Installed some vinyl tiles today on a subfloor i prepared the day before (see here- viewtopic.php?f=32&t=368 ) so to start with we need to measure the area and put some datum lines down that we will be installing the tile off. next up i need to prime the subfloor to make sure the adhesive will bond properly. For this i used creom. Creom is actually a moister supresent (similar to a epoxy system but keeps for 1 month after you open the bottle. Epoxy sets within 30mins! so cant be reused) that is used to coat subfloors with failed DPM or if new concrete and for some reason you cant wait for the concrete to dry. Creom works really well as a primer before adhesive is applied. There was no moister problem at this job but the expiry date was coming up on the creom so may as well use it up! Plus its dry in under 20 mins. while waiting for the primer to set i started to cut down the feature strips that will be fitted between the tiles. Next up is the glue. I decided to use a pressure sensitive adhesive made by FBALL. When using pressure sensitive it is very important to roll the glue flat (trowel marks) with a pre wetted roller. The reason for this is because you are letting the glue dry before you install into it. If you install onto the trowel ridges left in the glue when its dry you are only bonding to the top of these ridges (so maybe 20% contact with the adhesive? ) Also you end up with a 1-2 mm soft rubber like adhesive under the tile/plank that will allow movement with heat change etc. One other reason for rolling the trowel ridges flat is because the trowel ridges can mirror through the product as im sure you have all seen in hospital corridors etc! HOWEVER, if you are using a normal acrylic adhesive the trowel pattern is there for a reason. As you lay into most adhesives 'wet' the trowel ridges should flattern as you place the product into the wet adhesive. when using pressure sensitive adhesive use the same size trowel as is recommended for the product. so then we get on with the fitting. As i used a pressure sensitive adhesive my pencil datum lines will show through the adhesive when its ready for me to start laying into. (dries clear). Also as it grabs straight away i can work on top of the tiles without them moving. Also the adhesive stays tacky for ever so i can take the glue over my pencil lines rather than trying to glue upto an edge of a tile on the next section. Next week im returning to install the hallway in a wood plank with boarder work. I will get the pics up when finished!
