The key to a successful installation of any of our products is to ensure that the base that the material is being laid onto is suitable and is smooth, clean, dry and sound. All products should be installed following the code of practice found in BS8203. And we recommend that the F-Ball guide for sub-floor preparation is followed and this can be found https://www.f-ball.com/en/technical/subfloor-preparation/
As a brief guide – please see below -
A concrete floor should be dry of all residual construction moisture and have a suitable damp proof membrane installed. To smooth the concrete it maybe necessary to apply a latex screed and we recommend the use of F Ball and Co products. If the sub-floor is not dry a surface damp proof membrane maybe required. The relative humidity of the floor needs to be less than 75%.
A wood sub-base also needs to be suitable and may require a plywood base to smooth the floor. We recommend that a FG1 (flooring grade) plywood base is used.
Once the sub base is suitably prepared the flooring can be installed. Some options can be installed via the Roll Out method or semi-permanent installation, others need to be permanently installed. Please refer to the product page to determine which methods are available for your product. During the laying of the floorcovering an ambient temperature of at least 18°C must be maintained along with a floor temperature of at least 10°C.
Roll Out – as the name suggests this is designed to be a DIY temporary method that can easily be removed. We still recommend using a double sided tape to ensure the joins and edges are adequately secured and/or to overlay the joins and edges with a suitable Dance Floor Splicing Tape.
Semi Permanent – This method is great for a DIY install and is a step further than the Roll Out method. It is semi permanent because we recommend that you create a grid system of double sided dance floor tape on the prepared sub floor and along all joins. This creates as close to a professional and permanent install without the need for specialist tools. The joins should be covered with a suitable joining tape.
Permanent Install – undertaken by a professional installer this is the best method to ensure the longest lasting floor. Done by a competent commercial installer this provides a continuous finished surface as the joins are hot welded and the whole material is fully adhered to the sub-floor.