Installation Guide

classychic | Rigid Core
DuraDecor | P: (855) 700 - 5666 | [e-mail] | duradecor.com | revised on 06.23.23 | Page 4
1. Substrate Preparation
Flatness
Check all substrates for atness prior to installation. The
maximum acceptable tolerance is < 1/8-in. gap (2 x US
quarters) over 6-ft. and ≤ 1/16-in. gap (1 x US quarter) over
1-ft. Make any necessary adjustments to the substrate
before installation. Dormant cracks, saw cut joints and
grout lines < 1/8-in. wide or deep are acceptable – all others
must be cleaned of all dirt and debris, then lled using a
suitable commercial grade patching or repair compound,
following the product instructions.
Concrete Substrates & Concrete Moisture
All concrete must be free of contaminates and structurally
sound. If required, smooth the surface using a suitable,
moisture-resistant commercial grade leveling or patching
compound, following the product instructions. Do
not install if hydrostatic pressure is visible, present or
suspected. If a chemical adhesive remover has been used,
contact the technical department.
For all on and below grade concrete slabs, test the
surface to conrm it is absorbent (porous), following the
ASTM F3191 Standard Practice for Field Determination of
Substrate Water Absorption (Porosity) for Substrates to
Receive Resilient Flooring. The water droplets placed on
the substrate must be absorbed for it to be considered
absorbent. If required, the concrete can be made porous
by mechanical methods, such as diamond grinding, a
DiamaBrush buer attachment, shotblasting or similar.
If the substrate cannot be made porous and will not have
a topical moisture mitigation system installed, install a ≥
6-mil thick polyethylene (PE) sheet, which is available at
most home improvement stores. Use sheeting that is ≤ 10-
ft. wide to prevent wrinkles and folds. Sheeting must be
installed over the entire area and extend at least 2-in. up the
walls. All seams must be overlapped and sealed according
to the product instructions.
Wood Substrates
All wooden suboors and substrates must be dry and
in compliance with the moisture content percent (MC-%)
for your region. Regional values are freely available by
searching “moisture map of wood” images. Test using a
non-destructive electronic moisture meter, following the
product instructions.
The suboor must comply with local building codes, have
at least 18-in. of well-ventilated air space below and have a
suitable vapor retarder to isolate the suboor from ground
cover and outdoor conditions. Wood suboors must have
a total thickness of at least 1-in. Sleepers must not make
direct contact with concrete or earth. If necessary, install an
underlayment grade plywood with a minimum thickness of
1/4-in. on the surface. The underlayment must be installed
in the opposite direction to the suboor, following ASTM
Installation Instructions
F1482 Standard Practice for Installation and Preparation of
Panel Type Underlayments to Receive Resilient Flooring.
Note: plywood is a water-sensitive suboor that may
become damaged or deformed by topical liquids. To
protect wood suboors from topical water exposure, follow
the Wet Area Guidelines below.
Radiant Heating Substrates
When installing oor covering over a substrate that
contains a radiant heating system, ensure the radiant heat
does not directly contact the oor covering and is set at the
correct “in-service” temperature for 48-hours prior, during
and after the installation. The radiant heat may be gradually
increased or decreased to maintain the correct “in-service”
site conditions.
Note: Ensure the temperature of the radiant heating system
does not exceed 85°F (29°C).
Additional Acoustic Underlayments
Additional acoustic underlayments are not recommended
or required. However, should one be used, ensure a
polycarbonate chair mat is used in all rolling chair areas.
Do not use additional acoustic underlayments in any
commercial areas.
Unsuitable Substrates
These include but are not limited to: any oating or
loose oor coverings, hardwood, carpet, cushion vinyl,
rubber, cork, foam, asphalt tile, any additional acoustic
underlayment, any substrate with visible mold, mildew,
or fungi and any substrate in wet areas, such as inside
showers and saunas. Do not install directly over any
adhesive or adhesive residue of any kind. Do not install
directly over radiant heated substrate or in recreation
vehicles, campers or boats.
Note: Existing hardwood oor coverings will swell when
exposed to moisture: vinyl oor covering may restrict the
movement of moisture in hardwood, which may result
in ooring failure, especially when installed on or below
grade. Some hardwood oor coverings may also discolor
vinyl oor covering, which is excluded from warranty
coverage. By electing to install over any existing oor
covering releases the manufacturer from any responsibility
regarding the suitability and continued performance of
that product, including any resulting eect on the new
oor covering, such as indentations and damaged locking
mechanisms.
Other Suboors/Substrates
These may be acceptable. However, they must be
smooth, at and remain dry, without contaminates and be
structurally sound.
Wet Area Guidelines
Some suboors and substrates, such as plywood, may be
sensitive to and damaged or deformed by topical liquids,