1. Inspection responsibility
Luxury vinyl tiles are produced in precise working and modern production sites. All products will be constantly and strictly controlled. Despite our strict quality controls, damages on single panels can occur, i.e. transportation damages. Always check the panels before and during the installation.
Attention! Check every luxury vinyl tile carefully before installation for any manufacturing blemishes. We cannot consider any claims regarding product defects after installation. Luxury vinyl tile are suitable for installations in wet rooms, kitchen and bathrooms areas.
2. Sub floor requirements
2.1 All sub floors must be prepared for installation in accordance with normal sub
floor preparation procedures and accepted tolerances within the flooring industry.
2.2 Before installing luxury vinyl tiles there are the following points to consider:
Evenness test - Evenness requirements are based on industrial typical standards. Maximum tolerance of 3mm per m.
Load capacity - The sub floor has to be a closed and self-supporting surface. Any gaps, gouges and joints between boards must be filled using an appropriate smoothing compound
Cleanness test - The sub floor has to be clean.
Also required:
- a room temperature of a minimum of 18°C (64°F)
-
a floor surface temperature of a minimum of 15°C (59°F)
- a relative humidity between
40% and 70%
3. Sub floors
3.1 Luxury vinyl tiles can be installed on all sub floors, which meet the above-described requirements. Here are some examples: All types of concrete sub floors, timber battens, ply board, particleboard sub floor constructions, any wooden surface, PVC, linoleum, natural stone slab, ceramic tiles, PVC, linoleum, chipboard, natural stone slab, ceramic tiles.
N.B Any gaps, gouges and joints must be filled using an appropriate screed (smoothing compound) to leave a smooth, dry and flat load bearing subfloor.
3.2 Unsuitable sub floors are: textile surfaces, carpets.
3.3 Underfloor heating systems: To ensure that radiant heating systems will work properly for many years to come, it is essential to plan and coordinate the different elements of the luxury vinyl tile. All existing floor surfaces need to be removed prior to the installation of the new luxury vinyl tile. In addition to the standard sub floor tests it is necessary to provide a certificate that the proper "heating-up and cooling-down phases" have been done. A correct heating-up and cooling-down of the concrete construction will be necessary in every season of the year. The heating-up and cooling-down phase:
- Start of the heating-up phase at the earliest 21 days after the cement-based concrete has been installed, according to the manufacturer for anhydrite concrete but not before 7 days.
- Start the heating-up phase with a flow temperature of 23°C, which has to remain constant for three days.
- Increase the flow temperature daily by 5°C up to the maximum flow temperature.
- Maintain the maximum flow temperature for three days without switching off the heater during the night.
- After three days reduce the flow temperature daily by 10°C until you reach a surface temperature of 18°C (64°F).
- During, and three days after the installation of the flooring panels, maintain a surface temperature of 18°C (64°F).
- Three days after the installation you can start to slowly increase the flow temperature.
Attention! The surface temperature may never exceed 26°C; it is always necessary to install a 0.2 mm polyethylene film as a moisture barrier underneath the underlay.
4.Installation preparations
4.1 Acclimatisation of the vinyl tiles; before starting the installation the luxury vinyl tile has to be brought into the room where it will be installed or in a room with the same climate condition. The acclimatisation will be carried out as following:
- in sealed unopened boxes
- for a time period of at least 48 hours
- flat laying with at least 50 cm (20”) distance to the walls
- a room temperature of 18°C (64°F) to 27°C (81°F)
4.2 Installation direction;
Luxury vinyl tile looks its best when the luxury vinyl tile panels are installed parallel to the light coming in through the windows. The only required installation direction is if you install luxury vinyl tile over hardwood flooring luxury vinyl tiles. In this case you have to install the luxury vinyl tile at a 90degree angle to the existing hardwood flooring luxury vinyl tiles.
5. The Installation
Check all panels for possible damages/defects. Floor tiles are best centred in the room or at a doorway for visual appearance. You may want to use a prominent window instead. Keep this in mind when you lay out the floor tile in your room.
5.1 Measure to find the centre of two opposite walls. Use these points to snap a chalk line across the length of the room in the centre of the floor, dividing the room in half. Then snap another chalk line perpendicular to the first so the two lines cross in the centre of the room.
5.2 The next step is the most important of the entire layout process. You will need to check for 'Square'. This is done by using the 3-4-5 method. Measure 3ft. from the chalk line intersection down one of the lines and make a pencil mark through the line approximately 1/2 inch past on both sides. Next, measure 4ft. from the same intersection as before, down the other line and make a similar pencil mark. The distance diagonally from mark to mark should be 5ft. If not, adjust either line and re-chalk until it measures 5ft. You can incrementally increase 3-4-5 to 6-8-10, 12-16-20, etc. The larger the increment, the more accurate your square will be. Once you find 'Square', you can now start setting.
5.3 Trial fit a row of tiles down both lines to the width and length of the room (Do not use adhesive). By laying out the tiles in this way, you can get an idea of any adjustments that need to be made to your original reference lines. What you are trying to do is work with as many full tiles as you can. Also, you want to end up with at least half a tile width in the areas where the tiles meet the walls.
5.4 Begin laying the tile from the centre of the floor. Spread vinyl flooring adhesive with the trowel's notched edge, combing it out in beaded ridges according to the manufacturer's directions. Spaces between ridges of adhesive should be almost bare.
5.5 If adhesive oozes up between the tiles, wipe it off immediately with a sponge or rag. Consult the manufacturer's instructions to determine the appropriate solvent.
5.6 After you have installed several rows of tiles, bond them firmly to the floor by applying pressure and rolling over them with a floor roller or rolling pin.
Hint: When you must kneel on freshly laid tile to continue with the installation, put a piece of plywood between yourself and the tile. It will distribute your weight and reduce the possibility of individual tiles slipping.
5.7 After laying all the whole tiles that will fit, begin cutting and adhering tiles to fill around the perimeter of the room.
5.8 For tiles that simply need to be cut to length, place the tile directly on top of the last full tile near the wall. Place another tile against the wall, overlapping the loose tile. Mark and cut the first loose tile using the overlapping tile as a guide. The cut tile will then fit against the wall.
5.9 For irregularly shaped tiles, make cardboard templates first to prevent waste.
5.10 Allow it to sit undisturbed for the recommended period of time before walking on it.
For special installation techniques, i.e. installation on stairs or for at any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact technical help line on 0871 250 1066.