When Sawchuk Construction encountered a bathroom floor that previously was flooded, they knew the substrate was in trouble! What they initially thought was coal in the concrete turned out to be mold. Several more issues mounted on the jobsite. Enter ARDEX UI 720™ FLEXBONE® Floating Uncoupling Membrane. Owner/lead installer Nathan Sawchuk “This membrane offers a client the homeowner some flexibility, they have a secure and warranted installation, with the added benefit of not facing a major renovation should they change their mind or desire a change.”
In the words of Nathan Sawchuk: Secondary to the mold, the toilet in the ensuite had not been seated properly during construction, the subfloor under the toilet was spongy and the room layout was very poor. The client wanted the neo-angle shower taken out and a new shower constructed. They also wanted to install tile in a sizeable kitchen and entry. The client also wanted to remove a fibreglass tub/shower from a second bathroom and replace it with a tiled one. With Christmas around the corner, and six weeks to their wedding date, time was of the essence.
We spoke with our ARDEX rep Adrian and he assured me that our first instinct of using ARDEX UI 720 Uncoupling Membrane would address all of the issues that we faced. We liked that the product solved many issues for us and the client. We were able to avoid tearing out all the vinyl in the house, we just removed it from the basement so that we could address issues in the slab. We avoided having to take all the K3 board that had been glued and stapled below the vinyl to the landfill, a real environmental problem solved. We were able to lay the material down, tape, edge, and go. We got lucky because the vinyl had zero embossing on it so the floor was very flat to begin with. We did not even have to do a skim coat before laying the uncoupling membrane down. The installers felt that they didn’t use as much thinset on top of the membrane as they have to use with other mats, so that is a huge cost saving since our setting materials are included in our installation charges. Time and material savings, who doesn’t love that? We would most certainly recommend ARDEX UI 720 Uncoupling membrane to other installers, not just when you have problematic subfloors, but we can think of so many instances that this membrane would benefit a homeowner or commercial client. The portability of the product is unchallenged. We are such a commercial society, this product has the added benefit that a client can change their mind about a tile or look at whim. This membrane offers a client the homeowner some flexibility, they have a secure and warranted installation, with the added benefit of not facing a major renovation should they change their mind or desire a change. The bathrooms were 30 sf each, Flexbone really worked in our favor in those tight spaces. The kitchen was 287 sf, with angles at the ends and where it met the living room. Quick work was made of those areas. The entry was turned 45 degrees, and although it was 168 sf, it was awkward and tight, alternative underlayments would have been challenging especially in the entry. Flexbone was quick and painless to work with. We were in and out of this residence in 15 short days, it would have been quicker had we not had to take a break for Christmas…they didn’t give us all the areas because they were worried it wouldn’t be as quick as we promised. We will definitely use the product again…we think it offers many solutions to the industry and to the homeowners that agree to consider this amazing and welcome technology.