Installation Guide

INSTALLATION
PH
Concrete oors must be tested per the latest edition of ASTM F 710.
PH reading must not exceed 10.0.
Readings below 7.0 and in excess of 10.0 affect resilient ooring and adhesives negatively.
Rinsing the surface with clear water may lower alkalinity. “DAMP MOP”
Shaw 9050 an acrylic solution can be utilized to correct high PH readings.
NOTE: IT MAY NOT BE THE FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THESE TESTS. IT IS, HOWEVER,
THE FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THESE TESTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED, AND THAT
THE RESULTS ARE ACCEPTABLE PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE FLOOR COVERING. WHEN MOISTURE TESTS ARE
CONDUCTED, IT INDICATES THE CONDITIONS ONLY AT THE TIME OF THE TEST.
2. MATERIAL STORAGE AND HANDLING
a. Flooring material and adhesive must be acclimated to the installation area for a minimum of 48 hours prior to installation.
b. Store cartons of tile or plank products at and squarely on top of one another. Tile or plank products should be stacked no more than 6 high and allow for
air ow around stacks when un‐palletized. Preferably, locate material in the “center” of the installation area (i.e. away from vents, direct sunlight, etc.)
Storing cartons in direct sunlight may affect proper acclimation by inducing thermal expansion/contraction.
c. When palletizing on a jobsite vinyl plank or tiles need to be stacked 2 rows high side by side with no airspace between. Then quarter turned for 2 rows
side by side, not to exceed 12 boxes high. A 5/8” or thicker plywood must also be placed on the pallet rst.
d. Do not stack pallet’s 2 high unless utilizing a 1” thick plywood in between pallets.
3. SUBSTRATES
Note: All substrates to receive resilient ooring shall be dry, clean, smooth and structurally sound. They shall be f ree of
dust, solvent, paint, wax, oil, grease, residual adhesive, adhesive removers, curing, sealing, hardening/parting compounds,
alkaline salts, excessive carbonation/laitance, mold, mildew, and other foreign materials that might prevent the adhesive
from bonding.
Crumbrubberunderlayments are not an acceptable option for use with resilient oor coverings due to performance
issues resulting from chemical incompatibilities.
WOOD SUBSTRATES
Wood suboors must be structurally sound and in compliance with local building codes.
a. Double‐Layered APA rated plywood suboors should be a minimum 1" total thickness, with at least 18" well ventilated air space beneath.
b. Chip board, OSB, particleboard, construction grade plywood are generally not acceptable substrates – add a layer of APA underlayment grade ply wood
that is dimensionally stable, non‐staining, with a smooth fully sanded face.
c. Underlayment panels can onlycorrect minor deciencies in the sub‐oor while providing a smooth,sound surface on which to adhere the resilient
ooring. Wood suboors should be at – 3/16” in 10’ or 1/8” in 6’.
d. Insulate and protect crawl spaces with a vapor barrier covering the ground.
e. DO NOT install over sleeper construction suboors or wood suboors applied directly over concrete.
f. Underlayment panels can only correct minor deciencies in the sub‐oor while providing a smooth, sound surface on which to adhere the resilient
ooring.
g. Any failures in the performance of the underlayment panel rest with the panel manufacturer and not with Shaw Industries, Inc.
h. It is recommended that your chosen APA underlayment grade panels be designed for installation under resilient ooring, and carry a written warranty
covering replacement of the entire ooring system.
i. SHAW resilient ooring is not recommended directly over re‐retardant treated plywood or preservative treated plywood.
j. The materials used to treat the plywood may cause problems with adhesive bonding. An additional layer of APA rated 1/4" thick underlayment should be
installed.
k. Always follow the underlayment manufacturer’s installation instructions.
STRIP – PLANK WOOD FLOORING
Due to expansion/contraction of individual boards during seasonal changes, SHAW recommends 1/4" or thicker APA rated
underlayment panels be installed over these types of suboors.
CONCRETE
New or existing concrete suboors must meet the guidelines of the latest edition of ACI 302 and ASTM F 710, “Standard
Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring”.
1. On or below‐grade slabs must have an effective vapor retarder directly under the slab.
2. Wet curing 7 days is the preferred method for curing new concrete.
3. Curing compounds (DO NOT USE). If present they can interfere with the bond of the adhesive to the concrete. Seek assistance from a substrate
manufacturer if curing agents are detected.
2
shawoors.com
For reference purposes only if printed or downloaded.