How To Seam Marine Woven Vinyl

1. Standard practice is to unroll the woven vinyl and let it relax for 24 hours. This method ensures best adhesive transfer.1. Standard practice is to unroll the woven vinyl and let it relax for 24 hours. This method ensures best adhesive transfer.  

a. Product should be laid flat and opened for up to 30 minutes before applying to the floor. This method ensures best adhesive transfer. A 100% transfer of adhesive onto the felt backing must be obtained.  

2. This product has a felt back and must be installed using an adhesive that works with felt and for the appropriate indoor or outdoor substrate application. For outdoor application, adhesive should also be nonflammable and freeze-thaw stable. For additional security, Captains Choice can also be stapled down to wooden surfaces, applying staples along the edge.  

3. Adhesive should be applied with a dry paint roller or trowel to the floor only. If a trowel is used, ensuring proper trowel notch will achieve a 100% transfer of wet adhesive to felt. Check with the preferred adhesive manufacturer for the correct trowel size. 

a. Recommended adhesive using 1/16 x 1/16 x 1/16 square notch trowel. Taylor Resolute AAT 290 (Indoor/Outdoor) AAT390 (Recreational Outdoor) ECO 811 (Indoor) EC0420 (Outdoor) 

b. Allow adhesive to develop tack before placing the woven vinyl. Do not allow the adhesive to dry or develop a skin. Pull woven vinyl back periodically to check for proper adhesive transfer.   

4. Installation for all products installed with adhesive must be rolled for proper glue transfer with 35- 50 lb. floor roller. Hand roller can be used for smaller installations.

a. All installations require bubbles and air pockets to be smoothed out with non-sharp edge board from center pushing to the edges to ensure felt has made good contact with the floor. Use scissors or razor knife to trim edges. 

b. Please note due to the weaving process, some bow and skew may be expected. Keep these variations in mind when seaming Captains Choice.  

5. Trim on flat surface with a straight edge, using a new razor blade for each cut. Always cut product from the face side of the fabric. Dull blades may damage the product or produce rough edges. Clean cuts allow for reduced seam visibility; however, woven vinyl installations typically show seams.  

6. For projects requiring a seam in room setting, mark and snap a straight line on the substrate for the placement of the seam. The number of seams should be reduced to a minimum. Avoid placing seams that are located near entrances. 

a. Avoid cross seams and “T” seams as possible.

b. Use caution not to crease the material.

c. It is important that the installer spend time working with the seams both in width and length for the best appearance.
Lay all the rolls in the same direction before making any cuts.

7. Seams need to be aligned with the pattern or texture prior to cutting. A seam can be double cut or straight edge cut.

Note: If the pattern is a stripe design do not double cut, cut next to the stripe from the face with a new sharp blade and straight edge. The first drop is laid to the straight-line mark on the floor. Then, the second roll drop, after matching the design, but to the first drop. 

 a. Double cut from the face only, with sharp new blade and straight edge. Overlap the second strip of Captains Choice with the first strip of Captains Choice, double cut, and smooth out firmly. If the material has a pattern, make sure the overlap matches the pattern before cutting. The roll drops are overlapped in a parallel way before cutting. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the subfloor. Excess trimmed edge should be removed from the floor and seam closed within one hour. Repeat for each seam. 

8. A seam sealer for vinyl is recommended (Mannington MMS-20 or ECO 2285.)

a. All seams must be cleaned, and any dust and adhesive removed.

b. Use masking tape on both sides of the seam to keep sealer off the face of the woven vinyl.

c. Apply a small bead of seam sealer on the seam.

d. Use a seam roller to flatten edges at seams. Seams will be visible using woven vinyl.

 e. Allow seam seal to cure without traffic for a minimum of 24 hours. 

9. Clean up any wet adhesive with soapy water. A soft bristle brush can also be used. Blot dry with a clean towel and be sure to wash any other surfaces clean of adhesive. Dried adhesive should be removed with an adhesive remover.

10. Traffic for 24 hours after installation should be limited. The glue and seam sealer should be completely dry and hardened before normal foot traffic.

a. Once installation has been completed, the surface should be protected, particularly if the area is to be used by other trades during final finishing.