Once you've completed the installation you should carefully check the finished floor to make sure everything looks right.

In particular, look for:

• loose edges in the tiles
  
  
• trapped air bubbles or buckles
  
  
• adhesive on the surface or squeezed up between the joints.

Protecting the new floor

Depending on the type of worksite you're at, you might need to put up signs or barriers to stop people from entering the area until the adhesive has fully cured.

In high traffic areas you can also put a protective covering over the floor to minimise the chance of damage.

If you do, make sure the covering doesn't have a rubber or latex backing that might discolour the floor surface.

On projects where it's your job to move heavy appliances back into position, use plywood panels or other board products as protection underneath the appliance.

Slide the first board under the object as you lift it off the floor one side at a time.

Then put another board beside the first one and push the object over the boards.

Don't roll or drag the object directly across the new flooring material.

If you're leaving the client to move the appliances themselves, give them instructions on how to do it properly so they don't put a tear or buckle in the floor covering.

Even objects on wheels or casters need to be pushed across wood panels, because if the adhesive isn't fully cured they'll leave grooves in the floor surface.

Commercial floors should be protected from rolling loads for at least 72 hours after the installation is finished.

Housekeeping

Take all your rubbish and materials with you, except for left-over tiles that might be useful to the client for future repairs.

Be particularly careful with hazardous products that need to be disposed of in an approved way.

You'll find more details on this topic in the unit: Working sustainably.

Don't put materials or rubbish in doorways or other access ways, because they'll probably get knocked over and end up being a trip hazard.

Keep everything well stacked and out of everyone's way.

Maintenance

It's important to give the floor a good clean once the job is completed.

You need to make sure that there is no grit left behind that could scratch the floor and no marks or dirt that might look unsightly.

However, you must wait 72 hours before using a wet mop, to make sure the adhesive has had time to set.

Also be careful not to over-wet the floor in its initial clean. The video clip below provides more details on the process of mopping, buffing and polishing the floor.