How to Install Congoleum Ovation Tiles

Clean and vacuum the subfloor to remove all debris and dust. Clean if necessary with soap and water to reduce any grease that might inhibit the adhesion of the tiles to the subfloor. Dry the floor thoroughly.

Check the surface of the subfloor with a 4-foot level to look for dips in the floor. Fill in any low areas that dip more than 1/16-inch over a foot with Portland cement latex patching compound. Smooth the surface with a joint knife and allow the compound to dry thoroughly. Vacuum the floor again to remove any dust or debris.

Seal wood subfloors with a latex primer following the manufacturer’s directions for application amounts and drying time. This will give the Ovation tiles a better chance for solid adhesion.

Find the middle point of two perpendicular walls and mark their intersection in the middle of the floor. Snap a chalk line across the floor to form a grid. Dry-set the tiles in one quadrant of the grid starting from the center. If you need to cut the tile next to the wall by more than half a tile width, move the grid line from the center of the room over by half the width of a tile. This will create a layout with larger cuts along the edges. Allow 1/8-inch around the perimeter of the room and between the tiles if you're grouting.

Cover half the floor with a pressure sensitive tile adhesive using a 1/32-inch notched trowel. Start at an outer corner and work toward the center of the room. Dry the adhesive until it is clear and tacky -- at least 45 minutes.

Install the Ovation tiles starting from the center of the room, keeping them straight with the grid line. Place spacers between the tiles if you are spacing them for grouting. Remove the spacer immediately after setting the tiles. Tile to the wall, cutting the edge tiles by scoring them with a utility knife and a straightedge. Remember to leave the 1/8-inch perimeter gap and then snap the tile along the scored line.

Apply the adhesive to the second half of the floor working from the wall to the center of the room. Apply the tiles using the same procedures as with the first half of the floor.

Press the floor with a 100-lb roller to smooth the tiles firmly into the adhesive. Roll the floor in both directions within one hour of laying the tiles.

Grout the tiles immediately or within 24 hours with a premixed acrylic grout made specifically for these tiles. Starting at a corner, press the grout into the spaces between the tiles with a rubber float. Work only a few tiles at a time, packing the grout and removing the excess. Clean the grouted tiles by misting them with water, letting the water sit for 30 seconds and then scrubbing with a coarse nylon pad. Remove the film with a firm sponge, rinsing it often in clear water.

Dry the grout for 24 hours. Clean the surface of the Ovation tiles with an ammonia-based window cleaner. Scrub with a nylon pad and wipe with a clean sponge. Buff the tiles with a dry rag. Allow the tiles to dry for another 24 hours before resuming foot traffic.

Roll the floor in both directions and seal the floor tile joints. Apply the grout sealer starting in one corner of the room and work the first two or three rows by applying a 1/16-inch bead of sealer. Use a small paintbrush or sponge to smear the sealer over the grout, paying special attention to the cross joints. Dry the sealer for about eight hours before walking on the floor and 48 hours before cleaning it.