ARDEX Make a Stylish Entrance at The Savoy
ARDEX UK were delighted to work in partnership with Mega Marble Limited, one of the UK’s leading specialist fabricators and installers of Natural Stone and Quartz, to assist with the completion of the vast £220m restoration of London’s iconic Savoy hotel.
Managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, the 268-room property on the Strand boasts nine signature suites and a newly created two-bedroom Royal Suite. Gordon Ramsay has returned to the Savoy Grill and the hotel's banqueting rooms are already hosting events for up to 400 guests. Additional reception space is available in the new Beaufort Bar for up to 150 guests.
Mega Marble sourced, fabricated and installed a selection of their luxury marble and stonework throughout the public areas within the hotel, including the River Restaurant, Beaufort Bar, Thames Foyer, Upper Thames Foyer, Front Hall, Reading Room, Cloakrooms and lift cars.
To commence this prestigious project, ARDEX A 35 rapid setting and drying cement was used to screed the floor areas. Proven throughout many commercial installations to provide a flat and durable surface, ARDEX A 35 can be walked on after only 3 hours and is dry enough to receive floor finishes after just 24 hours, regardless of thickness. A wait of at least a month would have been required before a standard cement/sand screed would be hard and dry enough for further work to proceed.
ARDEX X 7001 W Rapid Drying Pourable Floor Tile Adhesive in white was used to fix the floor tiling - its rapid drying properties virtually eliminates the possibility of moisture staining of the stone. ARDEX X 7001 W offers a one hour pot-life – which is double the time of most rapid set adhesives, and is suitable for fixing limestone, and enables grouting just two hours after fixing along with excellent adhesion and a pourable consistency that facilitates solid bedding.
One such area where ARDEX X 7001 W was used to great effect in this project was the famous Front Hall, which has been spectacularly renewed to its former glory with a newly laid, intricate floor of black and white marble tiles, co-ordinating with columns clad in the same material. The installation continued under a 4 metre arch of Carrara marble leading down stairs, with marble panelling in the same material, through to The Upper Thames Foyer. Mega Marble’s work continues through the Thames Foyer to the famous River Restaurant where sparkling walls in Star Galaxy granite, and diamond patterned floors in Crema Marfil and Star Galaxy granite are simply stunning.
ARDEX S 16 W white rapid hardening and drying natural stone adhesive with ARDEX E 90 admix was used to fix the wall tiles. ARDEX S 16 W is especially suitable for fixing limestone, translucent tiles, mosaics and marble, due to built-in ARDEX ‘Rapidry Formula Technology’, which virtually eliminates the risk or water staining and enables tiles to be grouted or trafficked only 2 hours after fixing.
Commenting on the project, Rafi Mimoni of Mega Marble said, “We work on many of the UK’s most prestigious hotels, and our luxury marble and stonework products demand the very best in terms of adhesives. ARDEX have developed a range of tile fixing products that exceed the expectations, and enable us to maintain our reputation for excellence. We were delighted with the results at The Savoy”.
January 2011
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