Technical Resource · Sportaflor

Installation Support
& Accessories

Every Sportaflor surface ships with the technical backing to get it laid right. Subfloor prep, moisture control, adhesive selection, welding, drainage, thermal expansion -- this page covers the full installation lifecycle across all product families.

Installation Methods Accessories Project RFQ

Installation Methods

by product family

Each product family has a defined installation pathway. Choose the right method for the surface type, application load and subfloor condition.

PVC Sports

PVC Sports Flooring

Indoor & outdoor roll goods. Full-bond or loose-lay depending on subfloor flatness and usage intensity.

01 Unroll & acclimatise 24 h at 18-28 °C
02 Align rolls; stagger seams ≥ 200 mm
03 Apply pressure-sensitive or full-spread adhesive
04 Route seams; insert welding rod
05 Trim flush; apply edge seal

Rubber

Rubber Mats & Rolls

Heavy-duty gym & fitness surfaces. Loose-lay for mats; full-bond recommended for rolls in high-traffic zones.

01 Clean & prime concrete subfloor
02 Dry-lay to check fit; trim edges
03 Apply rubber-specific contact adhesive
04 Roll with 50 kg roller; allow 24 h cure
05 Seal perimeter with rubber joint compound

PP Tiles

PP Sports Tiles

Modular snap-lock system. No adhesive required. Suitable for indoor and outdoor courts with flat, stable subfloor.

01 Sweep & level subfloor; tolerance ≤ 3 mm / 2 m
02 Start from centre; snap tiles outward
03 Leave 10-15 mm perimeter expansion gap
04 Install border/edging profiles
05 Apply line marking tape or paint

Commercial Vinyl

Homogeneous & heterogeneous rolls for offices, schools, hospitals and commercial spaces. Full-bond installation standard.

01 Self-level subfloor to ≤ 2 mm / 2 m
02 Prime porous surfaces; allow to tack
03 Apply notch-trowel adhesive; open time per spec
04 Lay rolls; roll with 68 kg roller
05 Heat-weld seams; trim flush after cool

Outdoor PVC

Outdoor PVC Sports

Waterproof bottom layer; UV-stabilised wear surface. Requires drainage-ready concrete or asphalt base.

01 Ensure base slope ≥ 0.5 % for drainage
02 Apply waterproof primer to concrete base
03 Bond with outdoor-grade polyurethane adhesive
04 Seal all seams with waterproof welding rod
05 Install drainage channels at perimeter

Soundproofing

Soundproofing Mats

Underlayer installation for vibration reduction and impact sound insulation beneath finish flooring.

01 Clean dry subfloor; no adhesive on mat
02 Butt-join mats; tape seams with acoustic tape
03 Turn up 50 mm at walls; trim after finish floor
04 Install finish floor over mat -- floating method
05 Seal perimeter with acoustic sealant

Subfloor & Moisture

foundation first

Subfloor preparation and moisture testing

Subfloor Preparation Standards

Flatness · Moisture · Strength · Cleanliness

Parameter	Requirement
Flatness tolerance	≤ 3 mm / 2 m straightedge
Moisture (RH)	≤ 75 % (CM method)
Moisture (MVER)	≤ 5 lb / 1000 ft² / 24 h
Compressive strength	≥ 25 N/mm²
Surface pH	7 - 9
Temperature (install)	15 - 28 °C
Relative humidity	40 - 65 %

Moisture Testing

Test concrete subfloor with a calibrated CM (carbide) device or ASTM F2170 in-situ RH probe. Minimum 3 test points per 100 m². Allow 28 days concrete cure before testing. New slabs on grade require vapour retarder regardless of test result.

Vapour Barrier & Primer

When RH exceeds 75 %, apply a two-component epoxy moisture barrier (consumption approx. 300 g/m²) before any adhesive. For borderline readings (70-75 %), a moisture-tolerant primer is acceptable. Document moisture readings and barrier application in project records.

Self-Levelling Compound

Use cementitious self-levelling compound to correct depressions > 3 mm. Apply at minimum 3 mm depth; maximum single-pour depth per product datasheet. Allow full cure (typically 24-48 h) before flooring installation. Grind high spots flush before levelling.

Critical Warning

Installing over a subfloor with excessive moisture without a proper barrier voids the product warranty and is the leading cause of adhesive bond failure and floor bubbling. Always test, document and remediate before proceeding.

Adhesive & Welding

bond · seam · finish

Adhesive Selection

Match adhesive type to product, subfloor and environment. Using the wrong adhesive is a primary cause of delamination and voided warranty.

Pressure-Sensitive Acrylic

PVC Sports Rolls -- loose-lay or repositionable bond

Open time 20-40 min. Allows floor removal for subfloor access.

Indoor

Full-Spread Acrylic

Commercial Vinyl (Homo & Hetero) -- permanent bond

Notch trowel B1/B2. Roll with 68 kg roller within 30 min.

Indoor

Polyurethane (2-part)

Outdoor PVC -- waterproof, high-temperature resistant

Pot life 45-60 min. Requires clean, primed concrete base.

Outdoor

Contact Adhesive (Solvent)

Rubber Rolls -- heavy-duty permanent bond

Apply to both surfaces; allow to tack; press firmly.

Outdoor

No Adhesive

PP Sports Tiles -- snap-lock; Soundproofing Mats -- floating

Tape seams for soundproofing mats only.

Dry Lay

Seam Welding

Heat welding creates a monolithic, hygienic, waterproof seam. Required for all commercial vinyl and recommended for PVC sports floors in wet-area applications.

Hot-Air Welding Technique

350-400 °C · 5-8 m/min · trim flush after cool

Route seam

Use a groove cutter to open a U-channel approx. 3 mm wide × 2/3 depth of flooring.

Preheat

Set hot-air welder to 350-400 °C. Allow 5 min warm-up.

Feed rod

Insert matching welding rod into nozzle; maintain steady 5-8 m/min travel speed.

Cool 20 min

Do not trim while hot -- rod will pull. Allow full cool.

Trim flush

Use a trim guide and sharp knife. Two-pass: rough trim then flush.

Inspect

No voids, no discolouration. Rod colour must match floor.

Drainage & Expansion

movement · water · joints

Drainage

Outdoor courts require concrete base slope of ≥ 0.5 % (1:200) toward perimeter drainage channels. Outdoor PVC back-seal prevents water ingress under the floor. Indoor courts: ensure no standing water can accumulate under raised or loose-lay systems.

· Base slope ≥ 0.5 %
· Perimeter channel width ≥ 80 mm
· Drain grate flush with surface
· Waterproof seam at drain edge

Thermal Expansion

PVC and rubber expand and contract with temperature. Allow 24 h acclimatisation at installation temperature before laying. Leave perimeter expansion gaps and never butt-joint tightly against fixed walls or columns.

· PVC: 5 mm gap per 10 m run
· Rubber rolls: 3-5 mm perimeter
· Acclimatise 24 h min before install
· Cover gap with flexible edging

Rubber Joints

Rubber mat and roll joints must be tightly butted and sealed. For permanent installations, apply rubber-compatible contact adhesive to both faces. Outdoor rubber requires UV-stable polyurethane joint compound at all seams and perimeter.

· Butt-joint; no overlap
· PU sealant at perimeter (outdoor)
· Interlocking mats: check clasp alignment
· Inspect joints after 30-day settle

PP Tile Expansion

PP tiles expand significantly in high-temperature outdoor environments. Always leave a perimeter gap and install flexible border profiles. Do not install PP tiles in a fully enclosed rigid frame -- buckling will occur.

· 10-15 mm perimeter gap (indoor)
· 15-20 mm perimeter gap (outdoor)
· Flex border profile absorbs movement
· Re-check alignment after first summer

Expansion Gap Quick Reference

Product	Indoor Gap	Outdoor Gap	At Columns / Doors	Cover Method
PVC Sports Roll	5 mm / 10 m run	8 mm / 10 m run	5 mm min	Flexible edge trim
Commercial Vinyl	3-5 mm perimeter	N/A	3 mm min	Vinyl cove / trim
Rubber Roll	3-5 mm perimeter	5-8 mm	5 mm min	PU sealant / trim
Rubber Mat	2-3 mm between mats	3-5 mm	5 mm min	Butt-joint / sealant
PP Tiles	10-15 mm	15-20 mm	10 mm min	Flex border profile
Soundproofing Mat	No gap (underlayer)	N/A	None	Acoustic sealant at wall

Accessories

complete the installation

A complete installation requires matched accessories. Sportaflor supplies welding rods, seam tape, edging profiles and line marking materials to match every product in the range.

Welding Rod

Welding Rod / Wire

PVC welding rods matched to each product pattern and colour. Round rod for standard seams; T-rod for coved skirting. Must match floor composition (homogeneous vs. heterogeneous).

· Diameter: 3.0 / 4.0 mm round; T-profile
· Sold per coil (25 m) or per box
· Colour match to floor batch
· Available for all PVC & vinyl products

Tape

Seam Tape & Adhesive Tape

Double-sided pressure-sensitive tape for loose-lay PVC joints and temporary seam holding. Acoustic tape for soundproofing mat seams. Single-sided joining tape for PP tile perimeter.

· Double-sided: 50 mm / 75 mm wide
· Acoustic seam tape: 50 mm
· PP tile perimeter tape: 75 mm
· Rolls of 25 m or 50 m

Edging

Edging Profiles

Aluminium and PVC ramp edges, T-bars, stair nosings and flexible expansion profiles. Protect floor edges, cover expansion gaps and provide clean transitions to adjacent surfaces.

· Ramp edge: 20 / 30 mm rise
· T-bar transition: 1.8 / 2.4 m lengths
· Flex expansion: 10 / 15 / 20 mm gap
· Colours: silver, gold, black, custom

Service

Line Marking

Line marking is a service, not a standard accessory. Sportaflor offers two delivery modes: factory pre-marking before shipment, or technical layout drawings for on-site application by the local installer.

Factory Pre-Marking

Lines applied at factory before roll-up and shipment. Exact court layout, sport, dimensions and colours confirmed before production. Recommended for single-sport dedicated courts.

· Confirmed layout drawing required
· Adds to lead time (3-5 days)
· Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball, Multi

On-Site Marking Support

Sportaflor provides dimensioned layout drawings, sport-specific line width specs and recommended paint/tape type. Local installer applies lines after floor installation.

· Layout drawing provided by Sportaflor
· PU-based court paint recommended
· Line width per sport federation standard

Need accessories with your order?

Specify welding rod colour, tape quantity, edging type and line marking requirements when submitting your RFQ.

Request Accessories Quote

Technical Support

pre-install · on-site · after-sales

From inquiry to handover

Sportaflor's technical team supports every stage of the project lifecycle.

Pre-Installation

Product selection guidance by application, area and budget
Subfloor assessment checklist and moisture test protocol
Adhesive and accessory specification per product
Court layout drawings and line marking specs
Technical data sheets and installation guides on request

During Installation

WhatsApp / email support for on-site questions
Welding temperature and rod selection guidance
Drainage and expansion gap verification
Photo/video review of critical installation stages

After Installation

Maintenance guide and cleaning product recommendations
Warranty documentation and batch traceability
Replacement material for damaged sections
After-sales assessment: product / packing / installation / usage

WhatsApp / WeChat

Real-time support during installation. Photo and video review.

Email Technical Desk

Detailed queries, document requests, warranty claims.

Sample & Document Request

Physical samples, test reports, certificates, installation guides.

Made to Order

15 / 20 / 25 / 30 mm standard thicknesses; standard and interlocking mat variants.

View Specification

Technical Documents

data · certificates · guides

Installation guides, technical data sheets, test reports and certificates. Public documents are available for immediate download. Restricted documents are provided upon inquiry.

No documents available at this time. Contact us to request technical data sheets, test reports or installation guides.

Documents marked "On Request" are provided after inquiry confirmation. Internal documents are for Sportaflor staff only.

Request a document

Project Enquiry

Ready to specify
your project?

Share your project details -- application, area, sport, thickness preference, accessories, line marking and timeline. Sportaflor will respond with product recommendations, stock status, reference pricing and lead time within one business day.

Application / Sport

Badminton, Basketball, Gym, Commercial...

Indoor / Outdoor

Affects product and adhesive selection

Area (m²)

Quantity drives MOQ and pricing tier

Thickness & Pattern

Or ask for recommendation

Accessories Required

Welding rod, tape, edging, line marking

Project Deadline

Drives stock vs. production decision

Destination / Port

For freight and lead time estimate

Certification Needed

EN 14904, BWF, FIBA, Fire, VOC...

Submit Your RFQ

Get a response within 24 hours

Describe your project below or contact us directly via WhatsApp or email. Include as much detail as possible -- the more we know, the faster and more accurately we can respond.

Installation Support & Accessories