Smarter Subfloor Bonding Speeds Up Luxury Queenstown Build
Roofing a nearly 500m² architectural home in Queenstown is no small task.
On this exposed Jack’s Point build, more than 220 plywood sheets had to be glued and fixed before the torch-on membrane could be applied – traditionally a labour-intensive process involving endless cartridge changes and hours bent over on the tools.
When Wanaka-based merchant Lays Fasteners introduced Soudal’s new Soudabond Subfloor adhesive foam to the project developer, the product’s efficiency gains immediately stood out.
One 750 ml can replaces up to 12 traditional adhesive cartridges, dramatically reducing application time, waste and clean-up on site.
Toitoi Residential then tasked THD Building Ltd’s Tom Dagg with using the product on the build itself. He quickly became a convert.
“This is a high-end house set on nine acres in beautiful Jack’s Point,” Tom explains. “It’s designed to blend into the landscape and has a low pitched three-degree roof that is fully enclosed and hidden by stone and steel parapet walls.
“Using Soudabond Subfloor sped up the gluing process by 20-30%. The bigger the job, the more you will see your labour costs decrease.”
Wanaka-based merchant Lays Fasteners, who supply fastening products throughout the wider Queenstown Lakes region, are early adopters of Soudabond Subfloor.
After seeing the product’s speed and performance first-hand during a Soudal-led training session, Lay’s Business Development Manager Matt Welsh loaded a long-handled gun and several canisters into his ute and began demonstrating it directly to customers.
When he showed the product to the Jack’s Point project team and explained the potential time savings and efficiency gains, they ordered three boxes on the spot.
“Honestly it’s been a big hit,” Matt says. “The building industry is funny – when a new product comes to market, some people are a little hesitant and stick to what they know. But there’s 12 tubes of one or two-hour cure in this. Cost saving wise, it’s huge.
“Also the efficiency gains and how quickly you can apply it is next level. It’s so much faster to apply. Even if you’re not using the longer gun, you’re still cutting back so much application time. It’s a no-brainer swap out if I’m honest.”
Tom says the product quickly proved itself in real-world conditions.
“I found the product a lot easier to use than traditional tube and caulking gun glue. The long handle is great as it gives more reach and saves you bending over all the time, which is handy when working from height on a roof.
“It is definitely faster per sheet to glue and there is less time spent changing cartridges. It has also reduced waste as there are far fewer empty cartridges on site. This means less mess and a shorter clean up time.”
The product comes with a standard 300 mm gun, a 600 mm gun and a 1 m gun. While the shorter options are useful in factory environments to assemble flooring and roofing cassettes, the 1 m gun allows builders to apply adhesive while standing fully upright, making large-scale flooring and roofing jobs much easier on builder’s bodies.
That ergonomic improvement is one of the reasons Matt, an ex-builder himself, believes the product reflects a broader shift within the industry. “I follow markets all over the world and it’s about time New Zealand got a product like this.”
Unlike traditional solvent-based flooring adhesives, Soudabond Subfloor bonds tightly to damp, wet and even frozen timber – an important advantage in harsh winter environments like Queenstown where frost and moisture are part of daily life on site.
Typically, solvent-based adhesives will cure but won’t bond properly if the moisture content is too high. As the timber dries out over time, it moves as it shrinks, which leads to squeaky floors.
Soudabond Subfloor is dispensed as a foam before collapsing into a high-strength gel. Ten to 15 minutes later, it expands slightly to fill gaps and create an optimal bond across the substrate.
For builders, the new adhesive means less waiting around for timber to dry out before work can continue.
“Any merchant in the building industry selling glues and adhesives should definitely have this in their shop,” Matt says. “All factories building frames and trusses – this should be their default product, all day long. And it’s a no-brainer if you’re doing second story floors where you don’t want floors to squeak. It’s far superior to all other subfloor adhesives. I’d use it on the roof as well.”
Tom says the product has also simplified workflow on site.
“It’s the same approach but a better product that is easier and more efficient, especially for bigger jobs,” he says. “Once you have the gun it couldn’t get much easier. You can pick up a half-used cartridge from a week before and get right to it rather than dealing with an old glue cartridge that needs a nozzle replaced or has gone hard.”
Alongside the efficiency gains, the product also reduces cartridge waste, requires less storage space on site and is solvent-free and low VOC. Tom says those benefits are becoming increasingly important on modern building sites.
Asked whether he would use the product again, Tom’s answer is clear.
“Definitely. It saves time, is easier to use and apply, there is less mess and it bonds well. What’s not to like? You won’t be disappointed, especially if it’s a bigger job. Your back will thank you.”
Soudabond Subfloor: Key Advantages
- One 750 ml can replaces up to 12 traditional adhesive cartridges
- Faster application and reduced cartridge changeovers
- Only requires a 10 mm bead (can be pre-set on gun)
- Long-handled guns reduce bending and physical strain
- Bonds to damp, wet and frozen timber
- Also suitable for plywood, OSB, particle board, concrete, metals, masonry, stone, plaster
- Can be applied at temperatures between -17°C and 35°C.
- 10-minute open time allows repositioning and adjustment
- Reduced waste and clean-up on site
- Reusable canisters when maintained correctly
- Solvent-free and low VOC
- Reduced storage space requirements compared to traditional cartridges
To read more about Soudabond Subfloor, click here. To enquire about this product, click here to find your local Soudal representative.
Interested in enhancing your construction projects with Soudal adhesives? Contact us today or find a stockist near you.