Installation Instructions

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Chapter 2: Subfloors and Underlayments
The innovative construction of Tarkett
®
FiberFloor
®
products and the “glueless”
installation system allow for minimal substrate preparation. This system allows the
flooring to bridge most substrate irregularities. However, some installations may
require more substrate preparation. Height differences greater than 1/32" or wider
than 1/4" will require preparation work to smooth and level these areas.
It is the responsibility of the installer to determine the suitability of the substrate
and any required preparation work necessary to ensure a successful installation.
Grade Levels
Suspended – An acceptable suspended floor
is a concrete or wood substrate with a minimum
of 18" (460 mm) of well-ventilated air space
below. It is recommended that a 10-mil
polyethylene moisture vapor barrier be placed
upon the ground beneath the air space.
On grade – An acceptable on-grade floor
is a concrete substrate in direct contact
with the ground or over a fill in direct contact
with the ground. Properly constructed, the
concrete slab will be suitably protected from
moisture penetration by planned water
drainage and an installed proven moisture
vapor barrier.
Below grade – An acceptable below grade floor is a concrete substrate partially or
completely in contact with the ground below the average surrounding grade level.
Properly constructed, the concrete slab will be suitably protected from moisture
penetration by planned water drainage and an installed proven moisture vapor barrier.
The drawing above displays these three types:
Definitions
Subfloor: Provides structure and support for the underlayment.
Underlayment: The smooth surface, which the floor covering is to be installed upon.
Subfloor/Underlayment System: The required surface that provides both structure and
support with the necessary smooth surface for resilient floor coverings. These systems
must have 1" total thickness and double-layered construction.
Sleeper: Construction of a wood subfloor system over the top of a concrete substrate.
Although some of these may provide adequate support, due to the possibility of moisture
transmission from the concrete substrate they are not recommended as a substrate for
fully adhered installations of Tarkett FiberFloor.
Chapter 1: Introduction
All Tarkett
®
FiberFloor
®
products are composed of the highest quality raw materials
available and are manufactured under strict production control. Tarkett products are
manufactured to conform fully to federal and ASTM specifications.
Top quality material is only half of the story. A floor covering’s beauty and serviceability
is also dependent on installation over a suitable substrate. By carefully following these
instructions, it should be a simple matter to make each installation of Tarkett resilient
flooring a job we can all be proud of.
This installation manual is written primarily to serve as a ready reference for those
already experienced in the installation of flooring products or similar materials.
However, beginners will find this to be a source of information and a handy one-source
reference. Installation materials and procedures are updated regularly to reflect industry
trends, thus we strongly recommend you obtain the latest edition of this manual.
Tarkett’s pledge is to provide a full line of first quality floor coverings for our customers.
As part of our pledge, our flooring products are covered by extensive warranties
against manufacturing defects. Any warranty is only as good as the job planning and
the installation that is performed. Tarkett recognizes the importance of the dealer and
installer, and the part they play in the warranty coverage of our flooring products. Our
commitment is to provide these important parties through this book with the knowledge
to install our products correctly, make available technical assistance through the Tarkett
Installation Services Department, as well as the benefits of our residential installation
clinics.
A technical representative from Installation Services can be contacted at these numbers:
> United States – 1-877-TARKETT (1-877-827-5388)
> Canada – 1-877-436-6267
Visit our website at: tarkettna.com