Installation Guide

Roppe Rubber Stair Treads
Raised and Smooth Profiles
Product Data
Section 9
Resilient Flooring
Page 4 of 21 | © Roppe Corporation, Printed in the U.S.A.
Association, Underlayment Grade plywood, minimum 3/8” thick, with a fully sanded face is to be
used. Use APA approved exterior grade plywood if finished floors are subjected to moisture.
OSB, lauan, maranti, solid-core mahogany, waferboard, particleboard, chipboard, flakeboard,
tempered hardboard, glass mesh mortar units or cementitious tile backer boards, sheathing-
grade plywood, preservative-treated plywood, or fire-retardant treated plywood are not
recommended as some manufacturers may use resins or other adhesives in the manufacturing
of the product that may cause discoloration or staining of the flooring. Wood subfloor movement,
flexing or instability will cause the flooring installed to release, buckle or become distorted. Do
not proceed with the installation until corrective measures have been made. The warranties,
performance, installation, and use are the responsibility of the manufacturer and/or contractor.
DO NOT use plastic or resin filler to patch cracks. DO NOT use cement or rosin coated nails or
staples or solvent-based construction adhesive to adhere the plywood. Installation on a sleeper,
a wood subfloor system constructed over the top of concrete, is not recommended. Installation
directly over Sturd-I-Floor panels is not recommended. All wood subfloors, single construction
plywood floors, single and/or double tongue-and-groove strip floors, and wood plank floors must
be prepared to receive resilient flooring in accordance with federal and industry standards.
Follow the recommendations of the APA, The Engineered Wood Association,
Design/Construction Guide, Residential and Commercial, and ASTM F 1482, Standard Guide to
Wood Underlayment Products Available for Use Under Resilient Flooring, for the installation and
proper construction of the panels to receive resilient flooring. It is the contractor’s responsibility
to determine if the subfloor is acceptable to receive the flooring.
6.2.4 Cementitious Terrazzo and ceramic floors to be used as subfloors/substrates are to follow
the procedures recommended for concrete in 6.2.1 & 6.2.2. Ceramic tile must be solidly
adhered and all loose tiles must be removed and repaired or replaced. Ensure all glazed,
sealed, smooth, and/or shiny surfaces are properly sanded and cleaned. Fill all grout lines and
other irregularities with a manufacturer’s recommended Portland cement-based underlayment
with a minimum compressive strength of 3500 psi. The subfloor must be structurally sound.
Inspect and ensure there is an adequate bond of the old flooring to the original substrate. Do not
install over epoxy based terrazzo. Cementitious terrazzo must first be sanded to remove all
finishes, and then cleaned. Conduct a bond test with adhesive to ensue a successful bond can
be achieved before installing. Roppe will not warranty the product if there is a bond failure
caused by problems relating to the old flooring.
6.2.5 Metal floors to be used as subfloors/substrates must be thoroughly cleaned of any
residue, oil, paint, sealer, rust, and oxidation and properly sanded/grinded to provide a smooth,
level, clean substrate to receive stair treads and flooring. Metal floors and other substrates can
only be slightly flexing. Do not install over extremely flexing substrates. The stair treads and
flooring must be installed within 12 hours after sanding/grinding to prevent the metal from re-
oxidizing. The metal subfloor shall be structurally sound. Deflection of the metal can cause a
bond failure between the adhesive, Quik-Stik Adhesive Tape, ROPECC Epoxy Caulking
Compound and the metal substrate. It is the contractor’s responsibility to decide the feasibility of
the application, and Roppe Corporation will not be held liable for failures caused by flexing or