The latest addition to SteinTec’s range of high performance paving mortars, tuffset G, came into its own after problems slowed down a project to transform a main entrance roadway to the grounds of historic Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts on London.

Sub-contractors Kenward Groundworks were awarded the project to upgrade Kingston Gate, used by lorries servicing major events at the Palace.

They had only eight weeks to replace 350m² of the roadway at its junction with the main A308 (Hampton Court Road) and re-lay it with a modern, traffic-friendly design composed of granite cubes and setts.

With preparations for Hampton Court’s prestigious annual Flower Show already well underway, the eight week deadline meant that Kingston Gate would be ready only just in time to allow lorry traffic to resume deliveries.

SteinTec’s BS7533 fully compliant paving mortar was specified in order to meet the requirement for heavy trafficking and long term durability. The granite paving and concrete roadbase were primed with SteinTec tuffbond, laying on to a 30mm bed of tuffbed two-pack bedding mortar and jointing with tuffgrout.

Unexpected problems with underground utilities set the job off to a slower than anticipated start, which meant that by the time the new concrete roadbase had been laid, the job was behind schedule before layworks had even begun.

Even though Kenward’s set two paving gangs to work to lay the cubes and setts, there were fears that finishing the job at the 11^th hour would not allow enough curing time for the paving mortar to reach its full 28-day strength of 40KN/m² by the opening day.

SteinTec were consulted. They suggested using their new tuffset G mortar, a single-part product for bedding, priming and jointing that reaches a strength of 30KN/m² in just four hours. This meant layworks could continue right up to the opening day, if necessary, to ensure Kingston Gate was ready on time.

And it was. Ross Campbell of Kenward Groundworks said of tuffset G: “It certainly does what it says on the bag”.

Like its stablemates in the SteinTec range of specialist paving mortars, Tuffset G is fully compliant with BS7533 and has been specifically designed for the installation and repair of modular paving and the fixing or reinstatement of ironwork where early trafficking is essential.

It is cement-based, with no admixtures, resins or polymers to add to the mix, dispose of nor to decay over time. There are also no nasty fumes.