Technical Bulletins
Flooring Systems
Flooring Systems
Technical Bulletins - Flooring Systems
ARDEX is committed to being the leading provider of technical support in the field. We believe our responsibility does not end with the manufacture of innovative, specialist solutions. Hence our technical advisers work with contractors and the ARDEX R&D team to provide solutions for specific applications.
Below is a sample of the bulletins available. Contact us for the detailed bulletin or help with anything out of the ordinary, if we don’t already have the answer we will certainly investigate. Call: 1800 224 070.
Downloads Flooring Systems
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The ARDEX Moisture Barrier Systems [TB006]
Internal concrete substrates come in many different forms – new concrete, old concrete, on grade, below grade, suspended floors. These internal floors then require application of many varied types of floor coverings – parquet, rubber flooring, sheet & tile vinyl flooring, direct stick carpet, cork etc.
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Preparation of Walls & Floors in Wet Areas of Health Care Facilities to Receive Sheet Vinyl Coverings. ARDEX FLC & Membranes [TB012D]
This bulletin defines the systems that Ardex recommends for use in wet areas where falls to waste, a waterproof membrane and sheet vinyl are to be installed.
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Levelling over Internal Dry Timber Surfaces or Underlay Sheets using K15, Arditex NA & Feather Finish [TB015]
One of the most common problems in renovation and remodelling of existing buildings is the levelling and smoothing of wooden subfloors to receive hard floor coverings, floating floors, and carpet.
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Mesh Reinforced K15 over Tongue & Groove Wooden Subfloors [TB016]
One of the most common problems in renovation and remodelling of existing buildings is the levelling and smoothing of wooden subfloors to receive floor coverings.
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Levelling over Ceramic Tiles & Terrazzo using Ardex K15, K55, K12, K10, Arditex NA & Feather Finish [TB017]
Successful topping systems over ceramic tiles or terrazzo rely on the integrity and bond of the original tiles to the substrate. Any loose or drummy tiles must be removed, the surface cleaned, and then filled with a levelling cement plus aggregate mixture, or ARDEX A45 repair mortar.
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ARDEX Smoothing Cements – Light Weight Bulk Fill [TB018]
The use of a lightweight “Rapid Dry” screed in conjunction with the application of floor coverings is a fast track system with the added advantage of minimising additional weight loading to the subfloor.
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Ardex Self Levelling Cements Extreme Weather Precautions [TB022A]
Throughout any year we experience many climatic changes from snow, ice and sleet in our Southern States to heat waves, high humidity and monsoonal rains in our Northern States. The installation procedures for floor levelling cements and floor coverings need to be constantly monitored and modified to suit these climatic changes.
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Creating Dead Level Floor with ARDEX Smoothing Cements [TB025]
Revolving doorways, television studio floors, high-lift warehouse floors, indoor bowls floors, and flooring installations with floor-to-ceiling windows that reflect light heavily onto high-gloss finishes may require a specification to supply a “water level” floor finish to the entire floor area.
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ARDEX Underlayments for Static Control Vinyl [TB026]
Computer, electronics, and telecommunications installations, hospital operating theatres, preparation rooms, defence establishments, telephone exchanges, ordinance manufacture, and storage facilities often require the use of “Static Control” Vinyl Floor Coverings to minimise or eliminate the risk of electrostatic discharge.
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Ardex K15, K12 New, K80 or K55 for High Stress Applications including Castor Wheels and Heavy Rolling Loads, Rubber Matting Floors & Floors subject to Vibrations [TB028]
Floors can be subjected to high stress environments, and so the underlayment and floor coverings must be able withstand these conditions.
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Ardex Floor Levelling Cements over Heated Substrates. K15, K80, K11, K12, A55 & Arditex NA [TB029]
Subfloor heating is becoming a popular climate control medium offering the client many benefits and creature comforts. Installing flooring over heated subfloors requires all the components to be able to accommodate the thermal variations associated with this flooring concept. The forces and thermal movement associated with heated subfloors can place additional stresses onto components within the heated subfloor and floor coverings.
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Ardex K15, K12 & Arditex NA over Internal Compressed Fibre Cement Sheet [TB030]
Modern construction techniques require floor-coverings to be laid over many types of substrates. Compressed fibre-cement flooring laid on steel or timber framework presents an unusual challenge to the floor-covering contractor.
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Creating Falls to Waste with ARDEX K 15 and ARDEX A 45 Vinyl Installation [TB035]
Creating falls to floor wastes requires the cement topping to be typically installed from 20-30mm to a featheredge at the floor waste and must dry rapidly to allow sheet vinyl flooring to be fixed within 16-18 hours for ARDEX K15, and ARDEX A45.
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Levelling Floors for the Installation of Parquetry Wooden Blockwork & Direct Stick Timber Flooring [TB036]
The resurgence and appeal of parquet and directly adhered timber flooring combined with consumer demands for a better finish and smoother flatter floors, a greater need in precision for pre-levelling prior to installing new timber flooring is required.
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Old Adhesives – Know the Risk of Levelling or Tiling over [TB037]
One of the most common inquiries Ardex Technical Services receives, involves whether or not old adhesives must be removed from the subfloor or the walls prior to the application of floor levelling cements or ceramic tile adhesives. Removal of these types of residue is one of the more expensive and difficult areas of substrate preparation, but is critical to achieve a good final result.
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Sub Floor Preparation – The Key to Successful Flooring Installations [TB039]
In this bulletin we will look at some of the results of sub-standard subfloor preparation.
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Sub Floor Preparation – Sources of Moisture & Damp Slab problems [TB040]
Problems with excessive moisture in both new and old concrete substrates have been around for many years, causing concerns to the contractor, layer, and client. They often result in costly blowups and failures – which seem to be more prevalent in recent times.
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Proper Sub Floor Preparation for Ardex Floor Levellers [TB041]
The key to success when installing ARDEX products, is to achieve a good bond between the substrate and the underlayment or topping and also flooring adhesives (this includes membranes and tile adhesives as well). Proper preparation of the surface is the most important factor in achieving this bond.
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Movement and Control Joints in Concrete & Toppings [TB050]
The flooring contractor is often asked to complete building works that goes against Building Standards and good practice. One of the most commonly asked for repair procedures is for products and methods to fill in movement joints in concrete.
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Installation of Strip Timbers and Parquetry Flooring over Moisture Barrier Prepared Concrete [TB053]
Installing strip timber flooring or parquetry over epoxy moisture vapour barrier (MVB) prepared concrete surfaces presents many challenges.
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Overlaying Magnesite Flooring [TB078]
In this Technical Bulletin we shall discuss the issues relating to Magnesite and similar flooring materials as Ardex Technical Services receives inquiries relating to applying toppings for vinyl or carpet and also tiling over such substrates. This is commonly where the building occupiers are looking at renovations of existing floors, but occasionally new installations as well.
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Installation of New Sheet Vinyl over Existing Resilient Sheet or Tile Coverings [TB080]
Contractors should be aware of the requirements of the relevant Flooring Standards, the flooring manufacturer, and the issues of adhering a non absorbent covering such as sheet vinyl, to an non-absorbent surface such as an existing resilient sheet or tile covering using water base adhesives.
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Silicate-based Concrete Waterproofing Treatments and ARDEX Flooring Products [TB082]
This technical bulletin presents some issues and arguments for considering ARDEX FLC for use over barriers based on reactive silica species.
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Ardex K15, K80 or K301 Levelling of Cool Room Floors to Receive Sheet Vinyl Coverings or Epoxy Coatings [TB086]
Cool Room floors often require the application of sheet vinyl flooring or an epoxy or paint finish. These coverings provide a surface which is easy to keep to keep clean and hygienic.
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Hydronic Floor Heating Embedded in a Screed [TB095]
This bulletin is to provide guidance on suitable product selection and methodology that can be employed to enable the application of this system on various substrates.
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Self-supporting Screeds for Athena Shower Bases - NZ [TB096]
Preformed shower base trays need to be installed on a level surface and fully supported. Water-resistant levelling cement provides a solution for concrete subfloors. Unbonded sand cement screeds can be applied over timber substrates.
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Effects of Ambient Conditions on the Performance of Ardex Products [TB097]
This Technical Bulletin outlines some weather related product issues that have been the subject of inquiries to Ardex’s Technical Services, but also observations by Ardex’s Research & Development Department. These concerns will be looked at, and solutions provided to assist in obtaining optimal product performance.
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Arditex, K15 & K10 Underlayments over Steel or Aluminium Decking and Nautical Vessels [TB100]
Warehouse renovations, ocean-going vessels, off shore oilrigs and other structures often require a high quality floor (wood parquet, vinyl tile) over metal decking. Such flooring requires a very smooth, hard and durable underlayment to assure structural and aesthetic success.
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Deep Filling & Ramping of Sub Floors [TB102]
Floor levelling cements are commonly seen as a thin topping material applied prior to the application of the final floor covering. However, these materials can also be used as a bulk filler when mixed with a suitable aggregate filler. In this bulletin different systems will be highlighted that allow the applicator to use filled levellers and tackle these situations.
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Mixing and General Application Principles for Laying Floor Smoothing Cements [TB104]
This bulletin discusses the mixing and general applications principles for laying Ardex Flooring Smoothing Cements including Ardex K15, K80, A55, K250, K11, K12, K301 and K250. The application discussed is smoothing over concrete substrates using hand methods, but other surfaces can be topped, or the material pumped and advice on these specialist procedures is available from Ardex Technical Services.
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ARDEX K12, K15, K125, K275 and Arditex NA over Hebel Floors [TB105]
Light weight construction methods have seen the application of aerated autoclaved concrete panels (i.e. Hebel) in flooring applications. The primary features of this type of material that are of concern to flooring installers are their very high porosity, and relatively low compressive strength compared to concrete.
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Guidelines for Estimating Quantities of Ardex Flooring Products [TB107]
A common question Ardex Technical Services receives concerns the quantities and coverage of its flooring products, including levelling cements and primers. In this bulletin we will look at some examples of working out coverage for a range of Ardex products when used in typical applications.
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Levelling over Existing Epoxy Coatings with Ardex K15, K10, K12 or K55 [TB108]
The ARDEX FLC topping system over epoxy coatings relies on the integrity, bond of the epoxy coating and the compatibility of the epoxy coating to accept new coatings.
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Applying ARDEX Rapid Cure Products in Hot Water [TB109]
In hot weather, fast-setting and rapid-cure products can exhibit relatively short pot lives and working times. Sometimes, these properties can trick installers into taking ‘homegrown remedial’ actions that, whilst appearing to improve product handling, in reality, degrade product performance
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Application of ARDEX Levelling Cements with Tiling Installation [TB110]
A fairly common situation arises where a subfloor is to be tiled, and it is either not flat or has hollows and dips in it that need to be flattened out. ARDEX can supply complete systems for smoothing and tiling subfloors made of rigid concrete, flexible timber, or compressed fibre cement sheet (CFC). This bulletin will discuss several typical installations and the products that can be used.
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Application of Ceramic Tiles over Vinyl and Cork Covered Floors [TB115]
When remodelling a building, most commonly residential or office kitchen areas, suitable adhesives for laying ceramic tiles directly over vinyl or cork tiles will be needed. While this is technically feasible with several ARDEX adhesives, several factors must be considered before attempting this application. This bulletin will discuss the procedures necessary to achieve a long-lasting installation.
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Creating falls and Beds for Tiling [TB121]
A practice used in tiling installations involves using neat ceramic tile adhesives to build up a deep bed suitable for falls or simply filling gaps or irregularities in walls or floors. A similar situation involves the erroneous belief that the tile adhesive is suitable for building up or filling cement joints in brick or block work.
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Common Practices that lead to problems with Levelling Compounds [TB131]
Problems in a flooring installation seem to be blamed on the products in the first instance, rather than looking at the installation practices
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Issues with using ARDEX K 15 as a wear Surface [TB135]
A building design feature frequently requested is the use of levelling cement as a wear surface or feature floor. The most commonly requested product in this application is ARDEX K15. However, we have also received requests for products such as ARDEX ARDITEX NA and ARDEX FEATHER FINISH. This bulletin will identify issues related to feature floors
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Sealing Grease and Oil Contaminated Surfaces [TB139]
This bulletin outlines the procedure for preparing a grease and oil-contaminated surface in readiness to install most other adhesives, coatings, and surface finishes.
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Ardex Underlayments – Levelling of Floors for the Installation of High Build Epoxy, Polyurethane and Paint Coatings [TB140]
Dry internal utility areas, walkways, plant rooms, domestic car garages etc., often require an epoxy or paint finish as a protective coating. However, industrial floor coatings and paint finishes will mirror the original concrete surface, and unevenness and pitted surfaces look unsightly and result in high cleaning costs.
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Application of Levelling Compounds and Screeds over Wet Seal Waterproofing Systems [TB141]
This technical bulletin describes the procedure for applying ARDEX LQ92 and ARDEX Arditex NA levelling compounds or a sand-cement screed over this WetSeal System
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Applications for Ardex E25 & Abalastic with Ardex Smoothing Cements [TB151]
The Ardex smoothing cements can be used in a wide range of situations as one part materials, but for some situations Ardex recommends that an additive liquid is used to improve the cement properties.
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Silica Sol Concrete Waterproofing Treatments ad ARDEX Flooring Products [TB152]
This technical bulletin presents issues for consideration should ARDEX levelling compounds be applied over reactive silica sol1 treatment on concrete subfloors. These materials are typically used as a concrete hardener and curing compound for green concrete. They can also be added to create specialized properties such as waterproofing.
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ARDEX Levelling Compounds, Repair Mortars and Bulk Fills Suitable for use with ARDEX External Membranes [TB156]
A common situation occurs when a concrete slab roof or external structure has to be waterproofed when new or when the existing sheet membrane has to be removed and reinstated during restorations.
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Reading of ARDEX Flooring Product Production Codes [TB157]
ARDEX Australia receives relatively regular inquiries about products' manufacturing dates and shelf lives. Production information is clearly marked on the packaging, either as an adhered label or ink printed on the bag. Shelf-life information is included within the product instructions.
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Issues with Sand-Cement Screeds as Substrates for Non-Ceramic Tile Flooring Systems [TB159]
From time to time Ardex encounters jobs where resilient flooring such as sheet or strip vinyl, linoleum, bonded timber, or a coating system such as epoxy has been specified to be applied over a sand-cement screed. These are used because they are egregiously perceived to be a cheaper alternative to engineered cement systems, and can be installed by less technical trades. This bulletin discusses some of the issues and problems with this substrate when used with vinyl floor coverings.
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ARDEX Levelling Compounds and Wear Surface Products over Heated Subfloors [TB160]
With the advent of levelling compounds specifically intended for use as wear surfaces or feature floors, inquiries have been received concerning using these wear products on heated substrates.
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Levelling Concrete Pool Surrounds for Safety Matting [TB162]
This technical bulletin describes several systems that allow the concrete to be waterproofed and levelled before the matting installation.
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Incontinence Barriers for Concrete Floors in Health Care Institutions [TB164]
A common requirement in aged care facilities is a cleaning and urine resistance sealer for concrete floors under carpet and similar pervious floor coverings. The sealer needs to be low maintenance and be compatible with direct bond and pressure sensitive carpet adhesives.
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Smoothing Concrete Pool Surrounding For Installation of Safety Matting [TB167]
This technical bulletin describes several systems that allow the concrete to be waterproofed and smoothed before the installation of the matting.
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Epoxy Priming Systems for ARDEX Levelling Compounds [TB170]
This bulletin describes the recommended epoxy primer systems available in Australia and New Zealand for concrete subfloors.
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Green Slab Concrete, Construction Moisture Suppression System using Ardex WPM300 [TB172]
This bulletin describes a moisture suppression systems for green slabs based around ARDEX WPM 300 Hydrepoxy or ARDEX WPM 368.
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Rain affected Floors [TB173]
This bulleting addresses two problem areas: timber floors that are rained on or flooded and new concrete that is rained on before it cures.
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Mesh Reinforced Levelling Compounds over Wood Based Subfloors [TB174]
One of the most common problems in renovating and remodelling existing buildings is levelling and smoothing wooden subfloors to receive floor coverings.
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Preparation of Walls & Floors in Wet Areas of Health Care Facilities to receive Sheet Vinyl Coverings using Ardex FLC, Waterproof Membranes and Adhesives [TB178]
The elimination of trip hazards when entering wet areas and also the shower whilst maintaining falls to floor wastes is imperative. With previous ceramic tiling systems, the minimum screed height (25mm typically) often resulted in trip hazards and steep ramps at entranceways with the obvious safety hazards of “wet sloping hard surfaces”.
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Terra Micro Systems [TB188]
This bulletin discusses the requirements for the installation of smoothing cements as wear surfaces, and in particular, industrial floors, pathways, verandah, roofs and car parks.
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Smoothing Cement – Moisture Barrier Systems [TB192]
Concrete Substrates come in many different forms – new concrete, old concrete, on grade, below grade, suspended floors. These floors then require application of many varied types of bonded floor coverings – parquet, rubber flooring, sheet & tile vinyl flooring, direct stick carpet, cork etc.
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Applications for ARDITEX and Feather Finish over Internal Dry Timber Surfaces in Rail Carriages, Motor homes and building elevators [TB194]
A problem which is encountered with wooden floored moving machinery is the levelling and smoothing of wooden subfloors to receive resilient flooring, hard floor coverings and carpet
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ARDEX Products over Heated Concrete & ARDITEX on Timber or Compressed Fibre-cement subfloors existing in slab and selected strip Heating Systems [TB197]
Subfloor heating is becoming a popular climate control medium offering the client many benefits and creature comforts. Installing flooring over heated subfloors requires all the components to be able to accommodate the thermal variations associated with this flooring concept. The forces and thermal movement associated with heated subfloors can place additional stresses onto components within the heated subfloor and floor coverings.
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Smoothing Cements over Flexible Waterproof Membranes & Similar Flexible Materials [TB199]
Ardex gets inquiries on a fairly regular basis as to whether smoothing cements can be applied over flexible waterproof membranes. This is usually because the floor slopes (falls to waste usually) have not be set correctly before the waterproofing has gone down, or because the membrane has too rough a surface for the floor covering.
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Application of Ardex Arditex NA over Old Adhesive Residues [TB200]
A relatively common situation is a subfloor that’s contaminated with old adhesive residues from flooring systems such as vinyl or carpet. The normal and preferred method of dealing with this contamination is to mechanically prepare the subfloor. Removing these residues and achieving an open pored surface increases the number of possible smoothing cements, and related product choices that can be installed over the substrate.
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Creating Ramps on External Subfloors with ARDEX Floor Levelling Cements [TB204]
In this bulletin different systems will be highlighted that allow the applicator to use filled levellers, purpose made bulk fills and specialised screed materials to tackle these situations.
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Creating Ramps on Internal Subfloors with ARDEX A 30 Patching Cement [TB205]
In this bulletin different systems will be highlighted that allow the applicator to use A30 patch mortar neat and bulk filled to tackle these situations.
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Preparation of Seismic Damaged Concrete Floors for Installation of Underlayments and Floor Coverings [TB206]
This bulletin gives some general guidelines for NON-STRUCTURAL repairs to concrete floors which have cracks that result from ground movements.
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Use of Densifiers with Smoothing Cement Wear and Feature Floors [TB210]
A common practice for concrete floors is to apply a reactive chemical such as a silicate or siloxane to the surface to harden it. Such hardening makes the concrete more resistant to damage and easier to clean. Ardex receives inquiries concerning the same practice with smoothing cements used as wear floors.
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Preparation of Subfloors in Shielded Medical Imaging Rooms [TB211]
A situation which arises in hospital and day surgery environments is the requirement for application of flooring materials over floors that have anti-magnetic or anti-radiation shielding in place. Typically, this involves multi steel plates under a special slab with copper sheeting bonded to the top. The flooring materials are then fixed onto the copper sheeting. This bulletin briefly describes the recommendation for smoothing the sheeted top surface of this type of floor installation
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ARDEX Moisture Barrier System Used with Patch Mortar [TB212]
This technical bulletin is an adjunct to the standard Ardex Moisture Barrier systems described in Technical Bulletins TB006, TB170 and TB172 which use the liquid smoothing cements. The systems described in this bulletin use the patch mortars ARDEX A45, A30 and A46.
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Rising Damp or Construction Moisture Suppression System Using ARDEX WPM 300 and WPM 368 [TB216]
In situations where a new concrete slab or screed has been laid, the residual water in the concrete, called ‘construction moisture’ can create problems for subsequent floor covering systems. Older slabs, screeds and masonry walls can be subject to rising damp or migrating water and display all manner of moisture related damage.
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Smoothing Tongue and Groove Fibre-Cement Flooring Sheets for Resilient, Textile and Timber Floor Coverings [TB240]
This technical bulletin provides several systems that can be used for these sheets which are sold under the trade names James Hardie Scyon Secura, CSR Cemintel Construct floor and BGC Durafloora. The thicker 22mm or greater sheets are preferred.
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Primer – Bonding Bridges for A 38 Screeds [TB248]
This bulletin describes the acceptable bonding bridge – primer coat additive that can be used with ARDEX A38 engineered screed when applied to masonry substrates.
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Primer – Bonding Bridges for A 48 Screeds [TB250]
This bulletin describes the acceptable bonding bridge – primer coat additive that can be used with ARDEX A48 pre-blended and bagged engineered screed applied onto a masonry substrate. Note: The A48 bonding bridge is not mixed in the same way as the A38 system described in TB248; do not dilute the A48 blend with extra aggregate to make the slurry coat.
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Understanding Dead Loads On Floors [TB255]
A common question is the concept of loading on floors in relation to the properties of the floor smoothing cements.