PALISADE 54080 Interlocking Vinyl Waterproof Wall/Backsplash Planks for Kitchen or Bathroom Installation Guide
- June 5, 2024
- PALISADE
Table of Contents
Waterproof, Grout-Free Wall Tiles
Plank Installation Guide
READ this entire installation guide before beginning your installation. ACP is not responsible and will not be held liable for project failures if installation guidelines are not followed. ACP recommends that you install these planks over an existing substrate to ensure proper structural integrity. Palisade planks are not intended to be attached to raw concrete, poured concrete walls or concrete block basement walls.
FOR INSTALLATION IN DRY ENVIRONMENTS
Appropriate substrates in a dry environment would include framed walls with
existing tile, drywall, cement board, OSB, or plywood. Palisade planks must be
attached to structures that comply with your local building codes and have
incorporated appropriate moisture abatement measures.
FOR SHOWER, TUB OR DIRECT WATER ENVIRONMENTS
Although Palisade planks are 100% waterproof when used with sealant in the
seams, we recommend you follow your local building codes for wet environments
like shower and tub enclosures. In a tub or shower area, existing ceramic tile
walls can be covered with no additional preparation. Otherwise, installation
over a waterproof substrate is required, such as
Cement Board®, Schluter Kerdi Board®, GP Densheild®, Johns Manville Go Board®, Hardiebacker®, WPBK Triton®, Fiberock® and equivalent products. Always follow manufacturer’s installation instructions to create a waterproof enclosure.
FOR BACKSPLASH, LAUNDRY ROOM OR OTHER DAMP ENVIRONMENTS
We recommend using a silicone sealer in the plank’s tongue and groove seams
for damp environments. Follow manufacturer’s directions and your local
building codes. ACP, LLC is not responsible or liable for any labor costs or
damaged product incurred as a result of improper installation. All product
defects are covered under our 10-year limited warranty. Due to manufacturing
variations, we cannot guarantee an exact color match from lot to lot. Prior to
installing Palisade planks and trims on your walls, please unpackage & layout
all purchased product to ensure color consistency. If you encounter
unreasonable color variation, please give us a call at
1-800-434-3750 (7 am-4:30 pm CST, M-F)
so that we may assist you with your project.
Plank Installation
Tools and supplies needed:
- Protective eye wear
- Measuring tape
- Utility knife
- Level
- Hand saw or circular saw/table saw
- Drill bit & jig saw (for cutting holes)
- Caulking gun for 10.3 oz. adhesive tubes
- Adhesive for PVC panels (Recommended adhesives: Loctite ® Power Grab ® Ultimate, LIQUID NAILS ® FUZE*IT ®, Titebond Titegrab Ultimate ™, and Manus 75-AM HV)
- Silicone-based sealant for kitchen/bath (for wet environments)
- Optional: Matching trim
- Optional: Wood shims
Before you begin installation
Before starting, make sure all surfaces are clean, dry, smooth and free from
dust, grease, wax, etc. Clean the back surface of the planks by wiping with a
clean cloth. Perform a “dry layout” prior to applying adhesive. This will help
you visualize tile cuts and placement of tiles with similar designs. Some of
the wood-look planks include color variations, lines, and cracks to emulate
the look of natural wood. Avoid placing tiles with similar or identical
patterns or texture next to each other. Measure walls, & check for level and
square. Depending on dimensions and room construction, you may need to trim
some panels accordingly.
Installation in environments exposed to a direct flow of water (shower,
mudroom, or garage) require a 1/8-inch bead of sealant to be used in all
tongue and groove
connections (image A). Add a bead of the sealant along recently cut edges to
be placed into the corner. Repeat this process on perpendicular plank also
facing corner (image B).
Visit Palisade-Tiles.com for full installation videos and numerous tips.
Cut Palisade planks by scoring and snapping with a utility knife. (image C,
D). This method may require sanding the snapped edges.
You can also use standard woodworking tools like a table saw or circular saw
with a fine-tooth blade to provide a clean, smooth cut (image E). Use a
60-tooth blade or higher. To ensure the base of the saw does not scratch the
surface of the plank, we recommend protecting the surface with blue painter’s
tape.
Cut planks for outlets and light switches. Measure and mark the borders where
the opening will be with a marker. Drill a 1/2-inch hole using a drill in a
corner of the cut-out section (image F). Use a jigsaw to cut the remaining
opening, following your tracing (image G).
Do not attach accessories like coat hooks, light fittings, mirrors, etc.
directly to the planks. Drill holes through the tiles and use suitable anchors
to attach the accessories securely into the framing behind. Seal per sealant
instructions.
Installation onto drywall, OSB, plywood or existing tile substrates
If you choose to finish the edges, we recommend our matching trim for both end
pieces and inside corners. We recommend using baseboard or cove molding to
finish the bottom row, regardless of flooring material. For both end trim
pieces and corner trims, install trim in appropriate location prior to setting
tile into trim (image H).
Palisade planks’ unique interlocking edges have a tongue and a groove (image
I). The plank’s groove should be facing up when installing.
If your project calls for Palisade planks starting at a floor, be sure the
first row is straight and level. Determine the desired height of your first
plank row and snap or draw a level line at that height for a reference line.
Align the tops of each plank in the first row to the snapped line (image J).
It is important that this starting row be level and straight. If you are
starting with full tile, cut off the tongue or use a matching J-trim along the
bottom edge.
To install your first plank, begin with bottom row. Make sure the first plank
you intend to install fits properly and is level. You may need to place a
temporary shim under each bottom plank to hold them in place while the
adhesive sets (image K).
Apply adhesive to the back of the plank. Carefully read and follow adhesive
manufacturer’s directions. Apply a 1/4-inch bead in a typical “M” or “W”
pattern, and a bead around the tile perimeter about 1-inch in (image L).
Apply the plank to the substrate by pressing it into place. Apply even
pressure with your hands across the entire plank. If necessary, use shims or
pins to hold planks in place until the adhesive sets.
Wipe off excess adhesive. Use water and a cloth. Clean off any adhesive
residue that is visible while it is still wet. Do not allow this residue to
dry as it will be difficult to clean up when dry and could damage the finish.
Connect the next plank by fully inserting the tongue into the groove (image
M).
Repeat until bottom row is complete. If installing in a corner, cut off the
flange facing the corner to allow a plumb surface against the substrate.
Repeat this process on plank that abuts the previous one also facing the
corner. Allow the adhesive on the bottom row to set up so that all subsequent
rows remain level. Determine what pattern you want to use before starting the
second row (image N). A commonly-used option is random horizontal (vertical
joints are staggered).
Random Horizontal
After the first row has set up, apply the remaining planks according to the
pattern or layout you desire. Use adhesive and methods described above for
remaining rows.
When installing the top row, install as you have been until you get to the
last tile in the corner. If planks butt against your ceiling, when installing
the last plank, remove flanges from side (image O). Or use our matching L
trim. Lay plank into place. Apply pressure to ensure it is flush with others.
Use a recommended silicone sealer (as previously described) in joints to
ensure a water-tight installation, if applicable.
Installation of Last Plank In a Row
If you are using corner and/or L-trims for a Palisade shower kit installation,
the following information will show how to install the last, short plank at
the end of a row. Read and follow if your project looks like this. The
challenge is to place the remaining plank section into the edge trim while
also getting the interlocking plank edges locked together (image P). First,
install the inside corner trims into each corner using adhesive. Allow 24
hours for the adhesive to cure. Make sure the corner trims are oriented as in
the image below. Each inside corner trim piece has a full and a partial
channel. The full channel will be against the back wall. The drawing below
shows a top cross-section view of facing inside corners.
Next, determine the length of the plank section. Measure from the inside lip of the previously installed plank to the inside edge of the pre-installed trim. See image at right for details. In this case, the length to cut the final plank in the row is 5-7/8-inches (image Q). After cutting plank to length, apply adhesive to the substrate, as shown (image R).
Insert the cut plank edge into the L-trim while holding the interlocking joint edge away from its mating plank. Insert the cut end into the edge of trim channel while holding other edge up (image S). Push the plank into the edge trim while laying the plank down toward the substrate. When pushed into the trim entirely, the interlocking edges will be exposed (image T).
Apply sealant to the interlocking edges if this installation is for a wet
environment.
The plank can now be manually pulled into place. Pull the plank toward the
interlocking joint (image U). If necessary, rubber gloves can be used to
increase grip friction with the surface of the plank. Keep pulling until the
interlocking joint is tight and in place (image V).
Use a damp rag or paper towel to clean off any sealant or adhesive that may have been squeezed onto the plank surface.
Edge and Corner Trims
J-Trim are used to finish the terminal end of planks when not adjoined to anything. To install, don’t dispense adhesive a few inches from the plank’s edge where you intend to use the J-Trim. This will allow the trim to slide in place. Dispense a bead of sealant into the receiving channel of the trim and then press the trim into place.
Inside Corner Trim should be attached with adhesive to the substrate. Dispense a small bead of adhesive directly to the substrate corner or on the trim itself. Also dispense a bead of sealant into each of the trim’s channels to prevent water from reaching the substrate.
L-Trim are used to cover existing exposed planks to provide a finished look. Install by dispensing a thin bead of sealant on the Palisade side and a thin bead of adhesive on the substrate side. Press trim into place. If trim will not stay in place, use some masking or painter’s tape to hold until adhesive sets.
When attaching accessories like coat hooks, mirrors, or lighting fixtures that will carry a heavy load, drill a hole through plank and fasten to the framing inside the wall. Use a stud finder to locate framing before drilling through planks.
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>