Luxury Tile and Plank

Installation Instructions and Maintenance guide

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

This information sheet provides general guidelines for the installation of Novalis Luxury Tile and Plank (LTP).  All recommendations are based on the most recent available information.  Please follow these instructions and recommendations for a satisfactory installation of Novalis Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank.

The floor covering, adhesive, and room temperature must be kept at a minimum temperature of 70°F or warmer for at least 48 hours before, during, and 48 hours after installation. Install Novalis LTP only after the jobsite has been cleaned and cleared of other trade apparatus that may damage a finished tile installation. Always check the cartons to assure the pattern number is correct and that the shade and lot numbers are the same on all cartons. To minimize shade variation, mix and install tiles from several different cartons.  All subfloor / underlayment patching must be done with a non-shrinking water resistant Portland cement patching compound.  Never install Novalis LTP over residual asphalt-type (cut back) adhesive. It can bleed through the new floor covering. Residual asphalt type adhesive must be covered with underlayment plywood. Novalis LTP is to be adhered with Novalis LTP Adhesive.

Novalis LTP is manufactured to high quality standards and is carefully inspected prior to leaving our facility. Occasionally, however, defects are not detected. If you notice a visible defect with the tiles you are installing, stop the installation and contact your local distributor for assistance.

 

II. SUBFLOOR INFORMATION

Careful and correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a satisfactory floor covering installation.  Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor will telegraph through the new floor covering, resulting in an unsightly surface and excessive wear on high spots. Proper subfloor preparation and suitable underlayment installation are essential for a trouble-free job.

A. Wood Subfloors

  1. GENERAL: All wood floors must be suspended at least 18” above the ground. Adequate cross-ventilation must be provided and the ground surface of a crawl space must be covered with a suitable vapor barrier. Wood subfloors directly on concrete or installed over sleeper construction are not satisfactory for the installation of Novalis LTP.  Wood subfloors must be covered with a minimum 1/4” or heavier underlayment rated panel to assure a successful finished flooring installation.
  2. UNDERLAYMENT: Many times wood panel subfloors are damaged during the construction process or are not of underlayment grade. These panels must be covered with an approved underlayment. Underlayment panels are intended to be used to provide a smooth surface on which to adhere the finished floor covering. It must be understood that underlayment panels cannot correct structural deficiencies. Particleboard, chipboard, construction grade plywood, any hardboard and flakeboard are not recommended as underlayment. All have inadequate uniformity, poor dimensional stability, and variable surface porosity. Novalis will not accept responsibility for adhered installation over these subfloors.  In all cases, the underlayment manufacturer or underlayment installer is responsible for all underlayment warranties.
  3. UNDERLAYMENT REQUIREMENTS  Panels intended to be used as underlayment should be specifically designed for this purpose. These panels should have a minimum thickness of 1/4”. Any panels selected as an underlayment must meet the following criteria:

• Be dimensionally stable

• Have a smooth, fully sanded face so the graining or texturing will not show through

• Be resistant to both static and impact indentation

• Be free of any surface components that may cause staining such as plastic fillers, marking inks, sealers, etc.

• Be of uniform density, porosity and thickness

• Have a written warranty for suitability and performance from the panel manufacturer or have a history of proven performance

  1. UNDERLAYMENT INSTALLATION Underlayment panels must be laid with the face grain running across the joists. Panels should not be forced together, but lightly butted and installed with end joints offset at least 16”. Place underlayment panels so that joints do not line up with subfloor joints or fall directly under where a seam in the floor covering will be located.  Fastening of each panel should start at one corner and work diagonally across the face of the panel. Fasteners throughout the field area of the panel should be staggered no more than 6” apart. Fasteners around the perimeter should be no more than 4” apart and 3/8” in from the edge of the panel. Appropriate fasteners should be used, and must be flush or set slightly below the surface of the underlayment.  Any unevenness at joints between panels must be sanded to a level surface. Gaps between panels, hammer indentations, and all other surface irregularities must be patched a latex underlayment compound.  Some types of nails, such as common steel nails, cement coated or some resin or rosin coated nails, may cause a discoloration of the vinyl floor covering. Use only non-staining fasteners with underlayment panels. The procedure of gluing and screwing underlayment panels is not recommended. Solvent-based construction adhesives are known to stain vinyl floor coverings.  All responsibility for discoloration problems caused by fastener staining or the use of construction adhesive rests with the underlayment installer.

 

B. Concrete Subfloors

Concrete subfloors must be dry, smooth, and free from dust, solvent, paint, wax, grease, oil, asphalt sealing compounds and other extraneous materials. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from powder or flaking.   New concrete slabs must be thoroughly dry (at least six weeks) and completely cured. Curing agents, surface hardeners and other additives may cause adhesive bonding failure. These should be removed by sanding or grinding.  All concrete slabs must be checked for moisture and alkalinity before installing material. The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor covering installer.

Novalis LTP must never be installed where moisture emissions may exist. Moisture emission from subfloor cannot exceed 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. per 24 hours as measured with the calcium chloride test. Novalis will not assume responsibility for floor covering failure due to hydrostatic pressure or moisture vapor emission. Holes, grooves, expansion joints and other depressions must be filled with a latex underlayment compound, and toweled smooth and feathered even with the surrounding surface.  Concrete floors with a radiant heating system are not satisfactory.

 

C. Existing Resilient Floor Coverings

To achieve maximum product performance, Novalis LTP should not be installed over existing resilient floor coverings. In the rare cases where removal of the existing resilient floor covering is not an option, the existing flooring must be covered a latex underlayment compound or an embossing leveler compound. 


 

WARNING:

Do not sand, dry scrape, bead blast or mechanically pulverize existing resilient flooring, backing or lining felt. These products may contain asbestos fibers that are not readily identifiable. Using the above non-recommended procedures on asbestos-containing material can create asbestos dust. The inhalation of asbestos dust may cause asbestos or other serious bodily harm. Smoking greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm.


 

III. INSTALLATION

A. Adhesive Application

Only Novalis LTP adhesive is required for adhering Novalis LTP to all approved substrates. Apply the adhesive with a 1/16” wide, 1/16” deep, 1/16” apart square notched trowel. Begin applying adhesive at the intersection of the chalk lines, spread either one quadrant or one half of the work area depending on the size of the room.

Wet Set (All Planks): Apply Novalis LTP Adhesive with specified trowel in a thin, uniform, and even coat. Each section must be no larger than an area that can easily be covered with flooring in approximately 20 minutes. Allow a few minutes open time for adhesive to tack up, then install tiles immediately while adhesive is still wet, before it skins over or dries. Adhesive working time is approximately 20 minutes under normal conditions (70 degrees F, 40% humidity). Position tile firmly in adhesive without sliding; and periodically check to assure at least 90% of the adhesive pattern has been transferred to the back of the tile.

Dry Set (All Tiles): Apply Novalis LPT Adhesive with specified trowel in a thin, uniform, and even coat. Allow adhesive to dry until it changes color, and will not transfer to finger when touched. When dry, adhesive is extremely tacky. Lay tile into dry adhesive positioning carefully because it will be difficult to slide the tile.

Tile and Plank:    Roll each section immediately upon completing with a 100 pound three section roller. Re-roll the entire floor after one or two hours

B. Tile Installation

After the Novalis LPT adhesive has had sufficient open time, begin laying the tile at the intersection of the working lines. Be certain this tile is installed squarely on the lines. After the first tile is in place, begin laying tiles outward along both guide lines. Press tiles firmly against adjoining tiles and press into the adhesive. Begin stair-stepping the tiles into the field area. Maintain the squareness of the installation by keeping tiles along guide lines. Lay all tiles in the same direction, all directional arrows pointing in the same direction.


C. Cutting and Fitting Border Tiles

Novalis LTP can be cut with a large tile cutter or by using the score and snap technique. Direct or pattern scribe the tiles to fit into complicated, irregular walls or pipes, etc.


D. Finishing the Job

 

IV. CARE AND MAINTENANCE

A. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

  1. Use protective mats in front of any doors leading to the outside. This helps to prevent sand and grit from getting on to your vinyl floors. Gritty sand is any floor covering's worst enemy. Also, if you installed the tile in your kitchen, you should place a throw rug in front of the sink area to catch spills and splashes.
  2. Install proper floor protectors on furniture legs used on vinyl flooring. Protectors will allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing or scratching. Clean the protectors on a regular basis to remove any grit that may have become embedded. Do not wax the bottom of furniture legs.
  3. To keep your floor looking it's best, dust mop or vacuum your floor at least twice per week. Do it more often on floors with heavy traffic. Do not use a household dust treatment chemical of any kind as this may cause the floor to become slick or dull the finish. Simply sweep the floor as needed.
  4. Do not pour pails of water on your floor to clean. Excessive water can cause damage to your subfloor and your floor will only be as good as the subfloor. If Novalis LTP itself is highly water resistant.
  5. Do not allow pets with unclipped nails to walk on the vinyl floor. It could cause severe scratching to the surface.

 

B. REGULAR MAINTENANCE

  1. Food spills should be cleaned up as rapidly as possible with an all-purpose type liquid cleaner that is not abrasive. We do not recommend powdered cleaners, oil soaps, dish washing detergents, or other dusting products.
  2. Shoe marks and scuffs can be removed by using a spot application of multi purpose cleaner and a non-abrasive scrubbing pad.
  3. Regular household dirt can be cleaned with warm soapy water, or a multi purpose cleaner. Some hand wiping may be required to remove tough spots and spills. Always sweep or vacuum your vinyl floor before cleaning in order to remove loose dirt or particles
  4. DO NOT WAX YOUR Novalis LTP Floor. The surface of your vinyl floor, which is very dense and non-porous, prevents wax from penetrating and thus will build up and create a bed for yellowing and dirt collection.
  5. If your floor has been exposed to excessive water, for example by accident or flooding, remove the water as soon as possible by moping and ventilate the room. A dehumidifier should be promptly turned on in the room to reduce the moisture level to normal. Do not dry the room below the normal moisture level that existed previously.
  6. If accidental deep scratches appear on the floor, then it might be necessary to replace such tiles. You should always retain some excess tiles for replacement purpose. First mark the tiles that require replacement. Then score the tiles diagonally with a utility knife but make sure you do not injure any adjoining tiles. Point a hair dryer about 4 inches from the center of the tile for about 45 seconds, or until hot to the touch, and then pry up the tile starting from the middle. If the tile continues to be difficult to remove then apply more heat until it is pliable and the adhesive releases. If the subfloor surface is still smooth, then apply the new tile; if the surface is rough or uneven, then smooth it with a floor patching or leveling compound, and re-apply adhesive before installing replacement tiles.
  7. If any edges of an individual tile should release from the subfloor, it usually can be corrected by applying warm air from a hair dryer for 30 to 60 seconds from a distance of about 6 inches. Then step on the edges and remain there for a few more seconds until the re-adhesion takes place. If this procedure is not successful, then the problem may be the result of some foreign particles on subfloor, which need to be removed pursuant to No 6 above.

 

C. CAUTIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS

  1. Furniture should be moved onto the newly installed floor using an appliance hand truck over hardboard runways.
  2. Do not place heavy items on newly installed floor covering for at least 24 hours after completion of the installation. Heavy furniture should be equipped with suitable non-staining, wide-bearing casters.
  3. Floor covering subjected to excessive heat and light exposure is subject to thermal degradation. Use appropriate precautions to minimize potential affects on the floor covering.
  4. Oil or petroleum-based products can result in surface staining. Do not track asphalt driveway sealer or automobile oil drips onto the vinyl floor covering.
  5. Use non-staining walk-off mats. Rubber can discolor resilient floor coverings.