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Laying & Care
Installation
TactTiles are easy to install, simply click together using a rubber mallet. Tiles can be cut using a jigsaw, bandsaw or hacksaw.
1. Plan your layout before you start ensuring cut edges are in the least conspicuous areas.
2. Ensure that all the tiles are facing the same way - check the lugs.
3. Start at one side of the floor, on a straight edge, or from the entrance to the room / building. On a balcony, start at the outside edge and work back towards the building. In a garage, start at the front entrance and work back.
4. Place the plain side of the tile over the lugs and tap in place with a rubber mallet.
5. Tiles can be trimmed using a hacksaw or an electric jig saw. Mark where you want to cut using either a thick pencil or chalk. Cut to fit and tap into place.
6. Should you need to fasten down an edge, then place screws through the thickest point of the tile i.e. where the floor supports intersect. Countersink the screw heads so that they are flat with the top of the tile. In damp situations use stainless steel screws.
7. Any protruding ‘lugs’ can be removed if required with a sharp tap of a chisel for a neat edge.
8. For System #2 i.e. Metro, Briq, Piazza, Elite & Nova Tiles: Edgetiles can be connected to any side of these tiles.
9. For System #1 i.e. Pedestrian, Premium & Fitness & MultiSport Tiles: install as per instructions above, but place a row of Expansiontiles every ten tiles in each direction, or as shown on your design plan.
10. Where two rows of Expansiontiles intersect, insert a Crosspiece.
11. For System 1 you will find a pack of Linking-lugs enclosed which can be used to join two straight edges or reverse-fit the Edgetiles onto a straight edge. (System 1 the 300mm² network pattern tiles only).
12. For System 1, when laying Edges, allow a gap for movement when ‘crossing over’ the Expansion pieces.
Click here for a printable Laying Instructions sheet.
Care and Cleaning
TactTiles really prove to be a 'non-clean' flooring surface especially when laid outside. TactTiles are easy to clean, just vacuum and mop in the normal way. Daily cleaning is dramatically cut with a deep-clean required as necessary - say bi-annually.
1. For outdoor and wet use areas: TactTiles can be wet cleaned using a hose, pressure washer or industrial scrubber or let Mother Nature do it for you. Avoid using detergent cleaners. Bleach in hot water for stubborn marks is best.
2. For indoor and dry areas: Use a vacuum cleaner and give an occasional wipe with a damp cloth or a long handled scrub brush. A rotary cyclinder scrubbing machine can also be used.
3. For swimming pool areas: Tact advises the use of the biological cleaner, Tact Bioclean, to clean the tiles. Bioclean should be diluted to suit the cleaning regime. Sluice away any excess water into the under-floor drains and rinse cleaners off the surface with cold water. A wet vacuum cleaner can be used to dry-off any wet areas where drainage is poor. Follow by spraying the floor with your regular sanitizer.
4. For workshops: Areas where heavy oil or grease is likely to be spilt use Tact Bioclean-TT, to emulsify the oil and rinse away. Wet-vac up excess moisture. When using oils or any spray products Tact recommend that a drop sheet is used to protect the TactTile floor.
5. For general cleaning Tact recommend Tact Bioclean. For heavy duty use Tact Bioclean-TT, a specially formulated plastics cleaner.
UNCLICKING THE TILES: TactTiles Unzip and Tile Lifter Tools are available for easy dismantling of the floor.
If you do not have one of these tools available, then place a piece of wood under the ‘peg’ side of the tile and tap sharply with a mallet by the adjacent ‘lug’ and the connection will snap apart. Do not try to pull the tiles apart with your hands, you may hurt yourself and forcing the connection may result in damage to the tiles.
Click here for a printable Care & Cleaning sheet.
Fixing the tiles
TactTiles do not normally require fixing, but in certain situations this may be necessary. TactTiles are a loose laid floor system, and normally the floor will not move as it is constrained by walls and other floor fixed items such as bench legs. In some circumstances it is necessary to fix TactTiles to the substrate:
- On steps
- On exposed decks
- On long sloping poolsides
- To secure small areas of tiles
This can be achieved in two different ways according to circumstances:
Screwing Down the Tiles to the Substrate
- Drill through the tile at the intersection of the underneath cross supports (i.e. the strongest point) and into substrate beneath
- Insert rawl plug into substrate
- Countersink the tile
- Screw down using flat headed, stainless steel screws.
This is usually used on steps and at the front of garages or boathouses to prevent movement as heavy vehicles approach.
Fastening to prevent movement of the tiles
Plastic cable ties can be used to prevent the tiles moving or lifting in a high wind (i.e. on exposed ship decks).
- Slip the cable tie through the edge of the tiles and around a nearby stanchion.
- When using this technique where there are no stanchions, insert a stainless steel eye-bolt in a wall close to floor level and pass the cable tie through the eye-bolt and the tiles.
- The cable tie can be cut to release the tiles and replaced after cleaning.
This system will prevent a long run of tiles from moving e.g. along the side of a sloping pool surround.
Click here for a printable TactTiles Fixing sheet.
Dismantling Tools
TactTiles can be Unzipped for removal and storage in 'panels'. The Single Tile Lifter Tool can lift one tile out of the floor.
UNZIP TOOL – all tiles
- Lift the edge of the TactTiles floor at the desired point and gently disconnect the first 2 lugs of the leading tile by hand (wear gloves as the underneath can be quite sharp).
- Insert the unzip tool the correct way round to effect a completely trouble-free disconnecting operation. Gently push the Unzip Tool away from you and the tiles will part easily.
- This will then allow you access to a part of the floor where, for example, drains may be located; or you may wish to remove or relocate some part of the floor to change the colour / pattern / design.
- Repeat this movement for the size of panels desired to 'break' the floor down. Carefully stack the panels flat in a cool store room.
SINGLE TILE LIFTER TOOL for System 1 tiles (Pedestrian, Premium, Fitness, Marine, Tennis & MultiSport)
- The tiles have 2 sides with extended female connectors and 2 sides with hidden male connectors.
- Looking down through the tile to be removed, establish the 2 female edges and position the tile lifter onto the actual tile to be lifted and push the points into the appropriate holes in the adjoining tile.
- Gently apply a rolling action down onto the Tool and the first 2 lugs will be disconnected. Repeat this movement further along these 2 edges releasing the tile joint.
- Turn the tool around to rest on the outside tile above the male lugs and locate the pins appropriately to lift the other 2 sides of the tile to be removed.
- The desired tile can now be removed very easily and a replacement colour / tile inserted by a gentle twisting of the tile and tapping into place using a rubber mallet.
SINGLE TILE LIFTER TOOL For System 2 tiles (Metro, Briq, Piazza, Elite & Nova)
The tool resembles a screwdriver, but with a forked and splayed end.
Use as System 1 Tool, but undoing each connection individually by inserting the tool under each male lug and lifting gently.
Click here for a printable TactTiles Tools sheet.
Wet Floor Substrates
Instructions on preparation of wet floor substrates for installation of TactTiles on new or old floor surfaces.
PRIOR TO LAYING TactTiles:
1. When using TactTiles in wet floor conditions it is recommended that floor areas be laid to falls with a drain or gully. Sealing the sub-surface with Special Primer eliminates dust and aids cleaning.
2. TactTiles lie smoothly over most rough areas, readily adopting the contours of a ‘wavy’ surface. Major irregularities of level on old tile / concrete surfaces, can be corrected with the application of Tact Durafloor Self-Levelling Compound to the floor.
3. Remove any oil / grease / fatty deposits in the floor with Tact Bioclean.
4. New concrete slabs or screed require one week of time to complete drying, per 25mm of concrete depth.
5. After the concrete has dried thoroughly, wash off any loose aggregate / latence. Sieve or filter to remove this material before the water enters the drains.
6. Allow the floor to dry for a further 48 hours.
7. Mix Tact Poolcoat Primer (5ltr covers approx. 45m²) as per instructions and in correct temp. / humidity criteria.
8. Apply 1st coat of Tact Poolcoat Primer by brush / roller.
9. Apply 1 coat of Tact Poolcoat in areas of regular washing and / or chemical attack / heavy cleaning – poolsides etc.
10. Allow 7 days ‘curing’ time before putting floor into service.
11 .Lay TactTiles free draining flooring systems 1 or 2 a day after PoolCoat has been applied.
12 .For ease of in-service cleaning see the TactTiles Care & Cleaning instructions.
These notes are for guidance only, please discuss the detail of your application with your Tact representative.
