Transcription of FLOORING GUIDE
1 FLOORINGGUIDEA ugust 2003(43) Xi349233_20pp GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 1 INTRODUCTIONThis booklet is designed to introduce you to the wide range of FLOORING materials available from WESTCO /FLOORMAKER and provide informationon preparation, fixing and GUIDE is generalised, it is thereforeessential that you read the specific onpack instructions for both the materialand accessories, such as adhesive, which you intend to use. To achieve the best results buy only WESTCO /FLOORMAKER fixing accessories asthese have been designed to complementWESTCO /FLOORMAKER floorcoverings and tested to ensurecompatibility. We hope that this booklet isinformative and useful as a FLOORING AVAILABLEFROM WESTCOFLOATING FLOORSA floating floor is laid by joining thetongue and grooves of the producttogether using either glue or gluefreemethods. The floor does not have to beglued to the sub-floor this makesinstallation quick and two main types of Floating Floor areLAMINATE and REAL WOOD Plank main types of Floating Floor:-49233_20pp GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 21 LAMINATE FLOORINGLAMINATE FLOORING is resistant toimpact, stiletto heels, cigarettes andsolvents, yet never needs FLOORING has the beauty ofnatural products without theirdisadvantages.
2 It is easy to keep cleanand is therefore ideal for most FLOORING is hygienic, non-allergenicand colour fast, even when installed inrooms exposed to the sun. No sanding,staining, varnishing, polishing orrefinishing is FLOORING consists of fourcomponents: the hard wearing top layer ofspecially impregnated film, a designpaper,high density fibreboard (HDF) coreor similar and a bottom layer of FLOORING is between 6 and12mm thick, which usually means doorlevels need not be raised which makesLAMINATE FLOORING ideal forrefurbishment WOOD PLANK FLOORINGT hese floors give you the beauty of atraditional parquet floor but are designedto lay quickly and cleanly. Each board istongue and grooved to fit snugly andconveniently together, giving theimpression, once laid, of an original woodblock or strip LWOOD F LOORING comes in twobasic types:- solid and REAL WOOD FLOORING is madefrom 100% of the species FLOORING uses hardwoodveneers mounted on a core of plywood,MDF or Woodfloors are ready sealed or oiledand require no further :High density fibreboard orparticleboardBACKING:Coated toensuredimensional stabilityOVERLAY:(PROTECTIVE COATING):The special resincoating produces ahighly wear-resistantsurface finishDECORATIVE LAMINATE:Realistic reproductionresistant to lightCORE MATERIAL(Substrate):Can be:-Particle board (chipboard) (Medium Density Fibreboard, less than850k/m3density) (High Density Fibreboard, equal or morethan 850kg/m3)Plywood - Various numbers of layers andthicknessSoftwood 2 layers at right anglesBACKING:To balancefront veneer,irrelevantif ply coreSURFACE FINISH.
3 Coats of acrylic seal, cured or oiledfinishREAL WOOD VENEER:Various thicknesses, to GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 12 FLOORS BONDED DIRECTLY TOTHE SUBFLOORCORKCork, the bark of the Cork Oak tree, is asustainable material. It is removed fromthe tree every 9 years and regrowsnaturally. Corks natural cellularconstruction gives it resilience andstrength in WOOD MOSAIC PARQUETThis is formed from sets of closelygrouped timber fingers arranged in a basket weave pattern and is universallyfitted in both domestic and commerciallocations (with the exception ofbathrooms). The relatively small sizepanels and consequent ease of handlinghas made mosaic parquet particularlypopular in the DIY & MOSAIC OPTIONAL FINISHESBoth cork and mosaic parquet come in arange of Sanded,ready for Sealedto save adhesiveideal for DIY as the factoryapplied adhesive and seal saves time andeffort. (Cork only).VINYL FLOOR TILES1. Homogeneous tiles are produced froma solid compressed sheet, made up ofPVC and various quantities of fillers,which is then processed into small amount of contrasting colouredchips are added at the final stage to createa slight marbling effect on the , the sheet can be constructedusing PVC chips of different colours sothat the mottled effect you see on thesurface will generally go through the Printed tiles are manufactured bylaminating a plain PVC backing to a clearwear layer.
4 The pattern is printed on theunderside of the clear wear layer so thatthe pattern itself is fully protected. Thismethod allows the use of differenttextures, such as slate effect, beatencopper, etc. See also EMBOSSED .3. Embossed or textured tiles aremanufactured by the same method asPRINTED tiles. Afterwards they gothrough a special press that compressescertain features of the pattern such asthe grout lines on a ceramic-look tile orthe brick outline on a parquet-effectpattern to give a distinctive natural look to the Cushion vinyl tiles utilise a pre-formedsheet of specifically formulated vinyl whichis passed through a number of printingcylinders, each one responsible for onecolour within a pattern. This is followed bythe application of a clear wear layer. Theprinted sheet is then subjected to heatwhich makes it expand to its cushion form. By using chemicals mixed in withselected colours this cushion process canbe stopped, to provide an embossing effectin the exact areas where the selectedcolours are printed.
5 This enables designsand textures to be produced without theneed for mechanical our PVC tiles can be used in any area of the house, including kitchens andbathrooms,and are very easy to keep YOUR FLOORINGIMPORTANT Always read alltheinstructions on alllabels on alltheproducts you are going to use before youstart laying the can also provide difficultconditions for FLOORING due to intensesunlight, high temperature and can lead to colour bleaching inconcentrated sunlight or sometimes thesoftening of the adhesive due to unusuallyhigh but sustained GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 2 ESTIMATINGM easure the width of the room (into thealcoves and door threshold) and multiplyby the length to find the MAIN AREA. Addto or subtract from the main area the areaof any bay window or chimney pack of FLOORING states the area whichit will often helps to draw the room on a pieceof graph area of room by area of pack andround up to the nearest whole 5%.
6 This is the number of packs may be unfamiliar with the metricsystem but most FLOORING is sold in squaremetres. If you measure in metres and workconsistently in metres it should present NUMBERSS hould the instructions request it, ensurepacks have the same batch ACCESSORIESW estco have developed a range ofaccessories specifically for our : The correct type of adhesivemust be used, which will depend on theflooring chosen. Westco Cork Tile Adhesive. For sandedand sealed Mosaic Parquet Adhesive. For allsanded and sealed mosaic parquet, felt back,paper back, mesh back and Plank all floatingflooring including real wood veneer andglued Floor Accessories49233_20pp GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page must be used on finesanded products (at least 3 coats for asatisfactory finish) or as additionalprotection on ready sealed products,choose from gloss or Timber & Cork Polyurethane Seal,which enhances the colour and grain ofthe Underlaywill be needed for allfloating foam Underlay orFibreboard Underlay should be used inconjunction with Westco Vapour barrier onground floors to prevent moisture ingress Westco High Performance Underlaycombines the underlay with a moistureresistant barrier in a single product therebysaving Cork Expansion Stripmust beused to fill expansion gaps around mosaicand all plank Threshold Strips marry the newfloor to the existing.
7 Use a Tbar forlaminate to laminate and a Reducer forlaminate to vinyl/ceramic. Scotiashould beused to cover the expansion Felt Padsprotect your newfloorcovering from point You should check what you need,which will include all or some of thefollowing: Tape measure Metal rule or straightedge Profile template (or card and scissors) String & chalk Pencil Trimming knife Cutting board Plank laying kit (for floating floors) Fine toothed saw Damp clothSUB FLOOR PREPARATIONA successful FLOORING project is alwaysdependant on the quality of the tips are relevant to all floors must be dry, clean, flat Moisture in floors is the biggestenemy of all types of floors must incorporate an effectivedamp proof membrane. Dryness shouldnever be taken for granted what seemsto be dry on the surface could still bedamp As a general rule new concretefloors dry out at the rate of one inch(25mm) of thickness per month,twoinches will take 2 months but from thenon it takes longer; 3 inches could take 4months, 4 inches could take 5 to 6months.
8 These times are based on theroom being well ventilated so that themoisture coming out of the floor cancirculate into the air. Cold or wet weatherprolongs the drying period. Keeping doorsand windows tightly closed and turning upthe heating does not work! Blotting paperthat is already wet will not be able toabsorb much more water; similarly, airthat is already full of moisture will beunable to absorb further moisture hencethe need for ventilation to help move themoisture laden air out of the room toenable dry air to take its moisture in the subfloor can bemeasured as follows:Tested with a Hygrometer, relativehumidity must not be higher than 75%.Tested with a Protimeter Concrete Master,the degree of moisture must not An effective Damp Proof Membraneis essential. Materials and methods fordamp-proofing solid floors, are describedin British Standard GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 4 Suspended timberground floors rely onventilation provided by grills or airbricks tokeep them dry.
9 It is essential that theseare not blocked as dampness will There should be no surface dust,grit or sand, no oil or floor paints. Whenexisting floorcoverings are taken up all oldadhesive must be cleaned off. Use a hotair gun to soften the adhesive, and removeusing a wide bladed paint There should be no discerniblebumps, cracks or creases. Quarry orceramic tiled floors are unsuitable unlessthey are covered with a suitable floorlevelling boards must be covered withflooring grade hardboard or plywood. Theboards to be overlaid must be secured andlevelled, in particular ridges should beplaned and damaged boards pins or fixings below the surface ofthe overlay boards. Timber treated withwood preservatives is not suitable as asub-floor, even if on the FLOORING pack for specificinstructions regarding which side of thehardboard to use; typically smooth side forself adhesive products and rough side forproducts laid using There should be no surface gritor sand.
10 The surface should be hard, firmand should not crumble. Old floor levellingcompound should be tested to see if it isstill completely bonded to the floor. If indoubt remove old compound and If sticking tiles down onporous surfaces such as concrete, sandand cement screed, plywood, hardboardand chipboard should be primed using adilute solution of PVA as permanufacturers instructions for ensures that the adhesive can grip .ASPHALT Is an unsuitable subfloor forstick down products unless suitablepreparation is carried out. Roughen theasphalt surface using a wire brush to form a key . Lay a suitable latex self levelling screed(approximately 3mm) following themanufacturer s instructions. Prime when Is an unsuitable at 4 centres49233_20pp GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 5649233_20pp GUIDE 22/7/03 1:49 pm Page 6 LAYING A FLOATING FLOOR(A rough GUIDE - double check on packinstructions for key details)PREPARE THE PLANKSA cclimatise the unopened packs in theroom where they are to be laid for at least72 hours.
