Vinyl Installation Guide

Subfloor

The subfloor must be flat, solid, smooth, clean, dry, dust- and laitance-free — ready for traditional vinyl. Decoline planks contour to the original surface; out-of-level areas can show as shadowing at plank ends. A flooring tradesperson should prepare the floor first.

• Moisture testing is mandatory. Moisture reading must be less than 4.5% before installation. Where moisture exceeds this, install a moisture barrier first.
• New concrete must cure for 28 days; screeds must cure for 7 days.
• Remove polish, loose paint, dirt and finishes. Mop, dry and sweep so the surface is free of sand, soil and debris.
• Over ceramic tiles, grout joints must be no more than 5 mm wide and flush with the tile face. Tiles must be fully adhered — no drummy or hollow areas.

Pre-installation

The installer must inspect every plank under good light to confirm design, colour, batch, quality and quantity. If the batch is wrong or a defect is visible, contact the supplier before laying. Claims for clearly identifiable defects are not accepted after installation. Begin only after other trades have finished.

Keep the room between 18°C and 29°C. Remove planks from packaging and acclimatise them in the installation room for at least 48 hours. Hold that temperature for 48 hours after laying. Unacclimatised product may move.

Laying the floor

Decoline vinyl includes a 0.5 mm glass-fibre layer so planks are stable in normal temperature swings. Lay with no gaps between planks or at the perimeter. Use DecoBond W-400H for all vinyl planks.

• Square the room, then lay the first planks to that line.
• Pour DecoBond W-400H and spread with a notched trowel under 2.0 mm (1.6 mm or 1.8 mm recommended). Wait 10–15 minutes until tacky, then lay coverings within 30–40 minutes.
• Press from the centre towards the edges to remove air bubbles. Wipe excess adhesive with a damp cloth while it is wet.
• Lay in a staggered brick-bond pattern. The smallest piece must be at least 250 mm.
• Residential: glue both ends of the area and lay planks tightly. High-traffic commercial: adhere the entire floor with hard-set adhesive.
• Roll with a heavy roller. Keep heavy traffic, wet cleaning and other trades off the floor for 24 hours, or protect with a floor protection system.
• Keep water off the floor for at least 3 days.

Wet-based methods such as Mapei-VS90 are not covered under warranty. Decoline is not liable if the prescribed adhesive is not used or its instructions are not followed.

Under-floor heating

Decoline vinyl can be laid over insulated under-floor heating. Switch heating off 48 hours before, during and 48 hours after installation. Then raise temperature by a maximum of 3 degrees per hour to the working temperature. Surface temperature must not exceed 29°C.

Subfloor types

Care after installation

Nano Silver surface protection means there is no initial sealing and no polish. Avoid dragging heavy furniture. Place non-rubber mats at entrances. Mop spills promptly.

• After the adhesive has dried, vacuum, brush or dust-mop loose debris. Remove dry adhesive, then damp-mop with a pH-neutral detergent.
• For routine cleaning, vacuum or sweep, then damp-mop with a neutral detergent. Stubborn marks: concentrated pH-neutral detergent and a non-abrasive kitchen pad.
• Do not use bleach or household chemicals — they can damage the surface and make it unsafe.