{"id":483,"date":"2016-03-03T14:05:15","date_gmt":"2016-03-03T14:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irubber.com.au\/?p=483"},"modified":"2021-09-30T15:02:14","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T05:02:14","slug":"flatness-1-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irubber.com.au\/flatness-1-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Flatness #1 Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Sometimes the final “look” of a flooring is not as it appears in the promotional literature and advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here we have to realise that the flooring is perfectly laid in the imagery on a “perfectly” flat and smooth surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It shows an “ideal result”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has to for marketing purposes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In “reality” an “ideal result” is not achieved- the problem not being with the floor covering but with the actual underlying surface that through minute variance can cause a “domino” effect across the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may look smooth and level but don’t just go by a visual look or feel. Prove it the old-fashioned way by using straight edge rulers and levels over a certain distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where bumps and ridges lie below the top layer -and it can be seen on the surface- we call this “telegraphing”.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most rubber products manufactured in the world today are made to within very high tolerances of less than 1% surface variance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To blame the product for an uneven appearance is not acceptable- but often the first and easiest way to point the blame for the failure of an entire project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is where “expertise<\/strong>” in laying flooring- especially rubber is required. The way the flooring looks can almost certainly be co-related to the field experience over the years<\/strong> but an installer that specialises in this field. So an “experienced” installer <\/strong>helps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designers and architects need to understand this concept rather than being dismissive and saying we no longer will specify this or that product because of the way it looks after install. Naivety is rife with all due respect when this attitude is taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things needed to be looked at in perspective rather than giving sweeping generalisations about the product and its performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So here’s an interesting article to explain things in a more un-emotional and reasoned fashion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more at – Reggie\u2019s Floor Stories\u2122<\/a>, Resilient Floors<\/a>, Trouble Shooting<\/a>, Flooring Installation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Installation instructions, from most major flooring manufacturers, reference ASTM Standard F-710 for hard surface resilient flooring. The Standard simply defines the required flatness of a concrete subfloor. The subfloor, or \u2018underfloor\u2019 as I like to call it, \u201cshall not deviate more than 3\/16 of an inch in ten feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo 1<\/strong> shows a ten straight edge being used to gauge the undulation of the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\nASTM F-710, Does the Subfloor Need to<\/a> be THAT Flat?<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n