Firmax CP
Installing final finishes
Timber Floors
Firmax CP flooring elements are suitable as a substrate for engineered boards as well as mosaic or herringbone parquet.
Laminated, engineered timber floor, including parquet can be laid as a floating or bonded floor (refer to manufacturer’s recommendations).
Firmax CP flooring elements are NOT suitable as a substrate for solid timber flooring (inc. parquet & solid strip flooring) unless it is laid as a floating floor or using special installation techniques.
Mosaic parquet should be installed in a box or herringbone pattern to ensure that there is sufficient allowance for movement of the timber in all directions.
With these types of floor finishes it is not necessary to fill joints between the boards or fill visible screw heads.
Moisture and humidity conditions should always be taken into account when installing any timber products. Timber finishes should be well-acclimatised prior to installation.
Primers, sealers and adhesives with lower water content are recommended and should be applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is recommended that the underfloor heating is switched off when installing the floor finish.
Carpets
Use a suitable primer when laying self-adhesive carpet tiles and water-permeable floor coverings.
Carpets can be secured with strong double-sided adhesive tape.
Gripper rods should be adhered to Firmax CP boards.
If a carpet is to be bonded over an entire area, a peel-off adhesive system is recommended so that the carpet can be removed in once piece at a later date.
When laying non-permeable floor coverings, a reactive resin-based adhesive rather than a dispersion-based adhesive is recommended.
Firmax CP should be treated with a suitable, thin levelling feather screed for thin floor coverings (thin carpets, PVC, marmoleum etc). These are usually applied in liquid form, drying to form a perfectly flat and level surface. This ensures that no imperfections within the Firmax CP installation show through the floor covering when laid.
It is recommended that the underfloor heating is switched off when installing the floor finish.
Ceramic tiles and stone floors
Tiles should be installed using a ‘thin-bed’ method. ‘Thick-bed’ methods are not recommended. Should a thick bed be required then a suitable decoupling system should be installed.
Tiles should be fixed with a polymer-modified, cementitious, emulsion-based or reactive resin-based adhesive which has been approved by the manufacturer for use with cement-based boards.
Tiles should not be soaked prior to fixing and at least 80% of the tile should be in contact with the adhesive bed.
Tiles should be laid with open joints and never with tightly butted joints.
Only grout tiles once the tile adhesive has fully hardened.
Tiles larger than 400mm x 400mm should be installed on our Screed Replacement Tile system instead of Firmax CP.
It is recommended that the underfloor heating is switched off when installing the floor finish.