Laying Amtico Flooring

[scotch]

i'm looking for a bit of help.

I'm thinking of laying an Amtico floor in my tiny downstairs cloakroom.
But because of the floor size i'm thinking of doing it myself,however it appears to me that Amtico aren't keen on their products being laid by mere DIYers.

Has anyone got any experience of laying this flooring and any problems they have had?

Was the flooring laid before or after fitting a new toilet pan?

It will be laid onto a concrete floor,how should the concrete floor be prepared prior to laying the flooring?

muchos gracias in advance

 

[breezer]

try a search (but type in amtico)

 

[scotch]

Thanks
Tried that first-but didn't help at all.
cheers

 

[breezer]

well i found 2 other posts, it would seem that is all that is known about it

 

[2scoops0406]

From what little I know, and it is a little laying this type of floor is a job for the specialist.

 

[swelec]

http://www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/install_tips.cfm

found this when using google search on Amtico flooring

 

[JIM456]

Hi Scotch,
What kind of Amtico are you planning to lay?
As far as preparation is concerned, if the floor is rough then apply a coat of latex screed, I prefer latex but Amtico recommend the water based stuff which finds its own level.
Certainly it would be easier to fit the toilet pan, then remove it for the installation of the Amtico, before re-fitting the pan.
The only difference between Amtico and other vinyl tiles is that its a lot tougher, but a carpet knife with a new blade will cut it. You simply cut a few times, then bend the tile until it snaps along the line...but unlike other tiles many of the Amtico tiles don't snap right through and you have to draw your blade through it to finally cut it away.
Heat also helps, get your heating on and unpack the tiles, stacking them neatly on a piece of carboard (to insulate it from the cold concrete floor), then let them stand and acclimatise for a couple of days. They should then be more flexible and easy to work with (don't heat them too much or they'll shrink once laid). If your cutting a curve around a pipe or the wc pedestal then if you place the tile against a hot radiator for 30 seconds it will become very pliable and easy to cut.
One last warning, with some of the very tough, polished Amtico tiles, the knife blade can skate across the surface and damage the tile, or worse, cut your fingers, so take it easy.

 

[scotch]

Jim
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
The boss thinks that she likes the "Glass Collection".
Having been to the Amtico Studio in Epsom ,i would agree with you about the thickness and toughness of the tiles.
I'm gonna think about doing it ,as the toilet is tiny and it shouldn't take much tilesto complete it.
One last thing what adhesive do you use to fix it?

thanks again everyone for your answers

 

[jennifer7]

Hi - If you coat the floor first with a layer of Laytex then you can lay your amtico - you can buy the special glue from e-bay. You can also buy the dressing which you mop over after you have laid the floor and it is dry and the amtico cleaner. It is worth getting the dressing and cleaner, they do work very well.

If your laying amtico on floorboards you just lay plyboard down first, tack them to the floorboards and then glue the amtico to the plyboard.

I am getting good at it - we have done mostly all the rooms with amtico.

Good luck

 

[ashraf109]

Hi mate, need some advice please. I have Amtico flrroring throughout my kitchen flooring. I've had it for 2 years and now air bubbles have appeared on 2 spots. looks pretty bad. I have plenty of amtico tiles remaining. Would you suggest I take out the tiles that are coming off and apply on the new tiles?

I can post pics if you want.

Ashraf

 

[AFloorLayer]

We specialize in Amtico installations.

If your sub-floor is wooden generally 6mm WBP ply would have been laid prior to the Amtico install. This may have blown if there aren't enough prenails holding it down or the ply is not WBP.

If your sub-floor is concrete latex should have been applied first. The sub-floor might not have been primed or the subfloor wasn't cleaned properly before latex? This could be the cause of the bubbles.

The Amtico might not have enough adhesive underneath the tiles, but i cant see this causing bubbles.

Certain adhesive cleaning products if overused causes the Amtico backing to melt. 'Amtico adhesive cleaner' if left to soak will seep through the edges and melt the backing. Crazy!!

Your best bet is to
1: With a paint stripper hot air gun set to low, warm one tile edge and remove gently heating the tile as you go. This way is really to stop a ply subfloor from delaminating.
2: With a stanley knife cut through the ply, or dig the latex with a screwdriver and check to see whats caused the bubble. (It might be a water leak?)
3: Continue to remove the Amtico tiles around the surrounding area well over/past the affected area to the nearest full tiles.
3: Cut out the ply or scrape the latex away and clean.
4: Prime floor prior to latex, apply latex sparingly with a screed trowel or paint scraper. Too little is required to fill the patch. Let dry and finsih with a top coat of feather latex. This will help achive a perfectly smooth and level finish.
If ply, cut out the ply with a straight edge and replace with new. Make sure there are plenty of ring shank nails holding it down. Again use feather latex the cover joints and hammer/nail heads.
5:Once the repairs are dry refit your new amtico tiles loosely cutting any cuts that need to be re-done.
6:glue out with Amtico Solvent Free Adhesive or Amtico High Temperature Adhesive (used in conservatories or underfloor heated areas) Ht adhesive should be laid into wet. SF ahesive should be allowed to dry for 10mins then Amtico applied.

I hope all the best for your repairs. I would like to plug this site for Amtico installation pictures The site has some great images of installs, and supply Amtico, Marmoleum and Altro safety flooring http://www.*********.com

 

[weeroy2]

hi just about to lay 10 packs of this stuff on to concrete floor but i had to screed the floor with 3mm of screed this cost me about £100 20sm it has 2 dry four 2 days and the flooring / glue have 2 be kept in the room you r doin so this floor is a lot of work the floor will go down next week so i will post new message