Installation instructions with Ardex products

ARDEX SYSTEM COMPONENTS:

Finnfoam Oy products:

Tulppa spacers (If using for a sheet metal element bathroom)

Tulppa Z brackets

Tulppa O brackets

Ardex products:

Sanitary silicone: Ardex SN or Ardex SE

Adhesive/sealing compound: Ardex CA 20 P

Waterproofing: Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K

Reinforcement tape: Ardex SK 12 reinforcement tape

Inlet cuff: Ardex SRM

Adhesive mortar: Ardex X 77

Sealing grout: Ardex G6 FLEX or Ardex G8S FLEX

Attachment to a timber or metal frame

Preparing the installation surface or frame

The rabbet edged Tulppa panels are designed to be installed horizontally with an on-center stud spacing of 600 mm. The Tulppa panels’ innovative, patented joint solution and installation system make installation significantly faster and easier. The concealed attachment at the edge using Tulppa Z brackets and the rabbeted solution combined with a sealing adhesive compound ensure safe, waterproof joints in one working stage.

Attachment to the base

The actual installation begins with the application of a 1–2 mm wide line of Ardex CA 20 P adhesive compound on each frame beam behind the panel, including the support strips.

The lowest Tulppa panel on the wall is placed on top of wedges and pressed on to the frame. During installation, ensure that the back side of the panel placed against the studding is higher than the front side, i.e. the rabbeting is placed the right way up. It is not necessary to saw off the rabbeting on the long side of the Tulppa panel placed against the ground. This is done to leave sufficient space for the sealing compound applied to the joint. The panels are attached to the framework of the wall at the edge of the panel using Tulppa Z brackets and countersunk screws. Use at least 5 Z brackets per panel (spacing 600 mm). The panel should be attached to each frame stud, which means that the spacing of the studs affects the number of brackets used. The length of the screw must be at least twice the thickness of the attached panel. With a metal frame, it is easier to use self-tapping (self-drilling) screws.

Panel seams and corner joints

At the corners, a gap of 1–3 mm is left between the panels to be filled in with Ardex CA 20 P adhesive compound. The gap must be filled in thoroughly up to the surface of the panel. The panels are pressed firmly together, and any excess adhesive paste is smoothed over the joint using a trowel. Once the adhesive compound is surface dry, the corners as well as the joint between the floor and the wall are waterproofed using Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing and Ardex SK 12 reinforcement tape. Ensure that no air pockets are left under the reinforcement tape pressed on top of the fresh layer of waterproofing. It is not necessary to separately waterproof the horizontal seams. Any vertical seams are waterproofed in the same manner as corners, but it is not necessary to waterproof the horizontal seams between the panels according to the system.

Wall and floor joint

Concrete floor of a wet room is waterproofed according to the instructions of Ardex waterproofing systems. The gap between the Tulppa panel and the floor is filled in with Ardex CA 20 P adhesive compound and any excess compound is smoothed over the surface of the panel (please note that the waterproofing membrane brought up from the floor must adhere to 30–50 mm of the surface of a clean Tulppa panel). The waterproofing membrane applied to the floor is brought at least 100 mm up the wall, which means that it will also cover the Tulppa O brackets used near the floor level. Ardex SK 12 reinforcement tape is pressed on to a fresh coat of Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing such that no air pockets are left in between. Finally, the Ardex SK 12 reinforcement tape is completely covered with Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing compound. The panels are attached to the framework of the wall at the edge using Tulppa Z brackets and countersunk screws. Use at least 5 Z brackets per panel (spacing 600 mm). The panel should be attached to each frame stud, so the spacing of the studs affects the number of brackets used. The length of the screw must be at least twice the thickness of the attached panel. With a metal frame, it is easier to use self-tapping (self-drilling) screws. Finally, the Ardex SK 12 reinforcement tape is completely covered with Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing.

Passages

The gaps between passages and Tulppa panels are sealed during the attachment of the panels using Ardex CA 20 P adhesive compound. Pipe inlets are sealed once the adhesive compound has dried using Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing and Ardex 8+9 or Ardex SRM inlet cuffs. During sealing, you must ensure that no dried-up excess installation adhesive is left between the pipe cuff and the pipe.

Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing is spread around the pipe to cover the area on to which the Ardex SRM pipe cuff is placed. The pipe cuff is laid on top of a fresh coat of Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing and rubbed smooth to push out any air below the cuff. Finally, Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing is used to completely cover the pipe cuff, which must also extend over the collar on to the surface of the Tulppa panel.

Tiling

You can begin tiling once the Ardex 8+9 or Ardex S 1-K waterproofing is dry. The drying will usually take 2–24 hours depending on the products used, thickness of the layers, temperature, and the relative humidity of air. It is important to wipe the surfaces of the panels clean from dust and dirt with a moist cloth. Before you begin the installation, use a wet sponge to moisten the surface of the wall. Tiles are adhered with Ardex X77 mortar. Porous tiles are grouted with Ardex G6 FLEX sealing grout and leak-proof tiles with Ardex G8S FLEX sealing grout. Corners are sealed with Ardex SN or Ardex SE sanitary silicone.