LVT Dennis Bradway October 8, 2015 This Presentation is about - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

LVT Dennis Bradway October 8, 2015

This Presentation is about Information Regarding LVT Define the product and common terms  Describe standards that govern the product   Describe processes utilized to make LVT  Describe where and how the product is typically installed Describe what can go wrong  Describe best way to be fact gatherers in the  interest of both the consumer as well as mfg’r

What is Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) LVT is a marketing term  LVT is a term like Linoleum was to Resilient  Flooring  The correct term is SVT or Solid Vinyl Tile LVT is a lot more than the old reference to peel  and stick tile from back in the 60’s &70’s What is WPC(wood plastic composite, water  proof core, ? other names)

Terms  Wear Layer  Specialty top coat  Decor  Inner layer or core  Backer  Bevel  Profiled edge  Plank / Tile

Mock up panel Left Face Up / Right Face Down

So What is LVT or SVT  Resilient flooring constructed using multiple layers bonded together, normally using heat and pressure. Layers consist of a Décor, a protective wear layer, inter-core(that can be multiple layers) and a backer.  The layers are put together to provide a specific thickness, hardness and balance to the product Product generally has been textured and has a  specialty wear coating: i.e. urethane coating having a certain gloss, anti scratch component, etc

How Long has LVT Been Around L-F-475a spec covers Solid Vinyl tile back in the  60’s & ‘70s  So why the big resurgence now  Aesthetics including Visual, Texture & Gloss  Laminate helped pave the way for floating floors  Locking mechanism  Water resistance  Modularity  Better acoustics  Etc

12 Crazy Flooring Options Much Cooler Than Hardwood(Yahoo article) Skip Plain Hardwood! These 4 Flooring Options Are Ruling 2015 Amanda Weitzman June 25 , 2015 Everything old is new again might be a tired cliché but there’s no greater truth when I tell you that vinyl and linoleum flooring are back with a vengeance.

Wild and Crazy

Specifications Covering SVT/LVT  ASTM F 1700 Standard Specification for Solid Vinyl Floor Tile  Includes Binder content, Size, Thickness, Squareness, Residual Indent, Flexibility, DS, Chemical Resistance, Gapping, Heat & Light Stability  ISO 10582 Resilient floor coverings - Heterogeneous poly(vinyl chloride) floor covering — Specification  Binder content, Size, Squareness, Mass, DS, Curling, Flexibility, Residual Indent, Castor Chair, Color stability, Flatness, Gapping, Ledging

General Sizes Tiles or planks  Tiles mostly in range of 16” – 24” square but some  up to 1 meter, Rectangular Tiles, more common Planks mostly 4” – 6” wide by 36” – 48” long   Locking products generally smaller by profile dimensions Thickness generally 2 mm up to 5 mm thick   Thicker product required for floating installations in order to include locking system

Where Can LVT Be Installed  Short answer is virtually anywhere, but answer varies with how it is installed  Standard answer is over substrates/underlayments that meet the criteria of ASTM F 710, ASTM F1482

CONCRETE SUBSTRATES  New and existing should meet requirement ASTM F710 - Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring  Permanently dry, smooth, flat and sound  Minimum compressive strength 3000 psi, dry density 100 lbs per sq ft  Expansion joints and isolation joints should never be filled  Surface must be free of surface defect, dusting, flaking , paint, etc

MOISTURE & ALKANLINITY TESTING  PH testing. The PH should be in the 5-10 scale (neutral  Moisture test ASTM 1869 calcium chloride test emissions not to exceed 3 lbs /1000 sq ft in 24 hrs (Measures emissions); unless otherwise permitted  Preferred method ASTM 2170 measuring relative humidity of the slab which should not exceed 75 %; unless otherwise permitted  If there is visible signs of mold and mildew, the source of the problem must be corrected

INSTALLING UNDERLAYMENT PANELS  Install smooth side up, immediately condition underlayment (room temperature)  Install long dimension perpendicular to floor joist  Offset subfloor seam  Stagger ashlars fashion, do not place 4 corner together Leave 1/8 “ gap at walls   Lightly butt seam  Fasten structurally sound, smooth and dry Fastener not to penetrate joist  Fastener in field 6 “ apart, 2” at perimeter 3/8” from  the edge or as specified Set fastener slightly below surface  Use only non staining galvanized nails/staples 

WOOD SUB-FLOORS  Refer to ASTM F 1482 Standard Practice for Installation and Preparation of Panel Type Underlayments to Receive Resilient Flooring  Minimum 18” above grade with cross ventilation and a vapor barrier For Floating Installations most wood substrates  are suitable for installing over provided they are flat smooth and free from deflection Full Glue many time wood subfloor are not suitable  and must be underlayed with a suitable underlayment such Sure-Ply ,Accu-Ply ,APA grade plywood ,etc

SUB-FLOOR CROSS SECTION

FLOOR PREP  Proper Prep Key To A Good Installation Flat Smooth clean  Level within 3/16” in 10ft and level within  1/32” in 12” Use A High Quality Portland Cement Based  Patch Remove Existing Floor when possible  Use a self leveling compound for large low  spots or extreme deviation

Installation  Full glue down  Wet set  PSA  Spray  Tape  Floating  No underlay  With Underlay

LVT Tile – Installation Considerations Balance tile in the work area.   Snap intersecting chalk lines in the center of the room. Blend boxes, pay close attention to repeating patterns.   Install tiles in the SAME DIRECTION USING DIRECTIONAL ARROWS on the backing.  Some patterns can be quarter turned to achieve a checkerboard appearance.  Tiles can be installed staggered or all 4 corners coming together. Tiles can be spaced for grouting using tile spacers ranging from 1/16” to  ¼”  Locking Tiles It generally helps to work off the product

LVT Planks – Installation Considerations  Measure & Layout the room, last plank width should be no less than half of a plank.  Typically install planks parallel with the longest wall in the room.  Randomly stagger head seams by at least 6”  Work out of several cartons at a time, carefully blending the pattern visuals.  LVT CAN BE CUT WITH A UTILITY KNIFE (SCORE & SNAP), For straight accurate cuts use a BULLET Tool type cutter

How is LVT Made  Daylight Press(Non Continuous)  Multiple layers, stacked samples, simultaneous lamination  Continuous  Drum  Multiple layers simultaneous lamination  Drum  Multiple layers individual points of lamination  Glued together

Rotary Static Lamination Press VS.  Multiple plys laminated in a Heating and cooling contained  single process pass inside the same piece of operating continuously equipment, variation due to close proximity  Typically provides improved quality and yields Handmade sandwich laid on a  embossing plate  Automated Inferior quality and yields   Less people required to inherent to the process operate  Labor intensive

Daylight Press – All layers bonded in static press

Continuous Lamination with Multiple layers & Multiple points of Lamination or Multiple Layers & Single point of Lamination

How does LVT Compare to other Hard Surface Flooring  Wood(One of most copied visuals)  Natural  EF Typical 3/8” – ¾”; solid up to 1”  Laminate  Typically 7 – 12 mm thick  More rigid, must use underlay  Higher Static load rating & Abrasion Resistant  Less moisture resistant

How does LVT Compare to other Hard Surface Flooring  Resilient Flooring  VCT  Highly filled modular flooring; typically 12” X 12”  Base grade Resilient flooring, wide color range  Sheet vinyl  Filled layer Products(Homogeneous 6’, 2m typical)  Heterogeneous Layer Products(6’, 2m,12’, 4m -Solid layer construction)  Cushion layer Products (6’ – 12’); any visual  Linoleum  Popular in 60’s declined in 70’s resurgence in 90’ “more natural perception” limited visual, good color, alkali sensitivity

How does LVT Compare to other Hard Surface Flooring  Rubber  Largely commercial product tiles typically (18” – 36”) and sheet (4’ – 2m width); limited visual  Porcelain/Ceramic  Rigid, highly durable floor  Often imitated visual by resilient flooring

So Where is LVT Positioned  More durable than most Resilient sheet  Softer than Porcelain and Laminate  Unlimited visuals and texture  Multiple installation techniques  Floating, Full Glue, Spray, PSA, Tape  High moisture tolerance  Good stain resistance and clean ability