SHIPPING AND STORAGE

The tiles are packed in cardboard boxes, shipped on wooden pallets which in turn are protected by a wraparound film. If the product is discharge using forklift trucks or cranes it is important to avoid direct contact between the cables attached to the hook of the crane and the cardboard boxes. Pay attention to don’t knock the corners of the cardboard boxes. The boxes can be stored one on top of the other up to and no more than 1.50 meters and they must not be stored outside where they may come into contact with water. Once taken out of the boxes adhesive tape must not be applied to the tiles and they must always be stored with leather face inwards (leather on leather) making sure that there is no dirt or residuals.

INSTALLATION OF FLOORING TILES OR COVERING

ASSOLO UNICO

The tiles are laid as would be any normal parquet flooring. For example before laying them it is advisable to leave the tiles for at least 48 hours (Assolo tiles: 5/6 days) in the place where they will be laid. Leave the tiles inside the boxes under a weight.

Make sure you do not damage the tiles when opening the boxes with cutters or razors. The tiles can be laid on either a cement base or on already existing flooring (in wood, ceramic, marble, grès, etc.) The base onto which the tiles are to be laid (cement base or old flooring) must be perfectly dry, flat, dust and particle free, as well as free of any traces of varnishes, waxes, oils, or chalk, and if the floor is wood, free from any woodworm.

Any gaps or perforations in the background must be filled and leveled. The residual humidity must not exceed 2%. Using a toothed spatula apply the chosen adhesive (we advise LIGNOBOND by Mapei, following manufacturers instructions) on the base, being careful not to apply excessive amounts which may then seep out from the sides mucking up the tiles. The tiles must be applied to the base one next to the other without any space between them and the joints between the tiles must not be filled. Since that the flooring with any wooden component is sensitive to excessive humidity and dryness, causing it dilatation or shrink, it is advisable to leave a space of 8-10 mm between the flooring and the surrounding wall, that can be covered by a skirting board.

To make the flooring more stable it is possible to use section which are provided with the tiles.

These are glued in special grooves which then keep the rows of tiles tightly in place next to each other thus forming a whole tightly connected piece. In the case of cuts or perform any other alterations on site it is necessary to use diamond tip cutting tools and dry manufacturing.

For the Assolo article use a cutter. The flooring is ready to use after approximately 24 hours. After assembling, the tiles must be treated with the protective wax in the way to seal the joints. This treatment must initially be repeated two/three times, after which the floor can be used. If the tiles are applied on walls, a special anti vertical slip adhesive must be used of which we advise KERALASTIC T by Mapei.

ASSOLO

Check that the surface to be covered is perfectly flat and smooth, without bumps or hollows that can prejudice the perfect match between the tiles, so that the tiles can be perfectly aligned. To assemble the ASSOLO article, we suggest, if possible, to screen the surface that will be covered with wooden panels, then to apply a first layer of (polyurethane) glue, let it dry and, once stabilized, (after about one or two days), provide to glue both the tiles and the surface to be covered. Wait until the glue has effect then join the tiles. Pay attention to spread the glue in a homogeneous way, do not leave too much glue in the middle of the tile as joints will appear irregular.

INSTALLATION OF FLOORING TILES OR COVERING

The installation of this article is divided into two phases, the first is the application of the support to the floor, the second is the application of the tiles. The support is an ABS tile which should be fixed to the floor by using screws, a nail pistol or glue. The support is provided with a V-shaped tongue to be inserted into the corresponding V-shaped grooves of adjacent supports in the way to obtain a perfectly aligned “base”.

Fasten all supports with either a screw or a nail in the middle and, once they adhere perfectly to the floor, block the supports in the corners and on the edges. In case of gluing, proceed as a normal floor making sure that the glue does not clog the fastening holes on the tile, in which case remove the glue from the hole before it sets. If the tile needs to be cut, only diamond-tipped cutters should be used, starting to cut on the upper side of the tile. In the case of it will be necessary to “hide” trap-doors, shafts, peaks, counters, that don’t have to be at sight, proceed to the assembling of the supports starting from the one in the sides after having cut the bases to size, and proceed towards the inside until it joins with the others meet. Once the supports have been laid, the surface is walkable it can be tread on and is ready to receive the tiles. We suggest tiles be laid once the work to set up the area has been completed in order to avoid any damages.

For the installation of the tiles simply place them on the bases on the floor and apply a simple pressure to make the clips fit into the holes.

TEST TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JOINT SEALING TREATMENT

The protective effect obtained when using the suitable product can be done by determining the water absorption capacity once that the protective product has completely dried. A practical method for doing this test is the following: after 24 hours after the treatment spray some clean water on various points on the flooring. Check that any phenomenon of absorption are occurring, the sprayed water should sit on the surface of the flooring and the colour of the tiles should not change. Having done the above, apply a few drops of any type of oil, even in this case the oil should sit on the surface and not be absorbed. For the subsequent controls to do during the maintenance occasions (see below) can be done with the same method.

CLEANING

For the daily cleaning of the tiles use a wool cloth, velvet or electrostatic cloths, either dry of slightly damp. To remove any spilled liquid, dab immediately using cloths of absorbent paper (without rub).

MAINTENANCE

After a period of time varying from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the use, parts where the most trample takes place could start to lose their protection. This will become evident when cleaning: the parts where the protection is wearing away will start absorbing water. At this point it becomes necessary to reactivate the protection by an application with a product to avoid permanent damages caused by the absorption of liquids. The purchaser is solely responsible for evaluating how often the treatment should be carried out and said purchaser cannot blame others for the inadequacy of the treatment and/or for any damage detected.

GENERAL WARNINGS

Unlike standard leather tiles which have a limited resistance to stains and to the absorption of liquids, the I’m Sensitive tiles are manufactured with water-based, not polyurethane products which protect the surface of the tiles without altering the appearance of the vegetable-tanned (extract of chestnut wood)leather dyed with aniline with no added pigments. It is worth to remember that, like all natural products, leather is sensitive to sunlight, so in certain environmental some colour variation could happen.

Even though the best quality hides are used to produce the tiles, as with all natural products (marble, wood, stone) there can be small variations and slight imperfections which far from being defects are the special characteristics which differentiates them from massproduced products and which are typical of a totally natural product that reflects the ‘living’ origin of the raw material making every tile unique and unrepeatable.

All the above indications and instructions, though corresponding to our best knowledge and experience are purely indicative and not binding and should be confirmed by practical application. Therefore before using the various products, who intends to use them should verify that they are appropriate to the various conditions of use - taking into consideration the numerous building and environmental variables possible - and assumes full responsibility originating from their use.

THICKNESS

Art. UNICO 14 mm

Art. ASSOLO 3 mm

Art. ICONA 17 mm

PACKAGING Art. UNICO

The Tiles are delivered in cardboard boxes containing respectively:

Size 20 x 20 cm No. 26 tiles

Size 30 x 30 cm No. 24 tiles

Size 40 x 40 cm No. 16 tiles

Size 50 x 50 cm No. 8 tiles

Size 50 x 30 cm No. 8 tiles

WEIGHT Art. UNICO

The Tiles have an indicative weight of approx. kg. 11/sqm.

PACKAGING Art. ASSOLO

The Tiles are delivered in cardboard boxes containing respectively:

Size 20 x 20 cm No. 120 tiles

Size 30 x 30 cm No. 110 tiles

Size 40 x 40 cm No. 54 tiles

Size 50 x 50 cm No. 36 tiles

Size 50 x 30 cm No. 36 tiles

WEIGHT Art. ASSOLO

The Tiles have an indicative weight of approx. kg. 3,5/sqm.

PACKAGING Art. ICONA

The Tiles are delivered in cardboard boxes containing respectively:

Size 30 x 30 cm No. 12 tiles

WEIGHT Art. ICONA

The Tiles have an indicative weight of approx. kg. 14,2/sqm.

MAINTANENCE INSTRUCTIONS for sole leather flooring

CLEANING

To clean leather flooring add in the washing water (neutral cleaning agent) in the following quantity: 1 glass in a bucket of water (8- 10 litres). It is essential to use only damp, wellwrung cloths, mops etc only slightly wetting the material.

Never pour washing water directly onto the flooring. Avoid using strong alkaline detergents, acids (eg. Ammonia, sodium hypochlorite, acids) and solvents (eg. Ethyl alcohol, trichloroethylene) as well as cleaning appliances that use steam or high temperatures and appliances for cleaning leather and bags.

MAINTENANCE

To preserve the protection periodically apply a protective product in function with the use of the flooring:

1. every 1 - 2 weeks on flooring with intensive surface use (eg.Shops)

2. every 30 - 40 days on flooring with normal surface use.

Spread a thin layer of the product using a soft cloth, evenly dampening the leather without any excess. No need to polish.

Application of the product should be done at temperatures between 10°-25° C avoiding air currents and direct sunlight.

Scratch Restoration Wax

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RESTORING of scratches on sole leather flooring

To restore any scratches use (made of aniline in a wax base the same colour as the flooring) and proceed as follows: first clean the scratch with a dry cloth then dab the scratch 3 or 4 times with cotton wool soaked, taking care not to go on to the healthy part of the tile (in this case clean immediately with dry cloth). After a few minutes, as soon as the tile is dry, treat with a waterproof as in normal maintenance.

REPLACE A DAMAGED TILE

ASSOLO UNICA

If it becomes necessary to replace a tile proceed as follows: With a circular saw make deep cuts that cross the leather as well as its wooden support, then, starting from the centre remove the fragments using a chisel to level the pieces out, taking care to remove all remaining pieces from the base. If the tile was joined to the adjacent tiles by the aluminium section, free this of any wood residuals and any traces of glue using sand paper. Then glue the bottom and insert the new tile which will have had the lower fin cut away from the slot of the form (see diagram below).

On the newly positioned tile it is necessary to place a weight until the glue has dried. Finally to unify the protection apply the wax.

ANY DEVIATION FROM THESE INSTRUCTIONS RELEASES THE COMPANY FROM ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND COULD LEAD TO UNSATISFACTORY INSTALLATION

REPLACE A DAMAGED TILE

ICONA

For an eventual removal of one or more tiles, simply use a suction cup, the type normally used to remove glass panels, starting from the corners moving gradually towards the centre of the tile. Pay attention to, in the case that you want to use it again, to don’t flex the tile (of Leather) in an excessive way upwards as this would cause the grain of the leather to detach thus damaging the tile.