Full Bathroom Installation Recommendations for Locking Laminate
Installation \ Laminate\Full Bathroom Installation Recommendations for Locking Laminate
The entire laminate installation system (Chapter XVI of the 2009/2010 F-5061) is available for download online at http://www.armstrong.com/common/c2002/content/files/15948.pdf

I. FULL BATHROOM INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LOCKING LAMINATE

Prolonged exposure to water could damage the laminate flooring. Installation recommendations should be closely followed to prevent water from contacting the core material of the flooring.
  1. Full bathroom installations require folding the underlayment up the wall 2" (5cm). Cut the underlayment even with the top of the flooring after installation.
  2. All joints must be properly glued. Apply a thin, continuous 3/32" (2.4 cm) bead of glue to the top of the tongue ONLY (Fig. 24).
  3. A thin, continuous bead of glue must ooze to the surface as the laminate pieces are locked together. Proper gluing provides both strength and moisture resistance to the joint. Wipe off excess glue with damp cloth.
  4. Joint integrity is integral to moisture resistance. Avoid excessive joint flexing during installation.
  5. Allow the installation to dry overnight before using the bathroom.
  6. All perimeter expansion zones must be completely filled with 100% silicone caulk following the manufacturer's recommendations. When applying caulk, it is helpful to first apply a strip of masking tape parallel to and approximately 1/32" (.79mm) from the edge of the laminate (Fig. 25). Then fill the expansion zone with caulk, remove the excess with a plastic scraper or putty knife, and remove the tape.
  7. Moulding may be used along a straight tub or shower base (Fig. 26). The expansion zone should be filled with 100% silicone caulk and the moulding seated in the caulk while it is still wet. The joint between the moulding and the tub or shower base should also be caulked. If moulding is not an option, a normal 1/4" (6.35mm) expansion zone may be used at the tub and then completely filled with 100% silicone caulk.
  8. The toilet should be removed before installing the laminate flooring. Allow a 1/4" (6.35 mm) expansion zone between the laminate flooring edge and the toilet flange. Completely seal the zone with 100% silicone caulk.
  9. As with any hard-surfaced material, laminate flooring can be slippery when wet.