Installation Guide

Pre Installation

Installation of PVC tiles is easy although we do recommend using a professional floor layer.

The installation area, tiles and adhesive are to be maintained between 17 and 25 degrees celsius at least 48 hours before installation.

Products must not be left against a heat source.

The sub-floor must be adequately prepared to take the tiles.

Any builders screeds must be smoothed by a latex or water-based cementitious screed (following all manufacturers instruction), and the screed then rubbed down until perfectly smooth using a carborundum stone or similar.

If sub-floor is existing floorboards they must be covered with at least 6mm (preferably 9mm) thick marine or wbp plyboard - use shanked nails or screws every 4 inches, securing each entire piece and make sure there are no raised nail or screw heads, and then smooth the plyboard joints with a feather edge compound/ screed and smoothed in the same fashion as above.

Hardboard must not be used and any existing hardboard should be replaced with marine/ wbp plyboard.

The subfloor should be free of moisture, dust, sealers, paint, wax, oil or any other foreign coatings.

Do not install tiles over gypsum-based or plaster-based levelling compounds.

Do not install tiles directly over old floor coverings or old adhesive residues (this may cause inadequate bonding and plasticiser migration (discolouration) of tiles).

During Installation

Assess the shape of the room to understand the desired layout of the tiles.

A straight line has to be marked on the newly prepared floor.

Often floor areas are not square in their shape but ultimately the installer (under customer's guidance or installer's experience) is responsible for the placement of tiles in position to the floor.

We strongly recommend that a whole tile is fitted in the main entrance doorway to the room and this tile must be exactly square to the first visual wall on entering the room (or square to the biggest feature in the room).

If the main entrance doorway is at an angle, the tiles should then be positioned according to the

first visual wall or main feature.

Spread Uzin adhesive evenly following the guidelines on the instructions, beginning at any quarter part of the whole area working from any straight lines previously marked on the floor.

Make sure there are no thick blobs or very thin skims of adhesive on spread area of the floor otherwise this will cause inadequate adhesion.

Most adhesives should be allowed to "tack up" or "flash off" for at least 30 minutes (depending on temperature of site and adhesive) before placing the tiles.

The best time guide for tack up is allowing the adhesive to touch dry enough so that there is little or no transfer of adhesive to the finger.

Placing your first tile is very important, make sure it is 100% square and in line with your pre-marked lines (taking into account if there is stripping) and obviously we recommend starting at the first main visual areas.

Any adhesive on the surface of the tiles must be removed immediately with a clean dampened cloth with warm soapy water, making sure not to get any fluids on existing spread adhesive and placed tile joints.

Use a 50kg roller (or similar in weight), roll and cross-roll all the tiles laid within 30 minutes of installation. Roll again 30 minutes after the initial rolling and if necessary roll and cross-roll again.

After Installation and Maintenance.

Avoid direct contact between tiles and solvents, household paints and black rubber as these items can cause permanent discolouration and contamination.

Furniture, appliances and other heavy household objects can cause scratching of tiles and should only be moved with care and pads put under their legs.

No foot traffic on the new floors for at least 48 hours and no wheeled objects for 72 hours.

Do not use wax on UV-cured PVC flooring.

Periodic maintenance will improve the appearance,safety and longevity of your floor.

Remove loose dirt by sweeping or vacuuming as required. Do not use any cleaning agents containing oils or solvents.

Dr-Schutz manufacture our maintenance products. Please follow strict guidelines for their application.

See our Maintenance Page and/or alternatively visit www.dr-schutz.com

Please read our installation guide as well as watching our FREE video demos. Click on any of the relative buttons below to bring you to the appropriate lesson. Theses demos are large files which have been compressed so they are easy to download. Your computer may need the correct software (codec) to uncompress and play these files. If so you can download the necessary software by clicking on www.divx.com