Installation Guide

Approved Substrates
The following are approved substrates for installation of STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product. See the next section for proper
testing and substrate preparation prior to installing your STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product.
• All substrates regardless of composition must be smooth and flat to within 3/16” (4.76mm) or achieve an “F32” rating
by use of mechanical grinding/sanding or suitable Portland cement-based patching and leveling compounds.
• APA registered underlayment, sanded face exterior grade with minimum rating of C-C plugged face
• APA registered exterior grade plywood sanded face with ratings as follows: APA A-B, A-C, B-B, B-C, C-C plugged face
• Single layer Sturd-I-Floor® (or equivalent) rated panels (minimum 23/32” thickness) with sanded face. Check for
jobsite damage before using as underlayment if panels were exposed to construction traffic or weather prior to installation.
• APA Trademarked Oriented Strand Board (OSB) of minimum ¾” thickness, properly installed according to manufacturer’s
and/or APA guidelines
• APA Trademarked underlayment veneer panels
• Properly prepared and well bonded existing resilient floor covering
• Cement Terrazzo, Epoxy terrazzo, ceramic tile, marble – must be properly prepared; all grouts are patched with
appropriate patching compounds or leveler.
• Certain metal floors – all gaps are patched with appropriate patching compounds or leveler.
• Old adhesive residue
• Radiant heated floors where heat does not exceed 90°F (32°C)
The following are not approved substrates for installing STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product:
• Rubber, cork or asphalt tiles
• Textured or cushion backed resilient flooring
• “Sleeper” floor systems
• Plywood floors that have been installed directly over a concrete slab
• Luan, particle or chip
• Masonite™ or other hardboard underlayment
• CCA (pressure treated), oil treated or other coated plywood
• CDX or other plywood with knots or open defects
• Underlayment made of pine or other soft woods
• Hardwood flooring
• Paint, wax, oil, grease, residual adhesive, mold, mildew, and other foreign materials that might prevent floating
planks and tiles from natural movement
• Other uneven or unstable substrates.
SUBFLOOR INFORMATION
Although STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product is designed to be a “floating” floor installation, proper preparation of the
subfloor is still a major part of a successful installation. Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor may telegraph through the new
STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product, resulting in an unsightly surface and cause excessive wear on high spots.
MARCH 2017 3
Clic FD Flooring
Installation Instructions