Installation Instructions:
Flooring applications should be set over a sound surface of a minimum 1 1/4”, ideally consisting of two offset layers. Countertop applications should be set over a minimum 3/4” thick clean surface. All tile installation procedures follow the Tile Industry Guidelines as set forth by the “Tile Council of America”.
1. Clear entire work area that you are going to tile. Sweep the floor and remove any dirt or debris prior to installation. Make sure the floor is free from grease, oil, or other contaminant’s that might interfere with the glue’s bond.
2. Identify the largest wall in the area to tile, lay the roll of TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment down, and unroll the product the full length of the room.
3. Loose fit the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment so it is slightly longer than the floor area. Cut the sheet with a knife or scissors and put the remainder of the roll aside.
4. Position the sheet against your base wall and trace a line using the edge of the sheet to outline the area that you are going to apply the TAVY #007 Glue. Roll approx. 1/2 of the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment sheet back on itself and secure the sheet by positioning an extra trowel or piece of tile in the center of the roll.
5. Use a minimum 1/8" v-notched trowel to spread the TAVY #007 Glue into the outlined area of the floor. Spread the glue holding the trowel at as near a 90 degree angle as possible. The thickness of the glue is an integral part of the system allowing it to act as a flexible membrane.
6. Remove areas of excess glue (puddles) and then roll the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment sheet slowly into the glue while it is still wet. The TAVY Thin-Skin sheet should butt the wall or fabric.
7. Roll the opposite end of the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment sheet back on itself six inches past the end of the glue previously laid. Secure the fabric by positioning an extra trowel or piece of tile in the center of the roll.
8.Spread the Thin-Skin Glue into the remaining outlined area of the floor. Repeat steps 5 and 6.
9. After you have completed a section, drag the straight-edge of the trowel over the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment. This will press the fabric into the glue and will eliminate air bubbles that may be trapped. If you are unable to remove an air bubble, just pierce the fabric with a knife and flatten out the area.
10. Continue in the same manner until the whole area is covered. Any size scraps of fabric can be used to reduce waste and although a perfect fit always looks better, precision is not mandatory. Overlapping fabric is not necessary, except during the installation of toe kicks under cabinets.
11. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT BEING MESSY. Any imperfections will never be seen again once you complete the next step. No cure time is required. You can begin the next step of the process.
12. Mix a small batch of the mortar/mastic of your choice - to keep things simple, use the same mortar/mastic that you've chosen to set your tile with. The consistency of the mortar mixture should be no thicker than thick syrup.
13. You will need to firmly spread a thin layer of mortar over the entire area. Skim-coat the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment using the straight-edge of a trowel. Any irregularities or high spots of the mortar can be scraped off easily after the mortar has set-up.
14. Allow the mortar to dry. Once the area is dry, it should look like a rough concrete floor, now you can begin tiling. The cure time will vary depending on drying conditions. The total time can take from 15 minutes to in excess of 1 hour. A good practical test is the ability to walk on the floor without the mortar sticking to the bottom of your shoes.
TOE KICKS: If you intend to tile toe kicks under cabinets you need to perform the following:
1. Remove any vinyl cove base type products.
2. Reinforce any loose toe kick boards at this time with nails or screws.
3. Measure the height of the toe kick add 2 inches and then cut a length of TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment.
4. Put a sharp crease in the TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment maintaining the proper height for the toe kick. Tuck the crease of the fabric into the toe kick area to make sure that the fabric fits properly. The extra 2 inches of fabric will extend onto the floor.
5. Remove TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment and spread TAVY #007 Glue on the toe kick surface and onto the two inches of floor overlap. Use a triangular notched spreader/spatula with minimum 1/8" v-shaped notches.
6. Install TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment (previously removed in step 5) and press the fabric into the glue with a small putty knife. No cure time is required. You can begin the next step of the process.
7. Remember to skim-coat the toe kick area using a putty knife or margin trowel. You will need to firmly spread a thin layer of mortar over the entire area.
8. Any irregularities or high spots of the mortar can be scraped off easily after the mortar has set-up.
9. The cure time will vary depending on drying conditions. The total time can take from 15 minutes to in excess of 1 hour. Once the mortar on the toe kick area has dried you can begin tiling.
ARMEN’S TIPS:
Set-up Time:
A fan blowing air over the skim-coated surface can reduce the drying time.
Material Construction:
TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment contains fiberglass so use handling precautions if fiberglass allergies exist.
Trowel Cleaning:
Use soap and water while adhesive is fresh. Trowels that are difficult to wash clean can be cleaned by repeatedly rubbing the trowel into sand or garden soil and then scraped off with a putty knife.
Template For Difficult Tile Cuts:
TAVY Thin-Skin Underlayment is stiff enough to make templates for difficult tile cuts by cutting a piece of Thin-Skin to the exact size as your required tile. Fit the piece of Thin-Skin into the desired location and make a series of gradual cuts with your knife until you have the perfect template. Remember to include an allowance for the grout joint selected. Then trace the outline onto the tile with a marking pen and cut to the exact dimension.
- Ideal for floors, walls & countertops
- Alternative to heavy backerboards
- No additional height added
- Eliminate tear-outs
- No dusty mess
