Panels: laying information

Wall installation

Light, easy to install and use, HILITE is a perfect solution for residential and commercial wall tile installations and can be installed either indoors or outdoors.
Make sure that the surface on which the sheets are to be installed is perfectly flat, clean and free from cracks, the seeping of humidity or loose materials. If the sheets are being installed on outdoor plaster, we recommend that they be installed on a surface that is resistant to various types of stress (e.g. weight of the materials, thermal dilatation, weather conditions, etc.).
It is important to respect the stringcourses and joints, and avoid installing on non-planar surfaces such as brick walls. We recommend using the double coating technique; first distribute a full-bed layer of adhesive on the base with the help of helical-tooth spatulas and then apply a 3-mm layer on the back of the sheet with a flat-tooth spatula. Finally, we recommend that the laid surface be hit with a rubber spatula and to verify that the sheet adheres to the bottom.

Floor installation

HILITE can be installed on floors in residential interiors, high-traffic commercial environments, offices, showrooms and stores.
We advise to not install the sheets in areas that are subject to the passage of heavy loads. Before installing, make sure that the substrate is cured, dry, free of cracks and cleaned of debris, lumps of concrete and dust. For an optimal installation, check the flatness of the bottom with a 3-mm straight edge; making sure that the maximum gap span does not exceed 1 mm. If there is a greater difference, we recommend the use of suitable levelling or smoothing products. The HILITE sheets can also be installed on pre-existing flooring (ceramic tiles, wood, stone, cotto and parquet) as long as it is flat and compact. Before installing, the surfaces need to be cleaned with alkaline cleaners able to remove surface grease that may adversely affect the function of the adhesive.
For installations on supports that are different than those mentioned above, directly contact the manufacturer of the adhesive.
Install the product by using the double coating technique and with the help of spatulas with teeth between 6 and 8 mm. Make sure to distribute the adhesive to the edges of the sheet and apply pressure to the installed surface with a rubber spatula or with your hands to facilitate the uniform adhesion of the glue and avoid the formation of air bubbles. We do not recommend using rubber materials for the adjustment of the sheets. Use a 1 or 2 mm joint when installing indoors and to guarantee sealing of the floor and the penetration of the grout between the sheets.
It is important to respect all expansion joints. For surfaces up to 40-50 square meters we recommend a gap of 2 cm from the perimeter walls. In case of flooring on large surfaces, the use of flexible expansion joints is indicated; it is important to fraction the surfaces in 5x5 m areas and to use elastomeric sealants.
They should be installed respecting the joints that are already present on the substrate. With pre-existing joints, it is important to not overlap the material and joints; the sheet should be cut in a way as to make them coincide or the pre-existing joint should be filled and then again at the edge of the material. We recommend waiting 12-48 hours from the time of installation before stepping on the floor and to adjust this time based on the adhesive used.