INTERIORS 59


LVT INSTALLATION NEEDS A FLAWLESS FINISH


Neil Sanders of F. Ball & Co explains the steps to ensure a fl awless fi nish when installing this ever-popular choice of fl oorcovering.


Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS pressure sensitive vinyl adhesive is designed for installs in areas with extreme temperature fl uctuations from solar gain


T


he increasing quality and variety of luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs) and their suitability for a wide range of settings has seen their appeal continue to grow. Given the high expectations for such installations, ensuring a long-lasting, visually attractive  ooring fi nish is essential when installing them. In line with BS 8203:2017 (Installation of resilient  oor coverings  code of practice), this should involve following basic principles of sub oor preparation, as well as taking precautions to avoid common causes of  oor failure. electing the optimum installation products at each stage of the process will also help. he fi rst step in any  ooring installation should be to check that the sub oor is suitably sound, smooth and dry. o avoid costly  oor failure, any laitance fi ne particles appearing on the surface) and contaminants should be mechanically removed before installation.


GUARDING AGAINST DAMP t this stage, a moisture test should be conducted to determine if the sub oor is dry enough to receive  oorcoverings. xcess sub oor moisture, whether


GIVEN THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF LVT INSTALLATIONS, ENSURING A LONG-LASTING, VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE FLOORING FINISH IS ESSENTIAL


residual construction moisture or rising damp, is the leading cause of  oor failure, resulting in costly recalls and delays. he only method of measuring


sub oor relative humidity levels with certainty, and the method advocated by British Standards, is to use a calibrated hygrometer. Where sub oor relative humidity R levels are higher than , a moisture management solution will be reuired to prevent moisture attacking  ooring adhesives and causing resilient  oorcoverings to blister and lift. iuid waterproof surface membranes are available that will isolate excess sub oor moisture where relative humidity values are up to 98%, with a single coat


application, and fully cure in as little as three hours.


PRIMING


n most cases it will be essential to prime a surface before applying a smoothing compound. his promotes the optimum performance characteristics of the smoothing compound and, when used over absorbent sub oors, such as concrete, prevents moisture being drawn from the smoothing compound, which will lead to a reduction in the working time. or time saving purposes, smoothing compounds are available that can be applied directly over old adhesive residues without the need to prime beforehand.


eneral-purpose primers are available that can be used over both absorbent and non-absorbent surfaces. There are also specialist primers for use over non-absorbent surfaces, and primers designed for calcium sulphate screeds.


CREATING A BASE


 smoothing compound should then be applied over the sub oor to create a perfectly smooth and level surface


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