Gypsol binder helped deliver accessibility for Grand Designs project
Gypsol binder, from LKAB Minerals, helped provide a complete flooring solution that prioritised accessibility for its wheelchair owner, while maintaining a sleek and modern aesthetic. This project truly embodies the spirit of Grand Designs, seamlessly combining functionality with style.
This challenge was successfully completed by specialist flooring contractor AIREflo-screed as part of a project featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme. To deliver a level and accessible surface throughout the house, suitable for a wheelchair user and underfloor heating, AIREflo-screed, proposed a solution using a Gypsol binder to create a calcium sulphate Gypsol flowing floor screed.
The calcium anhydrite binder and sand used in the screed are 98% derived from by-product materials, and the product boasts near-zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It uses significantly less CO2 per square metre compared to cement-based alternatives – just 91.7 kg of CO2 per tonne compared to 622 kg per tonne of cement, making it the ideal choice for the property in Oakworth, Keighley.
Work commenced promptly at 8 a.m. on July 4th, 2023, and was completed in just under four hours! Within this brief timeframe, AIREflo-screed’s Classic Mix, comprising LKAB Minerals’ Gypsol binder, was expertly mixed, pumped and laid to cover an area of 293m². This efficient process allowed for the seamless installation of a calcium sulphate Gypsol flowing floor screed, ensuring a level and accessible surface throughout the property.
The screed supplied by AIREflo-screed based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, offered a revolutionary solution tailored to the client’s specific requirements. LKAB Minerals’ calcium sulphate Gypsol Complete, combined with potable water and 0–4mm grit sand, provided a flowable screed that met the project’s diverse needs.
This innovative material ticked all the boxes for the project, particularly accessibility. The calcium sulphate Gypsol binder helped to achieve the highly level surface, crucial for wheelchair users. In this case, an SR1 finish, tolerating a 3mm deviation over a 2-metre straight edge, was possible, using laser technology, the client was satisfied with an SR2 finish.
That level would have been difficult to achieve using a more traditional concrete material. The Gypsol binder, with its self-compacting and free-flowing properties ensure an even surface, eliminating the inconsistencies often associated with traditional cement-based screeds.
Unlike traditional options, the “Classic Mix” used by AIREflo-screed for this project, can cover large areas of up to 2000 square metres unheated or 300 square metres heated, using a minimal number of expansion joints. This allowed the installers to create a seamless flow throughout the Oakworth property
The screed was also able to deliver a thin profile, averaging at just 35mm including the underfloor heating system, which contributed to the overall energy efficiency of the building. This was achieved because LKAB Minerals’ Gypsol Complete binder, a key element of the screed, features proven technology to conduct heat with exceptional efficiency up to 2.5w/mk, allowing for lower flow temperatures and up to 25% energy savings compared to more traditional radiator systems, making it particularly ideal for underfloor heating.
Alan Wells, Operations Director for AIREflo-screed, commented, “This calcium sulphate anhydrite binder, Gypsol-based screed, if used properly, can be extremely flexible. It ticks all the boxes from an installer’s and consumer’s perspective, offering faster drying times, excellent workability, optimal density and thin profile possibilities. It’s a win-win for both ease of installation and creating a comfortable, eco-friendly living space.”
Phil Kelley, Technical Sales Manager for LKAB Minerals, added: “The screed used is a specially formulated design that is the ideal partner for underfloor heating and cooling systems. Suitable for both warm water and electric underfloor heating, the high thermal conductivity results in great efficiency.”
The company believes that calcium sulphate Gypsol screed has immense potential in the construction industry, particularly with the growing prevalence of underfloor heating (UFH) systems. The material’s efficient heat transfer properties and compatibility with UFH systems make it an ideal choice for environmentally responsible and energy-saving projects. Additionally, with the expected changes to building regulations and the increasing focus on responsibly sourced, calcium sulphate Gypsol screed is poised to become a leading material in the flooring market.
