Installation Guide

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ALTERNA ENGINEERED Tiles & Plank

Installation System

Product

Gauge

Size

Adhesive

Comment

ALTERNA

ALTERNA RESERVE

ALTERNA PLANK

0.160″ (4.1 mm)

8"x8" (20.3 cm x 20.3 cm)

8"x16"(20.3 cm x 40.6 cm)

12"x12"(30.5 cm x 30.5 cm)

12"x24"(30.5 cm x 61 cm)

16″x16″(40.6 cm x40.6 cm)

6”x36” (15.2 cm x 91.4 cm)

S-288

For grouted

installation use

Armstrong S-693

FlexStrong™ Grout

Premixed Sanded

Acrylic Grout

Installation:

Location: All grade levels

Method: Tight fit or groutable

*Multiple tile size installations/Basketweave single tile installation require a 1/8” grout line for installation.

Non-grouted installations are not recommended for multiple tile size installations.

WARNING: EXISTING IN-PLACE RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING AND ASPHALTIC

ADHESIVES. DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEADBLAST, OR

MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING,

LINING FELT OR ASPHALTIC “CUT-BACK” ADHESIVES.

These existing in- place products may contain asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica

refer to the caution section below.

Avoid creating dust, inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard.

Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious

bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the existing in-place product is a non-

asbestos-containing material, you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may

require that the material be tested to determine asbestos content and may govern

removal and disposal of material. See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering

Institute publications recommended work practices for removal of resilient floor

coverings for instructions on removing all resilient floor covering structures. Contact

your retailer or Armstrong Flooring Inc. 1 800 233 3823 for questions.

The floor covering in this package does NOT contain asbestos.

General Information:

ALTERNA tile can be installed by two installation methods. It can be installed with a standard butt fit as in traditional

resilient tile installations; or, ALTERNA can be spaced and grouted with Armstrong S-693 FlexStrong Grout,

Premixed Sanded Acrylic Grout. Both methods require the use of Armstrong S-288 Flooring Adhesive.

For a grouted installation, the tiles should be laid with a grout joint spacing of 1/16" (1.6 mm) to 1/4" (6.4 mm)

utilizing tile spacers designed for this purpose. Because of the rounded edges, the appearance of the finished grout joint

will be approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm) wider than the actual tile spacing.

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
ALTERNA ENGINEERED Tiles & Plank Installation System Product Gauge Size Adhesive Comment 8"x8" (20.3 cm x 20.3 cm) 8"x16"(20.3 cm x 40.6 cm) ALTERNA 12"x12"(30.5 cm x 30.5 cm) ALTERNA RESERVE S-288 0.160″ (4.1 mm) 12"x24"(30.5 cm x 61 cm) ALTERNA PLANK 16″x16″(40.6 cm x40.6 cm) For grouted installation use Armstrong S-693 FlexStrong™ Grout Premixed Sanded Acrylic Grout 6”x36” (15.2 cm x 91.
PAGE 2
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.
PAGE 3
            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.
PAGE 4
cm) tile] to balance the layout. After you have balanced the room to achieve larger pieces at the borders, make two new perpendicular lines on the subfloor intersecting at the new starting point near the center of the room. Normally you will apply adhesive to 1/4 or 1/2 of the room area at a time so that you can start the installation where the guidelines intersect. Begin at the starting point and install the tile along the chalk lines, laying the field area first in step fashion.
PAGE 5
Avoid having border pieces less than 2" (5.1cm) wide for the 4" (10.2cm) wide planks and less than 3" (7.6cm) wide for the 6" (15.2cm) wide planks. If you find the border planks will be less than 1/2 the width of the plank, the center starting line should be shifted a distance equal to 1/2 the plank width. This will "balance" the room and provide for a larger cut piece at the wall. Apply S-288 adhesive to 1/2 of the area at a time so that you can start the installation along the center starting line.
PAGE 6
Warning  Do not wash or scrub the new flooring for at least 5 days after installation  Do NOT use solvents or grout haze removers          Do NOT use Armstrong New Beginning® Floor Stripper or other floor strippers to clean the grout or maintain Alterna Only use Armstrong Premixed Sanded Acrylic Grout S-693 Tile maybe walked on immediately however, NO heavy rolling traffic for an additional 72 hours after installation Use pieces of hardboard or underlayment panels to protect the floor when movin