Special
Producers of levelling agent : which thicknesses can we apply in one treatment and what about the drying time ?
USE AS AN END LAYER IS POSSIBLE, BUT THERE IS A BUT INDUSTRIAL LOOK WITHOUT FITTING A FLOOR COVERING IS GAINING IN POPULARITY Stephan Berckmans (Lecol) ‘It’s all about reducing drying times and increasing layer thicknesses.’ Lecol, which is part of its parent enterprise Maiburg, is a specialist amongst other things in levelling compounds. Just as with its lacquers, panel materials, impregnation oils, and abrasives, one element completely dominates its own philosophy: in everything that the company does, the impact on the environment and the health of the products take centre stage, so only those products which stand out are given a Maigreen label. Amongst levelling compounds, Stephan Berckmans (Lecol Belgium) refers immediately to the cement-bound and low-stress product Z610 from WAKOL, which covers in one layer. Z610 can boast such an Maigreen label and is both solventless and low in emissions. ‘This is a very good flowing levelling compound which you can use for a rapid and superrigid end result. With a maximum thickness of 5mm, the substrate can be walked on after just six hours or is ready for fitting any type of flooring. An absolute plus point is that you can apply very thick layers all at once,’ Mr Berckmans explains. ‘In terms of health, you have to consider mainly the amount of dust emitted during mixing. This has been reduced by no less than 90%, something which is good not only for user health, but also for the cleanliness of the work place. For that matter, you can go to layer thicknesses of 20mm if you don’t use quartz sand and 30mm if you do. Such a thickness is already a lot, but if you need more, you can equally well fit a screed. I should also mention Z680 for the project market. At project level you can go to a maximum of 10mm thick and you also have very little dust. The project market usually levels with grey compounds.’ ‘It’s worth noting that this levelling compound can be lacquered over, that it’s no longer necessary to sandpaper after pouring all at once if you fit parquet on top, and that due to its great bend strength and compression strength it can also be used perfectly well as a main floor, and therefore a top floor. We note that this is already being done regularly; indeed, it suits the popular industrial look. One more point about sandpapering: if we’re talking about soft floors, this will obviously be necessary.’ Lifespan isn’t an issue When we ask about the lifespan, our interviewee looks rather surprised: ‘The lifespan? Actually, you just have to say: for as long as the floor covering is there. If you use it without a floor covering, you apply a new lacquer from time to time and that definitely good for ten years in a project setting, but virtually twice that for homes.’ Obviously, we also want to know about market trends. What are the biggest factors? ‘Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s all about reducing drying times and increasing layer thicknesses. At the moment, we’re purely at 20mm, extended to 30mm, and, finally, that has to suffice. In my opinion, we might well be able to add another 10mm in the near future. The technology is there, it’s just a question of being able to sell it for an acceptable price.’ ‘I’d like to say a little more about the question of “dustless”. It should be said quite clearly that we’ll never achieve a state of completely dustless, as even the slightest move in a house creates dust. What is certainly true is that we have reduced the quantity of dust vastly, so a cloud of dust is something long gone. Moreover, we even have a special dust suction tool to fit to the edge of the bucket, so the little remaining dust is literally sucked away!’
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