Joint treatment for hydrotherapy pool

Chloride resisting Ultra Flexible Floor Grout manufactured by Instarmac for a new hydrotherapy pool being built at Oswestry.

It is well understood that the regular inclusion of cleaning and purifying chlorides are an absolute necessity in ensuring the quality of pool water and as such, they fulfil an extremely important function.

On the other hand, however, their inclusion can also have an extremely detrimental affect on the mortar joints between the tiles, especially if a slightly inadequate grout is used at the outset.

In order to ensure the matter would not prove the catalyst of future problems, contractor Paveways (supplied via distributor CD Tiling) insisted on the use of a chloride resisting grout manufactured by Tamworth based Instarmac Group plc for the new hydrotherapy pool being built at Oswestry's Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital.

The RJ and AH hospital has an international reputation for orthopaedics and research into disorders of the bone and joint, built on extensive experience gained since the inception of the original hospital in 1900.

Instarmac recommended its Ultra Flexible Floor Grout and after preparatory work, joints between the pool's porcelain tiles were finally grouted with the virtually impermeable, polymer-modified, wide joint grout.

In addition to having the ability to resist chlorides, this versatile grout also allows deep joints to be filled in one application pass and is able to accommodate any possible movement in the substrate.

Instarmac's materials assisted the entire project; this ensured no split liability as all products maintain exceptional compatibility.

Prior to grouting, undulations in the floor substrate were smoothed with Ultra Concrete Floor Leveller in order to prepare a fair-faced surface for the tile application.

Concrete Floor Leveller is a polymer modified single part levelling compound, currently the only product in the market, which can accommodate depths of between 1mm and 50mm.

The leveller has a remarkably fast setting time of approximately 3 hours, and as time was of the essence; its use ensured that the project progressed quickly and on schedule.

Once set, the levelling compound was primed with UltraFlexi-Prime to provide the perfect surface for the application of UltraStone Fix adhesive.

UltraStone Fix is a rapid set, floor and wall tile adhesive specifically formulated for fixing natural stone and porcelain tiles.

The cementitious material combines flexural capacity with excellent bond strength and is capable of receiving light foot traffic within 2 to 3 hours (dependant upon thickness and temperature).

Thanks to the awareness of the contractor and some very versatile Instarmac materials, the construction of the hydrotherapy pool was completed on time and to budget.

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