All instructions and recommendations should be followed for a satisfactory installation.

• Acclimation of material prior to installation is not required; however, the floor covering should be installed in a climate controlled environment with an ambient temperature range between 55°F - 85°F (13°C-29°C) or average temperature of 70°F (21.1°C).

• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, doing so may result in discoloration. During peak sunlight hours, the use of drapes or blinds is recommended. Excess temperature due to direct sunlight can result in thermal expansion and UV fading. 

• Install product after all other trades have completed work that could damage the flooring.

  • If cabinets are to be installed on top of the flooring (including islands), that area of material must be fully adhered to the subfloor (including an additional 2’ beyond the cabinets and islands).

• To minimize shade variation, mix and install flooring from several cartons.

• Inspect all flooring for damage before installing. 

• Use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed 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.

• Vinyl flooring is waterproof and reliably secures the flooring panels on all four sides. However, excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mold, mildew, and other moisture related issues like the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment.

• Additional layer of 6 mil poly film or equal vapor retarder with a perm rating of .1 or less may be used as an additional layer of protection.

All subfloors must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound. The correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a successful installation. Subfloor must be flat: 3/16" in 10' or 1/8" in 6'.

A. Wood Subfloors

We do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete. 

1. Do not apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.

2. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth. Crawl space clearance from ground to underside of joist is to be no less than 18” and perimeter vent spacing should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space area to provide cross ventilation. Where necessary, local regulations prevail.

3. We DO NOT install over sleeper construction subfloors or wood subfloors applied directly over concrete.

4. 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.

5. ​If needed we add an additional layer of APA rated underlayment, fasten and secure according to the underlayment manufacturer’s recommendations.

6. 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.

B. Concrete Subfloors

• Floors shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from powder or flaking.

• 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, we use Shaw Surface Prep EXT (or equivalent/comparable product) to remove any residual chemicals present.  Once Shaw Surface Prep EXT (or equivalent/comparable product) has been properly cleaned and removed, apply one coat of Shaw MRP (or equivalent/comparable product) 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! WE 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.

• Concrete slabs must be dry with no visible moisture.

• Required Moisture Testing - maximum moisture level per ASTM 1869 CaCl is 8 lbs. and ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative Humidity 90% per 1000 sq.ft. in 24 hours. 

• We do not install over concrete with a history of high moisture or hydrostatic conditions. Excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mold, mildew, and other moisture related issues like the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment. Shaw Industries does not warrant nor is responsible for damage to floor covering due to moisture related issues.

• pH level of concrete should be between 7-10.

• The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor covering installer.

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

• 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. We use the appropriate installation methods for the product.

After Installation Guide

• Protect all exposed edges of the flooring by installing wall molding and/or transition strips. Make sure that no plank will be secured in any way to the subfloor.

• For wet areas such as bathrooms caulk the perimeter of the floor with a flexible silicone caulk.

• Protect the finished flooring from exposure to direct sunlight to reduce fading and thermal expansion.

• Cutting resilient product into a fine point may lead to delamination. Use an ethyl cyanoacrylate based glue to help fuse the resilient point together. Be sure to clean all glue from the top surface immediately. Alcohol based glues may cause resilient products to swell.

• Adhering tape to the surface of your resilient flooring could damage the surface.

  Do not use tape to secure floor protection directly to the floor during construction or renovation. Instead, adhere tape to the material used to protect the floor and secure it to the base molding along the wall.  A material such as ram board can also be used to protect your flooring.