Installation Instructions
Installation
Use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed maximum moisture level and pH requirements. Use of
gypsum-based patching and/or leveling compounds which contain Portland or high alumina cement and meet or exceed the
compressive strength of 3,000 psi are acceptable.
Installation Methods: Floating (on, above or below grade) / Glue Down (on,above or below grade)
Required perimeter expansion spacing for Floating or Glue Down installation is as follows:
For areas less than 2500 sq ft, use 1/4" gap
For areas larger than 2500 sq ft. use 1/2" gap.
This flooring is waterproofand 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.
Additional layer of 6 mil poly film or equal vapor retarder with a perm rating of 1 or less may be used as an additional layer of
protection.
A second underlayment is allowed under any currently sold WPC/SPC Product with attached underlayment in a residential
application. If installed over a second underlayment, this underlayment cannot be greater than 3 mm thick. IIC (ASTM E492-
09) and STC (ASTM E90-09) lab testing on certain WPC/SPC products tested with and without a second layer of underlayment,
to date, does not indicate that a second underlayment will provide additional acoustic benefit.
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. Subfloor must be flat:3/16" in 10' or 1/8" in 6'.
A. WOOD SUBFLOORS
Do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete.
Refer to ASTM F1482 for panel underlayment recommendations.
1. Do not apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.
2. 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.
3. 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. If needed add an additional
layer of APA rated underlayment, fasten and secure according to the underlayment manufacturer’s recommendations.
4. Resilient 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
NEW AND EXISTING CONCRETE SUBFLOORS SHOULD MEET THE GUIDELINES OF THE LATEST EDITION OF ACI 302
AND 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.
1. 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.
2. Concrete slabs must be dry with no visible moisture.
3. Required Moisture Testing - maximum moisture level per ASTM 1869 CaCl is 8 lbs. and ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative
Humidity90% per 1000 sq.ft. in 24 hours.
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