Installation Instructions

7 8
Self-Leveling Compounds
There are a large number of these products available on the market today, with
various compositions and performance characteristics. They have been recommended
by their manufacturers for smoothing rough or irregular subfloors, encapsulating
asbestos-containing flooring and adhesives, for Acoustical or for certain fire prevention
characteristics, as well as other concerns. A latex-reinforced cementitious type having a
minimum compressive strength of 3,500 PSI or greater is recommended. We do suggest
they be obtained from a quality manufacturer that provides a warranty for this product’s
use as a resilient flooring underlayment. Manufacturers such as ARDEX and MAPEI have
products that meet these criteria for self-leveling and should be contacted for further
information.
Note: All warranties and guarantees regarding the suitability and performance
of these products rests with the leveler's manufacturer or the installation
contractor, not with Tarkett
®
.
Residual Adhesives
All existing residual adhesive must be removed or covered with an approved self-leveling
compound designed for this purpose. The leveler must be recommended for use as an
underlayment for installation of Tarkett FiberFloor
®
. Manufacturers such as ARDEX and
MAPEI have products that meet these criteria for self-leveling and should be contacted
for further information.
Removal of adhesive residues over plywood is very difficult. Therefore, installation of
new underlayment is recommended. Lay thin sheets of paper over residual adhesive prior
to installing new underlayment.
Tarkett does not recommend the use of solvent-based adhesive removers. These
products leave a residue within the subfloor that can adversely affect the new adhesive
and flooring material.
WARNING!
DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEADBLAST OR MECHANICALLY
PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT OR ASPHALTIC
“CUT-BACK” ADHESIVES. THESE PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN EITHER ASBESTOS FIBERS
OR CRYSTALLINE SILICA. AVOID CREATING DUST. INHALATION OF SUCH DUST IS A
CANCER AND RESPIRATORY TRACT HAZARD. SMOKING BY INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED
TO ASBESTOS FIBERS GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS BODILY HARM.
UNLESS POSITIVELY CERTAIN THAT THE PRODUCT IS A NON-ASBESTOS CONTAINING
MATERIAL, YOU MUST PRESUME IT CONTAINS ASBESTOS. REGULATIONS MAY
REQUIRE THAT THE MATERIAL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE ASBESTOS CONTENT.
Instructions for removal of existing flooring and residual adhesives can be found in the
Recommended Work Practices Manual for the Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings. This
manual can be obtained from The Resilient Floor Covering Institute, 966 Hungerford Dr.,
Suite 12-B, Rockville, MD, [phone].
> Heating pipes must be at least 2" (50 mm) below the surface of the subfloor. If
the heating pipes are too close to the vinyl flooring, the vinyl may discolor next to
the pipe work.
> Gradually increase temperature in increments of 5° per hour.
> Flooring materials that contain thick foam inner layers or fiberglass-reinforced foam
backing may restrict the transfer of heat to the surface of the flooring.
Lightweight Concrete
Lightweight concrete substrates, either aggregate or cellular, should first be determined
as suitable for the installation of Tarkett
®
FiberFloor
®
. At minimum, lightweight aggregate
concrete should have dry densities greater than 90 lbs. per cubic foot and cellular
concrete should have wet densities over 100 lbs. or 94 lbs. dry weight per cubic foot.
Lightweight concrete may contain excessive moisture and must be tested to determine
if it is dry enough to install Tarkett FiberFloor. In locations where heavy static or
dynamic (rolling) loads will occur, concrete should be designed at the construction
planning stage to accommodate this need.
Note: Tarkett does not recommend or warrant the use of products containing
gypsum as a satisfactory underlayment for full-spread installations of
Tarkett FiberFloor.
Concrete Preparation
Prior to installation of Tarkett FiberFloor, the concrete shall be prepared in accordance
with ASTM F-710 Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring. The surface
of the concrete must be dry, clean, smooth, level and structurally sound. The slab shall
be swept, damp mopped and/or vacuumed to remove any dust. Any surface materials
present such as paint, wax, grease, oil, adhesive residues, crayon, pen marking, etc.,
that may prevent a proper adhesion or migrate to the surface of the flooring causing
discoloration, must be removed.
Fill and level any cracks, construction joints, control joints, depressions, grooves or
other irregularities with a high-quality, non-shrinking, latex-fortified, cementitious
patching compound.
Note: Tarkett does not recommend or warrant the use of any products
containing gypsum as a satisfactory patching compound for full-spread
installations of Tarkett FiberFloor. Tarkett will not accept responsibility
for flooring failures related to the use of gypsum type patching and/or
leveling compounds.
Expansion Joints
Expansion joints allow for movement between two concrete slabs. If resilient flooring
is installed over an expansion joint, adhesive bond failure, buckling and cracking of the
flooring material is likely to occur. Do not install Tarkett resilient flooring over expansion
joints. Flooring material shall be cut to either side of the joint and then covered with an
expansion joint cover. Use a cover that will provide a smooth transition and prevent a
tripping hazard.