Pleasure, fitness and recreation are all in the programme in this family leisure centre: apart from the new-build of a whirl-pool, a water-chute and a jacuzzi-pool, consideration was also given to sports enthusiasts in the course of the partial renovation: the swimming-pool with six 25 metre lanes was also re-tiled. And so that everything remained good-looking in the long-term, the installers placed great importance on a well conceived system construction with products from the brand Codex.

Preparatory work in the pool areas

First, the cement screed was prepared with a dispersion-based protective primer - Codex Fliesengrund – to seal the surface, bind dust, reduce absorbency and improve the bond of the thin-bed mortar.

Substrate preparation in pools, showers and changing-rooms

Before the installation work could begin, some areas of the concrete in the swimming-pools, as well as in the changing-rooms and showers, had to be professionally repaired: for this, the installation team used the flex-sealer-slurry NC 220 from Codex, a flexible, waterproof and crack-bridging bonded sealer for use under interior and exterior wall and floor tiling.
It was applied in two seal-coats. If used as a waterproofing slurry-coat, the product has a reduced water quantity of maximum five percent added. A full scratch-coat of the sealer-slurry is applied then, wet-in-wet, another coat is applied with a notched trowel to produce uniform ridges. Immediately, and using a little more of the material, the ridges are smoothed out using a straight-edged trowel to give a fully sealed coat. After this first coat is dry, the procedure is repeated exactly as before.

Codex NC 220 combines many advantages: it is smooth and easy to apply, flexible, resistant to frost and ageing. In addition, the bonded sealer is highly plasticised and so allows the reliable installation of water-proofing over cracks in conjunction with ceramic tiling.

Installation of the ceramics using thin-bed mortar

Today’s demands on hygiene, drainage channels and density of the covering require construction methods using the thinnest layers that, despite everything else, must meet all prescribed requirements and this in a fully bonded system. For this, the thin-bed method is suitable when used together with water-proofing in a special bonded system with ceramic tiling or cladding. Thin-bed installation is especially recommended in swimming-pools. However, even with good work by the installer, some small shrinkage voids can occur in the mortar. With such tiling, whatever can penetrate through joints and remain there can breed bacteria and, therefore, influence the quality of the water.

Here, special and complementary Codex products from the Power range produce an easy to install and functional new covering using the thinnest of layers.

For all the tiling, the rapid setting, flexible thin-bed mortar Power Flex from Codex was used. Power Flex is a low-slump, hydraulic setting, highly plasticised thin-bed mortar. When mixed with water, it produces a fine grain, smooth and low-slump fixing mortar with the best application properties.
Due to the easy handling, high productivity is possible – and the time on this project was, as stated, very tight.

In the swimming-pools, white split clinker tiles were installed combined with marine blue markings for visual definition of the individual lanes.

For the men’s showers, a combination of white tiles with grey and light-blue mosaics and a dark-grey floor were chosen. For the ladies’ showers, they decided on grey and orange coloured mosaics. For the changing-rooms, dryers and cosmetic mirror-walls, it was white with yellow and marine blue mosaics.

Grouting the ceramics

Permanent resistance to various chemicals, chlorinated water and cleaning agents can only be achieved by grouting with an epoxy-resin grout material. Amongst other things, it is known that reaction resin grout compounds, when hardened, have excellent adhesion to glazed and unglazed ceramic surfaces. Here, the pigmented Epo Tix reaction resin grout from Codex was used.

Despite the extreme time pressure, all deadlines were met and the Seedamm-Bad was opened again before Christmas – ever since, sports and health fans have been able to take a dip in the attractive adventure pool.