Use and Care Guide

5
rights, the remedies provided in the above warranties state the limit of
Congoleum Corporation’s responsibility.
No representative, employee, or agent of Congoleum is authorized to
modify or change the limited warranties as stated herein.
contact us
If you have any questions regarding your new Congoleum floor, need
additional maintenance information or require any other assistance,
please call Congoleum Consumer Information at 609-584-3000,
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. or go to our
website at www.congoleum.com.
Thank you for choosing Congoleum.
caring for your floor
immediately after installation
■ Protect and do not disturb the sealed seams on your resilient sheet
flooring for at least 16 hours after seam sealer application to ensure
a proper seam bond.
■ Keep traffic to a minimum during the first 24 hours to allow the
adhesive to harden. Then open to light foot traffic only for the next
24 hours. Resume normal traffic after 48 hours.
■ Furniture should not be placed on the floor for 24 hours so the
adhesive (and grout, if applicable), have adequate time to dry.
■ Always move heavy furniture and appliances with care
to avoid gouging or tearing the floor. First, lay strips of
plywood or hardboard panels on the floor. Then roll, “walk” or slide
these items on the strips. Do not push or pull appliances and heavy
furniture without taking these precautions.
■ Wash your floor using Congoleum Bright ’N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner
or other suitable floor cleaner 48 hours after installation.
■ Immediately after the installation of a Connections floor:
• Keep the room temperature between 65° and 85°F for at least
48 hours after installation. Maintain the room temperature between
55° and 85°F thereafter.
• Do not wash or scrub Connections flooring for at least 5 days after
installation. This allows the adhesive bond to develop by prevent-
ing moisture and cleaning agents from interfering with the bonding
process. Spot cleaning is acceptable, but do not apply excess
moisture or cleaning solution.
Caution: Resilient flooring, like other types of smooth floors, can
become slippery when wet. Allow time for the floor to dry after
washing. Immediately wipe up wet areas from spills or wet feet.
Place mats at outside entrances to prevent water, snow or ice from
being tracked onto your floor. Improper polishes or finishes can also
cause slipperiness.
preventative care
■ Make sure furniture legs have large surface, nonstaining floor
protectors. Replace small, narrow metal or dome-shaped glides with
smooth, flat glides, that are flat on the floor. Glides should be
equipped with self-adhesive felt pads to avoid scratching the
surface of the floor. The pads should be checked periodically for grit
and wear and replaced when necessary.
■ Heavy furniture or appliances should be equipped with flat,
nonstaining composition furniture casters or cups of appropriate
size - available square from 1 1/2” to 2 5/8” and round from 1 3/8”
to 1 5/8”.
■ Moveable appliances and furniture should be equipped with easily
swiveling casters. They should be at least 2” in diameter with non-
staining hard rubber treads with a minimum 3/4” flat surface width.
Do not use ball-shaped casters.
■ Place mats at outside entrances to prevent dirt, grit and soil from
being tracked onto your floor. If you use mats on your floor, use
100% latex-backed mats (labeled nonstaining), because some
rubber-backed mats or carpets may permanently discolor your floor.
■ To help prevent staining from asphalt tracking, we recommend the
use of a latex-based driveway sealer.
■ Draw drapes and blinds during peak periods of strong
sunlight. Flooring, like other home furnishing products, may discolor
or fade when over-exposed to the sun.
■ Heat-producing appliances such as a refrigerator or range, or hot air
registers emitting a direct flow of heat in excess of
120° F, even intermittently, can scorch, burn, discolor or fade your
floor. Cigarettes, matches and other very hot objects can also
damage your floor.
■ Avoid wearing stiletto or spiked heels on your floor. These types
of heels can indent or damage many types of floors.
■ DO NOT USE STEAM CLEANERS ON CONGOLEUM FLOORS, they
can permanently damage the floor.
regular care (all products)
■ Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and grit that can abrade,
dull or scratch your floor. Do not use a vacuum with a beater brush,
because it may damage the floor’s surface.
■ Wipe up spills promptly with a damp cloth or mop.
■ For a more thorough cleaning, wash your floor with Congoleum
Bright ’N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner or other suitable, non-detergent
based resilient floor cleaner.
Caution: Avoid one-step “mop and polish” products, dishwashing
liquids and oil-based cleaners. These may leave a residue which can
attract dirt and dull your floor’s finish. Avoid cleaners that
contain abrasives or solvents which may permanently damage
your floor.
■ Remove excess water after washing the floor.
■ A copolymer or acrylic grout sealer compatible with acrylic grouts
may be used on DuraCeramic Grout. Do not use a penetrating
silicone sealer on the grout.
■ The gloss level may change over time depending on the amount
of traffic, care, and maintenance the floor receives. To restore the
appearance, first use Congoleum Bright ’N Easy Polish Remover to
remove any ground-in dirt and excess polish buildup. Rinse
thoroughly. Then apply Congoleum Bright ’N Easy Floor Polish
(03002) to obtain a high-gloss finish or Congoleum Bright ’N
Easy Satin-Gloss Floor Polish (03007) to obtain a satin-gloss or
natural-gloss finish. Do not apply polish to Ultima, DuraCeramic,
DuraCeramic Options, DuraPlank ll, DuraStone, AirStep Evolution or
AirStep Plus.
care for alternatives, choices and cx series
These products require a polish to seal and protect the color and design.
A minimum of two coats of polish for residential use and three to five
coats for commercial use is required.
Initial Residential Maintenance
After the floor has been installed and the adhesive has dried
(48 hours), initial maintenance MUST BE performed on your Alternatives,
Choices or CX Series floor. If these instructions are not followed,
permanent staining may occur.
■ Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt.
■ If needed, after installation use lighter fluid applied with a clean cloth
to remove scuff marks and adhesive residue. Keep traffic off treated