FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions | 2
faqs
Fighting the urge to start in the corner?
We get it. It does feel like the natural place to start, but the Floorigami experts at Shaw Floors have tested this process
in small spaces, large spaces and everything in between, and we’ve found starting in the corner leaves more room for
error when you reach the end of your install. Tiles can become unevenly spaced, and sometimes you’re left with a weird
gap along one wall. We want to make sure your new Floorigami space is picture perfect, so we’ve worked hard to refine
our instructions to do just that. Starting in the center allows you to first measure your space so you don’t end up cutting
every tile at the end of your room to fit. Starting in the center and installing half of the room first provides you with multiple
alignment points at all times, to ensure those lines are straight. Our biggest tip here is to lay out your entire Floorigami floor
first, whether that’s a wall-to-wall room or an area rug, before you start to peel and stick.
Having difficulty sticking tiles to your subfloor?
UNFINISHED WOOD SUBFLOOR
Every subfloor is unique. Some make it easy for Floorigami tiles to stick and some make it more difficult. It depends on the
age of the subfloor, the pad that was under the carpet and a number of other variables. Before you start your install, test
peeling and sticking one of your tiles to the subfloor. If it’s having trouble sticking, you might need to prime your subfloor
first. A latex floor primer will do the job and once primed, you can start installing tiles right away, just give it a little under
an hour to dry first.
PAINTED SUBFLOOR
When installing over a painted subfloor we recommend the paint be fully adhered. If the paint is peeling, the paint should
be removed and proper floor preparation should take place. The paint should also be checked to make sure that it is not
toxic. A 24 hour adhesive bond test should be conducted to assure an adequate bond. Should the bond test fail, the paint
surface should be sanded in order for the adhesive to adhere properly.
Looking to hide those seams a little more?
Some Floorigami styles are designed to slightly show the seams, but for those plush styles, all you need is a screwdriver.
Once your tiles are down, simply lift the edges of the two adjacent tiles by placing a screwdriver under the seam and then
pull the fibers up as you run the screwdriver down the seam. Just be cautious of the screwdriver making contact with your
hard surface below so you don’t cause any damage. Another simple thing to do is vacuum the entire room. This lifts the
fibers and helps blend those areas where the tiles meet.