Case Study: New Veterinary Hospital, Huddersfield

An existing West Yorkshire based client with a network of veterinary practices throughout the county asked ACC Flooring to provide flooring solutions to their ambitious new veterinary hospital in Huddersfield.

Initially, we were asked to look at product options to two Dog Kennel areas and an Isolation Unit which were to be situated on the Ground Floor. The smaller of the two Dog Kennels was to have kennel crates fitted on two plinths whilst the larger area required protection not just to the floor area but also to the dividing walls to eliminate any scratches from claws.

Having worked for the client in the past and with our previous experience with the RSPCA on a number of sites, we recommended a FeRFA type 8 heavy duty polyurethane screed to the floor areas with a polyurethane render finished with a polyurethane grout to both coving and walls.

The client had at the design stage considered installing vinyl or soft flooring to the busy traffic areas to the Ground Floor. We put forward a FeRFA type 4 decorative flake system as an alternative which would give a stunning visual appearance.

As the new build progressed the client asked if we would quote for the screeding work not only to the Ground Floor but also to the Basement and First Floor levels. We endorsed two product options but due to cure timescales and pressure from the client to meet the completion date and with other trades needing access to all areas, we were left with just the one option. That was to pump 60m³ of Marshalls Premier Mortars and Screeds Cemfloor screed.

Cemfloor is a cement based C25 F5 fast track screed which benefits from fast installation, high strength and low shrinkage with a minimum SR2, normal standard usage surface regularity, capable of receiving floor coverings such as tiles, wood, carpet, vinyl, epoxy and resin toppings.

Once the screed had been given 48 hours to cure, the others trades were allowed to continue their works causing minimal on-site disruption.

Nine weeks after the screed application, we returned to site to complete the resin flooring installation. The trowel applied 6mm heavy duty polyurethane screed was installed to the two Dog Kennel areas and Isolation Ward. The product benefits from a very high chemical resistance, excellent impact resistance, and high abrasion resistance and provides a seamless finish. The anticipated life expectancy in this environment would be in excess of 10 years. The recommended cleaning method is by low pressure washer/scrubber vacuum and offers the ideal solution for animal welfare organisations.

A seamless polyurethane render designed specifically for vertical surfaces and radius cove was installed to the kennel plinths, coving detail and dividing walls in the open kennel area offering protection against scratches from dog claws. The product was also installed to the vertical dividing walls at 1500mm high. A water based polyurethane coloured grout was applied to seal and finish the plinths and coving detail, whilst the application of a UV stable polyurethane coating seal coat added the finishing touch to the walls. The cured polyurethane coating has excellent abrasion and chemical resistance properties and is available in a gloss, silk or matt finish.

The decorative flake system was installed to the Lobby, Reception, Impatient Room, Waiting Area and six Consulting Rooms in addition to two staircases (case study) and landings. After mechanical vacuum enclosed preparation, a coat of Mid Grey high build epoxy coating was applied to the screed substrate. The decorative acrylic flakes were then fully blinded on to the wet epoxy and allowed to cure. The excess flakes were then swept and two coats of a gloss seal coat installed to complete the process. The polyurethane render and coloured grout completed the installation to the coving detail which amounted to in excess of 160 linear metres. To finish both staircases a black nosing was fitted to all the treads.

The anticipated life expectancy of this product is 8 years and is perfect for atria, receptions areas, corridors, walkways and communal areas and provides an eye catching, aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The client was thrilled with the installation and the hospital opened early August 2019 as scheduled.