Installation instructions for flat-edged Tulppa® panels on to a timber or metal frame

Attachment

Preparing the installation surface or frame

Preparing the installation surface or frame

The 12.5 mm thick Tulppa panels require an on-center stud spacing of 300 mm (k300) and 20 mm or thicker panels require an on-center stud spacing of 600 mm (k600). For fittings and bathroom furnishings, mounting planks are installed on to the framework (support strips, plywood).

Lightweight fixtures, such as towel hooks and toilet paper holders, may be attached on to the surface of the tiling using an adhesive compound.

The flat-edged Tulppa panels were designed to be installed vertically. The panels are cut into size and installation begins from a corner. Installation wedges are used to prop the Tulppa panels 2–3 mm off the floor. It is advisable to gather a sufficient number of installation wedges before you begin the installation.

Attachment to the base

If stud spacing is 600 mm, the actual installation begins with the application of a 1–2 mm wide line of adhesive compound on each frame beam behind the panel, including the support strips. If stud spacing is 300 mm, it is not necessary to apply the adhesive compound on the frame beams, but it should still be applied on to the support strips.

The Tulppa panels are placed on top of wedges and pressed on to the frame. Seams between the panels must always be placed over the frame. The panels are attached to the framework of the wall using Tulppa O brackets approximately 25 mm above floor level. First, adhesive compound is applied on the back of the O bracket or the surface of the panel (at the fixation point of the Tulppa O bracket), after which the Tulppa O bracket is screwed in place. Finally, excess adhesive compound is smoothed over the surface of the panel with a trowel.

Panel seams and corner joints

At the corners, a gap of 1–3 mm is left between the panels to be filled in with an adhesive compound from the product range of your choosing. The gap must be filled in thoroughly up to the surface of the panel. Any superfluous compound is spread evenly on top of the panels with a trowel.

Once the adhesive compound is sufficiently dry, each joint between the panels and the corners are waterproofed with reinforcement fabric such that the Tulppa O brackets are covered by the waterproofing. In addition, the ends of the Tulppa O brackets attached to the middle frame beam are waterproofed with pieces of reinforcement fabric. Ensure that no air pockets are left under the reinforcement fabric pressed on top of the fresh layer of waterproofing compound.

Wall and floor joint

Concrete floor of a wet room is waterproofed according to the instructions of the product range you have chosen. The gap between the Tulppa panel and the floor is filled in with the adhesive compound of the chosen product range and any excess compound is smoothed over the surface of the panel (please note that the waterproofing membrane brought up from the floor must adhere to 30–50 mm of the surface of a clean Tulppa panel). The waterproofing membrane applied to the floor is brought at least 100 mm up the wall, which means that it will also cover the Tulppa O brackets used near the floor level. The reinforcement tape of the chosen product range is pressed on top of the fresh waterproofing layer at all panel joints such that no air pockets remain between the tape and the base. The reinforcement tape is covered throughout with waterproofing.

Passages

The gaps between passages and Tulppa panels are sealed during the attachment of the panels using the adhesive compound of the chosen product range. Pipe inlets are sealed once the adhesive compound is dry using a waterproofing compound and inlet cuffs from the chosen product range. During sealing, you must ensure that no dried-up excess installation adhesive is left between the pipe cuff and the pipe.

The waterproofing compound is spread around the pipe to cover the area on to which the pipe inlet cuff is placed. The pipe inlet cuff is laid on top of a fresh coat of waterproofing compound and rubbed smooth to push out any air below the cuff. Finally, the waterproofing compound is used to completely cover the inlet cuff, which must also extend over the collar on to the surface of the Tulppa panel.

Tiling

You can begin tiling once the waterproofing compound is dry. The drying will usually take 2–24 hours depending on the products and conditions, thickness of the layers, temperature, and the relative humidity of air. It is important to wipe the surfaces of the panels clean from dust and dirt with a moist cloth. Before you begin the installation, use a wet sponge to moisten the surface of the wall.

Sink brackets

Drill appropriately sized holes for the screws of the sink bracket. At the fixation point of the lowest screw, drill off a section of the tiling with an approximate diameter of 15mm without damaging the Tulppa panel. Apply a generous amount of your chosen adhesive compound into the screw holes. Use a foot screw as the lowest screw, on to which the first nut is tightened to be level with the tiling surface. Next, attach the sink bracket and finish off with the second nut so that the sink bracket is locked between the nuts. Use regular HPAC screws for the other fastenings higher up.