GftK for Markets and Marinas
Since 1999, Newark District Council has been undertaking an improvement programme to the medieval market square using 100mm Porphyry stone setts laid in a traditional bogen pattern. The square still stages open air markets and other activities on at least 6 days a week, and the area is used by delivery vehicles, as well as normal traffic, all of which can leave a bit of a mess. Consequently, regular machine cleaning has to be undertaken, which imposes yet another stress to the pavement.
The pointing of the joints has been an ongoing concern and over the last few years all types of mortars have been used, often unsuccessfully. As if being unable to cope with the traffic and cleaning wasn't bad enough, many have stained of the expensive stone. Some have taken too long to apply and cure, or have been overly sensitive to water in the joints and so cannot be used in wet weather; some are susceptible to shrinkage and cracking, and succumb to damage from repeated freeze-thaw reactions in winter.
Some months ago, the Council identified GftK mortars from NCC Streetscape as a possible solution to all of these problems and arrange for A C Moore Construction Ltd to use the GftK mortar to grout a newly laid area of porphyry setts. To their delight, the whole area was grouted in just one day, as against several days with conventional materials.
Impressed with the results, the Council then instructed the contractor to re-grout the whole of the previously laid market area paving, replacing any damaged setts, and overlaying the cracked and broken-out areas of the existing cement grout, even though the GftK epoxy mortar is not normally used for refurbishment work of this nature. To minimise to day-to-day use of the market square, the additional work was carried out over five consecutive Tuesdays, minimising disruption and inconvenience to local traders and shoppers. Normal cement-based mortars were expected to have taken weeks, with sections closed off for several days at a time as the cement mortar cured.
Meanwhile, up in Oldham, Lancashire, Eric Wright Civil Engineering Ltd has recently completed the construction of Frenches Marina in the Greenfield part of town, as part of the Frenches Mill development.
Located between the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the River Tame, the mixed development consists of a new narrow boat marina with a bascule lift bridge, plus a new chandlery, pub restaurant and residential units.
The hard landscaping of the surfaces around the marina had to be strong enough to withstand the 25 tonne loads of boat delivery vehicles and the associated loading / unloading activities.
Marshalls Conservation Setts in 'Harvest Buff' were selected for the job and it was noted that a special jointing mortar would be required not only to accommodate the heavier-than-normal loads but also to cope with the awkward site conditions that would complicate installation of the jointing. The selected mortar would need to be applied quickly during the cool and wet spring weather, and all without staining the stone surfaces.
The contractor contacted NCC Streetscape who solved the problem with their epoxy-based GftK 850, a high-strength jointing mortar that is non staining, self-levelling, and capable of being applied in the rain and at temperatures as low as +3°C, producing the ideal durable surface to withstand the heavy loads.
