How the Floor is installed and the Process is Important to Know - Consider these 4 points.

While the floor installation is a means to an end, there are many essential points to consider about how the floor you choose is installed. For example, who is installing the floor?  Are they well trained and certified to install the type of floor you choose? What type of industry standards are there for the product you choose to have installed?

Quarry Tile

When installing a Metropolitan Ceramics quarry tile floor, the installer should be a qualified commercial ceramic tile installer. While you might try a DIY tile project at home, the special conditions found in a commercial kitchen require more than a novice installer. Fortunately, qualified tradespeople with references and certification are available. The standards established in the Tile Council of North America Handbook offer consistencies nationwide. Installers may work for themselves, work for larger tile contractors, or work for a company that installs ceramic tile along with other flooring finishes.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

Epoxy flooring installers are nearly as different as the products they squeegee, roll or trowel onto the floor. Installers sometimes travel in crews working for specific coating manufacturers. Others work for concrete companies and do epoxy as part of the product offering. There are also epoxy coating companies that just do epoxy coatings. Some companies specialize in concrete treatments and offer epoxy as one option, and some shops do epoxy and other floor covering work. Since epoxy systems are so varied, finding someone with enough general and product-specific knowledge is vital. Some manufacturers require that the installer must be certified by that particular manufacturer. Getting a competitive bid will be very difficult.

Stained Concrete Floor

The process of acid staining and sealing concrete is primarily done by concrete companies specializing in decorative concrete finishes or providing staining as an additional service. You may also find remodeling and construction companies providing this service. And there are always DIYers ready to take on this challenge. This may not be advisable when using corrosive and hazardous acid staining mixtures. It is important to remember that the level of experience and knowledge could vary widely, which could significantly impact the final result.

Vinyl Floor

Vinyl flooring is most often sold and installed by flooring retailers – small and large – that sell other flooring options as well, such as carpet and ceramic tile. In larger metropolitan areas, many of these companies specialize in commercial flooring. Remodelers and handypersons also install vinyl flooring. It is also a favorite to try and DIY. Even with the best installer, a commercial kitchen setting could challenge the best vinyl’s durability. Some manufacturers require that the installer must be certified by that particular manufacturer. Getting a competitive bid will be very difficult.

Quarry Tile

Apprenticeships are often the training ground for the tile installation trade, but there is also more formal training. The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) provides both intense training courses and certification for tile installers. The training courses follow the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook and ANSI specifications guidelines. The CTEF Certified Tile Installer (CTI) program is the third-party assessment of industry skills and knowledge recognized by the tile industry.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

There is training and certification available. Most training and certification is done by the individual coating manufacturers and is proprietary to their products. There is third-party training available that will cover the basics of installation but not the details of each available coating system. Many times training is on the job.

Stained Concrete Floor

Training and certification for stained concrete are usually included as part of the broader decorative concrete category. Training comes from a variety of sources. There is training available from concrete industry groups, suppliers, third-party companies, and by learning on the job.

Vinyl Floor

Training and certification for vinyl flooring installers is available. There are association training opportunities, manufacturer training classes and independent company training options. Training and certification can also be specific to the vinyl (VCT, LVT, sheet) floor installed. There are techniques specific to sheet vinyl, for example, that would differ from vinyl tiles. When vinyl is combined with other materials in a proprietary way, any training would have to come from the manufacturer.

Quarry Tile

Yes, there is an ANSI standard for quarry tile (ANSI Standard Specification A 137.1) and standards for all the other components – backer board, grout and thinset. There are also ANSI Standards and methods for installation developed by the Tile Council of North America and incorporated into the TCNA Handbook, published annually. A qualified installer will use the right products and follow the correct methods of installation for the project.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

While there are standards for epoxy resins, epoxy floor coating systems can vary widely in their formulations, ingredients and application.  There is no one industry standard for installing an epoxy-coated floor. There are standards required for concrete, such as moisture content, that should be adhered to before installing over concrete.  Floor preparation is vital for the proper installation of seamless epoxy floor systems. Floor preparation standards are not consistent industry-wide due to the variation in formulation and surface treatments.

Stained Concrete Floor

The installation standards for a stained concrete floor center on the concrete itself, including concrete and moisture control preparation before staining. There are few industry standards or industry-wide guidelines for the staining of concrete. There are several “how-to” installation guides available from a variety of sources. Options for staining and protecting stained concrete vary.

Vinyl Floor

Yes, some standards cover specific vinyl (resilient) flooring types and the installation process. There are also industry and manufacturers guidelines available to install various kinds of vinyl and vinyl composite floors. Care should be taken that installation practices follow those required for the exact type of vinyl flooring used. Although important, the installation of the product itself is not the most critical. Floor preparation is vital for the proper installation of the product. Similar to installation, these standards are relative to the manufacturer and are not consistent or industry-wide due to variations in product properties and surface treatments.

Quarry Tile

Installing ceramic quarry tile in a commercial kitchen setting is straightforward and well thought out. Millions of square feet of quarry tile have been installed in commercial kitchens. The process includes:

  • Preparing the substrate.
  • The layout of the floor.
  • Putting down an isolation membrane if required.
  • Installing the tile, grouting.
  • Cleaning the floor.

A qualified tile contractor can install and grout a commercial kitchen floor in as quickly as one to three days depending on the size of the job and crew. It will take another 24 hours before light traffic can walk on the floor and a bit longer than that before heavy equipment can come back into the kitchen. Installation procedures are spelled out and diagrammed in the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook, leaving little doubt about the correct process.

Seamless Epoxy / Urethan Floor

Seamless floor installations for commercial kitchens vary from system to system, with processes that can differ significantly. Some epoxy is rolled or troweled on, while other systems squeegee on the coating. Thickness of the covering can range from very thin to thick. The number of coats can vary too, as can the use of and type of topcoats and slip resistance additives. Slip resisting additives can be applied as part of the coating or broadcast by hand, which may create inconsistencies in the overall texture. Epoxy systems also differ on what they will epoxy over. Some products even claim to work over other floor coverings. Epoxy curing times will vary, too, depending on the materials used. Off-gassing will likely be a concern during curing. No matter which seamless floor system is used, the proper prep work to the substrate is critical. This may including sandblasting or grinding the substrate in advance. Floor preparation is the most crucial part of installing an epoxy urethane floor.

Stained Concrete Floor

Creating a stained concrete floor includes cleaning and preparing the substrate, grinding the floor if necessary. The installation also involves masking off the area, applying the acid stain mixture, removing residue and applying a sealer. The preparation of the concrete is key to successful staining and may take the most time. Stains and sealers may leave a lingering odor. The stained and sealed concrete can be walked on approximately 48 hours after installation. This sealer will need to be re-applied often, as the floor wears.

Vinyl Floor

The installation of a vinyl floor in a commercial kitchen setting is relatively straightforward. The preparation of the concrete substrate is essential. Any bumps or dips will translate to the surface of soft vinyl or cause hard vinyl to crack. The substrate also has to be cleaned and prepped for the glue used to attach the vinyl. Sheet vinyl is often used, but tiles are used as well. You need to layout the vinyl floor and mark before cutting. Once sized, sheet vinyl and some vinyl tile will be glued and rolled smooth. Some sheet floors are edge-glued only, while others use full adhesion. The floor can usually be walked on after 24 hours. In most instances, if rolled goods, the seams will need to be chemically sealed or heat welded -this is manufacturer-dependent. Each manufacturer has its own, usually proprietary, equipment for sealing seams.