Luxury vinyl and other resilient flooring materials have improved and evolved into a new generation of vinyl floor coverings. Advanced printing technology has allowed vinyl to more closely imitate the appearance of natural wood and stone floor coverings. Traditionally, the profiles and trim pieces for these floors were made from the same plastics as the floors themselves. They were solid colors, often custom made to match the floor color and they were typically thick and protruded from the floor covering, creating undesirable height changes and sometimes even trip hazards.
Metal profiles offer a more durable, less obtrusive alternative to custom-made vinyl profiles. There are new anodized aluminum finishing, transition and edge protection profiles available for resilient coverings applied on floor, wall and stair applications.
Included in this group is VINPRO profiles from Schluter Systems, specifically designed to increase design flexibility and provide long-lasting finishes. They can accommodate various covering thicknesses and are available in 3 brushed anodized aluminum finishes: bronze, nickel and chrome. They are suitable for both residential and light commercial applications and can be installed in new construction or as retrofits.
This article provides some installation tips for different applications.
Installing the Profiles
Metal profiles can be quick and easy to install with fasteners or using an adhesive.
Installation with Fasteners:
Look for profiles that have pre-drilled holes in the anchoring leg to make installation faster and improve accuracy. Use the anchoring leg’s existing screw holes to fasten the profiles to the substrate. A #6 flat head screw is recommended. Make sure to install the fasteners so the screw head is flush to the surface of the anchoring leg. This will help to prevent any bumps from transferring through to the finished surface. A patching or leveling compound can be used to eliminate inconsistencies in the floor and anchoring leg if required.
To install metal profiles over concrete substrates, the use of anchors is recommended. First, mark the hole positions on the substrate, then drill pilot holes for the anchors. Install the profile by fastening to the anchors.
Installation with Adhesive:
To install the profiles using adhesive, first determine the final position of the profile. Then mark the edges of the profile onto the substrate. Apply adhesive, such as Schluter KERDI-FIX, to the backside of the anchoring leg. Press the anchoring leg onto the substrate and align to the desired position.
A T-profile is used to create a professional transition between floor coverings of the same height. This profile is installed by filling the opening between the adjacent floor coverings with adhesive. Simply fit it into place and be sure to remove any excess adhesive immediately.
Providing durable edge protection and finishing in a variety of applications, VINPRO profiles offer unobtrusive designs which complement any resilient covering installation.
