With the growing popularity of vinyl flooring in the market, most focus is on glue-down options, but what about loose-lay vinyl flooring? Adhesive-free, loose-lay vinyl sheeting, tiles or planks are designed to reduce installation times and are available in a wide range of designs. They are suitable for both commercial and residential installations, where minimising disruption and installation time is of critical importance.
How does it work?
The material used for loose-lay vinyl is slightly thicker than the conventional glue-down products and has slightly different construction layers to stabilise and limit movement. Innovative vinyl construction features a glass fibre stabilisation layer to enhance dimensional stability and also a unique honeycomb backing layer to ensure the tiles stay in position.
Easy installation
- Adhesive-free and odourless installation.
- Reduced installation time, as there is no need to wait for adhesives to cure.
- Can be installed over existing floor coverings, meaning subfloor preparation is significantly reduced.
- Some products can be installed over substrates up to 97% relative humidity (RH), with no damp-proof membrane (DPM). Others only offer resistance to subfloor moisture and recommend a DPM.
- Tape can be fitted around the perimeter of the room, underneath all seams and doorways, securing the flooring is in place if needed in larger areas.
Adaptable
- Continued access to underfloor utilities such as cabling and pipework.
- Individual floor tiles can easily be replaced, relocated, and reused for easy adaption to changing layouts or rejuvenation of flooring designs.
- Multi-use: Some options are waterproof and well adapted to bathrooms, kitchens, and wet areas.
- Diverse applications, from heavy commercial applications and residential to retail and office spaces.
- Ideal for temporary installations, exhibition spaces etc.
- Easy removal when desired.
Ease of use
- A polyurethane reinforcement (PUR) surface layer (sheet and planks) ensures durability, easy maintenance, and cleaning.
- Many designs and patterns are available.
- Loose-lay tiles are available in multiple sizes in both square tiles and planks, which can be used to create unique patterns in layout.
Longevity and sustainability
- Guarantees on loose-lay vinyl flooring is between 10-20 years, depending on the product used.
- Most options are recyclable, ideal for green building applications and end-of-life considerations.
- Most products contain a percentage of recycled material, up to 100%.
Key considerations
- Subfloor must be smooth, hard, dry and clean. A rough concrete surface should be treated with a smoothing compound before installation.
- A highly porous substrate may require a suitable primer.
- As with other vinyl products, acclimatising of the product is required in the same area as installation, to prevent thermally induced dimensional changes.
- Cold-welded joints on sheet vinyl are recommended for watertightness.
Issue: What are the alternatives to glue-down vinyl flooring?
Solution: Loose-lay, adhesive-free vinyl sheets, planks and tiles offer a range of benefits for both domestic and commercial applications.
Acknowledgement and thanks go to:
www.gerflor.co.za/ and www.polyflor.co.za/ for the information in this article.