Installation Guide
10' (3.05 m). Fill low areas in the substrate with S-194 Patch, Underlayment & Embossing Leveler/S-195
Underlayment Additive.
Because of ALTERNA’s size and stiffness, when using the grouted installation method, suspended wood subfloors
and underlayments must have a total thickness of 1" (2.5 cm) and a minimum 18" (45.7 cm) well-ventilated air space
below. Joist spacing should be on 16" (40.6 cm) centers to minimize subfloor deflection.
In renovation or remodel work, remove any existing adhesive residue* so that no ridges or puddles are evident and
what remains is a thin, smooth film.
Allow all flooring materials and adhesives to condition to the room temperature for a minimum of 48 hours before
starting the installation.
The area to receive the resilient flooring and the flooring materials and adhesives should be maintained at a minimum
of 65°F (18°C) and maximum of 85°F (29°C) for 48 hours prior to installation, during installation and for 48 hours
after completion. Maintain a minimum temperature of 55°F (13°C) thereafter.
For concrete substrates, conduct moisture testing (moisture vapor emission rate [MVER]) and/or percent relative
humidity (in-situ probe). Bond tests must also be conducted for compatibility with the substrate. Please refer to
Chapter 3, Subfloors and Underlayments.
Radiant heated substrates must not exceed a maximum surface temperature of 85°F (29°C).
Because of ALTERNA’s size and stiffness, when using the grouted installation method, suspended wood
subfloors and underlayments must have a total thickness of 1" (2.5 cm) and a minimum 18" (45.7 cm)
well-ventilated air space below. Joist spacing should be on 16" (40.6 cm) centers to minimize subfloor
deflection.
In renovation or remodel work, remove any existing adhesive residue* so that no ridges or puddles are
evident and what remains is a thin, smooth film.
Allow all flooring materials and adhesives to condition to the room temperature for a minimum of 48
hours before starting the installation.
The area to receive the resilient flooring and the flooring materials and adhesives should be maintained at
a minimum of 65°F (18°C) and maximum of 85°F (29°C) for 48 hours prior to installation, during
installation and for 48 hours after completion. Maintain a minimum temperature of 55°F (13°C) thereafter.
For concrete substrates, conduct moisture testing (moisture vapor emission rate [MVER]) and/or percent
relative humidity (in-situ probe). Bond tests must also be conducted for compatibility with the substrate.
Please refer to Chapter 3, Subfloors and Underlayments.
Radiant heated substrates must not exceed a maximum surface temperature of 85°F (29°C
Adhesive
Trowel
Porous and Non-Porous
S-288
S-891 Fine notch Trowel 1/32” x
1/16” X 5/64”
(0.8mm x 1.6mm x 2mm)
Dry to touch- 30 min. or more
Layout
Before installing the ALTERNA Tile Installation System, plan the layout so the tile joints fall at least 6" (15.2 cm)
away from subfloor/underlayment joints. Do not install over expansion joints. When installing over an existing
resilient floor, plan the layout so the new tile joints are a minimum of 6" (15.2 cm) away from the original seams.
When installing over tile floors, avoid having the tile joints in the same area as the joints in the existing flooring.
Taking the most prominent walls in the room into consideration, find the center point in the room. Divide the room
into equal quadrants by making two perpendicular lines on the subfloor intersecting at the center point. Starting from
the center point, and either by measurements, or by doing a dry layout of the tiles (with proper grout joint spacing),
determine the distance between the last full tile and the perimeter walls and cabinets. A balanced layout will result in
border tiles being 8" (20.3 cm) or greater for the 16" x 16" (40.6 cm x 40.6 cm) tiles.
If the border pieces are less than 8" (20.3 cm) wide, particularly at the prominent walls, you will need to shift the
starting point in the middle of the room 1/2 the dimension of the tile [8" (20.3 cm) for a 16" x 16" (40.6 cm x 40.6