The following information/guide is provided without prejudice, and should be viewed as general in nature, and specific advice should be sought from manufacturers, installers and experienced professionals, for individual situations.
Vinyl flooring encompasses a diverse range of product types, each with their own individual installation methodologies, and applications.
Vinyl floor coverings are highly resilient and hard wearing, they provide a hygienic environment that is water resistant and easy to clean and maintain. Some Vinyl products are textured or contain carborundum particles to provide slip resistance, which is often a requirement in commercial applications. Vinyl flooring products are subject to the same slip resistance testing criteria as ceramic tiles. – Further information regarding slip resistance can be found in the KNOWLEDGE BASE section of our website, under the GENERAL menu.
Vinyl is commonly available in both a continuous sheet up to 4 meters in width, these can be textile backed, homogeneous (Coloured all the way through the product) or heterogeneous, and also in modular tile or plank formats. Dependent on the product type, vinyl floor coverings are either loose-laid, direct stuck or can even be clicked together and floated, in a similar fashion to laminate flooring!
A special note regarding so called ‘Loose-Lay’ vinyl planks:
This term generally refers to 5mm thick luxury vinyl planks, which were initially marketed as a ‘Loose-Lay’ product, requiring little substrate preparation and no adhesive. Subsequent product failures have overtime, lead to almost all manufacturers changing their installation requirements to include, at the very least, the use of pressure sensitive adhesive, to hold the product in place. As with other vinyl products, adequate substrate preparation is still a necessity if the floor is to remain aesthetically pleasing over the long term, and in order to meet the manufacturer’s warranty requirements, and relevant Australian Standards for installation.
The main classification feature governing all vinyl flooring products is the thickness of the wear layer; the thicker the wear layer, the more resilient the product and the more traffic it will withstand. Most wear layers will vary in thickness from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. If in doubt, selecting a product with a thicker wear layer will mean that the product will last longer. Selecting the right product for the intended end use is critical for a successful installation outcome over the longer term.
INSTALLATION
As vinyl floor coverings are relatively thin, substrate preparation is almost always required, even in newly constructed buildings.
The quality of the finished installation is very much dependent upon the preparation of the sub-floor and the attention paid to the recommendations made by the various codes of practice, and those made by the manufacturers of the flooring products, the adhesives and the levelling/smoothing compounds. – Failure to do so will almost always void the manufacturer’s warranty!
IMPORTANT TESTING INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSTALLATION OF VINYL FLOOR COVERINGS.
Relative Humidity RH% testing is required prior to the installation of vinyl flooring onto a concrete substrate. The substrate moisture content should be evaluated to determine if it is suitable for the installation of vinyl floor coverings as per AS 1884-2021 and in accordance with the preferred method set out in ASTM F2170, which requires that measurements do not exceed 80% relative humidity, unless the manufacturer states otherwise. – If the RH% moisture readings exceed this level, then the project should not commence until such time as a moisture barrier membrane is applied and is subsequently topped with a 3mm thick flood coat of an appropriate cementitious self levelling compound.
TESTING METHODOLOGY
The ASTM F2170 Test (In-Situ Probe Method) is a destructive–type test that involves drilling holes into the slab to a depth that is equal to 40% of its thickness. Three (3) holes are required for areas up to 100m2 in size and at least one (1) extra hole for every extra 100m2 of area thereafter. A plastic sleeve is then inserted into the holes and capped, sealing them for 24 hours; after which the seal is removed, and a Probe-type Hygrometer is inserted into the sleeve and an RH% moisture reading is recorded.
If In-Situ Probe Testing cannot be safely performed due to the presence of electrical or plumbing services, a less invasive Moisture Vapour Emissions Rate Surface Test (MVR) may be performed as set out in ASTM F1869, as a secondary method prescribed in Appendix B of AS 1884-2021. – It should be noted however, that the ASTM F1869 MVR test only records the slab’s surface moisture conditions and is therefore far less reliable. – The best indicator of the slab’s total moisture content remains the RH% relative humidity test, using in situ probes.
Under the Standard, the Property Owner and/or Builder also have responsibilities, including advising the company/contractor who is conducting the testing regime, if they have prior knowledge that the sub-floor suffers from rising damp or hydrostatic pressure.
Also, when In-Situ Probe Testing is to be conducted, it is the responsibility of the Property Owner or Builder, to advise the company/contractor conducting the testing regime in writing of any electrical or plumbing services that may exist and their exact location, to prevent the potential for injury or death from electrocution or severe damage to those services.
*It is important to understand that the measurement results recorded using ASTM F2170 and ASTM F1869 only reflect the conditions at that time and do not predict future conditions or the potential for a future failure of the adhesion system, due to changed RH or PH conditions on site.
PH Testing is required in addition to RH% testing for concrete substrates. Concrete substrates must also be evaluated at each RH test point for PH levels to determine the Alkalinity of the sub-floor. – This is again a requirement of AS 1884-2021. High alkalinity in concrete sub floors is now recognized as being a cause of adhesion failure between the flooring and the sub-floor. The concrete sub-floor is considered to be suitable for the installation of vinyl resilient floor coverings, providing that the PH Level does not exceed ten (10), or in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions.
PH testing involves grinding the sub-floor to remove contaminants to expose the underlying matrix of the sub-floor. The test is then performed using PH test papers with a reference PH Colour Chart. Results are then referred to the floor covering and adhesive manufacturer to determine if the installation should proceed. – If the PH levels exceed the safe level, then work should not commence until such time as a moisture barrier is applied to isolate the high PH, then primed, and subsequently topped with an appropriate cementitious self levelling compound.
The cost of applying an epoxy moisture barrier to isolate the high PH, priming and subsequent topping with an appropriate cementitious self levelling compound, has not been included in this quotation. – If required, this will incur a significant extra cost. (Plus-Variation)
Changes in technology and the materials being used in the manufacturing process have now made the properties of the sub-floor a critical factor in the successful installation of vinyl resilient floor coverings. The above testing criteria is therefore deemed to be necessary by Standards Australia and by the manufacturers. Failure to adhere to these criteria may void the manufacturer’s warranty should an installation failure occur.
Any contractor who installs or is directed to install vinyl floor coverings onto a concrete substrate, without first conducting the tests for Relative Humidity % and PH levels that are specified by AS 1884-2021, is providing his client with a non-conforming or non-compliant installation. This will void the manufacturer’s warranties should an adhesion failure occur that affects either the underlayment or the adhesive system.
In instances where there is a direction to a sub-contractor to install a vinyl floor covering over a sub-floor that falls outside of the requirements set out in AS 1884-2021, (Non-conformance) or where the client wishes to avoid the cost of testing or the destructive testing procedures themselves, as prescribed by ASTM F2170, then under AS 1884-2021 a mutual agreement may be reached between the invested parties to proceed with that direction, provided the agreement is signed and records kept by all parties.
Apart from click-together vinyl planks (Hybrid Vinyl Planks) Alstonville Tiles and Floorcoverings does not normally recommend the DIY installation of vinyl products, due to the degree and quality of substrate preparation required, sub-floor testing, and the specialised skill, equipment, and adhesives necessary for a successful outcome.
ACCLIMATIZATION
The majority of vinyl installation failures are not caused by poor fitting, but by the failure to condition the site, vinyl tiles and planks prior to installation.
Vinyl tiles and planks plus any other products such as borders, feature strips, and adhesives should be conditioned for at least 24 – 48 hours prior to installation. Boxes of tiles/planks must be stacked less than 5 boxes high and product removed 30 minutes before use. The room temperature should ideally be between 18 and 26°C but more importantly should be constant and not varying by more than 2°C. The temperature needs to be maintained prior to, during and for at least 24 hours after the installation is completed.
It may be necessary to use temporary measures to block out windows during and after installation to prevent direct sunlight from the floor.
North or West facing windows and glass sliding doors should be shaded to minimise daytime fluctuations. Thermostatically controlled heating systems should be used when necessary, and left on during the night to achieve a constant temperature similar to that of the daytime.