A common problem people have is getting Matlay, Marlay, (Marley type covering) to lay flat quickly. Matt, the boss, refers to it like a stubborn child. If you are patient, disciplined, and respectful, you can get any role to lay flat. Sometimes it takes longer than others and that depends on many issues.
There was one time at a trade show that the union workers were trying to help us by folding the material instead of rolling it up. Folding the material will permanently make lines in it and make it almost impossible to lay flat. So when we got it back, we unfolded it and laid it down on a flat surface. We gave it a chance to relax and then put a little stretch on it. We gave it a chance to relax again and put some more stretch on it. Eventually, it did lay flat, even though the lines of the folds were still noticeable. If you’re patient with a child and give them consistent directions eventually they will mind you. Same thing with vinyl sheeting a.k.a. Marlay.
To this day, Matt has never met a role of Marlay that he couldn’t tame. However, there is a way to do it that sometimes is counterintuitive, for instance if you roll a roll out and there’s some ripples in the center of the roll, you would normally think you want to stretch the center to flatten it out. However, it’s the opposite. The center having ripples in it is actually a bit longer than the edges. So when you stretch the edges out the center will then start to lay flat. If the ripples are on the edges, then it’s the opposite. You stretch the center and then the edges will lay flat. This is explained on our website ALVAS MATLAY (OR MARLAY) DANCE FLOOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
In cold weather, the material will shrink and become stiffer. In hot weather, the material will expand and become limp. The temperature should be a consideration, but only as a consideration. The same process must be done. Matt would say that if it’s very hot weather, you probably don’t want to stretch it too much. The reason is because when it gets cool or the air conditioner comes on, it will shrink so much that it will disconnect from the staples or tape that you have used to secure the ends. Never underestimate the power of shrinking Marlay and it is very important to secure one end before you stretch the other end. If one end is not secure then when you stretch the other end, you’re really not putting a stretch on it. Be consistent and your stubborn child will behave.
