Aikona decking is manufactured from a hard-wearing vinyl composite to look and feel like natural wood. Since it can withstand exposure to sunlight, water and other environmental conditions it is suitable for internal areas and external applications, both marine and non-marine.
Aikona decking is guaranteed for 10 years for normal foot traffic when installed and maintained in accordance with the Aikona warranty and the following guidance on surface preparation, installation and maintenance.
Surface Preparation
- Good surface preparation is essential to produce a long-lasting,
low-maintenance, deck/floor. The surface must be sound, smooth,
dry, clean and free from contaminants, like filler, glue, old
paint, etc. Substrates must be as flat as possible and finished
to comply with BS8203. Do not lay Aikona on to chipboard. Concrete
substrates should have a DPM membrane. All undulations, indentations
and holes should be filled and smoothed.
- For application on fiberglass, sand the deck to remove contaminants
and if silicon release agent has been used on the mould.
- For application on steel, the surface should be prepared with
a suitable leveling compound/underlay component, for example an
epoxy, polyurethane, sand mixture. A cement or latex-based compound
should not be used.
- If possible, remove any fittings or skirting boards to give
an unobstructed surface.
- Sand the entire surface if required and vacuum thoroughly before
installation. Make sure the surface is clean, dry and free from
grease and dust.
- Good quality tools are essential to any successful job. We recommend
a radial arm mitre saw and a good quality jig saw are used to
cut Aikona planks. Aikona can be cut along its length using a
jig saw or an Exakt Precision Saw using a tungsten tipped blade
(www.exaktpt.com).
- To cut Aikona along the length, or cut out irregular shapes,
use a jig saw with a medium speed setting and a medium tooth blade.
- Adhesives: Only use recommended glues. Hybriflex 201 2-part MS Hybrid Polymer (available through Aikona) or Styccobond F84, 2-part adhesive, F. Ball & Co. Technical service (www.f-ball.co.uk). Do not use polyurethane glue. Please contact Aikona or your local distributor for more information.
- Aikona can be sanded using an orbital sander for light sanding between coats of varnish (60-80 grit - low speed).
- Please read the safety guidelines below before commencing installation
Waterproofing a Concrete Base
- For very wet areas, where water could damage a concrete base,
a waterproof surface membrane should be used using the following
recommended products from F Ball and Co Ltd. Firstly the concrete
will need to be sealed with Stopgap P121 Acrylic Primer. When
dry, apply Stopgap Green Bag Powder + F55 Acrylic Emulsion and
smooth compound to level the area. Then apply two coats of Stopgap
F75 high-performance waterproof surface membrane to form the membrane.
When cured, Aikona planks can be laid directly on to the membrane
using a single-part polyurethane adhesive, such as Styccobond
F74, as normal. Please follow the instructions for each product
supplied by F. Ball & Co (www.f-ball.co.uk),
paying particular attention to drying/curing times.
Installation
- Aikona is supplied in 2.4 metre lengths as standard. Other lengths can be supplied, depending on quantities & profile required. It is recommended that Aikona is stored in situ for at least 48 hours before fitting as this allows for any expansion or contraction to occur. Aikona is not to be fitted in direct sunlight. Recommended fitting temperatures of 10-24°C. Avoid rapid change off temperature before the glue has cured. Do not use the adhesives above the maximum or minimum temperatures recommended by the manufacturer. Read the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions. Use top welded profile with expansion joints where a watertight seal is required and for larger deck areas.
- For the installation of boat panels, please get in touch with
Aikona Ltd or your supplier.
- For flooring installations, margin boards, if required, should
be cut out, glued and fitted before laying the centre planks.
- Planks of Aikona should be laid staggering the joints across
the area to be covered, laying one plank width across the area
to be covered at a time. Therefore, the various short lengths
required should be cut first. Lay out the strip pattern required
before applying the glue.
- Use a 2mm x 6mm V notched trowel adhesive spreader to make a
uniform layer of glue, taking care to remove any excess.
- Only apply glue to a small area at a time before fitting (0.5
sq metre), as the glue has a limited working time, depending on
surface to be bonded and ambient temperature.
- Immediately wipe off any glue that may be accidentally spilt
on the surface with a dry cloth. If necessary, lightly sand the
surface with 40 or 60 grit sandpaper by hand.
- While fitting, do not walk on unsealed Aikona with dirty shoes.
- Lightly sand the whole surface along the grain removing any
'whiskers' and dust from the surface.
- Vacuum the whole area to remove any sanding dust and wipe clean
using a cloth and methylated spirit.
- When fitting Aikona to barefoot or external areas, we recommend
the surface is left unvarnished. No form of teak oil,
wax or oil-based treatment should ever be used.
- When fitting Aikona to internal areas, such as showers and bathrooms,
we recommend at least one coat of polyurethane varnish/sealer
is applied (depending on varnish/sealer). Varnish/sealer can also
be used to create a matt or high gloss finish, but please note
that this will significantly reduce Aikona's 'non slip' qualities. Do not use any form of teak oil, wax or oil-based treatment.
- Do not burn any waste Aikona or lay in areas where the surface
could be subjected to cigarette stubs/ash or other hot objects.
Should Aikona be damaged by cigarette burns, the surface can be
repaired. Please get in touch with your supplier
Protection
- It is vital that Aikona is covered/protected, if laid before
the building/installation work is finished.
Top Welding
Aikona is also available as a top welded product, which is
top welded together after gluing to the substrate. This profile is
recommended for areas such as around swimming pools where a water-tight
floor is required to prevent any ingress of water which might contain
chemicals that would affect the glue. It should also be used for larger
boat deck areas to allow for expansion and contraction. A 4mm welding
bead is required, available from Aikona Ltd.
A Leister hot air
welding gun and nozzles are available from Leister (www.leister.com).
The top welded profile is butted together (male/female) and glued
to the substrate. This will leave the correct top V gap for the
welding rod.
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| After the planks have been welded, remove the mushroom top of
the welding rod and sand. Some light sanding may be required if
the heat causes discolouration of the Aikona surface. |
Removing top mushroom from the welded joint |
Expansion Joints
In areas where a watertight seal is important or there is a large
variation in temperature an expansion joint is required (see photo
below). 5mm for the standard 5mm planks and 7mm for the 7mm planks.
A caulking compound, such as Saba or Kent Quick Seal, is recommended
for the expansion joints.
Cover the top surfaces with masking tape before applying the sealant.
Blue 3M masking tape is ideal for this purpose.
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| Expansion Joints |
Panel Making
For further information on making panels and marine installation,
please contact Aikona Ltd or your supplier.
Maintenance
Recommended maintenance is dependent on the location, intensity of traffic and specific requirements of the end user. Regular maintenance is straightforward and simply involves sweeping or vacuuming floor to remove all residual dirt. The surface can be periodically washed/scrubbed with mild flooring detergent (pH 7-9) to remove any stains or grime, rinsed and allowed to dry. Outside Aikona can be pressure washed clean. Stubborn stains can be lightly sanded out (60-80 grit).
Where the surface has been varnished or sealed, it can be washed
with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Re-coating or re-sealing may
be necessary every 12-18 months depending on usage and location.
The varnish or sealer manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines
should be observed. For further information on maintenance contact
your supplier.
Please note, no form of teak oil, wax or oil-based treatment
should ever be applied to Aikona decking as this may affect
the surface appearance and performance characteristics. Failure
to follow these recommendations may also affect the manufacturer's
guarantee.
Safety guidelines
- Always read the instructions with the adhesives supplied, use
only in ventilated areas. Full safety data sheets are available
from the manufacturer. Full safety sheets available from F Ball
and Co. Ltd. (www.f-ball.co.uk).
- Always wear personal protective clothing; dust masks, knee pads,
gloves, etc
- If working with mains power tools always use an RCD breaker
and take extreme care with main voltage. Where possible we would
recommend the use of battery power tools.
- Do not smoke and keep all naked flames away from adhesives.
- When welding Aikona use the appropriate masks/ filters
Legal notice
The suggested information has been given in good faith
based on practical experience and trials under local conditions.
This information is regarded as guidance to our customers in connection
with personal choice of product and working method.
No responsibility is accepted for the inappropriate fitting of
Aikona. Neither Aikona Ltd nor any of its subsidiaries, agents or
distributors, is responsible for customer installation of Aikona,
its treatment or maintenance as customer working conditions are
beyond our control. Please note the manufacturer's guarantee may
also be affected if the recommendations detailed above are not followed.
download installation and maintenace guide
