CAUTION
Linoleum is made from natural raw materials, and the oils it contains mean the surface colour changes under the influence of sunlight. The yellow shade that develops during the manufacturing process reduces rapidly, depending on the intensity of the sunlight. Once this process is complete, the flooring maintains its original colour. This is a characteristic and unavoidable feature of linoleum.
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
1. Plan the sheet direction of the area to be installed to ensure whenever possible that joins do not coincide with doorways, main traffic lanes, sinks or urinals. If the room is fairly square, the sheets should run parallel to the incoming light.
In long, narrow rooms it is best to install the sheets along the length of the room.
2. Scribe the first sheet down the length of the room with the two ends lapped up the wall. Cut down the scribe mark using utility knives with straight and hook blades removing the scrap linoleum and place into position.
Always undercut when using a hook knife.
3. Place the sheet tightly against the wall, draw a pencil line down the edge of the linoleum on the subfloor length-ways opposite the scribed wall.
4. When in position draw a pencil line at 90° to the edge of the sheet from the linoleum onto the subfloor using a ruler. This cross mark should be approximately 200 mm away from one of the ends still lapped up the wall.
5. Slide back the sheet along the first pencil line until the end of the sheet lies flat on the subfloor and slightly short of the wall. The two cross lines will now have moved apart.
6. Set the long scribers at the distance between the two lines and scribe this size from the wall onto the linoleum at the same time keeping the scribers parallel with the sheet edge.
With the scriber adjusted to this setting, the end of the sheet is now scribed and cut and the surplus removed.
7. Slide the linoleum back into its previous position with the material now fitted to the long wall and end wall. Repeat this last procedure at the end still lapped up the opposite wall.
8. Install all consecutive sheets of linoleum with the sheets running in the same direction.
9. Overlap the next sheet by 25 mm with one end already 20-30 mm short of one wall. Adjust the scribers to scribe a small amount off this end of the sheet and cut to size. Slide this end of the sheet into position against the wall just fitted to. Now repeat the procedure adopted for fitting the previous sheet where the linoleum was still lapped up the remaining wall.
10. This entire procedure should be copied for all consercutive sheets apart from the last sheet, which should be installed in the same manner as the first.
11. Only install the amount of floorcovering that can be adhered to a subfloor in one day.
12. Just prior to adhering the linoleum, all joins should be cut in to leave a 0.3 mm gap. Strike a chalk- line 10 mm in from the overlapped edge of the material and re-cut using a knife and straightedge by cutting through 2/3rds of the thickness prior to cutting with a hook knife. Use this good edge to now guide a pinvice down the edge to create a 0.3 mm gap. Deepen this cut with a straight bladed knife then finally undercut with a hook knife.
or
13. Cut good edge on material with an edge trimmer and then overlap uncut edge on top.
14. Carefully pull the sheets back half their length and resweep the subfloor and reverse of the linoleum to ensure that no debris can be left on the subfloor.
15. Apply a recommended linoleum adhesive from a reputable floorcovering adhesive manufacturer and apply to the subfloor as required (approximately 400 g/m2, depending on the brand). Scribe bottom edge of the linoleum onto top sheet by using a short scriber (over & unders).
Repeat procedure for second half of sheet as soon as first half has been adhered.
Use a pressing hammer on the join to ensure that it will fully adhere to the ground.
16. The responsibility for the choice of adhesive and its suitability for using under certain conditions are the responsibility of the Flooring Contractor, as is its proper application.
Please note
17. Failures of sheet linoleum installations are almost always due to inadequate adhesive spread, late placing of the sheet into the adhesive, inadequate rolling to ensure overall bond or a combination of all three. In other words the adhesive did not set in contact with the linoleum.
Pay close attention to ends of sheets at perimeters of walls or areas that are inaccessible to a lino roller, roll these areas with a hand roller (pressing hammer). Also use the pressing hammer along the skirtings.
18. The adhesive should be applied as recommended by the manufacturer and the linoleum placed into the adhesive whilst the adhesive is still wet. Roll the linoleum down its width and then across its length using a lino roller. Repeat rolling at 15 minute intervals until fully bonded to the subfloor, paying close attention to the seams, cross-joins, ends of the sheets and any inaccessible areas. Wipe any excess of adhesive away with a cloth moistened with water or if dry, nothing stronger than white spirit.
19. In every full roll of linoleum there is a stove bar. Some part rolls also contain a stove bar. These bars are identified as a bulge in the material and are approximately 25 cm long x 2 m wide. Extra care is required when installing stove bars.
Adhere this area of the material with a linoleum adhesive.
Always re-roll at 15 minute intervals.
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