Armstrong DLW
Linoleum
Installation
3
3/Estimating requirements
3.1 Rolls
In order to establish requirements for material sup-
plied in rolls, the required lengths and widths of the
rolls must be determined. Before taking measure-
ments, the direction in which the material is to
be laid must be determined. Head seams are only
recommended with roll lengths of more than
5 metres. Allowances must be made for rolls,
which run up to door openings, or recesses etc.
Strips can be used for covering door openings
at the sides, recesses and so on.
3.2 Tiles
Tiles are generally laid in a chequerboard pattern.
But they can also be laid, if desired, in a parallel
manner. With regard to the way the joins run,
either parallel or diagonal layouts are possible. For
measuring-up, the nett floor surface is calculated,
allowing an extra percentage amount for wastage,
based upon experience. The amount of waste
material is greater with diagonal laying methods
than with a parallel design and greater also with
oblique angled or rounded surfaces than it is with
straight edges.
3.3 Staircases
Coverings for stairs are cut from rolls of material.
When laying coverings with patterns that run length-
ways, these should run parallel with the edge of
the stair. This applies also to landings. The require-
ments are calculated from the number of stairs
that can be cut, respectively, from one roll. Special
templates are made up to enable accurate measure-
ments and cutting in for angled staircases.
3
4/Storage, acclimatisation and
conditions for installing
Correct storage is essential to ensure that the
technical laying properties of Armstrong DLW
Linoleum are retained.
As a rule, rolls of linoleum are stored upright in a
dry room at normal temperatures. Tiles may not be
piled more than eight boxes high. Once cut to size,
store the loosely re-rolled sheets upright with the
top surface facing outwards for at least 24 hours
at a temperature of at least + 18
°C in the room
in which they are to be laid (see B
Veiling). This
allows the material to acclimatise to the ambient
humidity and temperature of the room. When the
linoleum is being installed, it is important that the
temperature not only of the room but also of the
sub-floor should be at least 15ºC and the maxi-
mum relative humidity 65 % (ideally between 40 %
and 60 %).
Make sure that, in each room, only one and the
same factory batch number of floorcovering is
installed in the sequence of roll numbers. This
applies both to tiles and sheets.
3
5/Cutting linoleum
5.1 T
rimming the edges of sheets
Even if sheets are to be joined at a later stage, we
recommend trimming both edges of the sheet.
The first edge is easily trimmed using a linoleum
edge-cutter. The second edge may be trimmed by
two methods:
a) In the case of small rooms
(before adhesive is applied)
The lower sheet is scribed with a knife along the
trimmed edge of the upper sheet. The resulting
strip of waste is then cut in the opposite direction
with a hooked blade.
b) In the case of large rooms
(after adhesive has been applied)
The upper edge is scribed along already trimmed
edge of the glued bottom sheet with an under-
and-over scriber or a lino-cutter
, and the resulting
waste strip is then cut in the opposite direction
with a hooked blade.
5.1.1 Cutting the seams
In either case, the cut should be done in such
a way that a gap of about 0.5 mm is left open
between the sheets. The cut should be vertical
or slightly diagonal so that the joint is loose, i.e.
without contact between the two sheet edges.
5.1.2 Top ends
When the seams are cut, possible alterations in
the dimensions of the floorcovering should be
taken into account. When long sheets are being
joined it is a good idea not to trim the top ends
before the linoleum has been installed in the
adhesive bed.
5.1.3 Fitting around door thresholds,
radiators etc.
Once acclimatised, the sheet is installed and cut to
fit around door thresholds, radiators etc. with the
help of a recess scriber
. The sheets should then
be rolled back and the adhesive applied.
5.2 Tiles
Linoleum tiles are manufactured to order and
should be laid within a maximum of 8 weeks after
delivery. The tiles should be stored in a dry area.
For recommendations regarding adhesives see
under point 6.
