Installation Guide

Floor Coverings” for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.
Suboor Preparation
All suboor surfaces must be at, clean, dry, smooth, and free of movement. All surface imperfections should be
lled and sanded with a Portland cement‐based latex patching compound.
Flat within 3/16” in a 10’ radius and or 1/8” in a 6’ radius. Sand high areas or joints. Fill low areas with a high com-
pressive strength Portland base compound.
Completely remove all residual adhesive with an approved method on previously covered concrete oors or
cover them with an Adhesive Encapsulator or cementitious underlayment intended for this purpose. Never use
solvent‐based adhesive removers.
Dry – Select the appropriate moisture indicator test specically designed for use with wood or concrete sub-
oors. Test and record moisture content results. DO NOT INSTALL FLOORING IF MOISTURE TEST RESULTS
EXCEED RECOMMENDED LIMITS. (WWW.RFCI.com)
Concrete Suboors
1.Concrete suboors must be dry, smooth, and free from dust, solvent, paint, wax, grease, asphalt sealingcom-
pounds, and oil or other materials. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from powder or aking. If sur-
face is dusty but meets all other requirements, use a Floor Primer to prepare the surface for adhesive
application.
2.New concrete slabs must be thoroughly dry (at least six weeks) and completely cured. Curing agents, surface-
hardeners and other additives may cause adhesive bonding failure. These should be removed by sanding or
grinding.
3. Moisture arising from new or old concrete can create high levels of moisture vapor emissions, hydrostatic
pressure, and high levels of alkalinity. This combination is highly corrosive and will damage the oor over time. To
avoid this problem, ensure that concrete suboors are constructed according to the American Concrete Institu-
tion’s guidelines (ACI’s 302.2 Guide). To check current conditions, a calcium chloride test (ASTM F1869) and a
RH test using in situ Probes (ASTM F2170) is necessary. If the level of vapor emissions / hydrostatic pressure
exceeds 6lbs and /or 90% RH, you must use a Multi-use LVT adhesive for the install. Responsibility for determin-
ing if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the ooring lies with the owner and installer.
4.If there is old adhesive present from a previous install, you must remove all surface residue. Once you remove-
all surface residue, use an Adhesive Encapsulator to prepare the suboor for the adhesive and a proper bond.
Wood Suboors
NOTE: As with many other interior nish products, modication of existing structural components may be
required for a successful installation.
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