Work Specifications

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Work Specifications

The following generic specifications are for use when specifying Alltek Spray Applied Plastering on construction projects. Thermal, acoustic, fire & mechanical performance criteria, shared by all the Alltek sprayable plasters, is given after these five generic specifications.

The product usage specifications have been compiled by Alltek UK & replicated here for reference only. Should you wish to incorporate this data within your project specification we suggest you consult either us or Alltek UK so that a more tailored specification can be compiled for your project.

Specifications categorised by background composition:

Specification for Plasterboard and Composite Board Walls & Ceilings

  1. Tape and joint the wall & ceiling Boards and dab out the screw/nail heads using either a powder or ready mixed joint filler, leave material flush with joint. Alltek Lite+ is a suitable Ready mixed Product. Ensure the material is left flush with the surface of the board.
  2. Fill in any larges gaps or damaged areas. - Fix paper tape around internal corners between ceiling and wall bedding in with the joint filler, around window reveals use the metal backed flex tape or a thin joint angle bead and bed in with a powder or Alltek Lite+ ready mixed joint filler.
  3. Prior to spraying, remove any raised area of filler with 120 grade sand paper.
  4. Spray ceilings with Alltek Red, Violet or Alltek Orange, a two coat application is recommended. After applying the first coat level material off with a spatula, leave to dry. Repeat this process on all the walls. Spray or Hand apply to the window reveals. Leave to dry. NB. Alltek Violet is the best material for achieving a textured Finish.
  5. Apply second coat to ceiling (12-24 hours), if a textured effect is required no further action is required or if a smooth finish is required level smooth with a spatula. When a textured finish is left a smooth border can be placed around the edge with a 40/50mm brush. Repeat this process for the walls apart from the border. Where a textured effect is required window reveals will need to be masked prior to application, if smooth finish is required repeat as per the first coat. NB. Textured finishes require no further decoration (although emulsion painting is recommended to achieve a harder / tougher surface finish) and Alltek Violet will achieve the best results for texture finishes.
  6. When dry, lightly sand any raised areas with a 120/160 grade sand paper and apply one full coat of emulsion. NB. Textured/Decorative ceilings do not require painting.
  7. Both Air and Airless machines can be used to achieve the required finish/results.
  8. A trained 2 man team should complete between 800 – 1000 m2 per week.

NB. Alltek can be supplied in a range of pre-mixed pastel shades; simply provide a RAL or NCS colour code and we will manufacture to that colour. A minimum of 3 tonnes is required for pre-coloured materials. (1000 - 1200m2 Coverage)


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Specification for Pre-Cast Fairfaced Concrete (including Aerated, Hollow Core & Insitu) Panel Walls & Ceilings:

Concrete is one of the ideal types of surfaces for Alltek materials to be applied to. Any protrusions, remaining nails etc have to be cleaned off before start of application. Material consumption should be around two (2) kilos per m2 for the first coat and 1kg for the second. No primer or bonding agents are required. We suggest the following sequence of work:

  1. Check that surfaces are free from protrusions, nibs, fins, nails etc. Use a carborandum stone if necessary to clean surface. Angle grind back any rough areas and repair any larger damages, holes etc using Alltek Blue Lissage or Alltek Dry Fill joint filler.
  2. Fill spray-unit with Alltek Violet fine 200 WR for a self finished textured effect or smooth finish on Walls and Ceilings. For rough areas use Alltek Blue Lissage as a base-coat levelling compound.
  3. For V-Joints and larger damage etc, use Joint Filler mixed with water and fill to a level surface. Alltek Joint Filler is a dry-powder pre-mix which, after the addition of water, will set hard in approx 1 hours time. Fill all joints between concrete panels (walls & ceilings) & level out using the spatula at a 90 degree angle to achieve a level surface; do not try to make smooth. Leave to dry well.
  4. Spray first "full coat"; do not spray more than you can level prior to the material drying out, since it will be difficult to handle. For a longer open time, add some extra water to the material in the hopper of the spray-unit. Optimum working is a two man team, the spatula-man following just behind the spraying-man. The first coat you apply is scraped off fairly hard so that you can almost see the concrete showing through the material when the material is still wet. This will become white when dry. This first coat is designed to fill blow-holes and to level the surface in preparation for the final coat. If the final coat is to be "a textured finish" leave a little more material on the surface from the first coat to ensure a uniform final white colour. If a smooth finish is required this process is repeated.
  5. Spray final coat, if the ceilings are to be left "textured" the speed of the machine and the air-supply is adjusted to obtain the correct texture (light or heavy). A smaller nozzle is used to create fine textured effects. The Sprayer keeps an even distance of around 1m from the surface and moves the gun rapidly in a circular motion to obtain an even texture. Making two passes across the room for an even result. Follow by spraying the walls in the same manner. To achieve a smooth finish, use the spatula to level from the ceiling corner and down. To avoid having any spatula marks from the spatula work at "eye-height" always pull from ceiling down to approx 1m above the floor and then return and level from the floor up.
  6. Finally, use a thick corner-brush attached to a piece of wood to clean-fill the corner/angel between wall and ceiling; alternatively use a suitable corner trowel.
  7. Leave to dry; before painting sand lightly places where any ridges have been left by the application and fill in any remaining minor imperfections.
  8. If a very smooth finish for walls/ceilings is required (similar to steel-trowelled gypsum plaster) then we suggest changing the final coat from Alltek Violet to Alltek Orange = Superfine.

Important Note: Alltek is a water based polymer bound material which, similar to an emulsion paint, needs a minimum temperature of +5 degrees Centigrade in order to obtain its full binding power and hardness. Please check air and concrete surface temperature prior to commencing application.


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Specification for Blockwork Walls:

Alltek Blue Lissage is the best material for application on to a blockwork walll surface. The wall needs to be built true and straight. The pointing between the blocks should ideally be flush with the surface of the block. Any cables or electric boxes should be recessed into the wall and protrude no more than 1mm from the surface of the block. If the cables and boxes are sitting on the surface, i.e. as for a 13-20mm render coat, then two options become available:
  1. Dot & dab with plasterboard and finish as per the Alltek Plasterboard Specification
  2. Render the wall with a bonding plaster prior to the application of Alltek
Continue as follows:
  1. At right angled corners, window reveals and internal angles etc a metal thin-joint bead should be fixed and secured with fixings and filled out with a suitable mortar / filler. At expansion joints thin-joint stop beads should be fixed either side of the joint and bedded in with a suitable filler/mortar. Alltek Lite+ ready mixed joint filling compound is also suitable.
  2. Preparation prior to application would be to check that beads are secure and mortar/filler is dry, any rough/raised areas of mortar on the surface of the blocks is removed with a scraper, any large imperfections in the wall have been rectified.
  3. Apply the first coat of Alltek Blue Lissage to a depth of 3-4mm and level smooth using a spatula or straight edge. Start levelling off from the ceiling down to about 300mm from the floor and then work from the floor up taking out any trowel marks, work left to right across the wall, in the corners use a corner trowel to achieve a smooth angle and then work the material away from the corner to achieve a smooth finish.
  4. Alltek is normally dry in 24hrs, once it is dry either a second coat of Alltek Blue Lissage can be applied depending upon the depth of material required or Alltek Red / Alltek Orange or Alltek Violet can be applied as a finishing coat ready for final decoration.
  5. Above door openings bed a fibre-glass matting (160gm) into the first coat of Blue Lissage to give added strength over lintels etc.
  6. Where a dry-lined ceiling is being installed, after the application of Blue Lissage (one or two coats), apply a paper tape to the internal angles where the wall meets the ceiling and fix with a suitable joint filler to 3A - EN 13963 standards. Refer to Plasterboard Specification for finishing on to plasterboard and other composite boards.
  7. Total thickness with one coat of Blue and one coat of Red/Orange/Violet will be 4-5mm, for two coats of Blue and one Red/Orange/Violet it will be 5-6mm, for two coats of Blue Lissage and two coats of Red/Orange/Violet it will be 7-9mm. All material removed in the levelling process is re-worked through the machine so there is very little material waste.
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Old Plastered and Painted Blockwork Walls and Flood Damaged Walls

Remove any traces of built up paint with a scraper, repair any cracks with scrim tape and Alltek Joint Filler and fill any holes using Alltek General Purpose Filler. When dry apply Alltek Blue Lissage in the same way as for a New blockwork wall.
In the event of flood damaged walls remove the old plaster back to the blockwork and remove as much of the old mortar / plaster as possible. Allow to dry out so the moisture level/ humidity is no more than 20% on the surface of the block. If particles of salt have formed on the blocks, brush away prior to the application of Alltek.

Mix 25% Portland cement (6kg) and 1ltr of bonding agent for each 25kg bag of Alltek Blue Lissage to be used. Stir thoroughly and apply to the area to be repaired as detailed in application to New blockwork walls. Alltek Blue Lissage can be applied up to thickness of 8 – 10mm and levelled off ready for the finishing coat of Alltek Red or Orange. The Portland cement will ensure the material is hard and dry in 24hrs. We would suggest the surface of the Alltek Blue Lissage is checked for moisture prior to applying the finishing coats; again if it reads below 20% work can continue. Once the final coat is applied and dry, lightly sand and paint.


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Specification to Thin-Joint Blockwork Walls

A three coat application is recommended for Thin-joint blockwork walls: a base coat of Alltek Blue Lissage to be applied directly to the blocks up to a depth of 2-3mm followed by second coat of Alltek Blue Lissage and Alltek Universal red mix (2 Blue – 1 Red) and then a final coat of Alltek Red, Orange or Violet. The wall needs to be built true and straight. The pointing between the vertical joints of the blocks should be filled and left flush with the surface of the block. Any cables or electric boxes should be recessed into the wall and protrude no more than 1-2mm from the surface of the block. If the cables and boxes are sitting on the surface, i.e. as for a 13-20mm render coat, then two options become available:

  1. Dot & Dab with plasterboard and finish as per the Alltek Plasterboard specification
  2. Render the wall with a bonding plaster prior to the Application of Alltek Red, Orange or Violet
Continue as follows:

  1. At external corners and internal angles for window reveals etc a thin joint plastic or metal bead should be fixed and secured with fixings and filled out with a suitable mortar / filler. Above the bulk heads of doors, lintels should be covered with a suitable mesh and bedded in with a suitable mortar or filler to prevent cracking prior to the application of Alltek. Alltek Lite+ is a ready mixed joint filling compound suitable for these purposes.
  2. Preparation prior to application would be to check that beads are secure and mortar / filler is dry, any rough areas of mortar/glue on the blocks is removed with a scraper, any large cracks, air holes or imperfections in the wall have been rectified with a suitable filler.
  3. Apply the first coat of Alltek Blue Lissage to a depth of 2-3mm and level smooth using a spatula and or straight edge. Start levelling off from the ceiling down to about 300mm from the floor and then work from the floor up taking out any trowel marks, work left to right across the wall, in the corners use a corner trowel to achieve a smooth angle and then work the material away from the corner to achieve a smooth finish.
  4. Alltek is normally dry in 24hrs; once dry apply a second coat of Alltek Blue Lissage / Alltek Universal Red mix and level as the first coat. Apply the finishing coat of Alltek Red, Alltek Orange or Alltek Violet subject to decorative finish required.

NB. Total thickness with one coat of Blue and one coat of Red/Orange/Violet will be 2-4mm, for three coats of Alltek Blue/ Red/ Orange/ Violet it will be 4-6mm. All material removed in the levelling process is re-worked through the machine so there is very little material waste.


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Sports Halls and Areas that require a Hard Finish to protect from possible Damage/Abuse:

Apply angle beads and prepare tape and jointing as required, bed in a suitable glass-fibre matting over all joints to strengthen and apply Alltek Blue Lissage as the base coat. Once dry apply two finishing coats of Alltek Violet and Portland cement. (Alltek Violet mixed 4 parts Alltek (25kg) to 1 part OPC (6kg) plus some water to improve consistency). This can be mixed separately or in the spray-unit hopper using a power-mixer. Apply to surface and level flat with spatulas taking care to remove any trowel lines ready for final decoration. We recommend matting of weight between 160 & 180g.

NB. The spray machine will need to been cleaned of any mixed material at the end of the working day and thoroughly cleaned with water to prevent hardening of material in the hose.


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Specification for Previously Decorated or Papered Surfaces, Old Plaster (including Lime Plaster) or Plasterboard Walls and Ceilings

For Alltek to be directly applied to painted or wallpapered surfaces, the following methods should be applied. For Artex covered or ceramic tiled surfaces work specifications are given after.

  1. Repair any cracks or holes in the surface with Alltek All Purpose Filler or Alltek Deep Gap and Crack filler. Use Scrim tape over any hair-line cracks.
  2. If the original plaster is ‘blown’ chop out and patch repair using Alltek (dependent upon thickness of existing plaster) Blue, Red, Violet, Lite+ jointing compound or Deep Gap & Crack filler.
  3. Ensure that any wall coverings are securely fastened to the surface before application of Alltek.
  4. Generally it is not necessary to use a bonding agent, but on very old surfaces (50 years plus) a bonding agent (e.g. diluted PVA) would be advisable.
  5. Prior to application ensure surfaces are clean and free from grease, dirt and dust.
  6. Once you have selected the correct Alltek product for the application hand or spray apply the material evenly over the area to be covered and, using a spatula, level flat. Once dry, normally with in 12/24 hours, lightly sand any raised areas using a 120-180 grit sand paper and apply your second / finish coat. Again once dry, sand the entire area to remove any trowel lines and / or raised areas.
  7. Your surfaces are ready for final decoration.

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Covering Artex

  1. Remove any high points by chipping / breaking away the Artex*.
  2. Ensure the surface is clean and free from dirt, grease and dust.
  3. Repair any cracks or holes using a suitable filler.
  4. Hand apply Alltek Walls & Ceilings (part of the Alltek Hand range of Alltek sold in tubs) or spray apply Alltek Red Universal 200 / Alltek Violet WR 200 over the area to be covered and level flat using a spatula; it may be necessary to repeat this application a further two times depending upon the depth and thickness of the original Artex covering. Alternatively for heavy Artex (4 – 5mm deep) it may be necessary to use Alltek Blue Course or Alltek Deep Gap as a base coat before using the finishing coats of Alltek Walls & Ceilings or Alltek Red Universal 200/ Alltek WR200.
  5. Lightly sand the final coat using an 80-120 grit sand paper prior to final decoration.

* WARNING:
 It is advisable to consider the age of the Artex since Artex manufactured / applied prior to the mid 1980's comprised a small amount of asbestos within its' composition & any subsequent distrubance of its' fixed state may release asbestos particles. In such cases it is recommended to take one, several if not all courses of the following action:

(a) Wet the surface with a light water spray to help bind dust particles when knocking off high spots should you decide there is minimal risk. It is advisable to seek the advice of a qualified professional should you be in any doubt.
(b) Leave the high spots intact & apply a base coat of Alltek Blue Coarse (machine sprayed) or Alltek Deep Gap & Crack filler (hand application), which (DO NOT SAND THIS COAT) when dry can be sprayed / hand applied over a second time with either another coat of Alltek Blue Coarse or Alltek Deep Gap & Crack filler. Once this second coat is dry it can then be sanded to remove trowel marks etc, since the Artex should be completely covered by Alltek. Thereafter apply finishing coat(s) as directed above.
(c) Proprietary products now exist to remove Artex; they are available through most trade & DIY outlets. The products are generally messy to use & require protective clothing to be worn when applying them.
(d) Commission a test to be made of several sample areas of the Artex which can be sent to an Asbestos testing lab & act upon its' findings. However you should bear in mind that the samples obtained will only be representative of that area, since as Artex was & still is mixed on site from powder, it is more than likely that concentrations of asbestos (when used - now illegal) may be clustered & not spread evenly through-out the mix. As such these samples could only be treated as representative & not as indicative of asbestos occurence across the whole surface.

If in any doubt seek the advice of a asbestos qualified professional.

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Ceramic Tiles

  1. Repair any cracks or holes in the tiles using a suitable filler.
  2. Ensure area is clean and free from dirt, grease and dust.
  3. Remove any grout that may be on the surface of the tiles.
  4. If tiles have a glazed finish it may be necessary to apply a bonding agent prior to Alltek application (e.g. 1:6 diluted PVA adhesive). This is recommended for all ceramic tiles where the finished surface may come into contact with people-traffic such as on stairways etc but not on splashbacks etc.
  5. Hand apply Alltek Kitchens & Bathrooms (part of the Alltek Hand range of Alltek sold in tubs) or spray apply Alltek Violet W.R. 200 directly onto the tiles and level flat using a spatula.
  6. Once dry lightly sand and repeat step 5 if required or, if step 5 is not required, lightly sand using an 80–120 grit sand paper.
  7. The surface is ready for final decoration.


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Performance Criteria and Physical Properties

All Alltek products are manufactured as a ready-mixed paste for use straight from the bag; no mixing is required on site. Alltek is a green non-toxic material and is air drying. It absorbs and releases moisture greatly reducing the incidence of condensation and mould growth, has inherent flexibility and is much less prone to cracking, chipping and flaking than traditional Gypsum based plasters.

Alltek is a fast machine applied concept designed for fast track building projects; typically a minimum of 200 square metres can be applied in an 8 hour working day. The material can be left in a range of finishes, flat smooth, textured or with a decorative leathered/ bark finish. The product can be pre-coloured in the factory to a wide range of pastel shades, reducing decorating costs as just a mist & one full coat of emulsion would be required on flat smooth finishes. No further decoration would be required if a textured or leathered/ bark finish were required, although emulsion painting produces a harder/ tougher finish; this is recommended in areas where the finished surface comes into contact with people-traffic etc.

Alltek has achieved the following accreditation:

Fire Protection: Class O surface rating as a result of tests to BS476: Part 6: 1989 and Part 7: 1977.
Water Absorption: Able to absorb and subsequently release 5-10% of its own weight in water.
Flexibility: Accommodates normal thermal movement without flaking or chipping.
Composition: Air drying, ready-mixed compounds based on inert mineral fillers, binders, plasticisers, pigments, fungicides and rust inhibitors.
Property Test Method Result¹:
Bond strength ASTM C321-83 0.33N/mm²
Pull-off adhesion strength BS 5270 (modified) 0.35N/mm²
Impact strength BS 1191 4.5mm
Flexural strength BS 4551 1.8N/mm²
Compressive strength3 BS 4551 2.2N/mm²

1. Results refer to Alltek Red tested by Yarsley Technical Centre Ltd
3. Tests on 40mm cubes, 20% ordinary Portland cement added


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