FREESTYLE™ RECYCLED INTERLOCKING TILE Solves Flooring Problem at Tool Source Warehouse

Atlanta, GA April 2, 2004 -- Tool Source Warehouse in Atlanta carries an extensive inventory of over 4,000 tools, accessories and parts delivered on demand to drywall, concrete and masonry contractors nationwide. Converting part of its 30-year-old warehouse into a retail showroom and offices, Tool Source wanted to replace old flooring, which had been failing due to high slab-moisture content.

After removing the old flooring, testing for slab-moisture content (including core samples of the concrete) and bead-blasting the subfloor, Spectra Contract Flooring of Georgia installed a moisture-mitigation system and topped it with a commercial-grade VCT. Within weeks, however, the new flooring installation began to fail, due in part to "ASR", a chemical reaction between the concrete subfloor and the epoxy ingredients of the moisture-mitigation system. The resulting gel-like material created such upward hydraulic pressure under the newly-installed tiles that many did not remain adhered.

Not wanting to disrupt Tool Source operations further by removing and replacing the moisture-mitigation system and new VCT, Spectra instead quickly solved the problem using FreeStyle™, a new recycled interlocking floor tile by SelecTech.

Requiring no adhesive and minimal subfloor prep, FreeStyle is placed directly over … without removing… existing flooring material or over problem subfloors with high moisture content, cracks and irregular surfaces. Once pressed together, its interlocking edges create a uniform surface that can be walked-on immediately, remaining in place under heavy traffic and high point loads. FreeStyle tiles consist of a proprietary PVC composite made with 92% recycled plastics…including recycled carpet… a decorative slate-look or wood-grain top layer of printed virgin materials and a 20 mil luxury vinyl wear layer, all backed by a 10-year wear warranty.

At Tool Source, store fixtures and displays were moved out on a Friday evening. On Saturday, a total of 2,200 square feet of FreeStyle was placed and interlocked directly over the new VCT by two men in about five hours. "We were back in business almost immediately," says Rick Allen, Tool Source Assistant General Manager. "In fact, as Spectra's guys were putting the FreeStyle down, we were right behind them moving our equipment back on top of it. No floor prep, no dust, no waiting."

"Had we known about FreeStyle in the beginning, we probably would not have needed a moisture-mitigation system for this job", says Jimmy Tonkin, a Spectra project manager. Since FreeStyle is waterproof and resists mold and mildew, we could have placed it directly over the original old flooring and quickly solved the problem. If we need to get under FreeStyle for any reason, the tiles are easy to pick up, reposition and press back into place."

The installed cost of FreeStyle on this job was about $7 a square foot. "But we also saved a lot of potential lost sales and staff productivity versus having to wait weeks for the alternative fix", says Tool Source's Allen. Tool Source customers and staff have commented that the stone-look FreeStyle floor, in addition to enhancing the appearance of the store, is "much more comfortable to stand on than the old floor … and quieter, too".

"Our customers count on us because we always supply them with the right item", says Allen. "We followed our own advice in using FreeStyle. It was the right item to solve our flooring problem."

For additional information on FreeStyle, contact SelecTech, 15 Fourth St., Taunton, MA 02780, 877-738-4537 or 508-828-4200, www.selectechinc.com





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