NAUTOLEX B09JHDKMPB Marine Vinyl Flooring Instruction Manual
- June 5, 2024
- NAUTOLEX
Table of Contents
NAUTOLEX B09JHDKMPB Marine Vinyl Flooring
Read these instructions in their entirety before installing Nautolex® Marine Flooring. Installations can differ widely depending on the boat construction and the surface you will be covering – wood, fiberglass or metal. The following procedure is based on the use of water-based vinyl flooring adhesive. The use of an improper adhesive might result in an unsatisfactory installation.
TOOL LIST
- Scissors
- Brush or Roller
- Smoothing Block
- Sharp Knife
- Staples or Tacks
- Tape
Surface Preparation
- It is important that the surface to be covered is clean and smooth. All moldings and fittings must be removed from the area to be covered.
- The preparation of new wood surfaces should include the sanding and filling of all holes and gouges. This should be followed by a coat of sealer to prime and seal the wood, thus reducing the absorption of adhesive.
- If you are covering wood surfaces that have been previously finished, remove any flaking varnish or paint and any traces of contaminants such as gasoline or oil. The surface should be sanded to the bare wood then followed by a coat of sealer to prime and seal the wood, thus reducing the absorption of adhesive. For proper results, you must also fill all joints and seams and seal all exposed edges.
- When covering metal surfaces or decks, remove dirt and grease, then apply a coat of metal primer to reduce the possibility of corrosion.
- With fiberglass boats, the interior surfaces are usually rough. This is particularly true of boat sides vs. floors. Fiberglass floors are usually smoother and can be covered with Flooring; however, it is important to sand these areas prior to installation.
Prepare Nautolex Flooring
Cut the Flooring to the appropriate shape of the area to be covered. When abutting two pieces of material, be sure to provide enough overlap on both pieces to line up and space the screw plugs and caulking lines of the adjacent pieces. If the Flooring will be used to cover a cabin top or boat side, cut the Flooring to shape, roll the material out of the way, and proceed to the application of the adhesive.
Adhesive Application
During the adhesive’s “wet” time, water in the water-based adhesive evaporates into the air. Late in the “wet” time, the adhesive becomes “sticky”; this “sticky” time is best for bonding the Flooring to the surface. After the “sticky” time, the adhesive remains pliable but is beginning to cure. Direct rain can dilute the adhesive on freshly installed flooring areas during the “wet” time. High moisture or humidity can delay the evaporation and drying of the adhesive, resulting in sub-optimal installation. For these reasons, we suggest you consider the weather and degree of protection so as to avoid water or moisture exposure during installation. When covering a floor or deck, position the Flooring accurately and secure one-half of the width in position temporarily with staples, tacks or tape. Fold back the unsecured half and apply the adhesive as follows:
- Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions for proper application.
- The adhesive should be sticky, but no longer “wet” when the Flooring is applied. For fiberglass or metal decks, apply a thin coat of adhesive to the deck and another thin coat to the Flooring back. When the two surfaces are sticky (not “wet”) apply the Flooring to the deck. Applying adhesive to both Flooring and deck will give the best results on wood decks also.
Tips:
- Typically, one quart of adhesive is sufficient to apply three lineal yards of 54” wide Flooring.
- A 3” brush is the most practical tool for applying the adhesive, but a paint roller can also be used. Thinning is not usually necessary, but if the water-based adhesive becomes too thick for easy handling, it can be thinned with water.
- Brushes, rollers and tools should be cleaned with water before the adhesive dries. If the adhesive is allowed to dry, paint thinner can be used for cleaning.
Install Nautolex Flooring
After applying the adhesive, gently smooth the rolled-back half of the Flooring into position. It is important that air not be trapped between the surface being covered and the Flooring. This may be avoided by using a “smoothing pad” or hard roller to smooth the fabric into place after holding the Flooring up and away from the prepared surface, and lowering it slowly into place as you smooth it with the roller. You can then smooth bubbles and wrinkles toward the edges.
Trapped air will appear as bubbles or blisters; if small and scattered they should disappear in a few days. However, if they are large or close together, the Flooring may have to be lifted and repositioned. After the first half of the Flooring has been installed, remove the tacks or staples holding the other half in position. Fold back this half exactly as before and apply the adhesive to the remaining area. Then smooth the Flooring into position as described previously.
To apply Flooring on removable floorboards, the material should be cut to overlap around all edges and be folded and tucked underneath. Apply the adhesive as instructed, and roll Flooring into position. All edges should then be stapled or tacked securely to the undersurface of the floorboard at least two inches from the edges. When abutting two sections of Flooring, allow the Flooring to overlap. Then, using a sharp knife or razor blade along a straight edge, cut through both thicknesses of material on the desired line. Lift both the excess top and bottom pieces away, and smooth the remaining pieces into place.
Fasten Edges
After the Flooring is applied, all edges and center seams must be fastened down and held mechanically. This may be done with non-rusting staples, tacks or screws, being careful to install one inch apart or less. Nautolex Flooring has a controlled shrinkage factor that will give a tight, smooth finished job. Replace all moldings and fittings, installing new molding or strips where required to conceal joints and seams.
Note:
It is possible that a few small blisters in the flooring will develop when sun
first strikes the deck. These should dissipate and be less noticeable over a
few days.
Non-Mechanical Fastening
If mechanical fastening is impossible because of the boat construction, be
sure that all edge surfaces have a liberal application of adhesive. Then
squeeze the edges against the deck with a water-dampened rag to press out
excess adhesive. Without fastenings, edges have a tendency to contract or
creep, so be generous with adhesive if the area requires a snug fit. Avoid
center seams that could open up without fastening strips. Try to cover the
area in one piece, particularly if 72” wide Flooring is available in your
area.
Cleaning Nautolex Flooring
Nautolex Marine Flooring has been engineered to be resistant to soiling and
easy to maintain. In most cases, only soap and water is required. However, if
a stubborn stain should develop, use a mild liquid cleaner. While Nautolex
Marine Flooring is resistant to most common solvents, they should be used with
caution since some contain ingredients that could be harmful to it. If a
solvent must be used, we suggest using turpentine, white gasoline, naphtha or
carbon tetrachloride sparingly. Abrasive cleaners should never be used. These
instructions should be followed carefully to obtain satisfactory results.
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NAUTOLEX is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. © 2012 OMNOVA
Solutions Inc. July 2012
References
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