Construction World April 2022

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING WHEN SELECTING A FLOORING SOLUTION T here is nothing more impressive than a well applied industrial floor spanning the length and breadth of a building space. It’s like the last step in the completion of a massive construction undertaking and now you are applying the pièce de résistance to really show off what has been built. Over time though, and once the floor is in use and the shiny new finish is no longer the most prized outcome of the floor, the true test kicks in and the floor has to hold up to the rigorous traffic and usage of the floor – and this is when problems start to arise. “One of the most common problems we encounter when called out to sites around country, especially when it comes to industrial flooring, is failure due to the incorrect flooring solution being used on that specific floor,” claims Louis Visser – Product Manager – Building line for MAPEI South Africa. “Floors in any building require more than just a good-looking finish, it’s the active working space of any building which has to carry the full operational traffic of the building – and as such has to not only look the part – but also deliver on the technical requirements,” adds Visser. The most important part of flooring is the process of drawing up a specification and selecting the correct system and requires extensive work and thought which includes the following: • A comprehensive understanding and thorough knowledge of the substrate – be it a new slab or an existing one. • Thorough understanding of the technical requirements of the space and the operational usage of the space once completed. Only once this is complete can one even consider looking at flooring solutions and planning as the information generated from above will provide the insights and technical data needed in order to consider the options available for consideration. “Many people unfortunately do not pay attention or understand the initial phase of planning a new floor which goes further than looking at the here and now – it needs to consider things like future maintenance, expected lifespan, technical and aesthetic requirements as well as costs. “MAPEI as a leading supplier of flooring solutions has identified this a fundamental step in a flooring application and as a leading supplier of flooring solutions in the industry is committed to not only aiding the applicators and specialists who use our products, but also ensuring that the end user is also fully informed and understands what their options are and what they are committing to when selecting a flooring solution. This is a fundamental, non-negotiable policy we work to in all our business dealings” concludes Visser. 

31 CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2022