Floor Tiling – Tiled

The main consideration for laying floor tiles is the fact that once in use, they are not just decorative and hygienic but also functional. They will have to perform under daily trafficking, whether this is foot traffic in a domestic installation or heavy wear and tear in a commercial application.

It is therefore critical that full attention to correct preparation and application is paid.

With wall tiling there is not always a need for a full bed bond, but with floor tiles it is essential. The strength build-up of the adhesive is far more important too as the tiles need to be walked upon to grout, and in most cases, the floor needs to get back into service. To enable this we advise the use of powder products rather than ready mixed adhesives.

To ensure full bonding, the substrate should be as even and level as possible. In most cases, rough floors or floors with height variations can be prepared using UltraTile ProLevel One, UltraTile ProLevel Two and UltraTile ProLevel Fibre.

All offer extremely goof flow, and a floor level classified as SR2 can easily be achieved (no greater than a 5mm deflection under a 3m straight edge).

With skill an SR1 floor can be achieved (3mm deflection under a 3m straight edge). For more information on these products please contact the UltraTile Technical Department.

Instructions

The subfloor should be assessed to ensure that all tiles are fully bonded. A mechanical abrasion of the tiles will clean and prepare the surface, whilst also helping to enhance adhesion. All tiles should be degreased and allowed to dry before proceeding. We recommend priming the tiles using a bonding primer.

Hard vinyl tiles

Instructions

Not all vinyl tile flooring is suitable to be tiled over. Cushioned or flexible vinyl tiles should not be overlaid and must be removed along with the adhesive residue. Hard vinyl tiles should be lightly abraded (see NB below) and then primed with UltraTile ProPrimer neat (bonding primer).

NB:Old ‘crunchy’ tiles should not be abraded as they may have been manufactured using asbestos fibres. Such tiles are typically 225mm (9 inches) square tiles and are often bonded onto a black adhesive. The use of an uncoupling membrane is advisable in such circumstances.