Installation Guide

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February 19, 2019 Please contact 1-866-843-8453 for further assistance.
CONCRETE SUBFLOORS
GENERAL CONDITIONS
All concrete oors, regardless of age or grade level must be properly
cured, free of excess moisture, and prepared in accordance to the
most current version of ASTM F710 (Standard Practice for Preparing
Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring). Below and on-grade
concrete suboors must have a suitable vapor retarder properly
installed beneath the slab (ASTM E1745). The surface of concrete
oors to receive resilient ooring shall be dry, clean, smooth, and
structurally sound. They shall be free of dust, solvent, paint, wax, oil,
grease, residual adhesive, adhesive removers, lm-forming curing
compounds, silicate penetrating curing compounds, sealing, hardening,
or parting compounds, alkaline salts, excessive carbonation or laitance,
mold, mildew, and other foreign materials that might affect the rate of
moisture dissipation from the concrete, the adhesion of resilient ooring
to the concrete, or cause a discoloration of the ooring from below (ACI
302.1 and ASTM F710). Non-chemical methods for removal, such
as scraping, abrasive cleaning, or bead-blasting, including methods
described in ASTM D4259 (Standard Practice For Abrading Concrete),
may be used on existing slabs with deleterious residues. In all cases,
the suboor must meet the moisture and pH requirements prior to
installation.
Warning: Concrete Suboors Containing Coal Fly Ash: Fly ash is
routinely used in cement in LEED-certied projects. No doubt it will
continue to grow in popularity as LEED points become the norm in
commercial construction. Fly ash contains silicon dioxide and calcium
oxide. Silicon is difcult to bond to, and calcium oxide is a caustic,
alkaline by-product which plays havoc on ooring adhesives. Installing
oors on concrete substrates containing coal y ash can be problematic
and therefore may require aggressive scarication or shot blasting
prior to installation of ooring materials. Perform bond test prior to the
installation of LVT ooring. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions of
such suboor preparation products for guidance regarding the proper
use of their products.
Moisture and Alkalinity: Perform either the In-Situ Relative Humidity
(RH) test (ASTM F2170) or Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (MVER) test
(ASTM F1869) in strict accordance to the most current version. Test
surface alkalinity per ASTM F710. Refer to the adhesive manufacturer
for acceptable moisture and pH ranges. Follow the adhesive instructions
located on the product label, or contact the manufacturer for further
information. If test results exceed recommended adhesive tolerances for
moisture, then the area must be allowed to further dry to an acceptable
level, or remediated using a moisture-mitigation system before installing
LVT. (Note: see “Moisture Mitigation” section, page 6). Concrete
oors should be tested for pH following the procedures outline in the
most current version of ASTM F710. Rinsing and vacuuming with clean,
potable water is the best way to lower surface pH, but it will not prevent
future issues. Do not acid-rinse concrete oors to neutralize pH. Some
moisture-mitigation systems are designed to control pH. Electronic
meter testing is not considered a replacement for a Calcium Chloride
Test or Relative Humidity Test.
ATTENTION: Mold and mildew grow only in the presence of
moisture. Jobsite mold and moisture issues must be addressed
and corrected prior to installation. Please visit www.epa.gov/mold
for information about safely preventing and removing mold, mildew
and other biological pollutants.
Floor Flatness: The surface shall be at to 3/16" in 10 ft. (3.9 mm in 3
m). Level high spots by sanding, grinding, etc. and ll low spots. Smooth
surface to prevent any irregularities or roughness from telegraphing
through the new ooring.
Concrete PSI: Concrete substrates must have compression strength
of 3,000 psi or greater.
Concrete Absorbency: Be aware that absorbent (porous) and non-
absorbent (non-porous) suboors may require different trowel sizes
for adhesive application. Check absorbency by randomly placing 1"
diameter droplets of water directly onto the surface of the concrete
suboor. If the water droplet does not dissipate within 60-90 seconds,
then the substrate is considered non- absorbent. Even after removing
old, glued-down ooring materials, do not assume that the concrete is
absorbent (porous). Often, the old adhesive has sealed the oor. Follow
adhesive manufacturers instructions for recommended trowel sizes.
Chemical Abatement / Other Contaminants: The use of adhesive
removers or solvents in the abatement process or removal of
existing or old adhesives is prohibited, and may void the warranty.
If oil, grease or other contaminants have deeply penetrated the
concrete and cannot be thoroughly removed, do not install LVT
Luxury Resilient Flooring.
Expansion Joints / Isolation Joints: Such joints (or other moving
joints) are incorporated into concrete oor slabs in order to permit
movement without causing random cracks in the concrete. These joints
must be honored and not be lled with underlayment products or other
materials, and oor coverings must not be laid over them. Expansion
joint covering systems should be detailed by the architect or engineer,
and based upon intended usage and aesthetic considerations.
Treating Surface Cracks: Cracks, grooves, depressions, control
joints, or other non-moving joints, and other irregularities shall be lled
or smoothed with high-quality Portland cement-based patching or
underlayment compounds for lling or smoothing, or both. Some surface
cracks may need to be chased and lled. Patching or underlayment
compound shall be moisture, mildew,and alkali-resistant, and shall
provide a minimum of 3,000 psi compressive strength after 28 days,
when tested in accordance with Test Method ASTM C109 or ASTM
Test Method C472, whichever is appropriate. Refer to manufacturer’s
instructions of such suboor preparation materials for more details.
Self-Leveling and Patching: For concrete subfloors, use only
high-quality Portland cement or synthetic, gypsum-based materials
(minimum 3,000 psi compressive strength per ASTM C109), and
allow to dry according to manufacturer’s instructions. Self-leveling
compounds may have very high moisture content, thus requiring longer
curing times. Note: Adding latex to levelers will normally make the oor
NON-POROUS. Test for porosity and follow non-porous adhesive
recommendations, if necessary. FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S
INSTRUCTIONS, AND DO NOT OVER-WATER PATCHING AND
LEVELING COMPOUNDS. The installer is responsible for observing
cure times, moisture content, adhesive bonding, and the structural
integrity of any leveling or patch compound used.
WARNING: Do not lightly skim-coat highly polished or slick,
power-troweled concrete surfaces. A thin lm or residue of
oor patch will not bond sufciently to a slick suboor and may
become a bond breaker, causing tiles to release at the interface
of the suboor and patching material. In addition, it may be an
unnecessary, added expense
NEW CONCRETE
New concrete suboors contain a high percentage of residual moisture.
Allow new concrete, including lightweight and gypsum toppings, to
cure for at least 90 days before conducting moisture tests. In lieu of
wet curing, quite often curing agents are applied to concrete slabs to
retard the escape of water during the initial curing process. Compounds
left on the slab can retard the escape of free-water during the drying
process and eventually break down over time after the ooring is
installed, affecting the integrity of the bond. Solvent-based adhesives
will not adhere, and water-based adhesives will not set-up and properly
cure. Note: In the event of adhesion failure, the responsibility for
warranties and performance guarantees rests with the compound
manufacturer.
Product Description
Dryback LVT/LVP
Installation Method
Glue Down