FLEXFIT Richmond Luxury Vinyl Loose Lay Tile Flooring Instruction Manual

FLEXFIT Richmond Luxury Vinyl Loose Lay Tile Flooring

Product Information

• Product Name: FLEXFIT – Richmond Luxury Vinyl Loose Lay Tile Flooring
• Product Type: Flooring

Installation and Maintenance Instructions

General Preparations
Thank you for choosing our flooring. When properly installed and cared for, your new flooring will be easy to maintain and will keep its great look for years. Please read all the instructions before you begin the installation. Improper installation will void the warranty.

Tools Required:
Ruler/straight edge, pencil, tape measure, utility knife, chalk line, and appropriate trowel size

For floor surfaces exceeding 10M x 10M or 100m2, expansion joints will be needed.

Subfloor Information

• The subfloor must be clean, dry, smooth, structurally sound, and free of paint varnish, existing adhesives, oil, grease, solvents, and other extraneous material.
• The flooring can be installed over most existing hard surface floor coverings, provided that the existing floor surface is clean, flat, dry, securely fastened, structurally sound, and level +/- 4mm in 3m radius (3/16 in 10′ radius).
• Cracking, depressions, deep grooves, expansion joints, and other subfloor imperfections must be filled with patching & leveling compound.
• Lightweight concrete should be avoided by adding more of a reinforcing agent to it.
• Do not use products containing petroleum, solvents, or citrus oils to prepare substrates as they can cause staining and expansion of the new flooring.
• Although this floor is waterproof, it is not aimed to be used as a moisture/vapor barrier.

Wood Subfloors

• If this flooring is intended to be installed over an existing wood floor, it is recommended to repair any loose boards or squeaks before you begin the installation.
• Moisture content should not exceed 4.5%. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. If not, the use of a 6 mil/0.15 mm poly-film is required to cover 100% of the crawl space ground.
• All other subfloors (Plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard, wafer board, etc.) must be structurally sound and must be installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Double-layered APA-rated plywood subfloors should be a minimum of 1 (25 mm) total thickness, with at least 18 (45 cm) well-ventilated air space beneath. It is recommended that your chosen APA underlayment grade panels be designed for installation under resilient flooring and carry a written warranty covering the replacement of the entire flooring system.

Concrete Subfloors
Existing concrete subfloors must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free of all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. Curing agents and hardeners could cause bonding failure and should not be used. We recommend using a vapor barrier as a moisture barrier between the concrete subfloor and the flooring.

The following tests must be completed to ensure a proper installation:

Considerations for Concrete:

• Moisture Content: Calcium Chloride 3 lbs/1000 sq. ft./24 hours and diminishing
• Alkalinity: PH between 7-10
• Compressive Strength Minimums: 3500 psi or more
• Hydrostatic Pressure: None should exist
• Bond Test: [No further information provided]

GENERAL PREPARATIONS

Thank you for choosing our flooring. When properly installed and cared for, your new flooring will be easy to maintain and will keep its great look for years. Please read all the instructions before you begin the installation. Improper installation will void the warranty.

TOOLS REQUIRED:
Ruler/straight edge, pencil, tape measure, utility knife, chalk line, and appropriate trowel size for adhesive.

• Prior to installation, inspect the material in daylight for visible faults/damage, including defects or discrepancies in color or gloss; check the edges of the flooring for straightness and any damage. No claims on surface defects will be accepted after installation.
• Check if subfloor/site conditions comply with the specifications described in these instructions. If you are not satisfied, do not install, and contact your supplier.
• Flooring products can be heavy and bulky. Always use proper lifting techniques when handling these products. Whenever possible, make use of material-handling equipment such as dollies or material carts. Never lift more than you can safely handle; get assistance.
• Calculate the room surface prior to installation and plan an extra 5-10% of flooring for cutting waste.
• The environment where the flooring is to be installed is critically important regarding the successful installation and continued performance of the flooring products. The flooring is intended to be installed in interior locations only. These interior locations must meet climatic and structural requirements as well. FlexFit should not be installed in garages, commercial kitchens, food processing areas, heavy industrial areas, or where spiked shoes are worn.
• It is required that all materials be adapted to the job site conditions for at least 24 to 48 hours prior to installation. Store on a flat and level surface. Stack squarely, no more than 15 cartons high. Do not store or turn on edges.
• Planks, Adhesive, and subfloor must be allowed to stabilize to a constant temperature between 64-77º F/18- 25º C before and during the installation. Portable heaters are not recommended as they may not heat the room and subfloor sufficiently. Kerosene heaters should never be used.
• After installation, make sure that the flooring is not exposed to temperatures less than -22˚F/-30°C or greater than 140˚F/60°C.” Please use window coverings to protect the floor from fading under direct sunlight.
• For floor surfaces exceeding 10M x 10M 100m2 expansion joints will be needed.

SUBFLOOR INFORMATION

• The subfloor must be clean, dry, smooth, structurally sound, and free of paint varnish, existing adhesives, oil, grease, solvents, and other extraneous material.
• The flooring can be installed over most existing hard surface floor coverings, provided that the existing floor surface is clean, flat, dry, securely fastened, structurally sound, and level +/- 4mm in a 3m radius. (3/16” in a 10’ radius).
• Cracking, Depressions, deep grooves, expansion joints, and other subfloor imperfections must be filled with patching & leveling compound.
• Lightweight concrete should be avoided by adding more of a reinforcing agent to it.
• Do not use products containing petroleum, solvents, or citrus oils to prepare substrates as they can cause staining and expansion of the new flooring.
• Although this floor is waterproof, it is not aimed to be used as a moisture/vapor barrier.

WOOD SUBFLOORS

• If this flooring is intended to be installed over an existing wood floor, it is recommended to repair any loose boards or squeaks before you begin the installation.
• Moisture content should not exceed 4.5%.
• Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. If it is not the use of a 6 mil / 0.15 mm poly-film is required to cover 100 % of the crawl space ground.
• All other subfloors – Plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard, wafer board, etc. must be structurally sound and must be installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Double-layered APA-rated plywood subfloors should be a minimum of 1″ (25 mm) total thickness, with at least 18″ (45 cm) well-ventilated air space beneath. It is recommended that your chosen APA underlayment grade panels be designed for installation under resilient flooring and carry a written warranty covering the replacement of the entire flooring system.

CONCRETE SUBFLOORS

• Existing concrete subfloors must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free of all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. Curing agents and hardeners could cause bonding failure and should not be used.
• We recommend using a vapour barrier as a moisture barrier between the concrete subfloor and the flooring.

The following tests must be completed to ensure a proper installation:

Considerations for Concrete| Specification| If out of specification, look for these problems;
---|---|---
Moisture Content| Commercial Applications: RH in situ probes – not to exceed 75% in sleeve

Residential Applications: Calcium Chloride 3 lbs/1000 sq. ft. / 24 hours and diminishing

| The slab is too new – hasn’t cured 60 days minimum.

Physical Moisture Vapour Retarder is compromised or missing. Refer back to the architect and contractor.

Alkalinity| PH between 7-10| The slab is too new – hasn’t been cured. Ongoing water or vapor sources can carry alkali into the slab.
Compressive Strength Minimums| 3500 psi or more| Refer back to the architect and contractor.
Hydrostatic Pressure| None should exist| The physical Moisture Vapor Retarder is compromised or missing. Refer back to the architect and contractor.
Bond Test| Securely bonded after 72 hours| Curing agents used, especially those with wax, silicone soap, etc. will prevent bonds.

Dirt, debris, or other foreign materials are present. Moisture levels are too high.

Other Recommended Subfloor Standards:

• Acoustical Underlayment

  • Acoustical underlayments are not required but may be specified on a project-by-project basis. Underlayments must be designed specifically for LVT flooring and approved in advance. Do not use acoustical underlayment where any dynamic loads are present.

• Ceramic or Quarry Tile, Terrazzo, and Marble

  • Approved providing that the tile is well bonded to a structurally sound subfloor. Use patching compound to fill depressions, cracks, voids, and grout lines. Fill until all areas are smooth and flat to meet subfloor guidelines, let dry and prime if necessary.

• Residual Cut Back Adhesive
  All trowel ridges must be removed, smooth, and flat. Where required, use a product rated for the encapsulation of cutback adhesive.

• Radiant Heated Subfloors

  • Floor surface temperature not to exceed 85o F (29o C). The system temperature must never be set higher than 85o F (29o C).
  • IMPORTANT: Due to the speed of sudden temperature changes, which has the potential to negatively affect vinyl flooring construction, it is not recommended to install electrical radiant heating systems that come in direct contact with FlexFit. This will not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Only Hydronic (water-based) radiant heating systems or electric systems with cables embedded in the subfloor are approved and warranted.
  • Newly installed concrete floors with radiant heat shall have been operational for a period that is sufficient to dry and cure the slab so that accurate relative humidity, moisture, pH, and bond tests may be performed.
  • The manufacturer of the radiant heat system must warrant that the system is compatible with luxury vinyl tile.

DO NOT INSTALL OVER

• Heating panel
• Carpet/Carpet Pad
• Existing cushion-backed vinyl flooring.
• Floating floor of any type, loose lay, and perimeter fastened sheet vinyl.
• Hardwood flooring/wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete
• Products with low dimensional stability

CRITICAL INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

Commercial Installation:

• Commercial installations cannot be installed using the floating method. Planks must be fully adhered to the substrate with adhesive: Pressure sensitive, releasable or permanent, hard-set adhesive, depending upon the floors usage. Wet set adhesives must be used in areas of full sunlight, and in areas subjected to wheeled traffic.

Residential Installation:

• FlexFit Planks can be installed using a 14” perimeter bond of adhesive, a grid pattern of adhesive, or a full-spread application of adhesive. Pressure-sensitive, releasable or permanent hard-set adhesive may be used. Double-sided tape is not approved for fixing the perimeter planks or tiles.

INSTALLATION

• Avoid installing in severe conditions (Less than 10º C or over 25º C)
• Remove baseboard, quarter-round moldings, wall base, appliances, and furniture from the room. After preparation work, sweep and vacuum the entire work area to remove all dust and debris.
• Installing Loose Lay leaves 2mm-5mm gaps between walls and fixtures such as pillars, stairs, etc. These gaps will be covered with trim moldings after the floor is installed.
• When installing at the entrance of the door, place a supporter after installation, or use pressure-sensitive adhesives up to 500mm from the edge of the plank.
• Whenever possible, plan the layout so that the joints in the planks do not fall on top of joints or seams in the existing substrate. The end joints of the planks should be staggered a minimum of 8”/20 cm apart. Do not install over-expansion joints. Avoid installing pieces shorter than 12”/30 cm at the beginning or end of rows.
• Measure the area to be installed: The board width of the last row shall not be less than half a plank wide. If so, adjust the width of the first row to be installed. In narrow hallways, it is recommended to install the floor parallel to the length of the hall.
• Installation with pressure-sensitive adhesive is required for areas where heavy things such as furniture and refrigerators are expected to move to after installation.
• Decide the installation direction. It is recommended to install the boards perpendicular to the window following the direction of the main source of light.
• UNDERLAY: Underlayment will improve acoustic performance and absorb some irregularities on the substrate. Best results can be expected with an underlayment of 0.11”/3 mm to max 0.19”/5 mm thickness.
• Cutting the Loose Lay Tiles should be done vertically to prevent the tiles from curling up after installation. Construction debris can damage the floor surface. So, please cover the floor with protective paper or cardboard for its protection as you install.
• Pull from several cases of flooring at once to mix planks and ensure a seamless finish.

*Loose Lay Installation: anything smaller than 5m X 5 m**

1. First row, first plank: After thoroughly cleaning the subfloor, plan out and measure the installation so that it fits the guidelines. Ensure that the end planks are not smaller than half a plank wide and that the planks on each row are no shorter than 30cm. You should begin laying from left to right. Place the floorboard 2mm – 5mm from the left wall. Use spacers between the wall and the floorboard or create a chalk line if needed to make sure the first row is straight.
   Note: To cut the plank use a straight edge to create a clean line-cut. With a utility knife score once and the plank will snap off along that edge as you bend it. Make sure all the cuts are faced toward the wall edge and do not fit into another plank. All planks should be placed tight from factory edge to factory edge.

2. First row, second plank: Drop the plank and butt the two factory edges together. Ensure they are straight and tight to each other.

3. First row, last plank: At the end of the row leave a 2mm-5mm gap from the wall and make sure the factory edge is placed tightly to the other factory edge. Cut sides of the planks should always be placed towards the wall.

4. Second row, first plank: Start the second row with the leftover cut piece of the last plank of the previous row. This small plank should measure at least 30 cm. Otherwise, cut a new plank in half and use it to begin the second row. The end joints of each adjoining row should not be closer than 20 cm to each other. Whenever practical use the piece cut from the preceding row to start the next row. Make sure the length of the plank fits tightly against the row above.

5. Tip: After the first 2 or 3 rows are installed, check the first row to make sure it is still straight against the wall or chalk line. If not realign to make sure the first row is straight and fix the other rows as needed so planks are fitting tight to each other on all sides. If a seam is not tight you can easily reposition the plank.

6. To lay the last row: Cut the width of the plank to make sure it will fit on the last row. A reminder that the planks must be wider than half a plank. Make sure to leave a 2mm-5mm gap to the wall.

7. Door skirting and other irregular areas: Make the pattern on a thick board and trance the pattern that the flooring planks need to follow. Then use the board to transfer the pattern onto the planks and use a utility knife to cut.

*Full and Perimeter Glue Down Installation: for heavy traffic areas use full glue down**

Follow the directions on the adhesive- only lay the adhesive in the space you can work in the allotted timeframe. Use the above format for the perimeter glue method

1. First row, first plank: After thoroughly cleaning the subfloor, plan out and measure the installation so that it fits the guidelines. Ensure that the end planks are not smaller than half a plank wide and that the planks on each row are no shorter than 30cm. You should begin laying from left to right. Lay the adhesive as needed along the perimeter and every 5 m vertically or throughout the room, wait until it becomes tacky. Then place the first floorboard 2mm – 5mm from the left wall. Use spacers between the wall and the floorboard or create a chalk line if needed to make sure the first row is straight.
   Note: To cut the plank use a straight edge to create a clean line-cut. With a utility knife score once and the plank will snap off along that edge as you bend it. Make sure all the cuts are faced toward the wall edge and do not fit into another plank. All planks should be placed tight from factory edge to factory edge.

2. First row, second plank: Drop the plank and butt the two factory edges together. Ensure they are straight and tight to each other.

3. First row, last plank: At the end of the row leave a 2mm-5mm gap from the wall and make sure the factory edge is placed tightly to the other factory edge. Cut sides of the planks should always be placed towards the wall.

4. Second row, first plank: Start the second row with the leftover cut piece of the last plank of the previous row. This small plank should measure at least 30 cm. Otherwise, cut a new plank in half and use it to begin the second row. The end joints of each adjoining row should not be closer than 20 cm to each other. Whenever practical use the piece cut from the preceding row to start the next row. Make sure the length of the plank fits tightly against the row above.

5. Tip: After the first 2 or 3 rows are installed, check the first row to make sure it is still straight against the wall or chalk line. If not realign to make sure the first row is straight and fix the other rows as needed so planks are fitting tight to each other on all sides. If a seam is not tight you can easily reposition the plank.

6. To lay the last row: Cut the width of the plank to make sure it will fit on the last row. A reminder that the planks must be wider than half a plank. Make sure to leave a 2mm-5mm gap to the wall.

7. Door skirting and other irregular areas: Make the pattern on a thick board and trance the pattern that the flooring planks need to follow. Then use the board to transfer the pattern onto the planks and use a utility knife to cut.

FINISHING THE INSTALLATION

Replace molding or wall base, allowing slight clearance between the molding and the planks. Nail the molding to the wall surface, not through the flooring. At doorways and at other areas where the flooring planks may meet other flooring surfaces, the use of a transition molding is required to cover the exposed edge but do not pinch the planks.

MAINTENANCE

• Dry mop or vacuum daily using soft bristle attachments. When water or solvents are used, please squeeze out all water.
• Clean up spills and excessive liquids immediately.
• Use proper floor protection devices such as felt protectors under furniture.
• Place a walk-off mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home. Do not use mats with latex or rubber backing since these backings can cause permanent discoloration.
• For use of wax on the floor surface, clean the floor surface thoroughly and apply wax on the surface after drying up all water on it. Keep away all floor traffic from the floor until the wax gets dry.

PREVENTIVE CARE

• Never slide appliances or other heavy items across the floor. When moving appliances or heavy furniture always use 1/8” hardboard runways to protect the floor. Always use hardboard runways even if you have an appliance dolly or even if heavy objects are equipped with wheels or rollers. Be sure to roll or “walk” the item across hardboard runways. This protects your floor from scuffing, gouging, and tears.
• Heavy furniture and appliances should be equipped with non-staining large surface floor protectors.
• Furniture with castors or wheels must be easy swiveling, large surface, non-staining, and suitable for resilient floors. Do NOT use ball-type castors as they can damage the floor. Recommend using 1/8” hardboard runways when moving these types of heavy-wheeled furniture.
• Castor wheeled chairs should have wide, rubber castors. It is mandatory to place protective mats under office chairs or the warranty is voided.
• Use floor protectors under furniture to reduce indentation. As a general rule of thumb, the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.

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