Telegraphing occurs when the finished floor conforms to irregularities in the substrate. Commercial sheet vinyl, LVT, linoleum, rubber, and other resilient materials may reveal trowel marks, old adhesive, cracks, panel joints, damaged concrete, or poorly feathered patches. Lighting can make minor imperfections more noticeable, especially when light travels across the floor at a low angle. Prevention requires cleaning, grinding, patching, skim coating, leveling, sanding, or otherwise preparing the substrate to the standard required by the flooring manufacturer. Thicker flooring does not guarantee that defects will remain hidden.
Key considerations
- commercial flooring telegraphing, imperfections showing through vinyl, substrate preparation resilient flooring
- floor telegraphing, resilient flooring, floor patch
- smooth appearance, surface uniformity, installation quality
- prepared substrate, feathered patches, reduced surface defects