New apartments for the team Sonnenalp Moisture resistant UZIN MT Classic System

According to the hotel management, the construction of residential buildings close to the resort will save several tons of CO₂ per year. A total of seven houses enable many employees to walk to work every day. Carpooling, job bikes, and a leasing concept for electric vehicles complement the offer. Also in the current new buildings emphasis was placed on good facilities and low-emission, environmentally friendly materials. For example, regional larch wood, geothermal energy, and photovoltaics were used. The fact that the craftsmen come from the surrounding area is also an important point.

To make sure that the employees are able to move into the premium apartments as planned, the floor had to be reliably ready for covering over an area of 1,100 m². However, the prescribed measurements of the screed revealed increased residual moisture with values above 3 CM-% in both buildings. “According to the tender, epoxy resin products must then be used to seal the floor,” explains Uzin technical consultant Helmut Gerle, who supervised the project. The sealing layer would have meant an additional work step and higher demands in terms of handling the products – still within the given short time frame. “By contacting Uzin, we found a very good, environmentally friendly, and low-emission alternative,” says Alexander Werl, owner of the contracted interior design company Werl. The moisture-resistant UZIN MT Classic System makes processing easier and faster. This conserves resources and saves time. “We have been working with Uzin for over 30 years. Technical consultant Helmut Gerle immediately suggested this alternative,” Werl continues. In cooperation with the flooring manufacturer, the best and safest floor construction meeting the requirements was developed for the client and the installer. The new UZIN MT Classic System is perfect for vinyl flooring and can be used without any upper moisture limit.

By using the UZIN MT Classic System, a moisture barrier is not required, even in cases of increased residual moisture. All products used on damp substrates must be resistant to alkaline moisture. The substrate must also be solid, load-bearing, crack-free, level, and clean. Therefore, the surface was first sanded and thoroughly vacuumed to remove any substances such as dirt, oil, or grease that could impact adhesion. Afterwards, it was ready for priming and filling.

The moisture tolerant, rapid-drying dispersion-based primer UZIN PE 360 Plus comes to the construction site ready to use – it binds dust, reduces the absorbency of the substrate, and serves as an adhesion promoter. The low-slump cementitious repair mortar UZIN NC 182 can be used in large and small quantities and has a ReActivate effect. This enables a longer working time, and it is therefore easy to use. It is needed to level out differences in height or imperfections. After 60 minutes, it is ready for covering. “We used it to fill the transitions to the bathroom up to 15 mm in some places and then primed the surfaces again,” explains Alexander Werl. 

The new self-leveling cementitious floor smoothing compound UZIN NC 161 was applied in a layer thickness of 2–3 mm. It is suitable for filling, leveling, and smoothing cementitious substrates with residual moisture or rising moisture - even in areas with heavy traffic. Alexander Werl: “For leveling compounds, good flow and reliable processing are important. We worked very ergonomically with a transport caddy and squeegee, deaerated with a spiked roller and, after a standard drying time of 24 hours, we applied the moisture-resistant adhesive.” The new UZIN KE 25 all-rounder adhesive is a powerful dispersion adhesive with excellent processing properties. It is used for bonding suitable elastic and textile floor coverings to damp substrates. The team then laid design coverings in plank form in the new apartments.

The complete moisture-resistant UZIN MT Classic System is suitable for construction in accordance with sustainability criteria such as LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB – it meets the highest quality level for the DGNB seal for sustainable construction. The adhesive and primer are very low-emission in accordance with EMICODE EC1 Plus, and have been awarded the Blue Angel environmental label and the GISCODE D1 label. This ensures a good indoor climate – ideal for use in private and commercial spaces. The fillers and repair compounds are also low in chromate according to GISCODE ZP1. All products in the system have EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), which provide neutral data on environmentally relevant properties throughout the entire life cycle of the product. Thanks to this transparency, everyone involved in construction can identify and evaluate sustainable products. EPDs support architects in choosing the right materials to plan buildings that are sustainable throughout.

To create an optimal indoor climate and let residents and users feel comfortable, low-emission materials are essential. Additionally, processors and the environment benefit from climate-friendly and sustainable materials. Alexander Werl appreciates the advantages of the moisture-resistant system: "I can protect my health by not using two-component epoxy or PUR products. Working with sustainable products is important in our company. We want to take care of the environment and do our part to protect it.“ The system has a CO₂ footprint that is approximately 50% lower than conventional epoxy resin-based barrier systems. ”It is a suitable alternative for all tenders where epoxy and PUR products are not permitted or desired," emphasizes Helmut Gerle.

Alexander Werl on floor installation at the Sonnenalp: "Uzin's installation materials are very reliable. The technical consultants are always on hand to offer help and advice. That is what matters when you need quick and effective solutions for floor constructions on the building site. For me, the health and environment features are particularly important. We have confidence in Uzin's products; it is a forward-looking company. That's why we try something new from time to time. In existing buildings without basements or insulation, I will use the new MT Classic System in the future. The client is also very satisfied with the result. The first house has already been approved for rental."