Flooring system, a panel and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and floor panel for use in forming a graded floor, wet area, pathway or decking and to methods of use thereof. The panel has two opposed surfaces including a lower surface and an opposed upper surface. The opposed surfaces are interconnected by opposing edges, including opposed end edges and opposed side edges. The panel tapers in thickness from a first said end edge to an opposed second said end edge with a gradient ranging from about 0.1% to about 2.0%.

1 . A wet area flooring system for forming a graded and waterproofed wet area floor in a room, said system comprising:
 a plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels configured to be arranged on a support surface around at least one floor waste in a side edge-to-side edge arrangement so as to form a graded wet area floor in which a gradient of each panel directs water or any other liquid in a direction towards the at least one floor waste, wherein each said panel comprises:
 two opposed surfaces comprising a lower surface and an opposed upper surface, said opposed upper surface configured to have tiling applied thereon, said opposed surfaces being interconnected by opposed end edges and opposed side edges, each said panel tapering in thickness from a first of said opposed end edges to a second of said opposed end edges with a gradient ranging from about 0.1% to about 2.0% to thereby direct said water or any other liquid atop the panel from the first of said opposed end edges to the second of said opposed end edges; and 
   one or more skirting boards configured to be arranged around an outer edge of the room at a junction between an adjacent wall and said first said opposed end edge of an adjacent said panel, wherein each skirting board comprises:
 two opposed surfaces comprising a wall abutting surface and an outer surface, said opposed surfaces being interconnected by opposed end edges and opposed side edges, each said skirting board extending longitudinally between said opposed end edges, 
   wherein the plurality of the preformed load bearing floor panels and the one or more skirting boards are each formed from a waterproof material, and   wherein when arranged said plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels and said one or more skirting boards are waterproof bonded to form the waterproofed wet area floor in the room.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels and said one or more skirting boards are waterproof bonded to adjacently arranged floor panels and/or skirting boards. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels and said one or more skirting boards are waterproof bonded to adjacently arranged floor panels and/or skirting boards by plastic welding between adjacent said end edges and adjacent said side edges. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels and said one or more skirting boards are waterproof bonded to adjacently arranged floor panels and/or skirting boards by application of a sealant between adjacent said end edges and adjacent said side edges. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said outer surface of each said skirting board is configured to have tiling applied thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall abutting surface of each said skirting board is adhesively bonded to the adjacent wall of the room. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of each preformed load bearing floor panel is adhesively bonded to the support surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface comprises a portion or part of a slab. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface is comprises two or more horizontal support beams with a panel or sheet laid atop to cover any gaps between the two or more horizontal support beams. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each said preformed load bearing floor panel tapers from the first of said opposed end edges to the second of said opposed end edges with a gradient ranging from about 0.2% to about 0.45%. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more shower wall panels configured to be arranged at a junction between an adjacent wall and said first said opposed end edge of an adjacent said floor panel at a location in which a shower is to be located. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said one or more shower wall panels each comprising two opposed surfaces comprising a wall abutting surface and an outer surface, said opposed surfaces being interconnected by opposed edging, and said outer surface configured to have tiling applied thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more shower wall panels are formed from a waterproof material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more shower wall panels are waterproof bonded to adjacently arranged floor panels and/or skirting boards. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a graded and waterproofed wet area floor in a room, said method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels around at least one floor waste in the room in a side edge-to-side edge arrangement so as to form a graded wet area floor in which a gradient of each panel directs water or any other liquid in a direction towards the at least one floor waste, wherein each said panel is formed from a waterproof material and comprises:   two opposed surfaces comprising a lower surface and an opposed upper surface, said opposed upper surface configured to have tiling applied thereon, said opposed surfaces being interconnected by opposed end edges and opposed side edges, each said panel tapering in thickness from a first of said opposed end edges to a second of said opposed end edges with a gradient ranging from about 0.1% to about 2.0% to thereby direct said water or any other liquid atop the panel from the first of said opposed end edges to the second of said opposed end edges;   arranging one or more skirting boards around an outer edge of the room at a junction between an adjacent wall and said first said opposed end edge of an adjacent said panel, wherein each skirting board is formed from a waterproof material and comprises:
 two opposed surfaces comprising a wall abutting surface and an outer surface, said opposed surfaces being interconnected by opposed end edges and opposed side edges, each said skirting board extending longitudinally between said opposed end edges; and 
   waterproof bonding said plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels and said one or more skirting boards when arranged to form the waterproofed wet area floor in the room.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the waterproof bonding comprises bonding said plurality of preformed load bearing floor panels and said one or more skirting boards to adjacently arranged floor panels and/or skirting boards by plastic welding. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plastic welding is applied between adjacent said edges and adjacent said side edges. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising arranging one or more shower wall panels at a junction between an adjacent wall and said first said opposed end edge of an adjacent said floor panel at a location in which a shower is to be located. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more shower wall panels are formed from a waterproof material and each comprise two opposed surfaces comprising a wall abutting surface and an outer surface, said opposed surfaces being interconnected by opposed edging, and said outer surface configured to have tiling applied thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the waterproof bonding further comprises bonding the one or more shower wall panels to adjacently arranged floor panels and/or skirting boards.