Installation Instructions

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
These installation guidelines apply to vinyl tile products only.
All instructions and recommendations should be followed for a
satisfactory installation.
• The floor covering should be stored and installed in a climate
controlled location with an average temperature between 65°
- 85°F - 18°-29°C.
• Acclimate material a minimum of 48 hours prior to installation
in the room/ location where the installation will take place.
• Do not store directly on concrete, allow for air circulation.
Do not open the cartons but spread them out and protect
corners from damage.
• Failure to follow these guidelines may result in an installation
failure (i.e. flooring may expand or contract, resulting in
gapping). Vinyl tile is an interior product and must be installed
in a temperature- controlled environment, maintained
between 65 and 85 degrees F - 18°-29°C. Please keep in mind
a concrete floor can be up to ten degrees colder than the
actual room temperature.
• Regardless of new construction or remodeling projects, keep
flooring stored in rooms that are not being worked in and
only install product after all other trades have completed
work that could damage the flooring.
• To minimize shade variation, mix and install planks from several
cartons.
• Inspect all planks for damage before installing. If you have
any concerns about the product fit or finish, call Shaw
Information Services at 1-800-441-7429. Claims will not
be accepted for flooring that has been cut to size and/or
installed.
• All subfloor patching must be done with a Portland based
compound and allowed to dry completely prior to installing
flooring.
• Installation – This product can be installed on, above, or
below grade.
• Fold-n-GO™ patented locking technology is water/moisture
resistant and reliably secures the flooring panels on all four
sides. However, excessive moisture in the subfloor could
promote mold, mildew, and other moisture related issues like
the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which
may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment.
• Vinyl tile is not warranted for damage to floor covering due to
moisture-related issues.
Tools: Tape Measure, Utility Knife, Tapping Block, Pull Bar, ¼"
Spacers, T-Square, Safety Glasses, Broom or Vacuum and, if
necessary, tools for subfloor repair.
II. SUBFLOOR INFORMATION
All subfloors must be clean, flat, dry and structurally sound. The
correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a successful
installation. Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor may
telegraph through the new floor covering, resulting in an unsightly
surface and may cause excessive wear on high spots. Subfloor
must be flat – 3/16" in 10' or 1/8" in 6'.
CAUTION: Some types of nails, such as common steel nails, may
cause discoloration of the vinyl floor covering. Recommendations
for attaching underlayment panels are not included. Solvent based
construction adhesives are known to stain vinyl floor coverings. All
responsibility for discoloration problems caused by the use of the
above mentioned products is not the responsibility of Shaw, but
rests with the installer and the underlayment panel manufacture.
A. Wood Subfloors
1. Do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly
on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used
over concrete.
2. Do not apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.
3. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil
black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl
space earth. Crawl space clearance from ground to underside
of joist is to be no less than 18” and perimeter vent spacing
should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of
the crawl space area to provide cross ventilation. Where
necessary, local regulations prevail.
4. All other subfloors - Plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard,
wafer board, etc. must be structurally sound and must be
installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations.
Local building codes may only establish minimum
requirements of the flooring system and may not provide
adequate rigidity and support for proper installation and
performance.
5. If the surface of the wood subfloor is not smooth, a 1/4"
underlayment panel must be installed over the subfloor, per
the underlayment manufacturer’s written instructions.
6. flooring is not recommended directly over fire-retardant
treated plywood or preservative treated plywood. An
additional layer of APA rated 1/4" thick underlayment should
be installed.
B. Concrete Subfloors
1. New and existing concrete subfloors should meet the
guidelines of the latest edition of ASTM F 710, “Standard
Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient
Flooring” available from the American Society for Testing and
Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA
19428; 610-832-9585; http://www.astm.org
2. Floors shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free all
foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease,
oils, and old adhesive residue. The surface must be hard and
dense, and free from powder or flaking.
3. New concrete slabs must be dry. Maximum moisture level per
CaCl test method is 8 lbs. per 1000 in 24 hr. Maximum level
for ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative humidity test method - 85%.
4. Do not install over concrete with a history of high moisture or
hydrostatic conditions.
5. Maximum acceptable ph level of 9 or less
6. The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is
dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor
covering installer.
7. Holes, grooves, expansion joints and other depressions
must be filled with a Portland based patching and leveling
product, and troweled smooth and feathered even with the
surrounding surface.
Radiant Heat: Radiant heat components must have a minimum
of 1/2" separation from the product. This is the only type of
radiant heat system that is approved. Radiant heat system must
be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation
to reduce residual moisture within the concrete. Three days
prior to installation lower the temperature to 65 degrees, after
installation gradually increase the temperature in increments
of 5° F to avoid overheating. Maximum operating temperature
should never exceed 85°F. Use of an in-floor temperature sensor
is recommended to avoid overheating.
! WARNING! DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE,
DRILL, SAW, BEADBLAST OR MECHANICALLY CHIP OR
PULVERIZE EXISTING VINYL TILE FLOORING, BACKING,
LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVES OR OTHER
ADHESIVES.
These products may contain either asbestos fibers and/or
crystalline silica. 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 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 the removal and
disposal of material. See current edition of the Floor Covering
Institute (FCI) publication Recommended Work Practices for
Removal of Vinyl Tile Floor Coverings for detailed information
INSTALLATION GUIDELINES FOR LANSBURY VINYL TILE