LOOSE LAY

All substrates to receive moisture sensitive floor covering must be tested for moisture.

CONCRETE SUBSTRATES:

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.

• Substrates shall be smooth, structurally sound, dry, clean and free of all foreign material such as dust, solvents, grease, oils, old adhesive residue.
• If the adhesive residue is asphalt‐based (cut‐back), or any other type of adhesive is present, it must be removed by industry accepted methods such as mechanical removal or wet scraping. 
• If a chemical abatement has been performed, use Shaw Surface Prep EXT to remove any residual chemicals present.  Once Shaw Surface Prep EXT has been properly cleaned and removed, apply one coat of Shaw MRP for additional protection.
• Adhesive removal through the use of  solvents or citrus adhesive removers is not recommended. Solvent residue left in or on the subfloor may affect the new adhesive and floor covering.   

WARNING! DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEAD BLAST ORMECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERISE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT , ASPHALTIC “ CUT BACK” 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 Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures. For current information go to www.rfci.com.

• Concrete floors shall be flat and smooth within 1/8” in 10 feet.
• ASTM 2170 - IRH (Internal Relative Humidity Test), threetests should be conducted for areas up to 1000 ft2.  One additional test, for each additional 1000 ft2. RH less than 95%.
• Follow adhesive guidelines for moisture and ph limits when installing using the glue down method.
• Use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed Shaw’s 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.
• For cracks or saw cuts deeper than 1", follow the preparation and application instructions for Shaw QuikFill.  QuikFill is a 2-part urethane treatment that prevents future damage from moisture penetrating to the surface of the slab that may damage or breakdown adhesives or unapproved patching compounds.
• On or below-grade slabs must have an effective vapor retarder directly under the slab.
• Wet curing 7 days is the preferred method for curing new concrete.
• Remove curing compounds 28 days after placement, so concrete can begin drying.
• Any large cracks or voids must be filled with a cementitious patching compound.

PH:

Concrete floors 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 flooring and adhesives.

Note: It may not be the floor covering installer’s responsibility to conduct the 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.

LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE:

All recommendations and guarantees as to the suitability and performance of lightweight concrete under resilient flooring are the responsibility of the lightweight concrete manufacturer. The installer of the lightweight product may be required to be authorized or certified by the manufacturer. Correct on- site mixing ratios and properly functioning pumping equipment are critical. To ensure proper mixture, slump testing is recommended.

• Lightweight aggregate concretes having densities greater than 90 lbs. per cubic foot may be acceptable under resilient flooring.
• ​Concrete slabs with heavy static and/or dynamic loads should be designed with higher strengths and densities to accommodate such loads.
• Surface must be permanently dry, clean, smooth, and free of all dust and structurally sound.

WOOD SUBSTRATES:

A moisture test is required using a pin-type moisture meter. The maximum allowable moisture content must not exceed 12%.

• Wood subfloors must be structurally sound and in compliance with local building codes. Overall subfloor thickness is 1” and flat – 1/8” in 10’

• Wood subfloors should be suspended with a minimum of 18” of well-ventilated air space below.

• Crawl spaces must be dry and have a vapor retarder covering the ground.

• Wood subfloors directly fastened to concrete, or sleeper construction, are not recommended.

• 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.

• 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.

• Underlayment panels can only correct minor deficiencies in the sub-floor while providing a smooth, sound surface on which to adhere the resilient flooring.
• ​Crumb rubber underlayments are not an acceptable option for use with resilient floor coverings due to performance issues resulting from chemical incompatibilities.

• Any failure in the performance of the underlayment panel rests with the panel manufacturer and not with Shaw Industries, Inc.

• It is recommended that your chosen APA underlayment grade panels be designed for installation under resilient flooring and carry a written warranty covering replacement of the entire flooring system.

• Always follow the underlayment manufacturer’s installation instructions.

• Do not install over existing wood flooring.

TEMPERATURE - AMBIENT:

Controlled environments are critical. Fully functional HVAC systems are the best way to ensure temperature and humidity control.

• Do not install resilient flooring products until the work area can be temperature controlled.

• Minimum installation temperature is 65°F with a maximum installation temperature of 85°F.

RADIANT HEAT:

Radiant Heating: Radiant-heated subfloor systems can be concrete, wood or a combination of both.

The heating systems components must have a minimum of 1/2" separation from the flooring product. The system must be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation to reduce residual moisture. 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. Contact the manufacturer of your radiant heating system for further recommendations. 

• Electric Radiant Floors: consist of electric cables (or) mats of electrically conductive materials mounted on the subfloor below the floor covering. Mesh systems are typically embedded in thin-set. When embedding the system components, use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed Shaw’s 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.

• Hydronic Radiant Floors: pump heated water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern under the flooring. Typically installed in channels under a wooden subfloor (or) imbedded in concrete slabs. Requires the installer follow a specific nailing pattern to avoid penetration of the heat system.

2. JOB SITE CONDITIONS

• It is recommended that resilient floor covering installation shall not begin until all other trades are completed.

• Areas to receive flooring shall be clean, fully enclosed, with the permanent HVAC set at a uniform temperature range of 65°F to 85°F and maintained following the installation.

• Areas to receive flooring should be adequately lighted during all phases of the installation process.  

3. MATERIAL STORAGE AND HANDLING

• All material must be stored in a warm dry area. Do not expose to very hot or cold temperatures.  The material must be stored laying flat and cartons never on edge.
• Check to make sure color and lot numbers are the same on jobs requiring multiple cartons of tile or plank.
• Flooring material must be acclimated to the installation area at a minimum temperature of 65°F and maximum temperature of 85°F for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours prior to installation.
• Store cartons flat and squarely on top of one another.

Preferably, locate material in the center of the installation area (i.e. away from vents, direct sunlight, etc.)

4. ADDITIONAL SUBSTRATES

All substrates to receive resilient flooring shall be dry, clean, smooth, and structurally sound.

RAISED ACCESS PANEL SUBFLOORS

•  Raised access panels must be stable, level, flat, free and clean of existing adhesives

• 24" x 24" panels are recommended.

• Lippage (variation of height) between panels must not exceed 0.0295” (0.75 mm)

• Gaps between panels must not exceed 0.039” (1mm)

• There should be no deflection of the individual panels – Concave less than 0.0295” (0.75 mm)

• Flatness 1/8” in 10’

• Stagger the flooring tiles/planks to overlap the access panels

• Telegraphing of access panel seams may be visible and is not considered a product defect nor warranted by the flooring manufacturer.

 
If needed overlay the panels with a 1⁄4” (6 mm) plywood and properly fasten to the access panels prior to the installation of the floorcovering. Prior to underlayment installation, repair any loose or unstable panels. Use the appropriate installation methods for the product.
 
RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING

• Must be single layered, non-cushion backed, fully adhered, and smooth.

• Show no signs of moisture or alkaline.

• Waxes, polishes, grease, and grime must be removed.

• Cuts, cracks, gouges, dents and other irregularities in the existing floor covering must be repaired or replaced.

• On heavily embossed resilient floors an embossing leveler may be needed to prevent telegraphing.

Note: The responsibility of determining if the existing flooring is suitable to be installed over rests solely with installer/flooring contractor on site.  If there is any doubt as to suitability, the existing flooring should be removed or an acceptable underlayment installed over it.  Installations over existing resilient flooring may be more susceptible to indentation.