THE PRESSURE'S ON
F. Ball & Co. Ltd provides expert guidance on how to select the optimum adhesives when creating bespoke installations with vinyl floorcoverings.
Bespoke vinyl flooring often means luxury vinyl tiles and creating complex designs and patterns. When installing these types of floorcoverings, it is desirable to have the benefits of a pressure sensitive adhesive. There are also situations where additional features, such as temperature tolerance, will be required. Fortunately, advancements in adhesive technology have made possible the development of pressure sensitive adhesives with a range of other properties.
Standard, wet-lay adhesives are available for contractors who are installing vinyl floorcoverings and do not require an immediate bond to hold floorcoverings in place while they work. These are simply applied evenly over the subfloor with a trowel and allowed to dry slightly before placing the floorcoverings into the adhesive and going over them with a roller.
Pressure sensitive adhesives form an instant grab upon contact, so contractors do not need to worry about tiles or planks moving about when they are working, making them ideal for where intricate designs or patterns are being created. They also offer an extended open time, reducing the risk of late placement.
Nowadays, contractors can find pressure sensitive adhesives with additional features, including temperature tolerance, for
use where vinyl floorcoverings will be exposed to temperature fluctuations, such as conservatories and areas where floor- to-ceiling windows result in solar gain. Over time, extreme temperature fluctuations will cause vinyl floorcoverings to expand and contract, which can lead to tenting and gapping if a suitable adhesive isn’t used.
Traditionally, when requiring a temperature tolerant adhesive, flooring contractors would have to forgo the advantages of pressure sensitive adhesives. Recent advancements in adhesives technology have enabled the development of high- performance, hybrid adhesives, which combine temperature tolerance, pressure sensitive characteristics and more.
One such adhesive manufactured by F. Ball, Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS, is water-based, has the familiar characteristics of a pressure sensitive adhesive and develops the extremely high bond strength required to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C). The bond formed is also water resistant, making the adhesive suitable for installing bespoke floorcoverings in areas that will be exposed to damp and humidity. Instant grab and high resistance to plasticisers means that it can also be used to install PVC vertical flooring accessories, such as skirting, capping and coving.
CASE STUDY: STYCCOBOND F49 USED TO INSTALL LVT IN FOSSE
SHOPPING PARK F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 has been used by J & S Flooring, of Leicester, to install 45m2
of logo-embossed
flooring at the food court at Fosse Shopping Park, which is subject to temperature changes and heavy footfall.
Beforehand, the existing vinyl floor tiles were removed and Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for the floorcoverings. Stopgap 1200 is a low odour, fast setting, fast drying, two-component levelling compound, suitable for preparing sound internal subfloors prior to the installation of new floorcoverings. It is particularly suitable for use over old adhesive residues (including bitumen and carpet tile tackifiers) and does not normally require the application of a primer.
John Wells, of J & S Flooring, said: “Styccobond F49 was a perfect adhesive to use in this refurbishment as it enabled us to successfully install flooring in an area of heavy foot- fall and temperature change. Using this product alongside Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound enabled us to complete this refurbishment in just two days, despite only being able to work on the floor when the shopping centre was closed.”
www.f-ball.com/en
twitter.com/TContractFloors BESPOKE INSTALLATIONS | 23
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