Fitting a designer LVT floor in a wet room | The Library

What flooring system gives the most design possibilities for wet rooms in hotels?
It's LVT (luxury vinyl tile). LVT flooring is becoming increasingly popular in hotel rooms because the same flooring can be fitted in both the bedroom and the wet room. Thus, it can provide an appealing aesthetic quality by ensuring the continuity of the flooring. Thanks to high-resistance adhesive, your flooring will have extreme shear strength while being moisture-resistant in the wet room. It is also a good acoustic insulator, which is a major asset in the hotel industry.

Why use LVT?

There are many LVTs with different wear layer thicknesses to choose from. This versatility enables you to select the perfect flooring for your project. For example, an LVT with a thicker wear layer would be ideal for high-traffic areas such as a hotel corridor, and the LVT selected for a hotel room (including the wet room) would not need to be as thick.

LVT flooring comprises multiple vinyl layers protected by a polyurethane coating layer. Depending on the LVT type, you can either fit a glue-down or a floating floor. LVT floors are moisture-resistant, which makes them suitable for wet room areas.

How do you clean a wet room floor?

Floor maintenance is extremely straightforward. A neutral detergent is recommended for use on LVT floors in wet rooms.

Bostik has the perfect three-part system for installing an LVT floor in a hotel room, including the wet room.

GRIP A500 MULTI is a universal solvent-free primer that prepares both porous and non-porous substrates by improving the performances of levelling compounds.
SL C910 XPRESS is a quick-drying self-levelling compound with exceptional mechanical qualities. It can correct defects up to 10 mm thick. It can be applied manually or using a mixing pump. LVT can be laid 6 hours after pouring the levelling compound. Suitable for new builds and renovations in private premises with moderate traffic and premises with heavy traffic. SL C910 XPRESS is particularly suitable for rapid renovation of interior floors in occupied areas
STIX H900 RESIST+ is a high-performance hybrid adhesive that is perfect for laying resilient flooring. It is ideal for bonding flooring materials such as LVT, PVC, linoleum, and rubber, especially in various and/or extreme ambient conditions. STIX H900 RESIST+ is ideal for bonding LVT in wet rooms and also in high-traffic areas.

Use these fit-for-purpose Bostik products to lay LVT in hotel rooms, including wet rooms.

How do you lay LVT flooring?

Use the following three-part Bostik system to lay an LVT floor in a hotel wet room. This is a glue-down solution that meets the specific constraints of the hotel industry. You will need the following:

LVT flooring
A sufficient number of containers of GRIP A500 MULTI primer (5kg or 20kg) to cover the floor area (90 to 100g/m2 per coat)
A foam or 14mm nylon roller
25kg bags of SL C910 XPRESS self-levelling compound to cover the floor area to the desired thickness (mix 6 litres of water per 25kg bag; coverage 1.5 kg/mm/m²)
Electric drill and mixing paddle
Smooth-edged stainless steel trowel
14kg buckets of STIX H900 RESIST+ adhesive to cover the floor area (coverage 350 to 450 g/m²)
A notched trowel to suit: Floor coverings with a smooth backing: A2 type (TKB standard): 350g /m²; Floor coverings with a rough backing: B1 type (TKB standard): 450g /m²
Heavy metal roller (60kg)

How to lay LVT flooring step-by-step?

Step 1: Clean and prepare the substrate

Floors must be sound, free from laitance, cracks, and structural defects, and clean and free from dust, grease, curing compounds, sealers, or other contaminants that may inhibit proper bonding.

Hard adhesive residues should be mechanically cut back to a minimum. Completely remove all soft and weak adhesive residues, paint, and gypsum residues.

Residual substrate moisture content during application should be measured and must comply with existing local regulations, as the level of moisture allowed differs from country to country. Below 2% is the most restrictive case in Europe for cement screeds. Below 0.5% for anhydrite screeds is a common international rule. If it exceeds the permitted moisture level, the floor should be treated with a moisture vapour barrier coating before applying the self-levelling compound.

The surface of the anhydrite screed should be sanded to eliminate traces of paints, mortars, plaster, etc., and the surface layer of the anhydrite screed. Check that the moisture content does not exceed 0.5%.

Step 2: Apply primer to the floor

Apply GRIP A500 MULTI primer evenly in a thin coat using a foam or 14mm nylon roller (coverage: 90 to 100 g/m² per coat). Do not over-apply, and avoid forming puddles. Allow to dry for 30 to 60 minutes before applying the self-levelling compound.

For anhydrite screed, apply undiluted primer (coverage: approx. 100 g/m²) and allow to dry for at least 24 hours before applying the self-levelling compound. Several subsequent layers may be necessary to completely impregnate the substrate.

Step 3: Prepare self-levelling compound for use

Pour 6 litres of clean, cold water into a clean mixing bucket. (Note: the addition of too much water may result in segregation of the compound.) Gradually add the bag of Bostik SL C910 XPRESS to the water while continually mixing for about 2 minutes with an electric drill and mixing paddle until a smooth lump-free mixture is formed. Do not under-mix it.

After mixing, wait at least 60 seconds to optimise the flowability of the mix. Then remix it for 30 seconds.

The self-levelling compound is now ready to be applied.

Step 4: Apply self-levelling compound

The self-levelling compound can be applied after the primer has dried (30–60 minutes, or 24 hours if the substrate is anhydrite screed). Once you have finished mixing the SL C910 XPRESS, you will have 20 minutes of working time to apply it.

Pour the mixed material onto the prepared substrate to a thickness between 1mm and 10mm. Using a smooth-edged stainless steel trowel, smooth over the wet product to gain the desired thickness and smoothness. A pin level may be used to assist in gaining the required depth. Use a spiked roller to remove any trapped air and flow lines, to give a uniform surface appearance.

Step 5: Wait 4 hours for the levelling compound to dry

Protect the product from strong sunlight and draughts, as these can lead to dehydration of the product and result in incorrect curing.

The compound will accept foot traffic after about 1 hour at +25 degrees Celsius. In lower temperatures, this time will be extended.

The curing time depends on how absorbent the subfloor is, the ambient temperature, the temperature of the floor itself, and the humidity. For LVT, installation can start after 4 hours at +25 degrees Celsius.

Step 6: Apply adhesive and install LVT flooring

Apply an even coat of STIX H900 RESIST+ over the whole area to be covered using a notched trowel selected to suit the porosity and roughness of the substrate.

Floor coverings with a smooth backing: A2 type (TKB standard): 350g/m²
Floor coverings with a rough backing: B1 type (TKB standard): 450g/m²

Wait 10 minutes before installing the LVT floor covering. use a heavy metal roller (60kg) on the LVT, and then roll it again after an hour.

The key benefits of Bostik’s 3-part system for installing LVT flooring.

GRIP A500 MULTI:

Improves bond strength of self-levelling compounds
Can be used on non-absorbent and absorbent surfaces
Odourless, ready to use
Application temperature range: +10 degrees to +25 degrees Celsius

SL C910 XPRESS:

Quick-setting
Low surface tension
Thickness 1–10mm
20 minutes working time
1 hour walk-on time (+25 degrees Celsius)
4 hours LVT installation
Application temperature range: +10 degrees to +25 degrees Celsius

STIX H900 RESIST+:

Very high bonding performance
Resistant to extreme conditions
Easy to spread
Working time around 30 minutes
Suitable for all kinds of subfloors and coverings
Application temperature range: +10 degrees to +25 degrees Celsius

Install LVT flooring in hotel wet rooms with confidence. Use GRIP A500 MULTI primer, SL C910 XPRESS self-levelling compound, and STIX H900 RESIST+ adhesive.

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