MOHAWK PURETECH Durable Floor Covering Installation Guide
- June 14, 2024
- MOHAWK
Table of Contents
MOHAWK PURETECH Durable Floor Covering
Product Information
- Specifications
- Product Name: PureTech
- Type: Floor covering
- Installation Method: Floating floor
- Subfloor Requirements: Clean, dry, secure subfloor that meets building codes
- T-Molding Requirement: Required in doorways less than 32 inches or if installation changes directions through the doorway, and in rooms 50 feet or larger in length or width
- Floor Movement Constraint: Must not be constrained by glue, nails, screws, hardware, or other fixed obstructions
- Vapor Barrier Requirement: For concrete subfloors, install vapor barrier with overlapped seams of 8 inches or more
Job Site / Emplacement
Site Requirements
- PureTech is a durable floor covering, not intended as structural material. PureTech requires a clean, dry, secure subfloor that meets building codes.
- The following requirements are not intended to supersede federal, state, or local building codes but, as with many other interior finish products, may require modifying existing structural components for successful installation. Owner assumes responsibility for compliance with all building codes.
- PureTech is suitable for use in climate-controlled (35%—65% RH and 60°—85° F) indoor installations only and should not be installed over any floor with a sump pump or in a room with a floor drain. PureTech can be installed above, on, or below grade.
- A moisture test is strongly recommended to determine if high moisture exists in the subfloor. When using a calcium chloride moisture test for concrete subfloors (ASTM F1869), values must be ≤ 5 lbs/1000ft²/24 hrs or < 80% RH with an in-situ probe (ASTM F2170).
- Moisture readings of wood subfloors must be ≤ 12%.
- Acceptable job site conditions, including relative humidity and subfloor moisture conditions, must be maintained throughout the lifetime of the flooring.
- PureTech flooring is installed as a floating floor and requires the use of T-moldings in doorways less than 32 inches (0.81m), or if the installation changes directions through the doorway (regardless of doorway size), and in rooms 50 feet (15.24 m) or larger in length or width. Floor movement must not be constrained by glue, nails, screws, hardware, or other fixed obstructions.
- This product must be installed in accordance with these installation instructions.
Site & Material Preparation And Flooring Installation
Site and Material Preparation
- A) Remove carpet and padding. Also remove any wood flooring installed on concrete. Do not remove products unless they are asbestos-free.
- B) Undercut doorframe and wallbase. Slide the flooring at least 1/4 inch underneath the doorframe and wallbase. Also, leave a concealed 3/8-inch minimum expansion space under each.
- C) Remove bumps or peaks in subfloor and fill depressions with floor leveling compound to ensure no more than 3/16 inch unevenness per 10-foot span.
- D) Acclimate unopened products before installation. If there is no time for acclimation, there should be no more than a difference of 25° F and 20% relative humidity between the stocking/transportation environment of the flooring and the final installation environment of the flooring.
- E) Clean debris from subfloor before installation.
- F) For concrete subfloors, install vapor barrier with overlapped seams of 8 inches or more.
Flooring Installation
- Inspect each plank. Floor should be installed blending planks from several cartons at the same time to ensure good color and shade mixture throughout the installation.
- For the first row along straight walls, remove the tongue on all long-side joints and on the short side of the first plank only.
- For uneven walls, trace contour on tongue side of plank and cut.
- Assemble the first row tongue side toward wall. Insert the end tongue into the end groove and rotate downward to assemble. Keep the planks aligned and the joints closed.
- Two spacers thick side to thick side equal 3/8 inch.
- Provide a 3/8 inch space for expansion on all sides. First piece must be at least 8 inches long. Start new rows with pieces trimmed from previous row. Ensure at least a 12-inch end joint offset.
- At a slight angle, insert the tongue of plank 2 into the groove of plank 1 until the edges meet, and then rotate downward until the joints lock.
- Join the short end of the plank first. There will be a gap on the long-side joints when the plank is rotated downward.
- Raise the outside edge of the plank, as well as the first plank in row 2, upward approximately 1 inch. Maintain this angle as you push the plank in until the plank edges meet. Rotate the plank downward until the joint locks.
- Repeat these steps to complete the installation.
- Installation Tip: Place a carton of planks across the end of the row being installed to keep installed planks in place during installation.
- Alternate Tap Method: Align the tongues into the grooves of the long and short sides of the planks. Install the long side first by placing a tapping block no closer than 8 inches from either end and tap lightly along the long side until the joint is closed tightly. Then tap the end into a locked position using the tapping block Note: Uneven tapping or use of excessive force may damage the joint.
- Ensure there will be a 3/8 inch gap (after the joint is closed) between the plank and the wall for expansion.
- For the last row, align the plank to be used on top of the second-to-last row. Using a full-width plank as a spacer, trace wall contour and cut plank.
- For the last row, install the long-side tongue into the groove with the end joint aligned. Using a pull bar and hammer, work evenly along the length of the plank and lightly tap the joint closed.
- After tapping the long side joint closed, tap the short side closed using a tapping block or a pull bar.
- Installation Under Doorway Casing
- Slide plank under precut doorframe.
- Tap the long-side joint closed first. Then tap the end joint closed.
- Installation Around Fixed Objects (Such as Pipes)
- Allow a 3/8 inch expansion space around pipes or other fixed objects.
- Finishing the Installation
- Remove all spacers.
- The entire perimeter of the installation should be sealed with the WetProtect® molding system in accordance with the installation instructions.
- For sections where the WetProtect molding system cannot be used, seal the perimeter with 100% silicone sealant, as follows (DO NOT use acrylic sealant):
- First, fill all expansion spaces with 3/8 inch compressible PE foam backer rod and cover with silicone sealant.
- Prior to installing the moldings, apply silicone sealant to the portion of the molding or transition that will directly contact the flooring surface.
- Install moldings and immediately wipe away any excess silicone sealant.
- Apply silicone at connections to doorframes or any other fixed objects.
Note: For complete WetProtect coverage, perimeter must be sealed. See warranty for details.
Care and Cleaning
Place felt floor protectors under legs of moveable furniture. Chair casters should be rubber — not plastic or metal. Place walk-off mats at entrances. Dust mop as primary cleaning method. Occasionally wet mop with water only, using a well-wrung-out mop. DO NOT pour liquid directly on floor or use an excessively wet mop that will puddle or leave moisture standing on the floor. If needed, use a solution of 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water OR 1/3-cup non-sudsing ammonia per gallon of water. DO NOT use detergents, abrasive cleaners, soaps, waxes, or polishes. A residential steam mop may be used provided the steam is applied to a microfiber pad and not applied directly to the floor. Make sure to set the temperature of the steam mop to the appropriate setting for PureTech floors, or to the lowest setting.
Steam mop in the length direction of the planks only. Use correct hard surface vacuum tools. DO NOT use rotating beater bars, floor scrubbers, jet mops, or similar products. Wipe up spills immediately. DO NOT allow topical moisture to remain on the floor longer than the time specified in the product warranty.
WARNING: DRILLING, SAWING, SANDING OR MACHINING WOOD PRODUCTS CAN EXPOSE YOU TO WOOD DUST, A SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER. AVOID INHALING WOOD DUST OR USE A DUST MASK OR OTHER SAFEGUARDS FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO WWW.P65WARNINGS.CA.GOV/WOOD.
IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE FOR MINNESOTA RESIDENTS ONLY
THESE BUILDING MATERIALS EMIT FORMALDEHYDE. EYE, NOSE, AND THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHE, NAUSEA AND A VARIETY OF ASTHMA-LIKE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS A RESULT OF FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE. ELDERLY PERSONS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, AS WELL AS ANYONE WITH A HISTORY OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, OR LUNG PROBLEMS, MAY BE AT GREATER RISK. RESEARCH IS CONTINUING ON THE POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE. REDUCED VENTILATION MAY ALLOW FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE INDOOR AIR. HIGH INDOOR TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY RAISE FORMALDEHYDE LEVELS.
WHEN A HOME IS TO BE LOCATED IN AREAS SUBJECT TO EXTREME SUMMER TEMPERATURES, AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAN BE USED TO CONTROL INDOOR TEMPERATURE LEVELS. OTHER MEANS OF CONTROLLED MECHANICAL VENTILATION CAN BE USED TO REDUCE LEVELS OF FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF FORMALDEHYDE, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR CALL LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
For detailed product specifications, please contact Technical Services at 888-387-9881, option 3.
Mohawk PureTech is manufactured and distributed by
- Unilin Flooring North America, LLC
- 550 Cloniger Drive Thomasville, NC 27360
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
- 196 S. INDUSTRIAL BLVD., CALHOUN, GA 30701
- 888.387.9881