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When it comes to installation options, G‑Floor® multi-purpose flooring rolls have a flooring solution for every residential, commercial or transit project. Below are some of the questions we get asked most often about when to use what installation method.
What does loose lay flooring or free floating mats mean?
The simplest explanation is that these types of vinyl flooring mats or vinyl rolls do not need to be glued down to the subfloor. This is the easiest flooring to install and gives you the option of repositioning or moving flooring whenever needed. Another plus to this method is that the flooring rolls can be taken outside and hosed off to clean
No adhesive is needed with G‑Floor® DIY rollout vinyl flooring. Simply unroll, trim to fit and you are good to go! Only use adhesive should you wish a more permanent, finished installation. A G‑Floor® mat that is unsecured can sometimes ‘float’ or move in very small increments due to the contracting and expanding that takes place in vinyl during temperature extremes.
A great example of this type of free lay mat is a vinyl roll out garage mat that is used as a parking pad for cars, boats, golf carts and motorcycles in the garage. Other free floating flooring mats you might not want to glue down include kennel liners, grill mats, anti-fatigue mats and clear floor protection covers that you would loose lay over carpet, tile, hardwood, epoxy, concrete, etc. to extend flooring life.
Can I use just a single G‑Floor® roll out garage mat?
Yes, and in this case there isn’t any reason you would need to glue one mat down because G‑Floor® is heavy enough that it will not move on you. If you plan to use outdoors, on stairs or as flooring for a trailer, we do recommend installing a mat to the substrate. We have specially-designed trailer flooring with a Spun bound backing that makes trailer flooring installation easy.
If you do decide you want to secure just one floor mat, you have options here, too. You can glue down vinyl mat using the proper vinyl adhesive for your specific substrate. You can also use double-sided tape, although we really only suggest using that on the leading edge of the mat, at the entrance of the garage or space if needed. We do not recommend using double sided tape around the perimeter of any parking pad as it can cause the center of the mat to buckle.
Some customers like to give their single mat installation a more finished, professional look. For this reason, we offer G‑Floor® Edge Trim in 4” single-slotted polyvinyl strips which have a tapered edge.
What if I want to cover a larger area with two, three or more vinyl mats?
Many G‑Floor® fans can’t settle for just one garage floor mat! Lots of buyers use multiple free floating mats throughout a space unconnected and by leaving spaces in between. This often happens if they want more than one parking pad, maybe if it’s a two-car garage or they want many smaller roll out mats for parking different garage vehicles and/or machinery. Here again, you do not need to glue down unless you wish.
If you want to use two floor mats side by side, simply butt together. Never overlap for safety reasons. Only adhere should you wish.
Others prefer to connect two floor mats together. G‑Floor® Seam Tape is 4” wide, single-sided adhesive tape, applied on the underside of the flooring. Seam tape or Seam Weld is commonly used when customers are going to piece two parking pads side by side. This allows the entire mat to ‘float’ from contraction and expansion due to temperature. We do not recommend using seam tape if piecing three or more parking pads together, as it will cause the middle mat to ripple. See the next question for how to use two or three or more vinyl floor rolls together.
Do I have to glue down multiple mats?
Not necessarily, but we do suggest permanently adhering multiple vinyl mats if you plan on a complete wall-to-wall flooring install.
If you are not looking at installing flooring rolls over an entire space, but do want to prevent movement, buckling or the possibility of getting any moisture underneath single mats, you can connect multiple flooring rolls and protect seams.
G‑Floor® Center Trim it is the best way to adhere more than two vinyl flooring mats. G‑Floor® Center Trim is a 4” wide double-slotted polyvinyl strip, meant to fit the sides of two mats together and cover the edges to prevent a trip hazard at the seam. Center Trim will also allow the two mats to ‘float’ a bit to prevent buckling at the seam due to expansion or contraction from temperature extremes. When using three or more parking pads side-by-side, we recommend using Center Trim between the mats and not Seam Tape which will cause the center mats to buckle.
Can I permanently install G‑Floor® vinyl flooring rolls for wall-to-wall coverage?
For sure and tons of our customers complete an entire flooring project with this type of vinyl full floor install. If permanently installing using adhesive, you won’t see any buckling even with heavy objects on top of flooring. That’s just one of many reasons customers prefer permanently installed vinyl flooring. If you plan to roll lots of equipment or have a lot of commercial foot traffic, this is the best option. Just be sure to read all the wall-to-wall installation guidelines, prep the floor properly and only use the adhesive that is specifically suited to vinyl and your substrate.
Most G‑Floor® Universal Flooring rolls come in the following practical sizes: 5′ x 10′, 7′ 6″ x 17′, 8′ 6″ x 22′, 8′ 6″ x 24′ and 10′ x 24′ depending on the specific product, pattern and surface texture. With this many sizing options, there is no doubt you’ll find a perfect G‑Floor® garage mat, commercial roll out floor mat or residential flooring roll to achieve any type of flooring installation, including indoor, outdoor and mobile.