Luxury Vinyl Tile – After Installation Plus Care and Maintenance
Today’s post is wrapping up what you need to know about luxury vinyl tile (LVT). If you missed our other posts on LVT, be sure to check them out here.
Here’s what you need to know after installation of LVT:
Depending on the manufacturer these guidelines may vary:
After installation, furniture and foot traffic should not be on the floor for at least 24 hours. This allows the adhesive to dry completely.
After installation, the floors should also not be washed for 48 hours.
The adhesive residue on the floors after installation can be removed with mineral spirits.
Floor covering subjected to excessive heat and light exposure is subject to
thermal degradation. Use appropriate precautions to minimize potential
affects on the floor covering.
Oil or petroleum based products can result in surface staining. Do not track
asphalt driveway sealer or automobile oil drips onto the vinyl floor covering.
During the life of the floor, the temperature should never drop below 55°F.
Care and Maintenance
Floors should never be flooded with water or be allowed to have standing water. This can loosen the adhesive.
Care should be taken with heavy furniture and appliances. Furniture protectors should be used that are at least 2” in diameter. The hard and small buttons sometimes found on the bottom of chairs and other pieces of furniture should be removed. High heeled shoes also apply here.
Protect the floors from dirt and grit that can be tracked in by using walk off mats at every entrance.
Do not use rubber backed mats. Certain rubber compounds can permanently stain vinyl.
Never use vinegar, acetone or lacquer thinner to clean these floors.
For extreme staining like nail polish , paint, dye and permanent markers try applying fingernail polish remover that contains acetone, but is not pure acetone with a soft cloth and gently rub.
Spills should be removed immediately.
The floor should be swept, dust mopped or vacuumed on a regular basis.
Stubborn rubber heel marks can be removed with a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits.
When the floor gets build up, consult the with the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner system to see if a stripper is available.