Storage

Flooring should be stored for 24 hours at room temperature of minimum 14 ̊C/57°F and maximum 27°C/81°F prior to installation.

Subfloor (Concrete/Timber)

The condition of the subfloor is important for the finished appearance of the installation – but will also have a major impact on the life and performance of the flooring. Ensure therefore that the subfloor conforms to BS8203: 2001 and is smooth, dry, rigid, has the correct levels, is clean and free of dust and grease or any other contaminants - before proceeding with the installation.

Adhesive

Please follow the adhesive manufacturer recommendations and check with your distributor or FloorXL representative that the intended adhesive is suitable for the product.

As a guide we can recommend the following products:

• F Ball Styccobond F44
• F Ball Styccobond F84
• Mapei Adesilex G19
• Mapei Aqua contact
• Mapei Ultrabond Eco V4SP

Installation (Full Spread – heat-welded joints)

Please follow code of practice BS8203: 2001 when laying FloorXL products

Please note that if material has been cut, fitted or installed, NO ADJUSTMENTS or CLAIMS will be considered due to the failure to comply with any of the following.

Before cutting and installing FloorXL flooring make sure that you:

1. Check for obvious manufacturing defect in good daylight conditions.
2. Check that the material is the correct colour, pattern and quantity ordered by your customer.
3. The flooring should be allowed to acclimatise to ambient climatic conditions between 14°C to 27°C (57°F to 81°F) for minimum 24 hours. Never install the material if the temperature in the room is less that 14°C/57°F as per (BS8203:2001
4. All rolls of FloorXL flooring are marked with a Batch and Roll Number. When using more than one roll make sure that the rolls have the same batch number and that roll numbers are consecutive
5. Cut material to length and remove factory edges (by using edge of next sheet placed over for the correct tight fitting)
6. Always reverse the direction of the sheets so that the right-hand edge of the second sheet is next to the right-hand edge of the first sheet
7. Loose lay the first two sheets and inspect the overall effect, if acceptable, proceed with adhering after minimum 2 hours. In the event of a problem or any doubt – immediately stop and call your FloorXL distributor
8. Do not cut and install any damaged or defective material unless accepted, agreed and approved by all parties concerned.
9. Roll entire floor area in length and width with 45kg roller
10. Do not allow heavy rolling loads for at least 24 hours after installation.
11. Ambient temperature of between 14°C to 27°C (57°F to 81°F) should be maintained in the installation area during and for at least 24 hours after installation

Installation Finishing Options

FloorXL material can be self coved, straight laid or used with “sit on” or “set in” skirtings. Joints in wet areas must be completely sealed to prevent moisture ingress (joints between the flooring and the walls, pipes, toilet pans etc.). Once the material has been conditioned it can be cut in and adhesive can be applied in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions.
After the specified open time, place the floor covering back onto the adhesive taking care to push all air bubbles out. Excess adhesive should be removed straightaway using a damp cloth. Finally all joints can be cut in, grooved and welded.

Creating an internal mitre

1. Once laid and adhered, push the flooring into the internal angle as far as possible
2. Make a cut from the base out to the top of the flooring in line with the mitre
3. Fold in one side of the mitre and cut-off the excess material
4. Fold the second side and carefully cut in to complete the joint
5. Adhere and hot-weld the joint

Creating an external mitre and internal mitre or a make-out section

1. Roughly cut the flooring over size to meet the required section
2. Once the main flooring is adhered, cut in the back and front mitres, then cut out the section to remove the make-out
3. Take a separate piece of flooring roughly cut to size, apply adhesive, position and cut to fit the back internal mitre
4. Cut the front external mitre
5. Finally groove and hot-weld to complete the section

Grooving

Ensure that all flooring sheets are butt-joined leaving no gap. Use an automatic or hand held grooving tool to cut a “U” shape 3mm wide groove on all flooring joints (except mitres). The depth of the groove should be 2/3 of the flooring thickness.

Hot welding joints

When possible allow 12-24 hours between the laying and welding. Weld all flooring to flooring joints using a matching welding rod and a welding gun fitted with the appropriate high speed nozzle. Allow the weld to cool down before trimming it with a half moon spatula.

Welding an internal mitre

1. Groove the lower section of the joint only
2. Trim the weld rod with a round router blade.

Welding an external mitre

1. Groove the floor and bottom section (the top section of the mitre forms a natural “Vee” and does not need grooving.
2. Start welding the mitre from the top, with the weld rod feed above the nozzle. When welding the floor feed the weld rod below the nozzle.
3. Allow the weld rod to cool completely before trimming the surplus with a spatula.
4. Chamfer off the external mitre with a square router blade.

Expansion Joints

FloorXL does not recommend installation of it’s flooring directly over expansion joints in the building structure. Expansion Joint covers designed specifically for this should be specified for use in conjunction with FloorXL flooring.

Protection and maintenance

FloorXL products should be covered and protected from all other trades using suitable non staining covering. Please refer to FloorXL maintenance guide for cleaning recommendations.

Installation tooling

All tools listed above are industry generic and widely available. Please contact you FloorXL representative if you require the details of a local supplier.