Bolton School
Flooring Solutions Ltd was appointed to carry out a commercial safety flooring installation across the Girls Division Dining Room and associated walkways at Bolton School — a total area of approximately 395m². Bolton School is one of the North West’s most respected independent schools, and this project presented a number of significant technical challenges, making it one of the more complex subfloor preparation exercises our team has undertaken.
The Brief
The dining room and associated walkways are located on the lower ground floor of a period building — an environment that immediately signals the potential for subfloor complications. Before any installation could take place, the existing floor was thoroughly tested for moisture. Readings confirmed that moisture levels were too high to permit the direct installation of sheet vinyl, and further investigation revealed that a section of the subfloor consisted of a suspended timber floor construction — unsuitable as a base for a commercial flooring installation of this nature.
Subfloor Remediation
Given the findings, a main contractor was engaged to remove the suspended timber floor section entirely and install a new sand cement screed in its place, providing a solid and stable base from which the flooring preparation works could begin. Once the new screed was in place, Flooring Solutions Ltd undertook a comprehensive multi-stage subfloor preparation programme to address the elevated moisture levels and bring the substrate to the standard required for the finished floor covering.
The first stage involved the application of F Ball Stopgap 1200 as a moisture tolerant base coat to pre-smooth the subfloor surface, filling any irregularities and creating a consistent substrate profile across the full area. A liquid damp proof membrane — F Ball F77 — was then applied to suppress the residual moisture and provide a reliable barrier against rising damp. Within 24 hours, the DPM was encapsulated with P4 Primer to seal the surface and ensure optimum adhesion for the subsequent layers. A final coat of F Ball Stopgap 1200 Pro was then applied to deliver a smooth, level finish ready to receive the new floor covering.
This carefully sequenced preparation system ensured that despite the challenging conditions presented by the period building and its elevated moisture environment, the finished substrate met the exacting standards required for a long-lasting commercial installation. This project is a strong example of a floor that required significant subfloor preparation before the finished floor covering could be installed — and of the importance of proper investigation and specification before work begins.
Flooring Specification
The specified product was Forbo Surestep Wood in Natural Oak 18942, a premium safety flooring solution that combines the warmth and character of a wood-effect finish with the reliable underfoot safety performance required in a busy school dining environment. Surestep Wood features Forbo’s unique particle structure technology, providing effective slip resistance that is permanently built into the product rather than applied as a surface treatment — ensuring consistent safety performance throughout the life of the floor, regardless of wear or cleaning regime.
The Natural Oak 18942 colourway delivers a clean, welcoming aesthetic well suited to a dining and social space, creating an environment that is both practical and visually appealing. The flooring was installed using Uzin KE 2000s, a high-performance pressure-sensitive dispersion adhesive, ensuring a secure and durable bond across the fully prepared substrate.
The Result
The completed installation across the 395m² dining room and walkways demonstrates what can be achieved through thorough investigation, careful planning and the correct application of preparation products at every stage. What could have been a problematic and compromised installation has been delivered to the highest standard — with a finished floor that is safe, durable and visually impressive, entirely befitting the prestigious surroundings of Bolton School.
Flooring Solutions Ltd continues to be a trusted flooring contractor for leading educational establishments across the North West, bringing the technical expertise and attention to detail that complex projects demand.