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EASIPOINT LAUNCHES PROTECTIVE COATING FOR STONE & MASONRY

EasiPoint has launched an advanced coating designed to protect natural stone and other porous masonry surfaces against water, oil and grease.

235 Lankoprotec, a brush or spray-applied clear liquid, reduces soiling and staining, prevents the build up of micro-organisms and also make it easier to remove chewing gum and other "nuisance" substances.

Already proven in use in Europe, 235 Lankoprotec is non-toxic and environmentally friendly and is ideal for use on natural and man-made paving, patios, terraces, barbecue areas, garage floors, facades and forecourts.

It is suitable for use with most materials, is solvent and silicone-free and does not alter the appearance of surfaces on which it is applied.

Available in 5 litre containers, typical coverage ranges from 3.5 m² per litre up to 25 m² per litre depending on the substrate treated.

EASIPOINT PROVIDES SOLUTION DEEP IN LAKELAND FOREST

A high profile hard landscaping scheme at the focal point of a new visitor development in a Lakeland forest has benefited from the use of an EasiPoint mortar system.

The Forestry Commission's new Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre, near Ambleside, features high quality hard landscaping using some 850 m² of Westmorland Green Lakeland slate slips throughout a new complex providing a restaurant, café shop and access to forest-based recreational facilities.

Supplied by Burlington, the 150 mm x 150 mm tumbled slate slips, each only 30 mm in thickness, together with bands of larger, elongated blue riven slate used to break up the visual mass, required an all-round bedding and jointing solution capable of withstanding daily visitor movements, regular authorised vehicular traffic and the local climate.

To provide a lasting solution, Kendal-based consulting engineers Burgess Roughton specified a system comprising three specialist BS7533-compliant EasiPoint mortars, which were used throughout the project by main contractor Team Northern Construction Ltd, of Milnthorpe.

Some 120 tonnes of EasiPoint Fine Bedding Concrete (FBC) was used to lay the slips at the required level of 1:100 to prevent water ponding on the finished surface. In order to strengthen the bond between the FBC and the slate tiles, EasiPoint Bond Plus, a high strength polymer-enriched mortar was brush-applied prior to laying.

This was followed by final jointing of the 10-12 mm gaps between the tiles using EasiPoint Granatech high strength mortar, which was slurry-applied, followed by final belt cleaning.

John Taylor, of Burgess Roughton commented: "The shallow depth of the slips that were used over such large areas presented a challenge to achieve both a robustness and consistency. By using EasiPoint we identified a system that could provide an overall solution to bedding and jointing."

SELBY'S RENAISSANCE IS COMPLETE WITH EASIPOINT

A major £500,000 hard landscaping and environmental improvements scheme to transform the centre of a Yorkshire market town has just been completed using specialist mortars from EasiPoint.

The Living Street Renaissance scheme in Selby has revitalised the area around the town's ancient abbey and market place.

In order to ensure an effective and lasting finish, contractors Ringway, of Auburn, Lincs, used BS7533-compliant mortars from EasiPoint.

For bedding, EasiPoint Fine Bedding Concrete conveniently supplied in a replenishable silo was used to provide mortar on tap and remove the hazard of dust and limit vehicle movements in a confined area where storage space was at a premium.

Some 3,000 m² of Marshall's Greenmoor Yorkstone flame textured paving provided the main material for the central area outside the approaches to the medieval abbey, along with silver-grey granite kerbs.

The joints, nominally 6-8 mm were completed using high strength EasiPoint jointing mortar, which was slurry-applied prior to finishing using a mechanical belt cleaner.

Some 450 m² of tumbled Greenmoor setts in random sizes were used along the pathway to the abbey, while 50 mm² of 100 mm x 100 mm setts were also used to provide a focal area around the ancient monument in the market place. The joints between the setts were also filled using high strength Settpoint as a slurry.

Ringway project manager Bob Sutton commented: "We used EasiPoint successfully for a major scheme in Lincoln, which English Heritage have nominated as ‘exemplar quality'. Again, we found the system very effective and the silo allowed us to mix material on demand whenever we wanted it and helped to limit the space needed for storage on a confined site right outside the abbey.

"It also provided obvious health and safety benefits both for our team and the public."

The Renaissance scheme is a partnership between Selby District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, all of which have contributed towards funding.

EASIPOINT SQUARES IT FOR SONS OF THE DESERT

Specialist mortars from EasiPoint were specified for a new hard landscaping scheme featuring a specially-commissioned statue of comic duo Laurel and Hardy as its centrepiece.

The bronze tribute to Ulverston's most famous son, Stan Laurel and his chubby chum Oliver Hardy was unveiled this week by "King of Comedy" Ken Dodd. The sculpture was created by artist Graham Ibbeson, who also made the Eric Morecambe statue and funded by the Sons of the Desert, the International Appreciation Society for Laurel and Hardy.

The statue is the focal point for Ulverston's County Square Environmental Improvement Scheme – a 10-week programme to transform the appearance of the square, which stands at the entrance to the main town centre area and is the frontage to the Coronation Hall theatre.

Main contractor for the £500,000 project, Hanson Contracting, of Penrith, specified three mortars for EasiPoint for the high quality scheme which features a combination of some 700 m²multi-coloured Porphrey natural stone slabs, granite kerbs, natural stone setts and a star-shaped feature of inscribed green Kirkstone Lakeland slate around the statue.

As space on site and storage areas were severely limited, the contractors specified silo-based EasiPoint Fine Bedding Concrete for the bedding of the slabs and kerbs following application of EasiPoint BondPlus to ensure a strong bond.

For jointing, natural coloured EasiPoint gun-injected mortar was used for the nominal 12 mm joints in the paved areas, while slurry-applied Granatech high strength mortar was used for the joints of up to 15 mm between the setts used to form parking bays.

All three products met the requirement for BS7533 compliant materials and provided efficiencies which allowed the paving sub-contractors P&H Construction, of Ashton-in-Makerfield, to complete the project, which was designed and supervised by Capita Consultants, to a strict timescale.

The silo-based FBC in particular helped to progress the project under difficult time and traffic constraints. Comments a member of the Hanson Contracting scheme: "The silo worked absolutely perfectly and meant we had material on tap whenever we wanted it. We chose it as a solution to the constraints presented by the site and we would always use a silo in future under similar circumstances."

The County Square scheme marks the conclusion of the four-year Ulverston and Low Furness Market Town Initiative, which received funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency for a programme of regeneration work in the area. The County Square scheme is the final legacy project of the initiative.

Project Officer and SLDC Regeneration Manager Jayne Kendall said: "The quality of the scheme is first class, and Hanson, the County Council and Capita have made a superb job. It is a credit to the town. We look forward to the workmanship and materials standing the test of time which I am certain that they will"

Funding for the project was provided by Northwest Regional Development Agency South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria District County Council and English Heritage.

EASIPOINT DUO SPECIFIED FOR MAJOR CITY MAKEOVER

Specialist mortars from the EasiPoint range met the standards for a hard landscaping scheme forming part of and award-winning city centre development.

The convenience of silo-based EasiPoint Fine Bedding Concrete and EasiPoint’s Granatech jointing material helped to keep on track the high quality paving project at Hammerson Plc’s Highcross shopping and leisure quarter in central Leicester.

Both products were specified by Benoy Architects, of Newark, Notts, for the scheme, which ran for some 10 months.

During the specialist sub-contractor Dearne Pave Ltd, of Tamworth, Staffs, working on behalf of groundworkers Hillstreet Construction, Birmingham, laid some 6,500m² of high quality granite paving in a broad variety of sizes and colours, plus a further 3,000m² of Kellen concrete paving.

For bedding, EasiPoint Fine Bedding concrete delivered by a self-mixing silo was used for the duration of the project to provide a BS7533-compliant base, with material available 'on tap'. This allowed a consistent mix to be achieved using minimum labour, freeing up personnel to lay the paving.

For jointing, EasiPoint Granatech 40 mortar was used as a slurry for the 8-10 mm joints between the paving units. The slurry was applied to joints up to 100mm deep prior to cleaning off any residue with a mechanical belt cleaner.

Comments Chris Dearne, Managing Director of Dearne Pave Ltd: "We found the silo system for the bedding mortar very convenient as we could work for several days between deliveries instead of having to wait for deliveries on a daily basis. It also allowed us to start work within minutes of arriving on site."

Covering 10 hectares, the regeneration project based on the old Shires shopping complex is that largest Leicester has ever seen.

The hard landscaping forms the pedestrian areas and walkways within the new development which provides visitors with a choice of more than 120 stores in 110,000m² of shopping space, plus a new restaurant quarter and apartments.

Main contractor for the design and build contract was Sir Robert McAlpine on behalf of client Hammerson & Hermes Property Asset Mana.

Environmental and economic considerations led to the specification of EasiPoint specialist mortars for a prestigious £1.95 million hard landscaping scheme in the Lakeland town of Windermere.

The high profile Windermere Enhancement Scheme has provided a new look for Crescent Road, the main shopping street that make up part of the town's one-way system.

High quality materials were specified for the upgrade, which has involved widening and reconstruction the pavements, removing street clutter and the provision of street furniture and materials to follow a site specific urban design.

Designed for Cumbria Country Council Client Services by Capita Symonds' Carlisle office, the scheme involves some 0.28 hectares of high quality paving featuring sandstone from York, Italian Porphyry stone and imported granite from China.

The natural paving materials were selected for their richly contracting colours, strength, longevity and to satisfy highway design standards.

EasiPoint’s BS7533 compliant mortars were selected by main contractor Carillion PLC's Warrington office for all aspects of the bedding, bonding and jointing of the paved areas.

EasiPoint Fine Bedding Concrete (FBC) was made available "on tap" from a silo based in the site compound located in a nearby garden centre car park and able to provide some 30 tonnes of mixed material from each delivery. Approximately 320 tonnes of EasiPoint FBC was used over the course of the contract, along with some 300 bags of rapid setting EasiPoint RS Bedding mortar, which was used for areas requiring a quick return to service.

To provide a bond of adequate strength, EasiPoint BondPlus slurry was applied to the elements prior to bedding. Final jointing was carried out using EasiPoint Standard gun injected mortar in Natural for the paving slabs, while slurry-applied SettPoint Natural high strength jointing mortar was used for the wider gaps between setts which are used to provide demarcation between the smoothly paved areas and the kerb edges at junctions.

Comments a member of Carillion's management team: "The silo was a big advantage because it meant there was virtually no wasted material. It met the client's requirement for material supplies to be sourced locally where possible, in order to reduce transport costs and carbon emissions.

"It also helped to provide better working conditions and limited the dust and stored material in an area heavily populated by shops and people."

The scheme has been funded by Cumbria County Council, the Northwest Development Agency and the European Union.

EASIPOINT LIME MORTAR FILLS GAPS IN ANCIENT WALLS

THE use of a pumpable natural hydraulic lime mortar from EasiPoint provided the authentic finish required for the restoration of walls surrounding one of the UK’s most prominent Norman castles.

Around one tonne of EasiPoint Restoration Mortar was used during remedial works to the walls at Clitheroe Castle, which overlooks the market town situated in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley.

Working on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council, specialist contractors G. Reed and Sons Ltd, of Preston, renewed the joints in approximately 100 square metres of sandstone walling using EasiPoint restoration Mortar incorporating Trent pea grit.

The mortar met the need for a traditional lime-based material and offered the advantage of gun-injection, which enabled the contractors to fill substantial voids in the stonework and joints up to 25 mm wide.

The walls, believed to date back to the 15th Century, had become overgrown with ivy, which was removed to reveal significant deterioration of the existing mortar.

Explains Trevor Eidsforth, of G. Reed and Sons: “Weather penetration and the vegetation meant the joints were in a poor state, leaving large voids. Using the gun-injection system allowed us to fill the voids in areas we could never accessed using a trowel.”

Ribble Valley Council specified EasiPoint following a consultant’s report and advice from English Heritage, with the work funded by the council, the Northwest Development Agency and the local Rotary club.

Comments a council spokesman: “We are very pleased with the final appearance, which has created cleaner looking lines and allowed us to use a material in keeping with the age of the structure.”

Clitheroe Castle’s Norman keep dates back to 1168 when it was built for local land owner Robert De Lacy. It was ransacked by Parliamentary forces and deliberately damaged during the Civil War, but was repaired in 1848.