Installation Guide

• Textured or cushion backed resilient flooring
• “Sleeper” floor systems
• Plywood floors that have been installed directly over a concrete slab
• Luan, OSB, particle or chip boards, CCA (pressure treated), oil treated or other coated plywood
• CDX or other plywood with knots or open defects
• Underlayment made of pine or other soft woods
• Masonite™ or other hardboard underlayment
• Hardwood flooring
• Paint, wax, oil, grease, residual adhesive, mold, mildew, and other foreign materials that might prevent adhesive bond
• Other uneven or unstable substrates.
Substrate Preparation
All substrates must be properly prepared and tested according to the following guidelines.
1. Concrete Subfloors
a. Shall be in accordance with ASTM F710 (latest version) Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive
Resilient Flooring.
b. All patching and leveling is to be in accordance with ASTM F2678 (latest version) Standard Practice for Preparing Panel
Underlayments, Thick Poured Gypsum Concrete Underlayments, Thick Poured Lightweight Cellular Concrete Underlayments,
and Concrete Subfloors with Underlayment Patching Compounds to Receive Resilient Flooring.
c. Concrete slab construction shall be in accordance to industry standards for specification related to concrete mix design,
curing methods and drying times to prevent moisture problems.
d. On-grade and below-grade slabs should be installed with a suitable vapor retarder directly underneath the concrete slab.
e. New concrete shall be properly cured and dried prior to the installation of floor covering. Curing agents, surface
hardeners and other membranes or compounds shall be mechanically removed immediately after initial cure to allow
the slab to properly dry before installation. Approximately 30 days per 1” of slab thickness.
f. All concrete substrates, regardless of grade or age of slab, must be properly tested using one of the methods outlined
below for warranty to apply. Acceptable test method is ASTM F 2170 In Situ Relative Humidity. Testing shall be conducted
according to the test method and instructions of the manufacturer of the testing equipment.
g. Concrete Alkalinity / pH Test shall be performed when the test site is at the same temperature and humidity expected
during normal use; or at a temperature of 65° - 80°F (18° - 26° C) and 45% - 50% humidity for minimum 48 hours prior
to testing. Using distilled water, place drops of water to form a small puddle approximately 1” in diameter.
Wait 60 seconds, and then dip a portion of the pH paper into the water. Acceptable pH levels of the concrete are
between 5 & 9 when compared to the color chart provided in the test kit.
h. Concrete surface porosity shall be tested prior to application of adhesive
i. Concrete Slab Preparation
i. Concrete slabs shall be clean prior to installing floor coverings. Remove all sealers, curing agents and
compounds, grease, oil, adhesive removers, old adhesive residue, dirt, paint, etc. to ensure a clean bond
AUGUST 2016 3
Direct Glue Flooring
Installation Instructions