaction striving for excellence in all that we do. For more information about ARDEX Americas, contact us.
About the Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program:
The CIM program provides industry-specific training modules led by experts that speak from years of floor covering experience packaged with assessments to confirm the vast knowledge obtained. The program is completely online, allowing users to work at their own pace, on their own time. For more information about the CIM Program, go to www.fcica.com/CIM.
About FCICA:
FCICA, headquartered in West Bloomfield, Michigan, is the resource for premier commercial flooring contractors. Promoting the advancement and continuous development of Certified Installation Managers (CIM). Providing technical education, business support and industry expert networking. Delivering skills and knowledge to enhance the professionalism of commercial flooring contractors. FCICA is an international association whose contractor members serve the continental United States, plus Canada and Guam. For more information about FCICA: visit www.fcica.com or call 248-661-5015; toll free (877) TO-FCICA.
