Installation Guide

January 11, 2016
For further information please contact customer service at 1-866-843-8453 from Monday to Friday.
ELEMENTAL FLOOR-CARE BEST PRACTICES
• Sweep daily or vacuum using only vacuums without beater
bars.
• Protect the floor from tracked-in-dirt and grit particles by
using walk-off mats at all outside entrances.
• In order to prevent indentations and scratches, provide glass,
plastic or other non-staining cups with flat under surfaces not
less than 2" wide for the legs of heavy furniture or appliances.
Equip swiveled-type office chairs and other rolling furniture
with double-roll, Type-W-soft, non-staining casters. Remove
small diameter buttons from the legs of straight chairs and
replace with soft plastic or felt glider that have bearing
surfaces no less than 1" in diameter.
• When moving heavy fixtures or appliances over the flooring
always use the proper equipment to protect it from damage.
• Never use anything coarser than 3M equivalent red cleaning
pads or brushes on ELEMENTAL commercial resilient flooring
(see maintenance procedures).
• Protect your floor against burns. Burns from the glowing end
of a cigarette, matches, or other extremely hot items can
damage ELEMENTAL floors.
• Do not flood floor or subject to frequent standing water.
• Use latex backed mats. Avoid the use of rubber-backed mats
as certain rubber compounds can permanently stain vinyl.
• Only use cleaning products which are designed for Luxury
Vinyl Tile with urethane coatings.
• All ELEMENTAL floors have good resistance to stains and are
not affected by most common spills, however any spill should
be cleaned up immediately. The longer the spilled materials
are left on the floor, the greater the risk of permanently staining
the floor. For information regarding the proper method or
solution to use on a specific stain, contact customer service
at 1-866-843-8453.
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
During peak sunlight hours, the use of the drapes or blinds is
recommended. Prolonged direct sunlight can result in
discolouration, and excessive temperatures might cause tile
or planks to expand.
ELEMENTAL COMMERCIAL
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
1. Safety: When performing wet maintenance, always use
proper signage and prohibit traffic until the floor is completely
dry. Always use caution and follow electrical equipment
manufacturer’s safety instructions.
2. Initial Maintenance for a Newly Installed Floor
2.1 Allow the adhesive to cure for at least 48 hours prior to wet
cleaning the floor.
2.2 Sweep, dust mop or vacuum the floor thoroughly to remove all
loose dirt, dust, grit and debris.
• Remove any dried adhesive residue from the surface with
adhesive remover or mineral spirits applied to a clean, lint-free
cloth. Do not allow excessive amounts of solvents to sit on
the vinyl or penetrate the joints of the flooring. Note: Never
apply solvent directly to flooring!
• After 48 hours damp mop the floor using a Neutral PH Cleaner.
• If necessary, scrub the floor using an auto scrubber or rotary
machine (300 rpm or less) with Neutral PH Cleaner using the
proper dilution ratio and the appropriate scrubbing brush or
pad. Fit the buffer with a 3M equivalent red or white scrubbing
pad and work the solution over the floor.
• Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh clean water.
Remove the dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or clean mop
and allow the floor to dry completely.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
1. Stain Removal To remove stubborn spots or stains from
ELEMENTAL floors, always begin with mild cleaners such as a neutral
cleaner. If this fails to remove stain, use mineral spirits. Do not use
harsh solvents such as lacquer thinner or straight acetone, as
these can permanently soften and damage the vinyl surface.
For extreme staining such as paints, permanent markers, dyes, try
applying fingernail polish remover containing acetone (do not use
straight acetone) applied to a soft cloth and rubbing. Subsequent to
this cleaning procedure for stubborn spots, please clean the affected
area with clear water to remove any residue. Any damage resulting
from use of pure solvents IS NOT covered by warranty. Always test
stronger cleaning agents on sample pieces or in unnoticeable areas
first.
2. Daily/Routine Maintenance
• Clean entryway walk-off mats to remove dirt, grit, sand and other
contaminants from being tracked onto the floor as needed.
• Sweep, dust mop or vacuum (without beater bar assembly) the floor
thoroughly to remove all loose dirt, dust, grit and debris that can stick
to and damage the surface of the floor.
• Spills should be cleaned up immediately. Spot clean using a neutral
PH cleaner and microfibre or preferred mop.
• Damp mop the floor on a regular or daily basis using a Neutral PH
Cleaner.
3. Periodic Maintenance
• When necessary, scrub the floor using an auto scrubber or rotary
machine (300rpm or less) with a neutral cleaner, using the proper
dilution ratio. Fit the buffer with a 3M equivalent red or white scrubbing
pad and work the solution over the floor.
• Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or clean mop and allow the floor to
dry completely.
4. Floor Polish (Dressing) Solution
1. After completing steps 2.1 and 2.2 under the initial maintenance for a
newly installed floor, machine scrub the floor with a neutral PH cleaner,
using the proper dilution ratio. Fit the buffer with a 3M equivalent red
or white scrubbing pad and work the solution over the floor to remove
contamination and promote adhesion.
2. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or clean mop and allow the floor to
dry completely.
3. Using a hand held spray bottle with floor finish or spray buff product,
working in small areas (10ft x 10ft), lightly mist the floor and buff using
an auto scrubber or rotary machine (300 rpm or less) fitted with a 3M
equivalent red pad. Follow manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Daily routine and periodic maintenance should be performed as stated
in above sections.
5. Machine scrubbing should always be conducted prior to spray buffing.
5. Refurbishment
If ongoing cleaning is no longer providing a satisfactory result a thorough
cleaning, removal of polish and reapplication may be necessary.
1. Strip the entire floor according manufacturers’ instruction label.
2. Use a low speed machine (300 rpm or less), scrub the floor with a
scrubbing brush or pad equivalent to a 3M red pad.
3. Use a wet-vacuum or clean mop to remove the dirty stripping solution.
If the floor begins to dry it may be necessary to drizzle fresh clean
water onto the stripper solution to remove it.
4. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or clean mop and allow the floor to
dry completely.
5. Next, start over by following the Floor Polish solution, above.
Notes: Never use a brush or pad more aggressive than a 3M red equivalent.
Blue, green, brown and black pads will damage the surface of the floor.
Care & Maintenance