Hi all,
Anyone have experience with a historical flooring product called Hubbellite, or a similar product? The manufacturer no longer exists, and searches on Google, JSTOR, the internet archive, etc. have turned up very little info. The best description of the product I can find is:
"Hubbellite is the brand name for a poured seamless floor that entered the market in the 1940s and is an example of applied flooring... Hubbellite is composed of a mixture of cement, limestone, copper and magnesium compounds, and proprietary additives. According to the manufacturer, Hubbellite flooring is fire resistant, chemical resistant (including solvents), non-sparking, and static-disseminating." Ours looks very similar to stained concrete, or perhaps a red tennis court.
I help manage historical facilities at a site with several WWII era Register-eligible buildings that have Hubbellite flooring which is now deteriorating. We're looking to install a coating or other flooring product on top of the Hubbellite to reduce hazards, but hopefully preserve the original material underneath. Ideas currently being considered are:
1. application of an acrylic paint-like coating for encapsulation (doesn't address uneven surface, may stain or damage if later removed)
2. resilient sheet flooring installed on top of Hubbellite (may cause damage if glued down)
3. installation of a thin substrate like plywood or cement board on top of Hubbellite, then a visually-similar poured or troweled product (substrate needs anchoring, may raise floor level).
Anyway, wanted to see if anyone has worked with Hubbellite or similar products, or just wants to brainstorm more treatment options. Thanks!
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Cameron Townsend AIA
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos NM
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