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Lomand Homes trialled Knauf Brio in a new apartment building at Weymouth, where it was used in constructions that comfortably exceeded requirements for airborne and impact sound reduction. Knauf Brio is a gypsum fibre board with a precision tiered edge, specially developed for new or refurbishment flooring – particularly over underfloor heating.
Lomand Homes Director Mark Coleman says: “We use underfloor heating in all our developments, because it is more efficient than radiators, and does not waste space.” He put Knauf Brio to the test, installing the 23mm board in two of the five apartments in the new building on Melcombe Avenue, close to the Greenhill seafront. For comparison, one unit has a conventional 18mm timber dry screed, while the two ground floor units have a 75mm wet screed.
In the tests, the floors with Knauf Brio easily delivered better than the 45dB airborne sound reduction and 62dB impact sound reduction required of separating floors in a new residential building. Knauf Brio also comfortably outperformed the floor with a traditional timber screed.
Mark Coleman says: “I jumped at the chance to try new Knauf Brio because its potential was obvious. I have been very pleased – Knauf Brio is easy to handle, simple to lay and it feels good underfoot. With its performance now convincingly proved in independent tests, it will be my first choice in future developments.”
Knauf Brio is available in 18mm and 23mm thicknesses, and with an optional 10mm laminated wood fibre layer for enhanced acoustic performance and load resistance. Boards are 600 x 1,200mm and weigh 22-30kg, depending on their type.
Installing Knauf Brio boards requires no special skills and is incredibly simple and fast, saving valuable installation time. The precise tiered edges are glued with Knauf Brio Joint Adhesive and then screwed together for a solid bond. The new floor can take traffic as soon as the glue has hardened – just hours after installation.
Because Knauf Brio is thermally transparent, it is incredibly efficient when used with underfloor heating systems. The whole room feels noticeably warmer almost immediately – and less energy is needed to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Over the past 10 years, Dorchester based Lomand Homes has become a significant developer in the South West with a portfolio including new build and refurbished properties. The Melcombe Avenue development, four apartments with two bedrooms and one with three, targets the growing retirement market in the Weymouth area.
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