Home > FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I use ecotile?
Do I need to carry out repairs to the substrate before installing ecotile?
Does the floor need to be dry / Do I need to degrease the substrate?
Will water get underneath the tiles and start to smell?
How do I clean the tiles?
Can I use a fork lift / floor jack / heavy machinery on ecotile?
Can I use my ecotile floor straight away?
Why ecotile Interlocking Floor Tiles?
Do the tiles require a sealant?
What tools are required to install ecotile ?
Do you offer an installation service?
Do I need to use an adhesive with an ecotile floor?
What is ecotile made from?
Can I use these tiles outside?
Can ecotile be installed over a painted / vinyl / carpeted floor?
Where can I buy ecotile ?
What do I need to consider when using ecotile within a garage environment?
Where can I use ecotile?
The ecotile range has been designed to offer solutions for almost every conceivable flooring application, from factory floors to kids' playrooms. Please consult with one of our sales team who can help point you towards which product would be most suitable for your application
back to top
Do I need to carry out repairs to the substrate before installing ecotile?
No, except for major cracks or missing cement pieces, no skim coating, sealing, sand blasting or detergent washing is necessary. Just sweep or vacuum the floor to make sure that there are no loose items that will get stuck under the tiles and you’re ready to start installation.
back to top
Does the floor need to be dry / Do I need to degrease the substrate?
No, one of the main benefits of the ecotile system is that it can be laid on damp and contaminated substrates. The tiles allow the floor to breathe so any moisture will evaporate up through the joints. Because the tiles are not glued down oil contamination will not create a problem.
back to top
Will water get underneath the tiles and start to smell?
Probably the question we get asked most often. In 20 years of trading we have never had a problem, in fact, a number of insurance companies have actually recommended customers who live in areas prone to flooding to use ecotile, as water getting under the tiles doesn’t cause a problem and eliminates the need to replace flood damaged floor coverings. The precision engineered ecotile joint is extremely tight but we do not claim that it is 100% waterproof. If large amounts of water are left to sit on the floor it is possible that some will seep through the joint. The most common concern people have is that the water will become stagnant and start to smell but this will not happen. Firstly the chemicals in PVC act as a natural biocide that prevents the growth of the bacteria that would make the water smell and secondly any moisture under the tiles will evaporate back up through the joint because the temperature above the tiles is almost certain to be higher than that under the tiles
back to top
How do I clean the tiles?
Please refer to our installation and maintenance instructions for a more in depth guide to cleaning but in general terms we recommend that firstly you sweep or vacuum up dust and dirt and then damp (not wet) mop the tiles. Water by itself or with a small quantity of detergent will suffice with either a mop or a rotary scrubber dryer if available. No waxes or sealers should be used. You can use a buffer with a lambs wool pad to buff a clean dry floor to an amazing shine. If required you can hose off the floor with your garden hose or a power washer (under 1300psi)
back to top
Can I use a fork lift / floor jack / heavy machinery on ecotile?
ecotile is extremely tough and hardwearing. It is a vinyl product so it will compress under heavy loads but will always return to its original shape. Please consult our sales team to identify which product would be most suitable for your application
back to top
Can I use my ecotile floor straight away?
Yes, absolutely. The minute the tiles are down you can start using the floor.
back to top
Why ecotile Interlocking Floor Tiles?
Quite simply because ecotile offers the best value for money of any flooring product currently on the market. Customers often question this claim as in simple terms the cost of the tiles is usually higher than conventional vinyl flooring or paints and resins. To justify our claim we ask you to consider the following points:
- ecotile is 6.5mm + thick compared to most vinyl or resin based systems that are 1.5mm thick meaning that you are getting a far more durable and resilient floor finish for your money.
- Unlike other flooring ecotile doesn’t require any specialist skills to install, and can be laid over damaged, damp or uneven surfaces. It is not usually glued down saving money on specialist contractors, adhesives and floor screeds.
- ecotile can be used immediately, if you count the cost of shutting down your facility or interrupting your normal site activities the tiles pay for themselves.
- Unlike conventional flooring products ecotile can be considered to be a capital asset for both tax and also practical purposes. As a loose laid system ecotile can be written down in your accounts as an asset rather than a building improvement which is far more tax efficient. Because ecotile is an asset many finance companies are willing to offer asset finance to buy the floor, please contact our sales team for further information. Lastly and possibly most importantly ecotile can be lifted, altered and reused as many times as required, move factory or home and you can take the tiles with you. Even if you don’t need the ecotile in your new premises the tiles retain a high intrinsic value as there is a strong market for both second hand tiles and also for the raw material for recycling.
- Floor protection, not only are you creating a smart, attractive and practical floor finish but you are also protecting the sub-floor from impact and vibration damage. A number of our customers and especially those that occupy premises on short leases will use ecotile to protect the floor and limit their exposure to large bills from the landlord for dilapidations. Why pay for a new floor on three separate occasions, when you move in, when you move out and when you move to new premises when an ecotile floor will cover you for all three!
back to top
Do the tiles require a sealant?
No, however the application of 2 to 3 three coats of a floor sealer will give the floor a high gloss appearance and make cleaning slightly easier in the long term.
back to top
What tools are required to install ecotile ?
A rubber mallet to connect the interlocking joints and a Stanley knife with a concave blade are the bare essentials required. If available a table saw will make cutting the tiles easier and smarter, alternatively an electric jigsaw or bandsaw can be used, a blade suitable for timber is best.
back to top
Do you offer an installation service?
Yes, if you need ecotile to be installed we would be pleased to assist, please give us a call on 0844 3350460 for a quote.
back to top
Do I need to use an adhesive with an ecotile floor?
In the vast majority of applications no adhesive is required; the tiles can be dry laid and will take forklift or vehicle traffic without a problem. The only instances in which the tiles may require gluing is when there is a fork truck with a very high point loading (for example a three wheel electric reach truck with the batteries located over the back wheel) that operates in a confined space with very tight turning circles, or, when part of the floor is likely to be exposed to much higher temperatures than the rest of the floor (e.g. in front of a furnace or oven or adjacent to a south facing loading bay door). If gluing is required the simplest adhesive to use is our D-Tack extra lay dry fit double sided tape or alternatively use a waterproof adhesive such as F Balls F74 or Uzin KE200S.
back to top
What is ecotile made from?
Up to 50% recycled material that would otherwise be destined for our landfills. Recycled does not mean lower quality, the vast majority of waste material we reprocess comes from the pharmaceutical industry and is of such a high quality that it would not be commercially viable for tile manufacture unless it was recycled. Environmentally friendly ecotile makes good use of what we would normally throw away.
back to top
Can I use these tiles outside?
The simple answer is yes, ecotile can be used outside but we don't recommend it, if you want to use them outside and they are likely to sit in direct sunlight make sure you leave a generous expansion gap between the tiles and any fixed point (10 to 15mm minimum). For external applications we recommed using either the rolatrac or supatrac products.
Click here to go to the rola trac section of the website (with rola trac we recommend using the ABS plastic if the tiles are to be used in direct sunlight.)
Click here to go to the supa trac section of the website
back to top
Can ecotile be installed over a painted / vinyl / carpeted floor?
Yes to the first two but we recommend lifting carpet if possible.
back to top
Where can I buy ecotile ?
You can buy direct from us by calling 0844 3350460 (from outside the UK +44 1707 800060), we accept most major credit cards or for trade customers we can set up an account subject to a quick and simple credit check.
back to top
What do I need to consider when using ecotile within a garage environment?
ecotile has been used in thousands of commercial and domestic garages creating a smart, clean and dust free workshop environment but there are two important considerations to take into account. Staining by rubber car tyres which is relevant to all garages and the effect of catalytic converters mainly in commercial garages. Please refer to the following article for detailed information and advice.
back to top
