This fantastic new three-storey facility includes a six lane 25m swimming pool, a 12m learner pool with moveable floor, wet & dry change, sauna & steam room facilities and four flight staircase and reception area. With over 18 years experience Elite Tiling Ltd were selected by Balfour Beatty to not only carry out the rendering, screeding and Floor & Wall Tiling installation but to also professionally advise during the construction of the Swimming Pools. This extensive project incorporated approximately 4000m2 of Floor & Wall Tiling supplied by Spectile & Johnson Tiles as the specified tile suppliers and with Ardex adhesives & grouts specified throughout.
Pool Tank Walls, Floors & Surrounds
Wall and floor tiling to pool tanks included specialist cutting around pool lights, tiling to recessed steps and foot-ledges. All finger grips and grating supports were bedded in sand & cement including SBR additive in situ on site by our specialist Tilers, using Ardex EG8 Hybrid Epoxy grout as specified for the 25m competition & 12m training pool tank walls and floors. All tolerances were managed by Elite Tiling in conjunction with Balfour Beatty Engineers to allow for moveable floor and Sport England specifications. Elite Tiling also carried out the screeding not only to the pool tanks but also to both pool surrounds to achieve required falls. Once completed, the Heartstone Grip 300 x 300mm floor tiling was installed, achieving a stunning patchwork effect to pool surrounds. Prismatic 200 x 100mm wall tiles were installed to both pool halls, including columns and seating plinths.
The Metal Staircase- Ground floor Reception to 2nd floor
The steel staircase and half landings running from ground floor reception to 2nd floor were technically challenging. The steel frame constructions included sand & cement screeded tread pans, however the steel risers remained and were directly fixed to. Technical advice was provided by John Oliver of Ardex who attended site to advise Balfour Beatty to spot weld to specific locations to prevent bounce on the treads, and to strip the treated steel risers back to white metal.
We then applied Ardex P82 2-Part Epoxy primer before fixing using Ardex X77 Microtec flexible adhesive & FL23 Stormy Mist Grout.
The treads were cut on site to 224mm & risers to 110mm using the Rosagres Proyecta Perla structured & natural 600x600mm reception floor tiles. The bespoke nosing piece was a 244 x 56mm Agrob Buchtal Anthracite ribbed tile. As this was thinner than the cut Rosagres Proyecta Perla tile, an adhesive build-up was required to achieve a flush finish with the riser. The contrasting piece to the top of the riser was a 244x56mm Agrob Buchtal Anthracite smooth tile which also required the same solution to enable a flush finish to the riser.
A Few words from Brian Jarvis – Project Director – Balfour Beatty; ‘Elite Tiling have delivered a very good and consistent finish for tiled surfaces which feature throughout the Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre. We are appreciative of their quality systems, helpful staff and attention to detail.’
Main contractor: Balfour Beatty
Architect: AFLS+P
Client: Fusion Lifestyle
Project Completed: December 2015