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1. Floor Tiles
BEFORE INSTALLATION
CONDITIONING
Packaged tiles, adhesive and varnishes should be acclimatized on site for at least 24 hours before installation. Remove the tiles from packages just before beginning the installation. During storage and installation, maintain a temperature range of 18ºC to 28ºC (65 F to 82F) and relative humidity range of 35% to 65%
SUBFLOOR AND SKIRTING
Inspect sub-floor prior of beginning the installation. Concrete floor should be smooth, even, dry and free of dirt of any kind. Whenever possible, use a leveling compound . The moisture content of the sub-floor must no exceed 3-4%. Wood sub-floors should made very smooth. Cork floor tiles can ba installed over linoleum, vinyl or rubber, provided that these materials are even and made quite rough. Carpets should be removed, and a leveling compound applied on the sub-floor.
Existing skirting should be removed, and only re-installed after the setting in place of the tiles
Supra Lda cannot be held responsible for claims associated with improper sub-floors or applications, or the use of any auxiliary products that are not recommended.
UNDER-FLOOR HEATING
Cork floor tiles made by Supra Lda are compatible with under-floor heating devices. Whether there are under-floor heating devices in the sub-floor, please respect these instructions:
– turn of the heating device 48 hours prior to the installation
-Wait 72 hours after the installation for turning on the heating device
– do not exceed the temperature of 28°C (82°F). Higher temperatures may harm the adhesive.
INSTALLATION TOOLS
Glue trowel*, floor roller*, painting roller*, paintbrush*, a tape measure, craft knife, pencil, straight edge, chalk line, cloth, rubber hammer, sanding equipment, vacuum cleaner
*only for glue down cork floor tiles
PLANNING THE INSTALLATION
Find the centre of the room using a chalk line, from the middle of one wall (x) to the middle of the opposite wall (x1), then make a line from the middle of other wall (y) to the middle of its opposite wall (y1) , as seen on fig. 1
Check that the intersection of the two lines forms a 90° angle
If laying on the diagonal, draw a new line from the intersection of lines x -x1 and y- y1. Intersection of the new line with the previous one should form a 45º angle.
Check the room dimension by placing the tiles (without gluing), from the middle of the room, along the guiding line.
Make sure that the widths of the tiles that will be near the wall are identical and greater than 4 cm.
GLUING (glue down cork floor tiles only)
Use an appropriated contact adhesive for cork. Always read carefully the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions. Before using, stirr the adhesive well. When using a contact adhesive
-Apply the adhesive with a paint roller to the back of the cork floor tiles.
-Apply the adhesive with a roller or a glue trowel to the subfloor; a paintbrush, depending on the type of adhesive, can be used for corners and edges.
-Avoid pooling of adhesive.
-Let the adhesive dry completely ( drying time on the subfloor is usually 40-50 minutes, depending on the temperature and relative humidity).
LAYING THE TILES (glue down cork floor tiles)
Lay the tiles from the centre along the guiding line, preferably using “brick-bond” (see fig. 2) system.
Place tiles side by side without pushing too tightly together. Press each tile with the help of a rubber hammer or hand roller. Remove any excess adhesive with a damp cloth.
The tiles should be rolled with a 50-Kg roller, every 30 minutes to ensure that the tiles are firmly bedded into the adhesive, and upon completion of installation. Light traffic is allowed after 1 day.
LAYING THE TILES (peel ‘n go cork floor tiles)
Lay the tiles from the centre along the guiding line, preferably using “brick-bond” (see fig. 2) system
Remove the paper cover from the back of the tile, place it in position, and press it firmly into place, with the help of a rubber hammer. Please remember this is a pressure–sensitive adhesive, and therefore you should firstly carefully place the tile, before pressing it. Proceed with the installation of the remaining tiles, following the same procedure( remove the protective cover from the back of the tile, place it carefully, press it firmly into place; when needing to cut near the edges of the room, cut firstly the tile and only then remove the protection cover).
Light traffic is allowed right after installation.
VARNISHING
Always use a cork varnish ( request information from you supplier) . After the laying is completed , wait 24 hours (for glue down cork floor tiles only; for peel ‘n go, let the material “rest” for 3 hours). Then clean the floor carefully, vacuum it and remove any existing adhesive stains (sand slightly, whether necessary). For natural sanded floor, apply three coats of varnish. For pre-varnished floors, apply two coats of varnish. Sand slightly between varnish coats with fine sandpaper ( grain 220-240), just to make the varnish a little rough, and then vacuum clean , before applying a new coat.
MAINTENANCE
Cork floor tiles are very easy to clean and to maintain. Use a damp cloth or vacuum it.
Varnished floors will need refurbishment depending on the intensity of use. When refurbishing, clean the floor, sand slightly and aplly two coats fo varnish. Sand slightly and vacuum between coats.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your floor can last forever, with no need of additional layers of varnish, for tens of years. Just follow these simple procedures:
– Cork is a natural product, and color will change with time; in order to prevent discoloration, avoid strong exposition to direct sunlight;
– Always use protection pads under furniture, and don’t use castor chairs, unless a proprietary protection pad is placed between the wheels and the floor;
-Don’t drag furniture across the room; when needing to move your furniture, lift it;
-Avoid the accumulation of sand and dirt; they will act as an abrasive, and the varnish protective layer will wear faster;
– Always use mild detergents when cleaning the floor.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”content-width”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
2. Wall Cover
BEFORE INSTALLATION
Packaged tiles, adhesive and varnishes should be accbefore installation. Remove the tiles from packages just before beginning theDuring storage and installation, maintain a temperature range of 18ºC toand relative humidity range of 35% to 65%.
The wall must be dry and even, without protuberances and free of grease , dirt or dust. The Wall should not be primed. If the wall is already primed or painted, please be sure to une a fine sandpaper to rough up the surface. Wipe all the dust after sanding, before proceeding with marks and adhesive.
Supra Lda cannot be held responsible for claims associathe use of any auxiliary products that are not recommended.
Have all the tools, the adhesive and the tiles at reach of hand.
INSTALLATION
1.THE TOOLS
Glue roller, a tape measure, craft knife, pencil, straight edge, chalk hammer/hammer and a batten board
2. PLANNING THE INSTALLATION
Begin by drawing an horizontal line,and then some vertical lines, that will act like guides to line up the start of you tiles(please see picturevertical line, and check the distance between the vertical lines at a high point and low point.
So X= X’ And Y=Y’
The distances must match – otherwise, the you will know that your to the room. This helps you to know how to compensate for this when placing the tiles. Should the wall be leaning backward, the wall width towards the top will be greater than the wall width at the base of the wall. If the wall leans in, the wthe width that you will find at the base of the wall.
A offset scheme ( third or hald offset ) is recommendedWehther it leans , it will help to hide that discrepanciesscheme. Cork is flexible, unlike ceramics or stone, andifficult to achieve.
3. INSTALLING THE TILES
Roll your adhesive on the wall, accordingly you the adhesive manufacturer instructions .
Depending on the type of adhesive used , you should also roll the adhesive on the back of the tiles.
When the surface is ready, align onthen push down the rest of the tile.Allign the edge of the next tile to the edge of the first one and continue to stick the tiles along the wall. Please make sure to put the tiles with care, since when they stick , they are very difficult to remove.
When the tile is in place, smack it with your hand all across the tile surface, in order to ensure that all parts of the tile are in contact with the wall. Then use a rubber hammer ( or a hammer and a batten board) to ensure a perfect bonding of the tile to the wall ( remember that using just your hand, or even a hand roller, it is not enough).
Make sure that the widths of the tiles that will be near the wall are greater than 4 cm. To ensure a precise fit, place the tile to be cut over the last full tile. Place a further tile as a marker over the tile to be cut and mark off with a pencil. Cut with a sharp knife accordingly.
MAINTENANCE
Cork wall tiles are very easy to clean and to maintain. Use a damp cloth or vacuum it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]