All floorings are not directly placed on top of the cement and left to their fate. That is just not how flooring works. So how exactly does it work then? Well, there is a subflooring placed and then an adhesive is required to place the actual flooring layer. The adhesive used is not the same for all floorings and that is why we need a good guide for choosing the right flooring adhesive.
Self-Adhesive Tiles
Surprisingly, not all of them require a special adhesive to be applied before the actual flooring is placed. These kinds of tiles only have to be placed in the right position. The only thing to do before placing them is to remove the protective layer that has the adhesive glue.
These kinds of tiles are available for vinyl, cork and linoleum tiling. Once the tape is removed, they only have to be pressed into the right location. The provided adhesive layer is strong enough to hold them in place thereafter.
Pollution Level
Some of the adhesives release harmful effects into the atmosphere. These are especially prone to increase indoor air pollution. Flooring adhesives like VOCs are especially toxic to the environment as they are organic compounds.
So, before you choose an adhesive, make sure to know the level of pollution they cause and change them if need be. Increasing indoor air pollution only leads to adverse health issues. This is why the toxicity of the material has to be considered while choosing them. Most of these adhesives will have their pollution levels mentioned on their labels, or you can ask the concerned person during construction as well.
Kind Of Substrate
A substrate is that layer that is placed right above the pre-flooring. The kind of substrate is to be considered as this decides what basis the adhesive for flooring should have. If the substrate itself is damp, then we will need to buy a water-based adhesive. But the problem with this is that it might collect moisture and dampen the flooring.
If it is a dry substrate, then the normal adhesives can be used. But the problem with these adhesives is that it is hard to wash off. So, no matter what adhesive you use, there is a pro and a con. Consider both of them carefully before you decide on one.
