Herkulit® S-Top

Herkulit® S-Top

General

Herkulit^® S-Top is mainly used on floors where there is a high level of requirements for durability, easy maintenance, good long-term economy, and a rustic appearance. 
Herkulit^® S-Top is used in industry, shopping centres, public premises, galleries, offices and parking garages.

 

Herkulit^® S-Top is a natural, environmentally-friendly material. The material is diffusion open, cannot be damaged by water and is also anti-static. Installation does not require the use of environmentally hazardous additives.
Herkulit^® S-Top is a 8-50 mm surface course that binds to both old and newly hardened concrete. The wear course is designed to provide problem-free functionality in extreme industrial environments or in premises where hygiene is important. This type of floor normally lasts for more than 30 years even in locations heavily used by vehicles such as trucks. 
Floors in old premises are renewed by applying Herkulit^® S-Top. And can be used to renew an entirely worn out floor or to upgrade a premises. In both cases a floor refurbishment is a qualitative, practical and cost-effective alternative to removing the existing concrete floor.  
Herkulit^® S-Top prevents chlorides and other harmful substances from permeating into the sub concrete. (Herkulit^® S-Top acts as an environmentally friendly protection for the sub concrete). Repairs to the existing concrete surfaces stops carbonation and decomposition of the structural concrete and are frost resistant.

 

The installation should be carried out by an experienced, qualified contractor. A surface course that is laid on a subfloor with no seams produces a perfect, problem-free floor covering. This combination reduces the need for seams in the floor by up to 80% compared with ordinary concrete flooring, and thereby also reduces the cost of repairs and maintenance in the future.

 

A seam-free concrete base can be created by adapting the concrete and the work in order to optimise the function of the concrete floor, instead of compromising due to the design of the building and the installation technique. 
This is made possible by laying the subfloor at an early stage in the construction process and laying the surface in an indoor environment at the end of the process. This also guarantees tolerances and surface finish, both of which are directly governed by the environment in which they are poured and laid, saving both time and money.

 

Project planning instructions

 

Carrying out the work

The work is divided into five main elements

- Blasting

- Laying

- Trowell and finishing

- Curing

- Treatments

 

Conditions at the workplace

When laying Herkulit^® S-Top temperature should be at least +10°C at the surface of the concrete, and be free of drips and draughts.

 

Technical data

The following properties are typical average values and should not be regarded as minimum or characteristic values.  All properties are at +20°C.

 

Type  Herkulit^® S-Top 200/400:

Compression strength in N/mm² after 28 days	75-110 N/mm²
Tensile strength in bending in N/mm² after 28 days	9-12 N/mm²
Wear strength after DIN 52108 Böhmen – value in cm³/50 cm²	<4

 

Description

To achieve a satisfactory result when laying Herkulit^® S-Top it is important that the concrete base is of good quality. The surface and structure of the concrete base is crucially important for the adhesion of the top layer. If there is any doubt as to whether the concrete base can meet the set requirements, a site test or a tensile strength test should be carried out, or if necessary cores should be drilled out for closer analysis.

 

Requirements

To ensure that Herkulit^® S-Top can function optimally, the concrete base must comply with the following requirements:

 

Adhesion

The tensile strength in the surface should be 1.5 MPa (15 kg/cm²) at the time of laying Herkulit^® S-Top.

 

The surface

The surface should be free of slurry and cement film as well as impurities.

 

Flatness

The concrete base should be sufficiently flat that the thickness of Herkulit^® S-Top can be kept within the given margins (HS 200 8-12 mm / HS 400 12-25 mm).

 

Guidance

If the concrete base has a tensile strength of at least 35 N/mm² and is otherwise of good quality and free of impurities, it can be expected that the above requirements for adhesion will be met after blasting, or alternatively milling and cleaning the surface.

 

For new production

Lay the concrete base using vibration to achieve a level and homogenous surface. Do not overwork the surface so that slurry appears on the surface of the concrete base. The slump of concrete and working methods directly affects surface tensile strength. Wean using higher concrete slump you need to increase concrete quality. Any inclines towards drains must be executed in the concrete base before laying the top layer. The concrete base should be sufficiently flat that the Herkulit® S-Top is within the acceptable tolerances (HS 200 8-12 mm / HS 400 12-25 mm).

 

The surface should be prepared for blasting/milling (fine trowelled surface)

 

Never use wax or solvent-based moisture-curing on the concrete base. 

 

All details of the floor structure should be decided. Before laying the concrete base. The concrete base must be laid on a flat and stable base course that will have to withstand the loads that are conveyed to it. 

 

Levelling

The surface around seams and cracks must be as level as possible when laying Herkulit^® S-Top.

 

Seams

Herkulit^® S-Top floor binds at the concrete base and does not require joints.

 

Seams in the concrete base

We recommend sawing joints in new floor coverings over old seams that are moving.

 

Blasting/milling

The surface structure should be equivalent to a minimum of 2 mm/max 30 % of the thickness of the top layer, when milling, otherwise blast the surface. The surface should be free of slurry and cement film. Blasting/milling should be carried out over the entire surface, as well as in the vicinity of walls, pillars etc. If it is not possible for the machines to access right to the edges, this is done by hand. Before milling/blasting the existing concrete base any cracks, rising edges, old seams etc. should be repaired.
After milling the concrete should be cleaned thoroughly by means of vacuuming, high pressure flushing etc., depending on the cleanliness and structure of the surface.

 

Applying water and covering

Water should be applied. Depending on the temperature conditions and the density of the concrete it is recommended that application of water should commence 8-24 hours before laying the primer. Uncover the surface concurrently with pouring. If there is any free-standing water, it must be vacuum dewatered before priming.

 

Colour

Basic colour: light grey. Pigments are added for other colours.

 

Choice of colours

There is a free choice of colours for Herkulit^®. Take into account the fact that pigmented cement-based products cannot be compared with colour codes for paint.

• Light colours should be avoided on surfaces that are frequently made dirty.

 

Seams, patterns

Can be sawn and filled as required

 

Protecting finished surfaces

Herkulit^® S-Top surfaces that are completed before the building is finished should be covered for protection and kept covered during the final installation. Herkulit^® S-Top is concrete and at first it therefore absorbs both water and waterborne dirt. The covering material should be waterproof and non-colouring, e.g. waterproof board.

 

Surface finish

Natural efflorescence occurs during the initial period of use, producing a dull surface. To remove this, treat the surface immediately after removing the moisture-curing film. Use LimeWash & StainWash in a combi scouring machine to remove a large amount of efflorescence. 

 

Cleaning

Clean floors with soap of the Concrete Soap^® type. 
The greyness (the efflorescence) will vanish in line with the regular cleaning and the Herkulit^® S-Top surfaces will become more liquid-repellent and acquire their finished gloss.
Refer to cleaning instructions for more information.