Installation Guide

4
February 19, 2019 Please contact 1-866-843-8453 for further assistance.
OLD CONCRETE
Old or existing concrete suboors may pose more of a risk than new
concrete, therefore requiring special attention. Remove existing oor
covering, all traces of old adhesives, paint, or other contaminants by
scraping, sanding, grinding, shot-blasting or scarifying the substrate.
The use of adhesive removers or solvents in the abatement or
removal of existing or old adhesives is prohibited and may void
the LVT warranty.
WARNING: ASBESTOS & SILICA – Refer to the current Resilient
Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) document “Recommended Work
Practices for Removal of Existing Resilient Floor Coverings” for
guidance.
POWER-TROWELED CONCRETE
Power-troweled concrete surfaces can be very slick, relatively non-
absorbent, and may produce surface laitance. These conditions can
have an adverse effect on the bondability of suboor preparation
materials, ooring adhesives, and therefore mechanical preparation
(such as shot-blasting or scarication) is recommended. Always
perform bond tests to determine suitability.
Lightweight Concrete: The minimum density of lightweight concrete
should be greater than 90lbs. per cubic foot, with minimum compression
strength of 2,500 psi or greater. Perform only In-Situ Relative Humidity
(RH) test in strict accordance to the latest edition of ASTM F2170.
Existing lightweight concrete or gypsum substrates may need to
be primed prior to the installation of ooring. Contact the Suboor
Preparation manufacturer for recommendations, and always perform a
bond test before proceeding. You can also contact Customer Service.
In-Floor Heating: Radiant heating systems must be cast ½" below the
surface of the concrete slab, and should be operating at least 2 weeks
before installing LVT ooring. Set the temperature of the radiant heating
system to 68°F 48 hours before, at all times during, and 72 hours after
installation. The temperature of the radiant heat oor may be gradually
increased 72 hours after installation, but the surface temperature should
never exceed 85°F. Contact the manufacturer of your radiant heating
system for further recommendations.
MOISTURE MITIGATION
Concrete suboors that exceed the maximum moisture value per
the specied adhesive must be brought into compliance prior to the
installation of LVT ooring (Refer to the adhesive manufacturer for
moisture tolerances). Due to the complexities associated with concrete
moisture vapor emissions and movement of soluble salts in concrete
suboors, a specic product is not warranted. The use of products that
meet the criteria listed in ASTM F3010 (Standard Practice for Two-
Component Resin Based Membrane-Forming Moisture Mitigation
Systems for Use Under Resilient Floor Coverings) are recommended.
Refer to recommended Suboor Preparation Materials under the
“Suboor Preparation” section in this document.
WOOD SUBFLOORS
GENERAL CONDITIONS
LVT is recommended for use on suspended wood suboors. Wood
suboors should have standard, double-layer construction with a
minimum total thickness of at least 1" (25mm). As a nish layer, use
minimum ¼" (6mm) thick, APA-rated “underlayment grade” plywood
with a fully sanded face, or other underlayment panel that is appropriate
and warranted for the intended use. Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Wood suboors must be sturdy, sound, and at within 3/16" in a 10-foot
radius, and should not slope more than 1" per 6 ft. in any direction, with
a minimum 18" (45cm) of well- ventilated air space underneath. Crawl
spaces should be insulated and protected by a vapor barrier. Do not
install LVT ooring over a sleeper type suboor, or over plywood that
is in direct contact with a concrete slab. All wood substrates must meet
national and local building code requirements. Test wood suboors
and underlayment panels using a suitable wood-moisture meter. The
maximum moisture content is 14%, and the readings between the
suboor and underlayment panels should be within 3% prior to installing
the underlayment panels.
UNDERLAYMENT PANELS:
Underlayments for resilient ooring must be:.
• Structurally sound
• Specically designed and warranted for resilient ooring
• A minimum of ¼" (6mm) thick
• Of a smooth surface, so as to prevent telegraphing
• Able to resist indentations
• Free of any substances that may cause ooring to stain
Plywood: Use only American Plywood Association (APA) rated
underlayment grade plywood, with a minimum grade of “BB” or “CC”,
and minimum ¼" thickness. Allow expansion spacing between plywood
butt joints of 1/32"–1/16", or follow manufacturer’s instructions. When
installing underlayment, stagger cross-joints 4' on an 8' panel (minimum
16"), lightly butt the panels, and set fasteners ush or slightly below
the surface level of the underlayment. Fill underlayment seams, nail
holes, and any indentations with an approved Portland Cement-type
oor patch, allow recommended drying time, and sand the patch until
smooth. Otherwise, use manufacturer-certied poplar, birch, and spruce
plywood underlayment, with a fully sanded face and exterior glue. All
dust must be COMPLETELY removed to ensure a strong adhesive
bond. Vacuum or sweep thoroughly, then apply adhesive.
Lauan Plywood: Use only Type 1 lauan exterior grade “BB” or
“CC” for underlayment. The use of lesser grades of lauan plywood
is unacceptable, and may cause severe problems when used as an
underlayment, including: discoloration, indentation, loss of bond, and
delamination.
NOTE: The use of lauan plywood and other extremely porous
wood underlayments will reduce the ash and working time of
adhesives. It is best to apply an acrylic-based primer-sealer to
any porous substrate prior to installing LVT. A manufacturer’s
certication of lauan grade must accompany any claim involving
the use of a lauan underlayment.
UNAPPROVED SUBSTRATES
Remove the oors listed below and refer to the appropriate “General
Conditions” subsection under the “Concrete Suboors” and “Wood
Suboors" sections. For glued-down oors, remove old adhesive
before installing LVT. Encapsulate adhesive and cutback residue.
Any appearance- or performance-related issues associated with the
underlayment are the responsibility of the ooring contractor and/or
underlayment manufacturer.
• Asphalt Tile
• Carpeting/Carpet Pad
• Cementitious Tile Backer
Boards
• Chipboard
• Cushion-Back Sheet Vinyl
• Floating Floors
• Glass Mesh Tile Boards
• Hardiboard
• Hardwood
• Hardwood/Engineered
Hardwood Over Concrete
• Masonite
• OSB
• Parquet
• Particleboard
• Plywood - Fire-Retardant
• Plywood - Knotty
• Plywood - Preservative-
Treated / Treated
• Rubber Tile
• Self-Stick Tile
• Sleeper Substrates
• Strip Wood
Product Description
Dryback LVT/LVP
Installation Method
Glue Down