Vinyl Flooring FAQ

Allowed subfloors are:

Concrete, Underlayment grade plywood, Exterior grade plywood (sanded face, B-C or better grade), properly prepared non-cushion backed vinyl flooring.

All subfloors must be clean, dry and free of contaminants such as oil, grease, paint, sealers, waxes, curing compounds, excessive moisture, hydrostatic pressure.  Floors must be structurally sound, rigid, flat to 3/16" in 10 feet (F-32).

Novalis floors are recommended over radiant heated floors provided the floor is not allowed to be heated over 85°F (29°C), or cooled below 55°F(13°C).   Also avoid any sudden temperature changes.

OSB, particle board, Masonite and other non-underlayment grade plywood are generally not smooth and not constructed with exterior rated adhesives, making them susceptible to moisture related failures.  Additionally, OSB and particle-type boards may have a coating which is not compatible with flooring adhesives (including self-stick adhesives) and will prevent a proper bond.

No.  Luan plywood is not allowed under any Novalis flooring product.

No, primers are not necessary on the recommended subfloors in our Installation Guides.  If you do want to use a primer, it must be latex based and made specifically for self-stick flooring.

YES! Proper rolling with a 100 lb. 3 section roller will ensure proper pressure is applied to the flooring for adhesives to bond the substrate. Roll the floor during installation and after the floor is completely installed.

If you cannot obtain a 100 lb. roller, a household rolling pin can be utilized in the following manner: maintain contact throughout the installation by pressing straight down on the rolling pin, keeping it close to your knees and with as much of your body weight as possible. You will  need to roll in this manner over the whole floor. Pushing the rolling pin away from your body and then pulling it back only gets pressure on the floor when your arms are closest to your body, so there will be a lot of wasted energy and movement.

Acclimation allows the solid vinyl flooring to become equal to the installed environment. This will better allow the flooring to become more stable during normal temperature fluctuations. With floating installations, acclimation allows the product to properly relax and the joints to be properly engaged. All floors must be acclimated under normal site conditions and temperatures for 48 hours prior to installation.

Runs of 30 feet are permitted (up to a total of 900 square feet) before you need to install a t-molding expansion joint.

Directional arrows are for keeping the finish looking consistent throughout the installation. Also used when laying tiles in a quarter-turned method.

Use of satin or gloss floor finishes will enhance the sheen of a vinyl floor. Be sure to use a floor finish that is compatible with solid vinyl tiles.

NO. Any opening less than 6 feet in width must utilize a suitable t-molding.

Use a "neutral pH" cleaner to remove any sediments or contaminants to the flooring. These cleaners are safe enough for regular use on solid, luxury vinyl flooring. Do not use any type of chemical or harsh cleaners.

Regular sweeping and vacuuming with an electronic broom are also recommended. Do not use a vacuum with a standard 'bristled beater bar' as this can damage the wear layer on the flooring covering.

Yes. Any pre-mixed, synthetic adhesive-type grout can be used on Novalis tiles. Check the manufacturer's label/website for proper installation at thin depths (less than 2.5mm).

Use a compass to draw the circle then carefully heat the tile with a heat gun or hair dryer on the lowest setting. When the tile is warm and pliable, carefully use a utility knife with a sharp blade to cut the shape. Multiple passes are the best.

NO. Common latex-based flooring adhesives are not compatible with Novalis' self-stick tile adhesive. Use of a secondary adhesive may cause a plasticizer migration and will cause and adhesive failure.

Floor protectors are necessary! Nylon type protectors are the best to use. Felt protectors can be used but must be changed frequently to keep the amount of embedded debris to a minimum.

YES! Floor protectors are necessary! Nylon type protectors are the best to use. Felt protectors can be used but must be changed frequently to keep the amount of embedded debris to a minimum.

ABSOLUTELY! A 5/16" gap is required at all vertical surfaces including walls, cabinets, door frames, columns, fixtures, etc. to allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the vinyl flooring.

Novalis floors exceed the ADA recommendations for static coefficient of friction and slip resistance and are suitable with wheelchair traffic. Novalis floors are not recommended to be installed on ADA ramps and accesses.

Common household pets are fine with Novalis floors, but keep in mind that larger dogs have tougher, sharper nails and may scratch the surface layer on your flooring.

Novalis flooring can be installed on stairs; however we do not recommend any type of after-market finish be applied on floorings used on stairs.

While not originally intended for use in wall or ceiling applications, Novalis cannot specifically recommend or warrant our products to be used in these circumstances.

STAINMASTER Premier locking luxury vinyl flooring requires the TOP joint be angled in first and then the LEFT SIDE joint be dropped and pressed into place. See the package insert for complete details.

Environmental temperature should be kept between 55F and 85F and you should avoid large temperature fluctuations in short periods of time.

Gently heat the piece of flooring with a heat gun on low setting or a common hair dryer on low. When it becomes pliable, simply press it back into place and then place some weights on it overnight.

Moisture barriers are not required under floating vinyl floors, but can be utilized. A simple polyethylene sheet a minimum of 6 mills in thickness will suffice. Do not use foam paddings under floating floors.

Mops generally use too much water and leave a lot of water behind, which can seep through the seams in the tiles and planks and cause several issues with adhesive failure and subfloor swelling. Damp mopping with a neutral cleaner is the recommended method.

Existing sheet goods are permitted provided they are non-cushion back, single layer floors. Sheet goods must be properly prepared with a suitable cementitious embossing leveler; follow the leveler manufacturer's directions regarding preparation of the surface and mixing with the appropriate additive.

Use nylon, plastic or felt type furniture protectors on all furniture legs and bottoms. Protectors, especially felt-type, must be changed regularly to prevent debris build up in the protector.

Apply an aftermarket finish to the flooring to prevent scuffing and minor scratches.

On self-stick products you will need to use mineral spirits. Using a soft, white cloth, apply mineral spirits sparingly to the cloth first. Then gently dab the area on the tile with the cloth to pull the adhesive up. Do not pour the mineral spirits on the tile or use the cloth in a rubbing motion as this may damage the finish of the tile or lead to an adhesive failure.

Use a heat gun or hair dryer on the lowest setting to heat self-stick tiles. This will reactivate the adhesive and allow the tile to be pulled up using a putty knife. Be careful not to damage adjoining tiles.

Please consult our repair guides at www.novalis-intl.com under the Technical information section.

Area rugs, walk-off mats and throw rugs must not have rubber backings.

Floating vinyl floors must acclimate for 48 hours in the area before installation. Failure to properly acclimate will result in joints being difficult to engage, peaking, buckling and stressing of the joints which will lead to a failure of the mechanism.

Floating vinyl floors require a minimum of 5/16" of expansion space at all vertical surfaces. Self-stick and direct glue down flooring requires a minimum of 1/8" of expansion space.

Tile should be a minimum of 1/16" apart to a maximum of 3/16" wide.

Plank installations generally start from the upper, left corner of a room while tile installations are started from the center point of the room.

All vinyl floors are affected by sunlight and may fade over time. Novalis recommends use of suitable window coverings to minimize the exposure of sunlight.

In order to properly unhook the products you must first disengage the TOP joint by lifting up on the row of flooring and pull it away from the row above it. You can then carefully SLIDE the planks apart from one another, starting with the rightmost piece of flooring. DO NOT PULL UP ON THE SIDE JOINTS AS THIS WILL PERMANENTLY DAMAGE THE LOCKING MECHANISM AND REQUIRE REPLACING THAT PLANK OR TILE.

Yes, certain materials will scuff a vinyl floor like dark soled shoes, sneakers, rubber-based shoes and furniture bottoms.

Wait 24 hours after installation to allow adhesives to properly cure.

Commonly used tools for vinyl tile installation are utility knife with heavy duty blades, 100 lb. 3 section roller, chalk line, measuring tape, broom, pencil, heat gun (or hair dryer), speed square, wide putty knife, small trim pull bar.