Proper, skilled installation of vinyl flooring is critical to ensure a beautiful and long-lasting installation. If the sub-floor and the installation do not follow certain ground rules you may end up with a floor that fails through no fault of the product.
With over 100 years of collective experience, the specialists at Polyflor have developed some ground rules to follow to ensure a successful vinyl floor installation.
“A project doesn’t go wrong because of the fundamental basics. Your project goes wrong right at the beginning when a flooring contractor is appointed based solely on price” says Charles Davids, the Technical Manager at Polyflor South Africa.
Rule one prescribes that you include costs for a reputable flooring contractor in your budget, one who prioritises:
On-site supervision (this is critical and if the flooring contractor does not supply real hands-on, on-site supervision then make provision for an independent project manager in your budget). This is probably the most fundamentally important part of any flooring installation.
Professional etiquette and staff
The ability to consider, understand and effectively work around all factors on site
Uses the correct tools and methods and has been trained by the flooring manufacturer
Creative and collaborative problem solving
Excellent communication skills.
Current building strategies tend to squeeze builds and renovations into incredibly short timeframes. What few people understand is that the flooring section of the project tends to pay the price for everyone else’s delays. You can have the best product, tools and installer but if he is not given adequate time to complete the installation properly, the outcome is doomed from the outset. On the flip side, a good flooring contractor would be willing to work at night or out of peak working hours so as to get the job done in time and when other trades are not on-site; this relates back to rule one of having selected a reputable flooring contractor.
Communication, communication, communication! It is critical that at least one kick start meeting is organised with all the stakeholders. The flooring supplier’s technical staff should meet with the client, the builder, site foreman, the flooring contractor and his key players and any other parties that may be responsible for on-site supervision.
Clear specifications for surface beds and suspended slabs and what’s required. Refer to this useful information on screed and moisture testing requirements:
What every contractor needs to know about screed preparation for a vinyl floor covering
The art and science of quality screed for a vinyl installation
Impact of other trades (i.e. no plastering whilst floor is being installed etc.)
Good lighting (the same as, or replicates, the lighting the space will ultimately have)
Storage of product
The flooring supplier and contractor need to be effectively and collaboratively assertive enough in this meeting to ensure that the requirements for a good flooring installation are understood and agreed by all key parties.
Thereafter constant, on-going effective and collaborative communication is required between the builder, the flooring contractor/installer/project manager and the flooring suppliers’ technical team for the project to be a success.
Ground rule four becomes blatantly obvious when we understand the communication triangle above and again, it relates back to ground rule one. Ensure budget for professional on-site supervision (either genuinely provided by the flooring contractor or from a freelance experienced project manager). This is project critical. It is probably the single most important factor in the success of your flooring installation. Do not skimp on this as it will, without doubt, cost you in the long run. If the flooring contractor claims to provide on-site supervision, ensure that they actually do! On-site supervision means a project manager or supervisor that:
Is very experienced and who has actually been on their hands and knees installing vinyl flooring and who understands all the intricacies of laying a vinyl floor
Understands the importance of, and is able to effectively communicate with the builder and the flooring suppliers’ technical team and is on site every single day!
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Herman is a relatively new and inexperienced flooring contractor. His on-site supervisor has not been on site for three days. The supervisor has told Herman that a moisture barrier is required for a certain section of the flooring. The builder is jumping up and down as the floor needs to be laid so Herman is under pressure to get the moisture barrier down. Herman has watched other installers lay moisture barrier and has even helped on occasion. Herman lays the moisture barrier and, in the process, he stirs the mixture with a stick (not with a mixing drill as he doesn’t have one on site) and after stirring for 2 mins he decides it looks ready to lay. The critical mistake he is making is that by not mixing the 2-part formulation for 4 minutes with the correct tool as per the manufacturer’s recommendation, it does not mix thoroughly and in turn will not cure properly. This product is destined to fail as in all likelihood, moisture will penetrate through the installation. |
These four Polyflor ground rules are the fundamental building blocks in ensuring a successful, durable vinyl floor installation.
Finding the right flooring contractor, is the foundation of any flooring project. Here's what you should ask candidates.
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