Sheet vinyl flooring can be installed using loose lay or adhesive methods. Fully bonded adhesive is applied to the entire subfloor, while perimeter adhesive is used for higher quality or temporary installations. Safety precautions must be taken when using PVA glue sheet products.
Sheet vinyl flooring is installed using several different methods. While some types of vinyl flooring can be installed without adhesive in a method called loose lay, most vinyl flooring installations require the use of some type of PVA adhesive or glue. The actual adhesive product used is determined by the preferred installation method. The two main categories of sheet vinyl stickers are the border sticker and the fully bonded sticker.
Fully bonded adhesive is the technical term for sheet vinyl glue that is applied to the entire surface of the subfloor prior to sheet vinyl installation. By applying floor adhesive this way, the entire sheet of vinyl is permanently attached to the subfloor. This method is commonly used in flooring installation because it allows for a greater margin of installer error and makes it possible to use thinner, lower priced sheet vinyl products in permanent installations.
Perimeter adhesive is used for higher quality vinyl flooring products or for temporary installations. In perimeter gluing, only the outer edges of the area where the vinyl sheet is to be installed are covered with PVA sheet glue. In some cases, the perimeter of the vinyl is also stapled close to the walls, where the trim pieces will hide the staples. The extra step of stapling the vinyl flooring product to the subfloor is to ensure that the vinyl does not pull away from the glue due to thermal expansion.
Both fully bonded and perimeter adhesive installations use a spreadable glue. Flooring manufacturers often recommend specific adhesive products and may also require sheet vinyl to be installed using a certain brand of vinyl sheet adhesive and a specific installation method for warranty coverage to be valid. In many cases, the adhesive used for both perimeter and fully bonded installations can be the same.
Safety is a primary concern when applying vinyl sheet adhesive products to flooring installations. Sheet vinyl adhesive can take up to 24 hours to cure and adhere properly. Prior to curing, sheet vinyl adhesive is very slippery and serious injury can occur if you step on exposed glue or vinyl flooring that has not yet been glued to the subfloor. When using any PVA glue sheet product, it’s also important to remember that the chemicals in the adhesive can give off noxious fumes, cause skin irritation, and can be flammable. To safely install vinyl flooring with these products, you must eliminate possible sources of ignition, including cigarettes, stoves and pilot lights, provide adequate ventilation, and have adequate protective equipment in place.
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