Installation Guide

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Sealers:

Shaw does not endorse any concrete or floor sealers against moisture. IF MOISTURE IS PRESENT, DO

NOT INSTALL FLOOR. Some sealers will protect the installation against alkalinity. Some also serve as a

barrier between old and new adhesives to deaden old adhesive tack, prevent plasticizer migration and

seal over dust or old cutback adhesives. Most latex- and acrylic-based sealers are compatible with Shaw

adhesives. Apply sealers to the floor according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure to apply the

product evenly across the entire surface of the floor. There must be no gaps in the installation. Allow

sealer to dry completely before applying adhesive.

NOTE: Shaw warranties its Tile and Adhesives to be free of defects. The condition of a

subfloor, which causes adhesion problems due to not recommended, improper, incorrectly

prepared sealers, embossing leavers, patches, concrete, gypsum based products ect,

becomes the sole responsibility of the installer and/or manufacturer of the particular sub-

flooring product.

Existing Resilient Floors:

When installing Shaw floor tile where there is an existing resilient floor, it may be best to remove the

present floor and prepare the structural floor for a fresh application of the Shaw.

If existing resilient tile and sheet vinyl floors are in good condition and thoroughly bonded to the structural

floor, it may be possible to install. The exception is that any tile or sheet that is a cushion construction

must be removed. Note: A layer of resilient or soft underlayments like lauan may compromise the

inherent strength of Shaw Tiles and Planks to resist indentations. Do not install over more than one layer

of existing flooring.

Note: The use of levelers on non-porous subfloors will not create a porous subfloor.

Existing tile or sheet resilient floor must be stripped using Shaw approved stripper to remove wax or

other contamination and rinsed with clear water and allowed to dry. This is also the case when new sheet

vinyl is used. Very smooth or high-gloss floors need to be lightly abraded to rough up the surface to

allow proper adhesive bonding.

In some areas it has become common to use underlayment. Call Shaw Technical Support for special

requirements for such products.

Quarry Tile, Terrazzo, 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. Test for porosity and use the appropriate adhesive application method. Bond tests are required.

Moisture and PH Testing:

A moisture test should be done several days before installation. The installer is responsible for moisture

testing. Shaw recommends all concrete subfloors (new and old) be tested using Calcium Chloride Test

ASTM F1869.Unacceptable results using this method would be over 5 lbs for 24 hours per 1000 square

feet. Electronic meter testing is not considered a replacement for a Calcium Chloride Test; the following

moisture readings are just an indication that a Calcium Chloride test should be performed.

Concrete subfloors must have moisture barriers installed under the slab and be determined, through

testing, to be dry and not subject to water absorption.

For more information about moisture problems and moisture testing, refer to MOISTURE GUIDELINES

FOR THE FLOOR COVERING INDUSTRY available from the World Floor Covering Association, at 1-800-

624-6880.