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Existing slab at new small format Bunnings store at Toombul revitalised with Retroplate Polished Concrete

Project Background

Bunnings Warehouse has, last month, opened a new store at Toombul Shopping Centre, in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. This new store marks a strategic move for the hardware retailer, from the warehouse style, big box format stores. Bunnings, Toombul is a part of the launch of small format stores, which are about the same size as a traditional supermarket and will be located in local shopping centres to provide shoppers with more product choice and the ultimate convenience.

Transitions were contracted to install a new floor finish on the existing slab for the new Bunnings Toombul store. The retail space at Toombul Shopping Centre has had a number of retailers utilise the tenancy in past years, each with different uses. Therefore the existing slab was handed over in a less than desirable condition for polishing. 

Specification

Existing slab at new small format Bunnings store at Toombul revitalised with Retroplate Polished Concrete

  • Retroplate Polished Concrete
  • Existing slab
  • Gloss level of 60
  • Joint remediation

Scope

  • 3,300m2 of Retroplate Polished Concrete
  • 450Lm of joints (approximately)

Objectives & Requirements

Bunnings Warehouse has a required specification of Retroplate Polished Concrete floors. This requirement maintains a uniform look and feel for the brand throughout all of its stores and upholds the warehouse aesthetic. Additionally, Bunnings Warehouse requires a floor that is durable and can withstand a high and constant amount of foot traffic without aesthetically wearing. A minimum gloss level of 60 is also required, which assists with light reflectivity.

The existing slab in the Toombul tenancy was previously finished with vinyl tiles. This flooring material was removed from the slab, which left the concrete in a bad condition. The joints in the slab were badly spalled with some joints sitting at a 30mm height difference, which the client required to be level across the surface of the store. Additionally, large sections of the existing slab in the retail tenancy were in an unpolishable state due to previously being utilised as cool rooms and meat preparation areas. However it was required that the finish of these sections are consistent with those slabs that were in a polishable state.

Chosen Product

As per the required specification, Retroplate Polished Concrete was installed at the new Bunnings Toombul store in line with manufacturing guidelines to ensure adequate penetration and densification of the concrete.

The before mentioned, unpolishable areas, were topped with screed; a polymer-modified cement based topping, and then finished the same as the remainder of the slab with Retroplate applied.

The existing slab also required an extensive amount of joint remediation, over 450 lineal metres of it. The remediation process included grinding works to make the joints level and cutting to joints to ensure they were straight. From here the joints were filled with an epoxy mortar, recut and filled with 75 shore hardness polyurea.

Outcome

The outcome of the Bunnings Toombul polished concrete floor was fantastic, with Transitions exceeding the expectations of the finish achieved. All joints were successfully remediated creating a level floor with a consistent finish. Gloss levels and slip rating results met specification with the slip-rating test achieving a classification of D1 or moderate to low risk. The project was delivered on time, in 9 days, and on budget.

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Pet Stock new North Lakes store focused on floor durability & hygiene

Project Background

Pet Stock North Lakes

As a part of the continued development of the North Lakes region, Pet Stock have opened a brand new store, alongside many other high profile retailers. The new store boasts a 1200m2 trading floor with all the features and products a pet owner could dream of, including a dog wash area and in house veterinary practice.

As with many of the tenancies in the centre, the store encompasses concrete floors installed by Transitions Polishing and Grinding.

Specification

  • Polished concrete
  • High steel trowel with no exposure of aggregate
  • Polished to an 800grit
  • Semi gloss finish
  • Application of C2 Hardened and C2 Seal

Scope

  • 1,200m2 - Main trading floor + veterinary treatment rooms + dust sealing to the back of house. 

Objectives

In terms of objectives, the client aimed to achieve an aesthetically pleasing concrete floor that remained consistent with the look at feel of other Pet Stock stores. For this, the concrete floor must have a high steel finish with no exposure of aggregate.

Requirements

Pet Stock has specific functional requirements for the concrete floors in their stores, as customers are able to shop with their pets. Additionally, Pet Stock at North Lakes incorporates an on site veterinary practice. The client required a concrete floor that is low maintenance, hard wearing and would maintain a certain level of hygiene. This means the floor would have the ability to be washed regularly with harsh chemicals, mostly in the veterinary treatment areas, and would not scratch easily from pallet jacks or pets walking over it.

Chosen Product

The chosen flooring product for the Pet Stock store at North Lakes is Transitions Polished Concrete with C2 Hardener and C2 Seal. The floor is finished to a high steel trowel, semi gloss finish.

These specific products were chosen due to their ability to fulfil the precise requirements set down by the client. The C2 products, combined with Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete, produce a long lasting, gloss finished concrete floor that is UV stable and low VOC. Furthermore they offer a level of protection that will enable the client to clean the floor with harsh chemicals to maintain high levels of hygiene.

Outcome

The concrete floor installed at Pet Stock North Lakes had a fantastic outcome and was installed within project timelines.

The finish achieved on the concrete floor was consistent throughout the store and achieved constant gloss levels of 60+. This increased light reflectivity in the store and created a light, bright shopping atmosphere.

The floor has proven to be hardwearing and durable without experiencing any damage during the fit out stage, as seen by Transitions when they returned to the store to complete a final buff of the floor before the official store opening.  

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New Masters store on the Gold Coast shining with Transitions Polished Concrete

Transitions Polished Concrete Floors in the new Masters Bundall store on the Gold Coast
Transitions Polished Concrete Floors in the new Masters Bundall store on the Gold Coast

Project Background

Masters Home Improvement is a big-box retailer offering consumers a retail experience they have never see before. Each store stocks over 35,000 different products from outdoor furniture to a complete new bathroom with all the accessories.

Masters have just opened their new store in Bundall on the Gold Coast and contracted Transitions to complete works on all internal concrete trading floors.

Specification

  • Transitions Polished Concrete

Scope

  • 20,000m2 curing compound
  • 8,000m2 Transitions Polished Concrete
  • 6,000m2 concrete treatments

Objective

The client had a relatively simple objective for the concrete floor at the new Masters store in Bundall. The final result was to be of a light colour and create a uniform finish, aside from the natural variants in the concrete, throughout the tenancy.

Requirements

The functional requirements for the floor at Masters, Bundall were very specific in terms of gloss levels and performance. The gloss levels had to achieve 60 points as minimum resulting in a consistent shine throughout the whole retail store. Considered as an ultra-high traffic environment, it was a requirement of the density of the concrete to be increased. This improves the overall strength of the concrete and its abrasion resistance. The project at Masters, Bundall also had a nominated floor hardener which was required to be used during this process; Tremco uko. This product has a long, proven track record in use with Masters' US partner. 

Chosen Product

The chosen product for the new Masters Home Improvement store in Bundall was a densified and polished concrete by Transitions. This concrete floor finish is the national specification for the brand and is installed in all new Masters stores being constructed, nationwide. Furthermore, Transitions are certified installers of Tremco uko diamond hard product which was specified for the project.

The densified product specified was applied whilst the slab pour was taking place in order to reduce surface cracking, cured adequate hydrocarbon resin, and retain moisture - 90% retention relevant to Australian standards. Use of the densifier with concrete increases life expectancy of concrete floors in ultra high traffic environments, such as that which Masters will experience, and reduces life cycle costs of polished concrete floors. In addition to this, by finishing the concrete floor to a high gloss/reflectivity level light reflectivity is increased within the store and therefore artificial lighting is decreased. As a result a high gloss polished concrete floor can be a cost effective option.

Overall Outcome

The outcome of the concrete floor at the new Masters Home Improvement store in Bundall was excellent. The Transitions team were able to both meet and exceed gloss levels throughout the store, averaging between 80-100 points on several slabs.

The project was completed in 14 days with all objectives and requirements either met or exceeded and the client was thrilled with the results.

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The Good Guys Celebrate their 100th Store in North Lakes, Brisbane

Project Background

The Good Guys is one of Australia’s largest electrical appliance retailers, currently operating 100 stores across metropolitan and regional Australia and online. The retailer celebrated their 100th store when they opened the doors to the newly constructed unit in North Lakes, north of Brisbane, which includes a striking Transitions Polished Concrete floor in the main trading areas.

Specification

  • Concrete slab to be densified upon concreters final trowel of surface
  • Polished concrete - high steel trowel with no exposure of aggregate
  • Polished to an 800 grit
  • Semi Gloss
  • Finished and sealed with Retroplate

Scope

  • Floor densifier - 2,200m2
  • Floor preparation – 1,050m2
  • Transitions Polished Concrete – 850m2

Objective

The Good Guys had very specific objectives when it came to the form and functionality of the polished concrete floor in their new North Lakes store. In terms of performance the concrete floor needed to be hardwearing and durable, to withstand the high volume of foot traffic and to avoid showing any scuffmarks or scratches when heavy stock was moved across it.

When it came to aesthetics the client wanted a concrete floor with a uniform colour throughout and a relatively good gloss level to assist with light reflectivity in the store.

Requirements

The concrete floor at The Good Guys, North Lakes had a particular spec that was required. The application of Ashford Formula was required the same day as the concrete slab was poured, as a part of a densification process of the slab. Following on from this the Retroplate Polished Concrete process was required. In addition, floor preparation was required in some areas of the store, where vinyl flooring was to be installed.

Chosen Product

The concrete flooring product chosen for The Good Guys, North Lakes store was Ashford Formula, which was in line with the assigned specification. This system was chosen, as Ashford Formula is a curing compound and the only product that achieves Australian Standards as such. Being an integral product, that is a chemical reaction in the slab, as opposed to a traditional topical/resin based curing compound, assists in the creation of a uniform and consistent colour throughout the surface of the slab. Ashford Formula is also fully compatible with the Retroplate Polished Concrete system, which is extremely durable and has the ability to cope with pallet jacks, trolleys, forklifts and heavy foot traffic, all of which the floor in the store would encounter on a regular basis.

Overall Outcome

The outcomes of this project were fantastic! The polished concrete floor installed by Transitions at The Good Guys, North Lakes store achieved the required gloss levels, which created a light, bright shopping atmosphere and a uniform colour throughout the slab.

The Ashford Formula curing compound was placed in accordance with manufacturers guidelines and there were no signs of plastic cracking through the surface of the slab, which allowed Transitions to achieve an aesthetically pleasing, hardwearing Retroplate Polished Concrete floor thereafter.

As this store was the 100th store for The Good Guys, they wanted it to be their best yet. Feedback from the client was that this was by far the best polished concrete floor they had seen in a store to date.

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New Target Country concept store at Beerwah Shopping Village chooses Transitions Polished Concrete floors

Project Background

Beerwah Shopping Village, a local convenience based shopping centre in Beerwah north of Brisbane, has undergone a major 15,000m2 expansion which has seen the introduction of 25 specialty retail shops including a new anchor store, Target. The shopping centres expansion has been welcomed by small businesses in the area, who are delighted to see local spend increasing. The new expansion, which was successfully completed in October, is directly adjacent to the existing Beerwah Marketplace.

The new Target store constructed at Beerwah Shopping Village is a new concept store for Target. It is based on the Target country stores, which have a smaller floor plan than traditional Target stores, and is the first to have polished concrete installed as the chosen flooring material.

New Target store at Beerwah Shopping Village chooses Transitions Polished Concrete floorsSpecification

  • Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete
  • R9 Slip Rating
  • Partial Aggregate Exposure
  • High Gloss

Scope

  • 950m2

Objective 

The client wanted to achieve a floor that was essentially a blank canvas for the new Target store. A floor that would highlight the products on display as opposed to being the highlight. In addition to this, the client wanted to enhance lighting in the store as it was a smaller than usual retail space and would be relatively full with racking and product displays.

Requirements

Being in a retail environment, the requirements for the chosen flooring product at the new Target Beerwah Shopping Village store were crucial to achieving the best outcome. A very high traffic environment with trolley traffic meant that the floor must be hard wearing and durable, all whilst maintaining its aesthetic. As previously mentioned, the client wanted a floor that would assist in creating a bright space for the small store so the requirement for light reflectivity was pivotal. This is combined with the importance of a low maintenance option due to the lack of open spaces to complete periodic maintenance in the store. Overall, the client required a flooring product that could achieve all of this and be completed as the most cost effective option.

Chosen Product

Target chose Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete floors as their flooring product for the new store at Beerwah Shopping Village. This product was chosen as it fulfilled and exceeded all the clients expectations. Transitions Mechanically Polished Concrete is the ideal product for the high traffic retail environment as it is durable and long lasting. It is a flooring product that can handle constant foot and trolley traffic whilst remaining unaffected aesthetically. In addition to this the maintenance required to upkeep this aesthetic is very minimal. It is a high quality, highly refined flooring product.

Transitions installed a concrete floor with a partial grind to remain in line with the minimalistic look and 'blank canvas' objective for the floor. Together with this, the partial grind also added cost benefits for the client. The floor was also completed to achieve a high gloss finish which will greatly assist in bouncing light around the retail store from outside and from internal lighting.

Overall Outcome

As a result, the client was happy with the final product installed at the new Target Beerwah Shopping Village store. A time pressured project, the concrete floor was completed in 5 days, faster than the 9 days allowed for. The store looks great and the concrete floor adds a contemporary element that fits in with the the new concept store. 

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