The Problem
Have you noticed gapping between luxury vinyl woodplank and tile /
LVT? Sometimes this can be caused by inadequate jobsite acclimation,
but it is occurring more frequently due to dimensional stability issues.
A gap caused by dimensional instability can begin to open up after
three months and continue opening for over a year. Gaps are visible to
the eye and, when wide enough, result in a black residue of dirt /
detergent solution building up in the gap over time.
What causes the GAP?
LVT is manufactured under heat and pressure. Once the pressure is
removed, the material has "Memory" of being under pressure and will
attempt to revert to its original state. In plain terms, this means the
flooring wants to shrink.
Relevant TEST
ASTM F 2199 (dimensional stability test) follows a procedure of
measuring the length of a flooring sample. The sample is then heated and
cooled. This takes the "memory" out of the product. The sample is then
measured again, and a before and after comparison of length is
established. The pass level for ASTM F 2199 is such that shrinkage of up
to 0.024" / linear foot is considered a "pass". This equates to a
maximum allowable gap of 0.072" for a typical three foot plank, which is
more than double the thickness of a credit card. At Traverse, this is
not considered a "pass"!
TRAVERSE out performs
Just passing the test is not enough. At Traverse, the "memory" is
taken out of the product during manufacture before planks and tiles are
cut. Other manufacturers attempt this, but most do not come close to
following the same stringent technical processes followed during
manufacture of Traverse. Our superior virgin raw material formulation is
also an important factor. Traverse claims are verified in the
independent test results detailed below:
|
Dimensional
Stability
inches/leanear ft |
Linear
Change
% |
| Length |
0.001 |
0.01 |
| Width |
0.001 |
0.01 |
20 times better
Traverse Flooring results are 20 times better than the upper
limit of the test and demonstrate that the long term dimensional
stability of the product is sound.
