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Armstrong Flooring Commercial Luxury Flooring Installation Instructions

Contents

For Use With

Adhesive Summary

Adhesives% Internal
Relative Humidity
(RH) 		MVER, lbs.
per 1000ft2 /
24 hours 		pHSet-in-WetDry-to-TouchWorking TimeTraffic Post-Installation
S-319
Roll Strong™		99%N/A12N/AOpen Time: >15 minutes Roll on with medium nap roller. Dry-to-Touch only.4 HoursCan be exposed to Heavy Traffic & Rolling Loads immediately
S-995 AdhesiveOn or Above Grade: 95%

Below Grade: 90%		N/AOn or Above Grade: 8.0-10.0
Below Grade: 9.0		N/AOpen Time: >15 minutes. Dry-to-Touch only.

Trowel: U Notch 1/32″ (0.8 mm) deep, 1/16″ (1.6 mm) wide, 1/32″ (0.8 mm) apart		2 HoursLight Foot Traffic: 24 Hours
Heavy Traffic & Rolling Loads: 48 Hours
S-1000 Adhesive100%1414Open Time:  Approximately 10–20 minutes

Trowel: U Notch 1/32″ (0.8 mm) deep, 1/16″ (1.6 mm) wide, 1/32″ (0.8 mm) apart		N/A45 MinutesLight Foot Traffic: 4 Hours
Heavy Traffic & Rolling Loads: 8 Hours

Precaution

WARNING: EXISTING IN-PLACE RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING AND ASPHALTIC ADHESIVES.
DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEADBLAST, OR
MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING,
LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVE, OR OTHER ADHESIVE.
These existing in-place products may contain 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 existing in-place 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 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 instructions on removing all resilient floor covering structures or contact your retailer or AHF Products at 866 243 2726.
AHF floor coverings and adhesives do NOT contain asbestos.

Keys To A Successful Installation

  • NOTE: To install over steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, use S-319 Roll Strong Adhesive.. In areas subject to direct sunlight, topical moisture, or temperature fluctuations, use S-1000 Adhesive. 
  • To achieve a clean, straight cut, use a standard utility knife with a titanium blade or a German Concave Hook Blade. A MagnaShear or similar equipment designed for cutting resilient flooring can also be used.
  • For cutting around pipes, door casings and other intricate cuts, use a heat gun or torch to heat the back of the tile prior to cutting. This will soften the backing enough to cut through the structure cleanly. If tile begins to cool during cutting, stop and reheat before proceeding with the cut.
  • Do not heat the front of the tile.
  • If you need to trim a small section off the tile horizontally or lengthwise, pliers will make snapping the cut section off easier. Score the tile with your blade as you normally would. Use a pair of standard pliers, tile nippers or wide-nose pliers (for lengthwise cuts) to grab the tile and snap at the score.

Recommended Substrates

All substrates listed below must be properly prepared and meet the requirements discussed in the Subfloors and Underlayments category on this website. There may be other exceptions and special conditions for these substrates to be suitable for the Installation System.

*NOTE: Installations over existing resilient flooring and acoustic underlayments may be more susceptible to indentations.

Job Conditions

  • Resilient flooring should only be installed in temperature-controlled environments. It is necessary to maintain a constant temperature before, during and after the installation. Therefore, the permanent or temporary HVAC system must be in operation before the installation of resilient flooring. Portable heaters are not recommended, as they may not heat the room and subfloor sufficiently. Kerosene heaters should never be used.
  • The surface shall be free of dust, solvents, varnish, paint, wax, oil, grease, sealers, curing compounds, residual adhesive[1], adhesive removers and other foreign materials that might affect the adhesion of resilient flooring to the substrate or cause a discoloration of the flooring from below. Spray paints, permanent markers and other indelible ink markers must not be used to write on the back of the flooring material or used to mark the substrate as they could bleed through, telegraphing up to the surface and permanently staining the flooring material. If these contaminants are present on the substrate, they must be mechanically removed prior to the installation of the flooring material.
  • In renovation or remodel work, remove any existing adhesive residue[1] so that 100% of the overall area of the original substrate is exposed.
  • Allow all flooring materials and adhesives to condition to the room temperature for a minimum of 48 hours before starting the installation.
  • The area to receive the resilient flooring should be maintained at a minimum of 65° F (18° C) and a maximum of 85° F (29° C) for 48 hours before, during and for 48 hours after completion.
  • During the service life of the floor, the temperature should never rise above 85° F (29° C) nor fall below 55° F (13° C). The performance of the flooring material and adhesives can be adversely affected outside this temperature range.
  • Conduct calcium chloride tests or percent relative humidity tests on concrete. Testing for internal relative humidity of concrete slabs must be conducted in strict accordance with the current edition of ASTM F2170 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes. All tests must meet allowable moisture limits. Any area that exceeds the allowable moisture limit must be further dried to an acceptable level or treated with a moisture remediation system before flooring installation. Performance of any third-party moisture remediation system rests with the manufacturer of that system, not with Armstrong Flooring. As a reminder, these tests cannot predict long-term moisture conditions of concrete slabs. They are only indicators of moisture conditions at the time the tests are conducted.
  • MVER tests must be conducted in accordance with the current edition of ASTM F1869 Standard Test Method for Measuring Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride. When performing these tests, it is important to remove any curing agents or residues down to the bare concrete. The calcium chloride tests are to be performed only on ordinary concrete floors and are not applicable on lightweight concrete, smoothing or leveling compounds, or gypsum underlayments.
  • Bond tests should also be conducted for compatibility with the substrate. It is recommended that this test be used to determine the compatibility of resilient flooring adhesives to concrete subfloors after the removal of old adhesives, curing agents, parting compounds, dust inhibitors, oil, grease, paint, varnish and other special surface treatments or conditions. Using the flooring material and recommended adhesives, install 3′ x 3′ panels spaced approximately 50′ apart throughout the subfloor area. Select areas next to walls, columns, or other light traffic areas. Tape edges of panels to prevent edge drying of adhesive. When testing where a curing agent has been used, the curing agent must be removed in some areas for bond testing. If the panels are securely bonded after a period of 72 hours, you may conclude that the subfloor surface is sufficiently clean of foreign material for satisfactory installation of the resilient flooring.

[1] Some previously manufactured asphaltic “cutback” adhesives contained asbestos (see warning statement on the last page). For removal instructions, refer to the Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s publication Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings.

Fitting

  • Before installing the material, plan the layout so tile joints fall at least 6″ (15.24 cm) away from subfloor/underlayment joints. Do not install over expansion joints.
  • Recommended fitting procedures include straight scribing, pattern scribing or cutting with a tile cutter.
  • Install the tile along the chalk lines. Install with arrows pointing in the same direction, quarter turned or randomly installed for customized visuals. Install the field area first and then fit in the border tile.

It is important to align arrows on the back of planks and tiles for select flooring patterns as pictured below: Monolithic, Ashlar, Brick, and Stagger. This applies to all LVT collections, plank and tile formats, except Exchange due to its unique design. For any other pattern, it is not necessary to align arrows.

  • Whenever possible, plan the layout so that joints do not fall on top of joints or seams in the existing substrate. End joints of planks and tiles should be staggered a minimum of 6″ (15.24 cm) apart. Do not install over expansion joints.
  • Determine which direction the planks or tiles will run. Identify the center of each of the end walls (the walls perpendicular to the long dimension of the planks and tiles) and place a pencil mark on the floor. Connect these points by striking a chalk line down the center of the room. Do a dry layout of planks and/or tiles from the center line to the wall running parallel to the long direction of the planks and tiles to determine the width of the last row of planks.
  • Avoid having border pieces less than 3″ (7.6 cm) wide. If you find the border planks will be less than 1/2 the width of the plank, the center starting line should be shifted a distance equal to 1/2 the plank width. This will “balance” the room and provide for a larger cut piece at the wall.

NOTE: Based on the unique design of Exchange LVT, the following flooring patterns are recommended to ensure a successful installation: Ashlar, Herringbone, Brick and Stagger.

PROCEDURE  |  S-319 Roll Strong™

  • A clean substrate is extremely important with the use of S-319 Roll Strong Adhesive. Thoroughly sweep and vacuum the substrate first. Damp mop to remove any remaining dust or debris. Extra attention to substrate preparation is essential for a successful installation. Failure to properly clean the substrate may result in telegraphing of debris.
  • A roll-on application method is recommended with a medium nap (3/8″ nap) roller to achieve a smooth even full-spread coating. Spread rate and drying time of the adhesive will depend on the porosity and texture of the substrates and the ambient temperature and relative humidity. KEEP PAINT ROLLER WET! Do not apply pressure to the roller, allow it to freely roll over the substrate. ADHESIVE COVERAGE MUST NOT EXCEED 400 ft2/gal! Once the coating has dried, it must be kept clean and apart from any contact with other surfaces until ready to begin the bonding process. Do not spread more adhesive than can be covered in 4 hours.
  • Bond testing prior to the installation will help identify the appropriate application rate, open and working time, and any potential bonding problems to the substrate or flooring. To determine the accurate coverage rate, measure, and chalk line the substrate into grids (using the appropriate square feet of area for the adhesive application) and apply adhesive onto each measured grid area.
  • Allow the adhesive to dry completely with no transfer to fingers when lightly touched. Open time will vary depending on the adhesive coverage, substrate porosity and the ambient conditions.
  • Once the S-319 Roll Strong adhesive has dried, install LVT as per recommended. LVT can be repositioned as necessary prior to applying pressure. After completion of the installation, roll the entire floor in both directions with 100 lb. roller to achieve a full contact bond.

NOTE: After the flooring has been rolled or pressed into place, repositioning is not possible. Normal traffic and rolling loads may be allowed as soon as the installation, finishing and clean-up are complete.

SAFETY AND CLEAN UP: Wet adhesive should be cleaned up immediately with soap and water on a clean cloth. Remove any dried adhesive residue with a clean, white cloth dampened with denatured alcohol.

COVERAGE: Rate of application depends on porosity of the substrate. Approximately 300 – 400 square feet per gallon when applied with a 3/8” Nap roller.

PROCEDURE  |  S-995 Flooring Adhesive

  • Apply adhesive with recommended trowel and allow it to set until dry-to-touch.
  • Begin laying planks along the center starting line and install row by row, including the cut pieces at the perimeter, until 1/2 of the installation is complete. Stagger end joints by at least 6″ (15.24 cm). Apply adhesive to the remaining portion of the room, allow to dry-to-touch and complete the installation of planks in similar fashion. Immediately remove any adhesive from the surface of the flooring using a clean, white cloth dampened with a neutral detergent and water.
  • Roll the tile in both directions after installation using a 100-lb. roller. Traffic is allowed 24 hours post-installation; heavy traffic, 48 hours post-installation. Use pieces of hardboard or underlayment panels to protect the floor when moving heavy furniture and appliances back into the room.

PROCEDURE  |  S-1000 Flooring Adhesive

  • Move the chalk lines to the corner or end of the room farthest from the doorway. These lines should be 2′ or 3′ from the wall depending on your reach (Figure 1).
  • Apply the Adhesive in 2′ or 3′ bands (Figure 2) being careful not to cover the chalk lines. Do not apply more adhesive than you can cover within 45 minutes. Allowing a 10-minute open time and fitting the border tile tightly will reduce tile shifting and adhesive oozing. DO NOT allow the adhesive to dry completely.
Figure 1: Chalk Lines
Figure 2: Adhesive Bond
  • Immediately remove any adhesive from the surface of the flooring using a clean, white cloth dampened with a neutral detergent and water. Roll the tile in both directions within 30 minutes after installation using a 100-lb. roller.
  • Do not work on newly installed tile except to roll tile. If unavoidable, use a kneeling board. Repeat the first four steps until the installation has been completed.
  • Apply adhesive to 1/2 of the area at a time so you can start the installation along the center starting line.
  • Begin laying planks along the center starting line and install row by row including the cut pieces at the perimeter until 1/2 of the installation is complete. Stagger end joints by at least 6″ (15.24 cm). Apply adhesive to the remaining portion of the room and complete the installation of planks in similar fashion.
  • After the planks are installed, immediately roll the entire floor with a 100-lb. roller. Use a hand roller in confined areas where the large floor roller will not reach, such as under toe kicks.
  • Planks and tiles may be exposed to light foot traffic four hours post-installation. The floor can be exposed to heavy rolling traffic in 8 hours post-installation. Use pieces of hardboard or underlayment panels to protect the floor when moving heavy furniture and appliances back into the room.

Special Situations

Using S-1840 Underlayment With S-1000 & S-995 Adhesives

  • Make sure the subfloor is clean, flat, dry, and sound. It is important that the subfloor is free of all debris. Check the subfloor for unevenness or protruding objects such as nails or screws.
  • When installing over concrete, the concrete must be dry with moisture vapor emission rate not exceeding 7 lbs. per 1000 square feet per 24 hours as measured by the Calcium Chloride Test and 93% RH using In-situ Probe.
  • Begin in a corner and install the underlayment parallel to the wall in the opposite direction you plan to install the flooring planks. Leave at least 2˝ of excess underlayment up the wall and trim after completing the floor installation.
  • Roll out the next roll of underlayment in the same manner, making sure that the foam seams are butted together. The use of clear 2˝ wide packing tape can be used to attach the seams.
  • When installing on concrete or below grade subfloors, be sure to tape the seams together with 2˝ tape that meets the moisture vapor transmission rate for this type of installation.
  • Adhere the underlayment to the subfloor and LVT to the underlayment. Follow the Procedures above using S-995 and/or S-1000. Do not use S-319 Roll Strong with S-1840.

Abutting Different Gauges of Resilient Flooring

When installing thinner gauge material next to thicker gauge materials, install thicker material first and then butt a 12” (30.5 cm) wide piece of scribing felt against the thicker material. Adhere the scribing felt to the subfloor with suitable adhesive. Use S-194 Patch, Underlayment and Embossing Leveler or S-466 Patch Strong™ to feather the edge of the scribing felt to the level of the substrate. Allow the patch to dry completely before installing the flooring. Scribing felt is not recommended to be used under the entire installation.

Custom LVT Installations

Custom LVT installations will use the same layout procedures as standard LVT installations; however they may require some adjustments once the initial layout is completed. Additional lines may be needed depending on the design of the floor. Once the final layout is determined, the starting point may not necessarily be in the corner or the center of the room. The starting point may be adjusted so that the installation of the design is more easily completed. An example would be to install an inset first and then install the field around the inset, which would ensure proper placement of the inset. It is important that when using this procedure, enough time is allowed for the adhesive to set, whereby any pressure will not cause slipping or shifting of the tile.

Wall Base can be mitered or formed and wrapped around outside corners. Shave a strip approximately 1/4″ (6.4 mm) wide and one quarter of the thickness from the back of Wall Base where the corner will be positioned. This will reduce the thickness to make bending around the corner easier and neater. Do not cut behind the coved toe.
Wall Base can be mitered, scribed, or wrapped with a V-shaped notch in the toe at inside corners.
Fitting should be completed for each piece before applying adhesive.

Clean Up

  • Clean up wet adhesive with white cloth with neutral detergent and water.
  • Clean up dried adhesive with white cloth and denatured alcohol or low odor mineral spirits. 

Protect The Floor

Traffic, dirt and discoloration

  •  In new construction, you may provide a protective covering of plain, undyed kraft paper in high traffic areas to guard against damage to the new floor. Be sure the covering does not contain any inks, markings or other agents that could stain the new floor. 
  • Armstrong does not recommend the use of mats or rugs with rubber or latex backings since they may cause permanent discoloration. Protect all products from the direct flow of heat from hot-air registers, radiators or other heating fixtures or appliances.

Temperature Requirements

  • Just as proper conditioning of the installation site and flooring products is important before and during installation, it is equally important to maintain room temperature at a minimum of 65°F (18°C) and a maximum of 85° F (29° C)for 48 hours after completion of the installation. During the service life of the floor, the temperature should never rise above 85° F (29° C) nor fall below 55° F (13° C). Proper room and material conditioning not only affects flooring products and adhesives during the actual installation but also assures proper curing, setting and bonding of these products. Sudden temperature changes and temperature extremes can adversely affect the installation and performance. The surface of radiant-heated floors should not exceed 85°F (29°C).

Moving Heavy Appliances and Equipment

  • When moving heavy or sharp objects over resilient flooring installations, place a wood panel under the object. Without moving the panel, slide or roll the object over it. Follow with additional panels as needed. This prevents scratches, tears or buckling of the flooring material.
  • Before moving wheeled or castered objects over newly adhered flooring, use wood panels to protect the floor by distributing the load. Otherwise, permanent wheel tracking could develop in the flooring, caused by movement in the fresh adhesive. We recommend protecting the resilient flooring with wood panels whenever heavy objects are moved across it.

Updated on December 4, 2023

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