Grayson Mortar Board & Stand – The greener alternative to wood and plastic
For decades, bricklayers have relied on flooring off-cuts to satisfy their need for cheap and convenient spot boards.
However, in recent years, this flooring ‘waste’ hasn’t been as readily available and environmentally friendly, most main contractors are now frowning on the practice.
The main environmental concern with using timber derivatives is that once impregnated with mortar, timber cannot be recycled and has to go to landfill. Mortar contains numerous harmful chemical elements, that when they enter the soil and water table, can cause serious environmental issues.
Because of the timber-related issues, some contractors switched to ABS plastic boards. Unfortunately, these also have their own environmental problems in their production, use, and end-of-life disposal.
It’s clear that there has to be another way.
After speaking to some of the UK’s largest main contractors and brickwork subcontractors, Grayson (GB) Ltd developed their ‘G Board’, a recycled aluminium spot board that, if cared for, could last a bricklayer a lifetime. Then, once at the end of its longer life, it can be placed in a metal bin and completely recycled again.
By making this simple, cost-effective change, it was estimated that each of the UK’s 90,000 bricklayers could prevent hundreds of tonnes of contaminated waste from going to landfill. This would have a marked and significant impact on construction waste.
The G board was developed on sites across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland. It took inspiration from the wooden flooring and more recent incarnations of spot boards. For those who liked a lip feature, it had a 4mm angle rim; for those who preferred a completely flat surface the board could be flipped to accommodate that approach. Effectively, it then became two boards in one.
One universal comment was that any board would need to be as light as possible, ideally under 2.5kg, and have an integrated carrying handle. The G Board weighed just under 2kg and had a large aperture handle, ideal for the largest of hands, even with gloves.
It also became apparent that a hanging hole would be extremely beneficial, as the product needed to be washed at the end of the day. This, too, was included in the original design.
Finally, a tough, resilient, non-stick coating was required. This coating couldn’t crack or flake in the toughest conditions. The G Board, therefore, incorporates this advanced coating feature in a high-visibility green. Its high-visibility finish prevents the board from becoming a trip hazard to other operatives on site.
The board was an instant success upon its launch. The feedback and reviews were beyond positive; even the most traditional of trowels instantly saw the benefits of making the change. However, Grayson had a strong desire to develop a matching stand.
Therefore, we designed two heights of lightweight foldable stands: one at 500mm and another at 750mm.
These stands incorporate nonslip rubber stoppers that ensure zero movement from the board whilst in use.
Uses of the stands negate the dangerous use of bricks, blocks, crates and bins as workstations. They also allow for quick and easy movement as the build progresses. Like the boards themselves, the stands have been extremely well received, and users are enthusiastic about the productivity and health and safety benefits.
To learn more about our Mortar Boards and Stands, contact your account manager on 08448 50 40 50 to order yours today.
