By Louis Iannaco

Volume 26/Number 20; February 18/25, 2013

When it comes to adhesives manufacturers, the goal has always been pretty simple: getting product to stick to the floor. However, FCNews spoke to several companies at Surfaces 2013 and learned there’s more to the story.

Bostik

Bostik officially threw its hat into the radiant floor arena with the launch of the HeatStep floor warming system. Two options are available for Heat-Step installations to accommodate a wide range of applications, noted Eric Kurtz, market manager, hardwood installation systems.

Option No. 1 is HeatStep Mat, which is easy, fast and safe, he said. “Simply roll out the mats, use the two-sided tape to attach to the subfloor, cover with a cementitious layer and then lay the flooring.”

Option No. 2 is HeatStep Wire, which offers the flexibility to cover large areas and accommodate complex room layouts. “All the installer has to do is secure the system’s cable straps to the subfloor and stretch the cable between them before covering with a cementitious layer and then the flooring,” Kurtz explained.

There are numerous benefits offered by HeatStep floor warming systems, he added. They are maintenance free and completely silent with no vents or duct work. Also, by producing an even heat without the drying effects of forced air heating, Bostik’s products provide comfort. “HeatStep products are efficient, featuring warmth and improved air quality as they produce fewer airborne particles than forced air.”

For more information, call 800.726.7815 or visit bostik-us.com.

DriTac

Surfaces 2013 was a resounding success for DriTac, noted John Lio, the company’s marketing manager. “At the forefront of each conversation were our new booth and the new eco-friendly products we featured.”

New for 2013 is a line of premium resilient flooring and carpet tile adhesives. All new adhesives are in line with DriTac’s commitment to producing not only top-of-the-line products, Lio noted, but are also environmentally friendly.

The new lineup features several adhesives, including DriTac 5000 and DriTac 5200, which are “green pressure sensitives our customers have asked for,” he said. “5000 is a high quality, hard set pressure sensitive. It ensures a product stays down once it’s put down, while 5200 is a premium releasable pressure sensitive for flooring products that may require spot replacements, such as carpet tiles.”

Among these high-quality resilient flooring adhesives is Dri-Tac Eco-5500, Lio noted, which is a “revolutionary next generation eco-friendly pressure sensitive flooring adhesive specifically manufactured to save time and expense.” A wide array of flooring products may be installed with Eco-5500, including luxury vinyl tile/plank, engineered hardwood, VCT, fiberglass-backed sheet vinyl, carpet tile and vinyl stair treads.

“This extremely versatile adhesive will now allow you to stock one product where as several different adhesives were required in the past,” he explained. “Eco-5500 is VOC-free with zero solvents. Unlike any other adhesive in the marketplace, this product enables quick and easy installations of engineered wood, vinyl, carpet tile and fiberglass-backed sheet vinyl flooring.”

For more information, call 800.394.9310 or visit dritac.com.

Mapei

The company just introduced a complete line of care and maintenance products that will add to the durability of floor covering installations. For the last 18 months, Mapei’s R&D team has worked on developing high-quality products that will rival the others currently on the market, noted Nick Valenti, technical representative for Mapei’s UltraCare systems. The company has set up a full production line to support this new range of products.

This complements Mapei’s existing installation systems by offering a complete array of items including sealers, finishes, cleaners and problem solvers for stone, tile and grout surfaces, Valenti added. “These products have been designed for the industry professional and do-it-yourself markets. Each is formulated to be environmentally friendly, safe to handle and easy to use, as well as provide outstanding performance and durability at a cost-effective price.”

David Mowery, product manager for the UltraCare line, added, “From protecting delicate natural stone to maintaining porcelain and ceramic tile, Mapei’s UltraCare care and maintenance products deliver outstanding results.”

For more information, call 800.992.6273 or visit mapei.com.

W.F. Taylor

MS-Plus resilient moisture barrier adhesive (MBA), recently unveiled by the company, is a 100% solids product for installation of all types of resilient flooring, including vinyl, rubber and polyolefin.

“MS-Plus resilient MBA is a one-component, self-reactive adhesive that is an excellent replacement for two-component epoxies and urethanes,” said Jack Raidy, president and CEO. “It contains no solvent, water or isocyanates, and provides problem-free installation of sheet goods as well as resilient tile and plank,”

Taylor also introduced MS-Plus Bond-N-Weld for seaming of vinyl-backed sheet goods. It is a universal vinyl seam sealer constructed of the same 100% solids chemistry as the MS-Plus resilient MBA “Bond-N-Weld is an excellent replacement for hazardous chemical welding seam sealers as well as for wasteful two-component seam sealers,” he noted.

A third new product from Taylor is the 2049 Floating Floor Tongue & Groove adhesive, designed for laminate flooring. “Excellent moisture resistance allows use in wet areas such as kitchens, baths and laundry spaces,” Raidy said.

For more information, call 951.360.6677 or visit wftaylor .com.