Installation Guide

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Problem:
Product is well bonded in some areas but not in others:
Causes:
• Since adhesives do not fail selectively, you must look elsewhere for the cause.
• Spreading more glue than can be covered with product in the allowed amount of time (this will occur
mostly with wet-set adhesives).
• Improper rolling in areas or rolling too late.
• Some underlayment panels may absorb adhesive liquids faster than others.
• Areas most recently laid will bond well into fresh adhesive application. While initially laid areas will not
bond as well in dried adhesive, even if rolled.
• Moisture present; Moisture can be present in only one part of a subfloor resulting in initial failure of
adhesive to cure properly, or later problems related to hydrostatic pressure.
• Wrong or worn trowels, varying spread angles can cause inconsistent adhesive applications and often
inadequate spread rates.
Problem:
Trowel marks telegraphing through the tile:
Causes:
• Adhesive was allowed to dry or skin over prior to laying tiles. In many cases this will take place with wet-
set adhesive.
• Improper rolling, rolling too late or not rolling at all.
Problem:
Gapping between the tiles after installation:
Causes:
• Tiles were not acclimated to job site. Tiles were installed while warm and began contracting as they
cooled and before adhesive was able to set up.
• Tile was installed at warm room temperature. Tiles began to contract as air conditioner comes on and
adhesive was not allowed to set up properly.
• Installation was not properly rolled or not rolled at all. This will result in a poor bond between product and
substrate.
Problem:
Adhesive not drying and curing properly:
Causes:
• Moisture present in subfloor
• Subfloor and/or ambient temperature too low
• Using a wet-set adhesive over a non-porous subfloor
• Old cutback or other adhesive residues from prior installations leaching through subfloor and breaking
down adhesive.
• Contaminants on the subfloor (waxes, oils, solvents, etc.) attacking adhesive and breaking it down.