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TECHNIQUE:
SEGMENTING LARGE OR CONSTRAINED MATS
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It is sometimes necessary to segment a
large mat, or one that has heavy items resting on it, to accommodate for the
mats natural expansion and contraction with temperature changes.
Segmenting is simply the process of dividing larger mats into smaller sections
that can move independently of one another. The technique is also used
for mats resting on heated sub-floors, for joining mats in "L' shaped or
adjoining rooms, and for mat installations where large temperature extremes in
the course of a day may be causing the mat to buckle.
The goal of segmenting a mat is to allow enough
room for your overall mat to expand naturally without running into walls or
fixed obstacles, and to accommodate for any heavy items on your mat that may
be preventing the mat from moving to expand naturally. |
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1.
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The first approach for segmenting
your mat is to simply break your installation into two smaller mats.
EXAMPLE: In an "L" shaped room, just
handle the two areas as separate mats and leave as small of a gap between
the mats as possible to accommodate for any expansion that you are
observing with your mat. The general rule is 1/32 inch expansion gap for
every foot of mat. |
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2.
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The other approach for segmenting
your mat is to simply break your installation into two smaller mats.
EXAMPLE: In an "L" shaped room, just
handle the two areas as separate mats and leave as small of a gap between
the mats as possible to accommodate for any expansion that you are
observing with your mat. The general rule is 1/32 inch expansion gap for
every foot of mat. |
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3.
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Since each individual rectangle will be
slightly oversized from the Make-a-Mat calculator, when the tiles from the two
separate rectangles are combined, you will have more than enough material
to complete the job. |
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4.
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During installation you want to get two
square, straight edges against the two longest walls first. With
that done, you will fill in the bulk of the tiles to the point that a full
tile will no longer fit. At this point, you can see how you have
bridged the two rectangles into a single mat. |
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5.
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With the bulk of your mat installed, the
last job is to make sure your mat is positioned correctly against the
opposing walls and start measuring and cutting the remaining tiles into place.
Cut a few random borders around the room to lock the mat in place, then
just take your time measuring and cutting the remaining tiles into place. |
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view |
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