Careful and correct subfloor preparation is vital for excellent floor appearance and tile adhesion, The subfloor must always be firm. smooth and clean.
existing timber floors
Suspended wooden substrates (i.e. floorboards or chipboard) and floating floors should be overlaid with 6mm exterior flooring grade plywood, fixed at 150mm centres using twisted shank or ring shank nails, or serrated staples. Worn or dished floorboards must be pre-levelled where required, with a suitable levelling compound prior-to overlayment, Plywood sheet joins should be staggered and finished using an appropriate smoothing compound.
concrete
All concrete floors should be checked for damp and to ensure there is suitable damp proof membrane present, Readings should not exceed 75% relative humidity when testing with a Hygrometer. If readings are correct, a suitable levelling compound should be applied at a minimum depth of 3mm, For damp or newly installed concrete floors (where installation must proceed before moisture levels are likely to be less than 75%) it will be necessary to incorporate a surface damp proof membrane with the appropriate levelling compound.
old resilient floors and wood blocks
Existing tiles, blocks and old adhesive residue should be completely removed and the substrate clean. No solvents should be used in this process. The surface should be checked and tested for damp os outlined above. If the tests fail to identify any damp/moisture apply the necessary levelling compound. For further advice, refer to the relevant compound manufacturer.
Terrazzo, stone, quarry floors
Existing flooring materials such as. quarry tile, ceramics or terrazzo may be suitable for installation provided that the surface is sound and suitably prepared. Generally this will involve degreasing and damp testing before the application of primer and levelling compound.
recommended adhesives
Amtico International offers a choice of three adhesivesLselection of the correct adhesive type will depend on the location.
sf adhesive
A water based, single-port acrytic adhesive, recommended for all general domestic areas except those subject to excessive heat or moisture.
ht adhesive
A water based, single-part acrylic adhesive, particularly suitable for use in areas subject to temperature change, for example conservatories or near to plate glass windows. Also recommended where underfloor heating has been installed.
universal 2-part adhesive
A two part compound polyurethone adhesive, Especially suitable for those areas that ore liable to become excessively wet, such as shower rooms.
Always follow the instructions, paying close attention to working times. Spread adhesive using a notched trowel to ensure the correct amount is applied.
cutting tiles
A suitable blade should be used fo cut the tiles. You will require a quantity of blades and always "score" the tile on the surface first, then make a number of repeated cuts, rather than trying to cut through the tile in one go.
underfloor heating
Spacia floors are suitable tor use over traditional wet or hot water pipe systems provided the surface temperature can be regulated below 27°C. Temperatures above this can cause discolouration of any vinyl. We also recommend the use of Amtico International HT Adhesive, All hot water pipes should be embedded in concrete in accordance with the appropriate Building Regulations, Underfloor Heating systems should be switched off for 48 hours before,' during and 48 hours after installation.
design and layout advice
transferring the design to the floor
The correct way to begin layout for most rooms is to find the centre-point and square off the room. For large rooms an architectural feature is often selected as the starting point and for measuring and squaring up, If rooms have irregular wall features, such as intrusions, chose which feature is most important and square up from that. From the centre point the starting point can be determined.
finding the centre of the room
Find the midpoint of wall (W). Mark the midpoint (mp-w) which is 3048mm from both walls (N) &(S)
Find the midpoint of wall (E). Mark the midpoint (mp-e) which is 3061 mm from both walls (N) &(S)
Snap a chalk line between the midpoints (mp-w) & (mp-e) betweep'the two opposite walls (N) & (S)
Measure the disfcnce between (mp-w) & (mp-e) and divide by 2 to determine the centrepoint on the chalk line (C). Mark that point
squaring the layout from the baseline
Having found the centre of the room ensure that your base lines are square with each other. The most common method is called the 3,4, 5 method, The expressions 3,4,5 could represent measuring units of whatever value.
care
Help protect your Spacia floor from scratching and damage by:
Care should be taken when using your vacuum cleaner as they may scratch your floor.
Help protect against scratching from furniture feet by using furniture cups, glides, rollers or felt pads.
Do not use small or narrow castors or those with crowned tread, as they can damage your floor.
Use suitable fibre entrance matting. Poor quality matting can cause staining.
Do not allow cigarettes, matches or other very hot items to make contact with the floor.
Avoid contact with rubber, asphalt, some paints and shoe polishes, which may stain your floor.
Be careful with spray polish and other silicone based products, they may make your floor very slippery.
advice
Scratching. Use fibre enhance matting, to remove excess grit. dirt and moisture. Sweep your floor more often. Use Amtico International Floor Dressing for that extra protection.
Scuffing. As part of your routine cleaning use Amtico International Floor Cleaner, or gently rub with a wet, non - scratch scouring pad recommended for non-stick saucepan's.
Sticky Floor. If greasy, remove solids with absorbent paper then wash with diluted Amtico International Floor Cleaner. If there are dull residues, mop floor again and avoid exceeding the recommended concentrations of product. Avoid using 'other' cleaning products, for example washing up liquid.
Staining. Blot up spillage with absorbent paper and wash with diluted Amtico International Floor Cleaner. Use a wet non-scratch scouring pad if necessary then rub remaining stain with white spirit, then rinse with water.
Floor Indentation. Protect your floor under heavy furniture with wide bearing cups. For chairs and frequently moved furniture, use easy swivelling wide wheel casters or felt pads. The subfloor beneath the tiles may be permanently indented if load bearing devices are not used.
routine cleaning
Spacia's urethone coating makes it even easier to clean and keep looking like new.
Amtico International Floor Cleaner*: Our recommended, specially formulated cleaning product. Ideal for spot cleaning and as port of your regular cleaning routine. Please read the instructions carefully.
Amtico International Floor Dressing': Specially formulated for use with our flooring products. If you prefer a higher gloss or sheen to your floor or to provide added protection against scuffing and scratching, on older floors. Please read the instructions carefully
Amtico International Floor Dressing Remover*: This should be used to periodically remove the Floor Dressing, when applied, ready for a new application. Please read the instructions carefully. * All our recommended Amtico International cleaning products are available from your retailer or selected department stores
Spacia guarantee
All Spacia floor include a guarantee - against wear-out, which provides additional peace of mind and further highlights our commitment to quality.
