22. 3. 2021
A garage floor in two hours? It's possible
Thinking about a new garage floor but short on time and keen to avoid the mess? A Fortelock floor is easy to lay in just a couple of hours, with no needless effort, no gluing and no tradespeople. It really is simple. See for yourself.
What to prepare so installation goes quickly
Work out how many tiles you need in the configurator; for the Industry range, allow 4 tiles per m². Leave the tiles to acclimatise in the garage for at least 48 hours at 18–26 °C. Sweep the subfloor and check that it is firm and free of significant unevenness. Industry is laid from the entrance along two perpendicular lines running from the centre of the room; each subsequent tile is rotated by 90°, and the logo on the underside makes orientation easier. The tiles are tapped into place with a rubber mallet, and a 10 mm expansion gap is left at the walls.
Frequently asked questions
Can a garage floor really be laid in a few hours?
Yes, the installation itself is quick. The Fortelock website quotes a speed of up to 30 m² per hour and, by comparison with epoxy, a finished floor in 3 to 4 hours. However, include in your schedule the 48 hours during which the tiles acclimatise in the garage before installation.
What tools do I need to lay Fortelock tiles?
Mainly a rubber mallet, which is used to tap the tiles into the locks. To cut the edge pieces along walls and around obstacles, a snap-off knife is enough, or alternatively a guillotine or jigsaw. A heat gun makes complex cut-outs easier; always heat the hidden side of the tile.
Does a garage floor need to dry after installation?
No. Installation involves no gluing, no drying and no downtime, so you can use the garage as soon as it is finished. Glue is only used in places exposed to direct sunlight or a heat source, where the PVC expands. In that case, the whole area is first loose-laid and the adhesive is applied only afterwards.
How wide do the cut edge tiles need to be?
Cut perimeter tiles should be wider than a third of a tile; at doors and in corners they should have more than half the area of a tile. For areas over 100 m² or with fixed points, the technical data sheet recommends marking out a grid of perpendicular lines to plan the rows.
Who manufactures Fortelock flooring?
Fortelock flooring is manufactured by Fortemix, s.r.o. in Paskov, a Czech family company with a tradition of more than thirty years. Production takes place in the Czech Republic, and the company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. How production works is described in the article The production of Fortelock tiles from A to Z.
