CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADHESIVE, EVERY TIME.

While it’s now common practice to glue flooring panels to timber joists and to each other (in addition to screws), many installers still opt for a solvent-based adhesive without realising the long-term risks.

Solvent-based products will cure but won’t bond properly if the moisture content is greater than 18%. If timber joists get very wet, they will subsequently dry and shrink over time, causing the adhesive to fail. Floorboards may then squeak and groan, and gaps can appear. If this occurs in an upper story, it’s almost impossible to fix.

Gorilla Grip is a polyurethane-based adhesive that can cope with a higher moisture content than what a solvent-based adhesive can. So if your timber joists are exposed to the elements, it will still hold strong.

The proven reliability of Gorilla Grip means Kopine specifies its use to maintain the warranty on its flooring panels. Laminex Strandfloor also recommends gluing all panel edges together, and to timber joists, to achieve proper adhesion for its flooring system.

Because Gorilla Grip expands into wood fibres as it cures, it fills up any inconsistencies and creates maximum adhesion. Adhesion failure tests have proven that the substrate will break before the joint does.

Gluing panels together with Gorilla Grip not only minimises movement, it also creates a completely waterproof barrier at the joint around each panel.

This adhesive comes in a range of curing times – 10 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours – so you can choose what best suits your installation needs.

Our eco-friendly, ready-to-use water and solvent-free flooring adhesive is ideal for bonding all types of solid timber and engineered timber floors onto flooring panels, concrete or fibre cement board.

Once fully cured, it forms an elastic layer that won’t shrink so you can achieve an even surface. You can walk lightly over the floor in just four hours, and after 12 hours you can sand the floors, if needs be, to smooth out any timber imperfections.

Traditionally, this type of flooring adhesive would be polyurethane-based. But such products are runny and tend to slump, requiring weights to hold the finished timber flooring onto the adhesive to create a good bond. MS Flooring is a hybrid polymer which forms and maintains stable peaks when applied with a notched trowel. This excellent connection means you won’t require anything to weigh your timber floor down so you can trowel it on and make quick progress.

It’s resistant to moisture and heat so will remain in its cured state in wet areas (or in the event of a flood), and is suitable to use around underfloor heating.

In terms of eco-credentials, it’s second to none. It doesn’t contain any isocyanates so complies with Healthy Homes legislation and doesn’t smell, making it ideal for public buildings and high traffic areas.

MS Flooring comes in a sausage, 6kg bladder and 18kg bucket.

Luxury vinyl flooring is an increasingly popular choice thanks to its high durability, realistic appearance, small thickness and sound-absorbing effects.

Soudal’s LVT 120FT is specifically designed for laying special patterns such as herringbone, houndstooth and chevron because of its long working time (120 minutes) and instant tack.

This product is new to the New Zealand market and is suitable for full vinyl or vinyl laminate flooring systems. It can be used on vertical walls as well as horizontal floors – this is particularly handy in commercial sites or wet areas where you want the flooring to extend up the wall.

LVT 120FT is an acrylic adhesive so it’s easy to clean up. Simply trowel it out with a 1.5mm notched trowel, allow it to tack off (10-15 minutes depending on temperature and humidity) and then begin placing your vinyl. You don’t have to rush as the tack won’t transfer and will last for two hours.

Flooring installers enjoy the fact this adhesive is immediately walkable, has a very high final strength, complies with ISO 22636 and meets high emission standards.

LVT 120FT is available in a 13kg bucket.

When you’re stretching and tensioning carpet, this is the adhesive you need to secure your carpet edges. This polyurethane adhesive cures within one hour and will remain rigid so you can quickly achieve the tension you need. It bonds to both timber substrates and concrete and will expand as it cures, forcing its way into the flooring base.

Again, many installers make the mistake of using a solvent-based adhesive to tension carpet. This will take much longer to cure (24-48 hours) and over time that adhesive can fail, leaving homeowners with squeaky floors.