Installation Guide

Due to ALTERNA’s large format and increased thickness, extra care is required in handling and storage to keep the
product from becoming damaged or distorted. Always store the product on a flat surface. Temperature control and
subfloor flatness are important in the prevention of raised or curled edges, and performance of the grouted joints.
Maintain the temperature of the room, subfloor, tile and adhesive at a minimum of 65°F (18°C) and a maximum of
85°F (29°C) for 48 hours prior to installation, during installation, and for 48 hours after installation. Maintain a
minimum room temperature of 55°F (13°C) thereafter.
CAUTION: Do not use high temperature heat sources to aid in cutting or making the tile conform to
irregularities in the substrate. Multi-layered engineered tile structures such as ALTERNA can warp or curl
after significant heating from sources such as hot plates and heat guns. Condition the room and all flooring
materials to the temperature guidelines stated above. If you must warm the tile, always heat from the back and
limit the temperature of the tile to warm conditions- less than 110°F (43°C).
When using tile from two or more cartons, check to be sure all pattern and lot numbers are the same to ensure proper
color match. On larger installations, open several cartons and mix them as they are installed to help blend any slight
shade differences from one carton to the next. For best appearance, the directional arrows on the back of
ALTERNA must be randomized when laying the tile (rather than aligned in one direction or in a forced
turnblock layout).
Suitable Substrates:
All substrates listed below must be properly prepared and meet the requirements discussed in Chapter 3, Subfloors and
Underlayments. There may be certain exceptions and special conditions for these substrates to be suitable for
ALTERNA Flooring installation. All subfloors must be minimum 1” in thickness.
 Concrete (on all grade levels)
 Approved Suspended Wood Underlayments
 Most Single-layer, Fully Adhered, Existing Resilient Floors (on approved subfloors and underlayments)
 Ceramic Tile, Terrazzo, Marble
 Properly mixed and applied powder underlayments and embossing levelers
 Polymeric Poured (seamless) Floors
 S-1841 Quiet Comfort underlayment
 Can be installed over the following subfloors when using S-1841 Quiet Comfort
Underlayment
 Particleboard, waferboard, OSB or single-layer Sturd-I-Floor panels
 Existing Resilient Tile Floors that are Below Grade
 Existing cushion-backed vinyl flooring
Job Conditions/Preparation:
 Resilient flooring should only be installed in temperature-controlled environments. It is necessary to maintain a
constant temperature before, during and after the installation. Therefore, the permanent or temporary HVAC system
must be in operation before the installation of resilient flooring. Portable heaters are not recommended as they may
not heat the room and subfloor sufficiently. Kerosene heaters should never be used.
 The surface shall be free of dust, solvents, varnish, paint, wax, oil, grease, sealers, curing compounds, residual
adhesive, adhesive removers and other foreign materials that might affect the adhesion of resilient flooring to the
substrate or cause a discoloration of the flooring from below. Spray paints, permanent markers and other indelible ink
markers must not be used to write on the back of the flooring material or used to mark the substrate as they could
bleed through, telegraphing up to the surface and permanently staining the flooring material. If these contaminants are
present on the substrate they must be mechanically removed prior to the installation of the flooring material.
 All substrates must be flat. Variations in flatness must not exceed 1/16" (1.6 mm) in 1' (30.5 cm) or 3/16" (4.8 mm) in