One of the modern floor coverings is PVC tile. Tarkett is one of the most popular manufacturers of this material. The flooring of this type is characterized by high strength, wear resistance and attractive appearance. Its installation is so simple that not even a professional can cope with it.
What is the material
To better understand what Tarkett PVC tiles are, you can imagine pieces of linoleum. Their composition is very close. The difference is that linoleum is produced in rolls. In case of damage to its individual part, it is necessary to completely change the coating. The tile consists of separate small pieces, so if necessary, you can replace a separate part of the coating.
The thickness of the tile is in the range of 0.5-3.5 mm. This is a multilayer material that consists of polyvinyl chloride, vinyl and plasticizers. The following layers are distinguished in the structure of the material:
- A base that evens out small defects left on the floor. It is represented by a combination of several separate layers. They are made from vinyl, polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers.
- A layer of fiberglass is necessary to stabilize the size of the tile.
- The decorative layer reflects the pattern itself. It consists of vinyl components that are heat treated. It can imitate wood, stone and other textures. By combining tiles with a different pattern, you can collect the desired picture or pattern.
- The protective layer masks all mechanical damage. In addition, it is designed to protect against moisture and solutions of acids and alkalis. Externally, this layer is a colorless coating on the surface of the PVC tile.
Due to its high performance, tile can be used not only in everyday life, but also in public areas.
Material benefits
Tarkett PVC floor tile has several advantages:
- It is able to protect the floor from moisture.
- Not afraid of high temperatures. Due to this, it can be used in the "warm floor" system.
- The upper protective layer prevents slipping. Due to this, you can even move on wet surfaces, without fear of slipping.
- Over time, the color does not fade. The top layer protects from ultraviolet rays, thereby preventing the pattern from fading in the sun.
- Prevents the emergence and spread of bacteria and microorganisms.
- A wide variety of textures, colors and patterns. Perfectly imitates natural wood and stone.
- When combining individual tiles, you can get unusual shapes.
- Easy to install. Under it, you do not need to lay a layer of the substrate, as for many other materials.
- Tarkett PVC tiles are easy to cut.
- It is a good noise isolator.
- Easy to transport. It is not necessary to order a special trucking service.
The presence of these advantages allowed the material to gain wide popularity among customers in a short time. In addition, flooring has an affordable cost.
Tile disadvantages
Like any other material, Tarkett PVC floor tiles have some disadvantages.
The first is that synthetic materials are used to produce the material. Due to this, the tile can not be called environmentally friendly material. People with certain diseases (for example, allergies, asthma) are better off choosing natural materials.
PVC tile protects against moisture and sun. But it is destroyed when exposed to solvents of various groups, acetones and the like.
And the last of the disadvantages that can be called in relation to this flooring is the relatively short life. The manufacturer calls the term 10 years.
Customers who have chosen the flooring of this manufacturer leave in most cases only positive reviews. Mistresses note that the PVC tile is easy to clean, there are no stains and scratches on it. You can choose a diverse design to your taste.
Tarkett PVC tiles: collections
Tarkett has released several dissimilar collections of PVC tiles. They differ not only in appearance, but also in their purpose. There are two most popular series:
- Tarkett Art Vinyl New Age PVC Tile. This flooring is used for rooms of public buildings (for example, offices), kitchens, hallways, living rooms and other rooms. Thanks to the modularity of the material, you can create a unique composition that reflects the individuality of the buyer and his lifestyle. This collection offers tiles with a variety of shapes and textures.
- Tarkett Lounge PVC Tile. The material in this collection is characterized by density and resistance to external influences. It fully meets all the requirements of regulatory documents in force today. Visually, the tiles from this collection are very similar to natural material. The manufacturer managed to achieve a similar effect due to the chamfer on all four sides of the tile.
Using the tiles from these collections, you can divide the entire space of the room into several separate zones.
Installation of flooring
Tarkett PVC tiles are laid on a clean, even surface without cracks or debris. To improve the bonding strength, the floor base must be primed.
There are two ways to lay tiles: from the center and from the entrance. In the first case, a beacon is placed in the center of the room. Two perpendiculars are drawn from it. Tiles are laid along these lines. If the beacons are installed near the entrance to the room, perpendicular lines are drawn parallel to the walls.
The tile is attached to the floor with glue, which must be applied to both the material and the floor. After applying glue, the tile is laid on the floor along the drawn lines and rolled with a roller. Excess glue emerging at the edges is immediately wiped off. Tarkett PVC tiles are distinguished by the fact that from the wrong side, an adhesive composition is already applied to it at the factory. It is covered with a protective film, which during installation just needs to be removed.
Installation Secrets
When working with PVC tiles, you need to follow a few simple tips.
To correctly cut the desired part, use markup. First, the tile is applied to a hard surface and a line is drawn. After that, you can cut the material. In more complex situations (for example, near pipes), a cardboard template is used. He is depicted by attaching to the tile. Tile elasticity increases when heated. Therefore, you can slightly heat it, make cuts, lay it through the pipe, and only then cut off the unnecessary part.
If glue gets on the surface of the tile, it can be removed with soapy water or alcohol.