Installation Guide

REV 11.14.2019

LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETES

• Concretes in the lower end of this range are generally used for thermal

and sound insulation fills for roofs, walls, and floors. The higher

densities are used in cast-in-place walls, floors, roofs, and for

pre-cast elements.

• The minimum density of the concrete should be greater than 90lbs

per cubic foot.

• The minimum compressive strength should be 3,000 psi or greater.

• Gypsum-based concretes are not recommended.

• Wood subfloors: Should be standard double layer construction, with a

finished thickness of at least 1” and should have 18” of well-ventilated

air space underneath.

• Crawl spaces should be insulated and protected by a vapor barer. Do

not install vinyl flooring over a sleeper type subfloor, or over plywood

that is directly over a concrete slab.

NON-APPROVED SUBSTRATES

Include, but are not limited to:

• Oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard, hardboard, treated

plywood, strip wood floors, chipboard, wafer board, Masonite, knotty

plywood, glass mesh tile boards, cementitious tile backer boards, fire-

retardant or preservative-treated plywood, asphalt tile, rubber tile, self-

stick tile. NOTE: Any appearance or performance-related problems

related to the underlayment are the responsibility of the installer

and/or underlayment manufacturer.

• Quarry tile, terrazzo, and ceramic tile: Properly cleanse substrate using

a commercial degreasing/dewaxing solution. Grind any highly polished

or irregular surfaces. Fill any low spots, holes, chips and seams that

may telegraph through the new flooring.