Installation Guide

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General Information:
Fiberglass flooring in residential applications, can be installed by three installation methods. The flooring can be
installed by the modified loose lay installation method using acrylic double-faced tape under seams, or it can be
installed by two full spread options using either S-288 Flooring Adhesive or S-289 Releasable Adhesive.
Depending on the type of subfloor, size and complexity of the room, and the type of traffic expected in the room,
one of the full spread options may be recommended. Fiberglass-reinforced flooring should not be installed by
perimeter fastening methods.
In certain areas of the country, where seasonal moisture and humidity changes are severe, the movement in wood
subfloors can cause a raised area or a buckle in the flooring near a perimeter pinch point. Typically, if this
happens, it will occur during prolonged periods of cold weather when interior conditions become very dry and the
wood subfloor/underlayment components dry out and shrink. Should this happen and a buckle occurs, the flooring
should be gently lifted or pulled back from the pinch point and re-trimmed.
Summary of Residential Fiberglass-Reinforced Installation Options
Modified Loose
Lay
S-289 Releasable
Adhesive
S-288 Flooring Adhesive
Spacing (gap) at vertical
surfaces (walls, pipes, etc)
1/4" 1/8" None
Base cabinets on top of
flooring
No
No
Yes
Island cabinets on flooring No Yes Yes
Bathrooms
No
Yes
Yes
Stairs, landings or rooms with
floor drains
No
No
Yes
Seams on suspended wood
underlayments
Only 1
Multiple OK
Multiple OK
Suitable Substrates (for all installation options):
All substrates listed below must be properly prepared and meet certain requirements. There may be other exceptions
and special conditions for these substrates to be suitable for the flooring installation. For more information, please
call Armstrong Customer Care at 1-800-233-3823 or visit www.floorexpert.com.
• Concrete (on all grade levels)
• Approved Suspended Wood Underlayments
• Single-layer, Fully Adhered, Existing Resilient Floors
• Ceramic Tile, Terrazzo, Marble, Polymeric Poured (seamless) Floors
• Existing resilient tile floors that are on grade or suspended
NOTE: For wood subfloors and underlayments, the moisture content must be 13%, or less.
Do not install over:
• Particleboard, waferboard, OSB or single-layer Sturd-I-Floor panels
• Existing cushion-backed vinyl flooring
• Carpet
• Hardwood flooring that has been installed directly over concrete
Job Conditions/Preparation (for all installation options):
• Resilient flooring should only be installed in temperature-controlled environments. It is necessary to maintain
a constant temperature before, during and after the installation. Therefore, the permanent or temporary
HVAC system must be in operation before the installation of resilient flooring. Portable heaters are not
recommended as they may not heat the room and subfloor sufficiently. Kerosene heaters should never be
used.