An oil-contaminated service hall floor was converted into an odour-free storage space in five calendar days

In a protected building in Otakaari, Espoo, an old car service hall was given a new purpose when its oil-contaminated floor, which caused odour problems, was converted into an odour-free, waterproofed and wear-resistant storage space.

With the TKR solution, the encapsulation of oil odours from car servicing, moisture control in the service pits, waterproofing and the final wear-resistant surface were combined into one functional system.

Starting point: oil odours and moisture prevented the practical use of the space

In the protected building in Otakaari, Espoo, the floor of the former car service hall had been exposed to heavy use for years. Oil had absorbed into the concrete, the floor had visible oil stains, and there was a strong smell of automotive service oils in the space.

The intended use of the area was to be changed to storage, but before that, the floor had to meet several requirements. A simple surface treatment was not enough, as the service pit structure was wet. Moisture measurements had been carried out, and the relative humidity was over 85 percent.

The space needed to be:

• odour-free
• good in terms of indoor air quality
• waterproofed in critical areas
• durable enough for normal storage use
• implemented without unnecessarily heavy structural changes

The goal: a functional storage space in a protected building

The nature of the site made the solution more demanding than usual. The building at Otakaari 8 in Espoo is protected, and the existing structure was not to be opened or replaced unnecessarily.

The objective was to find a method where the same system could solve several problems:

• encapsulation of oil-based odours
• moisture control in the service pits
• waterproofing
• a finished wear-resistant surface

The design involved Ossi Viren from Nodetec Oy and TKR. The solution was refined already in the early stages of the project, including the wear surface, the service pits and the grey tones of the surface layers.

This resulted in work instructions where technical performance and the appearance of the finished surface were considered together.

One solution for several challenges

The work phases were built around one system

The work began with normal floor grinding. The surface was ground down to the stone aggregate, after which the edges of the service pits were repaired and the wet structure was primed with a wet-room primer before waterproofing.

This was necessary because the service pit structure was wet. Moisture measurement showed a relative humidity level of over 85 percent.

Cracks and holes in the floor were repaired with Kitti8. After this, three TKR encapsulation layers were applied in different shades of grey to make the work phases and coverage easier to control. A fourth and harder surface layer was then applied using a 100:70 mixing ratio.

The key solution

When the same system can solve several technical needs, the overall construction process becomes simpler. At the same time, the number of interfaces between different products, separate work phases and schedule-related risks is reduced.

A finished surface in five calendar days

The work was carried out by EPA-Lattiat Oy, and the main contractor in the protected site was Jalon Uusimaa Oy.

The schedule was important for the success of the project. All work phases were completed within five calendar days, including drying and curing times.

The fast completion was a significant benefit for the customer. According to the project background information, a similar schedule would not realistically have been possible with an epoxy solution, for example. Because the floor could be encapsulated, waterproofed and finished with a wear-resistant surface using the same system, time was saved on site and the space was quickly made ready for its next use.

Why was the schedule important in this project?

The result: an odour-free, protected and durable space

The finished surface made it possible to use the old service hall as a normal storage space. The key objectives of the project were achieved:

• odours from automotive service oils were brought under control
• moisture in the service pits was addressed with waterproofing
• the floor received a wear-resistant surface
• the space was quickly made ready for its next use
• the existing structure could be utilised in a protected building

At the time of publication, the space was not yet in use, so user experiences were not yet available. However, from the implementation perspective, the key point was that the technical objectives were solved quickly and in a controlled manner.

In a protected building, less demolition is often the better solution

The project was also valuable because the existing structure could be utilised. In a protected building, this is often essential.

The less structures need to be demolished and replaced, the more controlled, faster and respectful of the building’s character the implementation can be.

This is also at the heart of responsible renovation. An existing building is not treated as disposable. Instead, its structures are preserved and improved whenever it is technically safe and appropriate to do so.

What does this project show about the use of TKR solutions?

The Otakaari 8 project shows that even in a challenging starting situation, it is possible to find a solution that combines several technical requirements into one controlled system.

One system can solve many site challenges

In renovation projects, problems rarely appear one at a time. A single site may involve odours, moisture, worn surfaces, old structures and schedule pressure all at once.

That is why, when choosing a solution, it is worth asking whether several needs can be solved with one controlled system.

In the Otakaari 8 project, the TKR system made it possible to convert an old car service hall into storage use without a heavy combination of several different systems. At the same time, the existing structure could be preserved, protected and utilised in a new purpose.

Would you like to find out whether a TKR solution could be suitable for your project?

If your project involves questions related to oil, odours, moisture, waterproofing, wear-resistant surfaces or preserving old structures, contact TKR. Together, we can determine which solution is best suited to your project.