MAINTENANCE ADVICE FOR CUSHION VINYL

INSTALLATION AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS IVC HOME® FOR CUSHION VINYL FLOORS

The installation of IVC Home® ﬂoors is straightforward and follows the same guidelines that apply to all quality resilient ﬂoors.

IVC Home® vinyl can be laid on concrete, cementious screed, anhydrite (calcium sulphate), timber (OSB, plywood) which have been suitably prepared (see Floor preparation).

IVC Home® vinyl should be completely bonded with adhesives.

IVC Home® ﬂoors can be used with traditional water-based under-ﬂoor heating and cooling systems. Infrared systems are not compatible with IVC Home® vinyl.

IVC Home® ﬂoors are only suitable for in-house installation.

TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE

IVC Home® rolls should be stored in either a ﬂat horizontal or vertical position. In order to minimize the risk of pressure marks when stored in a horizontal position, the rolls should not be stacked one on another. Do not store the rolls in very cold (less than 2C°), very warm (more than 40°C) or humid places.

IVC Home® cut rolls should always be wrapped design part outwards. Be careful when handling rolls. Falling rolls can injure people and damage surrounding objects as a result the product itself may be damaged. Do not bend the rolls while transportation, this can lead to creasing and damage the vinyl floors.

VISUAL INSPECTION

Please inspect the product prior to installation. Check that the colours correspond to those ordered, that the quantities are correct and that there is no visible damage to the vinyl sheet. Do not install any vinyl that displays any imperfections. Small creases may even out if you lay the vinyl on the ﬂoor and leave it for 2-5 days.

COMPOSITION, CONSTRUCTION AND QUALITY OF THE SUBFLOOR

Knowledge of the composition and construction provides valuable information that allows you to check the acceptable humidity, compressive and tensile strength of the ﬂoor correctly. In addition, it tells you what type of ﬂoor preparation and leveling compounds, adhesive and possible moisture barrier you may need during the installation process.

When faced with ambiguity or doubt about the quality or composition of your subﬂoor, check with your adhesive and/or leveling compound supplier.

SUBFLOOR PREPARATION

Good preparation is essential for a trouble-free installation and is vital for an excellent ﬂoor appearance and adhesion. The ﬁnished appearance of an IVC Home® ﬂoor will be as good as the quality of the base over which it is installed.

The subﬂoor must be:

Even and smooth (irregularities in height should not exceed 2 mm for ev- ery 2 meters length);

Dry. The moisture content of the subﬂoor should be:

Unheated cementious screeds less than 2.0 CM%*;
Underﬂoor heated cementious screeds less than 1.8 CM%*;
Unheated anhydrite (calcium sulphate) screeds less than 0.5 CM%*;
Underﬂoor heated anhydrite (calcium sulphate) screeds less than 0.3 CM%*;

Strong (strength not less than 15 MPa / class B 12.5).

(* - СМ% = Concrete Moisture in %.)

Any irregularities in the subﬂoor will show through the ﬁnished ﬂoor. Make sure the subﬂoor is ﬂat and free from chemical or greasy substances. When needed, scrape oﬀ and remove old adhesives and loose-laying leveling compound with a construction vacuum cleaner. Use a primer for ﬁnal dust capturing if needed.

A suitable leveling compound should be used to ensure that no irregularities show through to the surface of the ﬁnished ﬂoor.

Any proprietary materials used for ﬂoor preparation must be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommended

instructions. In all cases, the subﬂoor must be suﬃciently dry.

Direct-to-earth concrete and stone sub-ﬂoors must have an eﬀective damp proof membrane (DPM). Follow manufacturer’s detailed instructions for the installation of a surface DPM and the use of leveling compound.

The selection of suitable materials, including smoothing and leveling compounds, adhesives and any ancillary products is dependent upon the end use of the completed ﬂooring, and must be agreed by the supplier of the preparative materials and the ﬂooring contractor.

Any proprietary materials used for ﬂoor preparation must be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommended

instructions. In all cases, the subﬂoor must be suﬃciently dry

Timber subfloor (OSB, plywood, chipboard) preparation. This type of subfloor must be:

Dry, clean, with no signs of rotting / fungi.
Even and smooth: irregularities in height should not exceed 2 mm for every 2 meters length; the hats of the screws must be recessed and puttied; the joints between boards are aligned and puttied.
Strong. The construction should cave in under pressure.

TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER INSTALLATION

IVC Home® ﬂoors are best installed with a room temperature of between 18°C and 28°C and a ﬂoor temperature of above 15°C

Installations in areas colder than recommended will make the sheets harder to handle and less ﬂexible, whilst cutting will become more diﬃcult.

For installations in areas warmer than recommended, we advise consultation with your local installer on how to create the appropriate installation conditions.

A constant temperature, ﬂuctuating no more than 5°C per day and not below the required 18°C room temperature and 15°C ﬂoor temperature, should be maintained 24 hours before, during and 72 hours after installation.

ACCLIMATISATION

IVC Home® ﬂoors have to acclimatize in the room where the installation takes place or an equivalent area for at least 24 hours prior to installation, or until the product has achieved an ambient temperature. Again, this is a minimum temperature of 18°C and a maximum of 27°C.

IVC Home® recommends cutting take place 24 hours before installation. Unpack the IVC Home® ﬂoor

and check all sheets in daylight for possible defects or discrepancies in colour. If you see some small creases, you should lay the vinyl sheet ﬂat on the ﬂoor and leave it for at least 2 days for those creases to even out.

For two-meter width ﬂoor coverings, the sheets should then be rolled loosely and stored in an upright position for acclimatization.

Two and a half to four-meter width sheets should be cut to size and laid ﬂat to acclimatize.

When cutting to size please consider the nature of the design and pattern. In the case of wood and tile styles IVC Home® recommends that every sheet is installed in the same direction (a). In the case that the design is one all-over colour or design (microgranite, salt and pepper), IVC Home® recommends that every sheet is rotated through 180° (b).

When cutting to size please consider the nature of the design and pattern. In the case of wood and tile styles IVC Home® recommends that every sheet is installed in the same direction (a). In the case that the design is one all-over colour or design, IVC Home® recommends that every sheet is rotated through 180°(b).

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

IVC Home® ﬂoors can be used with traditional water- based and electric underﬂoor heating systems, provided they are integrated in the screed, the thickness of the screed above the tubes/cables is more than 10 mm, there is a lower constant room temperature of 15-18°C for the acclimatization period, installation and 72 hours after installation.

72 hours after the installation is ﬁnished the underﬂoor heating must be gradually increased by increments of 5°C until it reaches the standard operating temperature conditions with a maximum temperature of 27°C.

Use of electrical ﬂoor heating systems with direct contact with cables and the vinyl is prohibited! For instance, infrared heating systems, electric mats with thinner than 10 mm screed above the cables.

UNDERFLOOR COOLING

IVC Home® can also be installed over ﬂoor cooling systems, integrated in the screed.

However, the supply temperature of the cooling water must not be reduced below the dew point temperature. Temperatures below this will produce condensation and can therefore damage the ﬂoor covering. Thermostats in the room must never be set at a temperature which is more than 5°C lower than the room temperature.

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

Tape measure
Pencil
Adhesive and trowel
Damp cloth
Utility knife with hook and straight blades
Steel line for cutting straight and/or seams
Roller minimum 35kg
Cold welding kit

STEP-BY-STEP FITTING INSTRUCTIONS, USING ADHESIVES

Place the sheets in position, cut seams with the double-cut method and trim to size.
Fold back half of the sheet to reveal the subﬂoor ready for the application of the adhesive. Prior to using the adhesive read the supplier instructions. Spread the right amount of adhesive, with a notched trowel, equally over the subﬂoor. After applying the adhesive and in accordance with the instructions, allow the adhesive to partially dry (open time) until it reaches its initial bonding strength, before returning the ﬂoor covering into place.
Install the ﬂoor covering sheet avoiding bubbles, compressions, and tensions. Check that the seam junctions are closed tightly together. Do not try to compress seams that cause curling. This curling is an indication that the sheets are not placed together correctly.
To remove any bubbles, rubbing from the inside out should even out the ﬂoor. Use a rolling motion to level out the adhesive; this should be done before the adhesive has fully dried.
Repeat steps 1 to 4 with the second half of the sheet;
Check all seam junctions and repeat the rolling motion as described in 3.
Welding the seams together is recommended with a cold welding kit. This should be done after the adhesive has completely dried, normally 24 hours after the installation is completed.

RECOMMENDED ADHESIVES

IVC Home® ﬂoors recommend to install with solvent free adhesives for eﬀective and eﬃcient installation. When choosing the appropriate adhesive, you must follow its manufacturer’s recommendations, which will depend on the speciﬁcations of your subﬂoor: adhesives for absorbent and non-absorbent subﬂoors will be diﬀerent.

Having decided on the manufacturer / brand of glue and its type, follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging or documents from the oﬃcial website of the manufacturer.

INSTALLATION FROM ONE COLOUR BATH
Sheet vinyl design printing is made directly on the material in large batches, and the hue of the color depends on many factors: the accuracy of the colour formula of the inks, the batch of the inks, other factors.

IVC Home® is produced on the state-of-the- art production lines, with the maximum level of automation. Nevertheless, diﬀerent production lots may have slight deviations in shades. We recommend that you always use materials from a single colour bath in one room, as we cannot

guarantee a 100% match between diﬀerent colour baths. The rolls, selected within one colour bath, should be installed in the sequence of increasing roll number, with respect of the reverse laying direction if the design requests it.

You can use the material from diﬀerent colour baths for installation in diﬀerent rooms.

Some designs are specially created for maximum authentic reproduction of natural wood, meaning there are no two completely identical wooden planks. The pattern repeat is an integral part of the production process. The idea of some designs is combining planks of diﬀerent tones / shades within the pattern repeat. This visual eﬀect is a design element and cannot arouse quality claims.

FULLY BONDED OR LOOSE-LAY INSTALLATION

A fully bonded installation is recommended in a room with any surface to achieve maximum lifespan.

A loose-lay installation may result in claim denial.

WELDING

Cold welding is the only option for ensuring closed and tight seams. IVC Home® recommends cold welding tapes A and C for vinyl with PVC-backing, and type T – for felt-backed vinyl. Please read the manufacturerʼs instructions carefully before applying and strictly follow them.

PROTECTION

IVC Home® should be protected from heavy traﬃc for 72 hours after installation, in order to allow the adhesive to stabilize at consistent temperatures between 18-27°C.

FIRST CONTACT WITH WATER

Prevent the ﬂoor from coming into contact with water for the ﬁrst 72 hours after installation, or until such time as all seams are welded. Hereafter the adhesive is suﬃciently resistant to water so that the bonding strength will not be aﬀected.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

Appropriate maintenance procedures will help preserve the appearance and extend the life of an IVC Home® ﬂoor. The frequency of maintenance will depend on the amount and type of traﬃc, degree of soiling and the ﬂoor colour and type. Some

IVC Home® ﬂoors have a PU lacquer on top of the resistant wear layer. This lacquer protects against soiling and makes the overall maintenance easier. A PU lacquer also makes a prior treatment with protection polish unnecessary.

For IVC Home® ﬂoors without a PU lacquer, a gloss starter coating can be applied for extra protection of the surface. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying the gloss starter coating. Follow the cleaning instructions for IVC Home® ﬂoors which may be implemented 72 hours after installation.

Try to prevent the ﬂoor from coming into contact with water during this time, as the adhesive is not completely dry.

EXTERNAL CONDITIONS

The appropriate management of external conditions can help protect the ﬂooring, which saves time and expense on cleaning and maintenance, and also extends its lifespan. Most soiling comes from an external source and is transported indoors by foot and rolling traﬃc.

If dirt lodges under sliding furniture, the ﬂooring will not only be soiled but will also suﬀer (light) damage in the form of scratches.

ENTRANCE MATS

A proper clean-oﬀ zone is strongly recommended. It will reduce the soiling of the ﬂooring by as much as 70%. Entrance mats, when properly serviced, can eﬀectively remove any abrasive and foreign materials from foot traﬃc and cut down on tracked in water.

IVC Home® recommends a minimum of two full strides of entrance matting. Where possible, prevent dirt from reaching the ﬂoor. A suitable barrier matting system will help prevent soiling and abrasive material from entering a building and make maintenance easier.

Regularly clean the clean-oﬀ zone so that it functions optimally. Prevent ﬁbres from the clean- oﬀ mat from running or adhering together with dirt. As far as possible, remove sand and adherent dirt such as chewing gum using a spray or gum remover. Replace the clean-oﬀ mat in time to ensure an optimally functioning dirt entrapment zone.

Avoid rubber or latex backed mats as these may leave stains.

FURNITURE CAPS

High-quality protective furniture caps are made of non-absorbent materials to prevent moisture and dirt from entering them. They have larger surface to protect the ﬂoors from residual indentation.

REGULAR CLEANING

Remove daily dirt

Sweeping
Dry mopping
Vacuum cleaning

Spot and stain removal

Damp cloth
Handpad

Damp mopping

Microﬁbre damp mop
Traditional mop (as dry as possible)

OCCASIONAL CLEANING

Mopping

Damp mopping
Traditional mopping (as dry as possible)

STAIN REMOVAL

IVC Home® recommends the use of non-abrasive, non-aggressive products compatible with

PVC ﬂooring. The compatibility information is indicated on the packaging of cleaning products.

Detergents containing soap or substances like dishwashing detergents can leave residues on the ﬂoor and make it slippery.

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE WARRANTY

IVC Home® is water resistant. However, depending on the temperature, salts and other impurities, water remaining on the surface of vinyl for a long time may interfere with its wear layer, changing its optical and physical properties over time.
Take care to immediately wipe up any spillages on the vinyl ﬂooring to minimize the risk of permanent staining occurring.
If the use of a neutral detergent is necessary, then follow the rules and mixing proportion quantities of the manufacturer.
After cleaning, the ﬂoor should be dry within 1 or 2 minutes so there is no residual water with cleaning detergent and dirt remaining on the ﬂoor.
Vinyl ﬂooring can be slippery when wet.
Almost all ﬂooring will vary in colour over time when exposed to UV light. Avoid this by using curtains or sunscreens when the sun is very bright.
Avoid rubber, bitumen, or latex backed mats as they may leave stains. Also, rubber and latex castors (we advise castors type ’W’ in accordance with EN 12529) or protection caps under furniture cannot be used.
Protect against scratching from furniture by using wide free-moving castors, glides, rollers or felt pads. Use furniture caps under heavy items or appliances to prevent indentation.
Heavy furniture may cause unrecoverable indentation on the surface of vinyl with 21-22-23-31 wear class. For 32 and above classes vinyl, residual indentation is within the parameters of EN 24343-1 and EN 24343-2.
In case of loose lay installation, or use of inappropriate adhesive, or inadequate subﬂoor preparation, damage of the vinyl ﬂooring caused by heavy overload or sliding activities is not covered by the warranty conditions.
Do not allow cigarettes, matches and other very hot items to contact the ﬂoor as this causes permanent damage.

Please contact customer.services@tradechoice.com if you require additional information about flooring maintenance.