Y FINISH how to achieve the perfect result when installing LVT.


PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVES Pressure sensitive adhesives are ideal for the installation of LVTs because they form an instant grab upon contact, so, once positioned, tiles or planks won’t move about as contractors work. They also offer an extended open time, reducing the risk of placing tiles or planks too late, making them ideal for where more complex designs or patterns are being created.


Once such adhesive, F. Ball’s Styccobond F46, is solvent-free, dries to a permanent tack and, as well as providing strong initial tack, develops a high bond strength, which increases as it is trafficked to hold floorcoverings firmly in place throughout the lifetime of the installation.


ADDITIONAL FEATURES Thanks to innovations in adhesives technology, pressure sensitive adhesives are available with a range of additional features. For example, advancements in hybrid polymer adhesives enabled F. Ball to create Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS, a high performance vinyl adhesive that combines both pressure sensitive and temperature tolerant characteristics. Previously, contractors requiring a temperature tolerant adhesive would have had to forgo the benefits of a pressure sensitive adhesive. Styccobond F49 develops the ultra-high bond strength to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C). The adhesive is also resistant to water, making it suitable for installing floorcoverings in areas subject to water and high humidity, including wet rooms and kitchens that require frequent cleaning.


CREATING A BASE Contractors can then proceed to creating a perfectly smooth and stable base ready for the receipt of vinyl tiles or planks by using an appropriate levelling compound. To create the perfect base ready for the installation of LVTs, contractors should choose a levelling compound that is high strength and offers excellent self-levelling properties, such as F. Ball and Co. Ltd.’s Stopgap 300 HD.


With few exceptions, it is essential to prime a subfloor before applying a levelling compound. When used over non- absorbent surfaces, such as waterproof surface membranes, priming promotes adhesion between the subfloor and the levelling compound applied over it. Applied over absorbent subfloors, such as concrete, sand/cement screeds or plywood, priming also prevents the unacceptably rapid drying of a subsequently applied levelling compound.


Another reason for priming is to prevent ‘pinholing’; small holes in the levelling compound that have the appearance of pinholes or blisters caused by the slow escape of air from absorbent surfaces as the levelling compound cures


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Both Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS and Styccobond F46 are specially formulated to reduce the incidence of trowel serrations shadowing through thin vinyl floorcoverings, a common problem, also known as ‘grin-through’, which will compromise the finished appearance of your bespoke flooring installation. This can be further guarded against by going over the adhesive with a roller, once it has dried to a tacky film, to flatten the ridges formed by trowel application.


ADHESIVE SELECTION It is always advisable to check the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives. To do this, consult the adhesive manufacturer’s Recommended Adhesives Guide, such as F. Ball’s industry-leading RAG, which lists adhesives recommended for use with over 6,000 floorcoverings, produced by over 200 floorcovering manufacturers. A continually-updated version of this guide is available on F. Ball’s website or as a free app. It is also available as an A5 printed booklet. Contractors can also consult floorcovering manufacturers for advice.


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