Laminate Installation Instructions
Subfloor Requirements/Floor Preparation
Installation \ Laminate\Laminate Installation Instructions
Subfloor Requirements/Floor Preparation
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
E. SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Armstrong Laminate Flooring can be installed over most subfloors and existing floors on all grade levels.
All substrates must:
meet applicable building codes
be structurally sound
show minimal deflection
be dry, clean and flat
Precautions
Armstrong Laminate Flooring may be installed in bathrooms following the guidelines outlined in the
Bathroom Installation Section
.
Armstrong Laminate Flooring is not recommended over most carpets or in high-humidity areas where the floor is normally wet - e.g., steam rooms or saunas.
The slope should not exceed 1" in 6' (2.54 cm in 1.83 m).
Variations in subfloor flatness should not exceed 3/16" in 10' (4.76 mm in 3.05 m) or 1/8" in 6' (3.17 mm in 1.83 m). Level floors with a suitable cement-based self-leveling underlayment following the manufacturer's recommended guidelines
Radiant heated subfloors should not exceed 85 degrees F (29 degrees C).
Concrete Subfloors
Concrete floors must be cured properly and allowed to dry for at least 60 days after the curing process.
Concrete floors must not show any signs of moisture or alkali.
Use
Quiet Comfort
or
Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment
for laminate with no attached backing (or
Moisture Barrier Sheeting
for laminate with attached underlayment), butt the edges together and tape the seams with polyethylene tape.
Test for moisture in concrete prior to installation. Too much moisture can cause significant damage to laminate flooring.
Tape 3' x 3' (91 cm x 91 cm) pieces of polyethylene film to the subfloor.
After 24 hours, if moisture condensation appears on the film or the concrete appears dark-colored, it is likely excessive moisture is present and a
Calcium Chloride
test must be run.
The maximum acceptable moisture emission level for Armstrong Laminate Flooring Installations is 5.0 lb./1000 sq.ft./24 hours (2.26 kg/101.6 m2/24hours).
The use of VapArrest S-135 Professional Moisture retardant system is recommended. When applied as recommended, the systemwill reduce water vapor transmissions up to 75% in areas with vapor transmissions as high as 12 lb./1000 sf/24 hrs.
Wood Subfloor
Wood subfloors must be suspended and have a minimum of 18" (45.7 cm) of well-ventilated crawl space.
Regardless of grade level, do not install over wood subfloors applied directly to concrete or on sleepers over concrete.
Installation of a polyethylene film vapor barrier such as Armstrong Moisture Barrier Sheeting over the ground in the crawl space is recommended.
The polyethylene film acts as a moisture barrier when seams are taped together with polyethylene tape.
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for Laminate with no attached backing. No additional underlayment is needed for laminate with attached backing.
Underlayment Boards
Armstrong Laminate Flooring can be installed over any wood, cement or gypsum-based underlayment boards that are installed according to the manufacturer's recommended guidelines.
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for Laminate with no attached backing. No additional underlayment is needed for Laminate with attached backing.
Wood Flooring
All wood flooring must be dry, level, flat and installed over suspended subfloors.
Sand any ridges or uneven portions and repair squeaks.
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for laminate with no attached backing. No additional underlayment is needed for laminate with attached backing.
Install Armstrong Laminate Flooring at a 90 degree angle to existing wood plank flooring.
Wood flooring over concrete must be removed.
Ceramic and Resilient Tile
Tile installed over concrete:
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for laminate with no attached backing (or Moisture Barrier Sheeting for laminate with attached backing).
Tile installed over wood:
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for Laminate with no attached backing. No additional underlayment is needed for Laminate with attached backing.
Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl sheet installed over concrete:
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for Laminate with no attached backing (or Moisture Barrier Sheeting for Laminate with attached backing).
Vinyl sheet installed over wood:
Use Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment for laminate with no attached backing. No additional underlayment is needed for laminate with attached backing.
Carpet
Fully-adhered, maximum 1/4" (6.35 mm) carpet over a
suspended
wood
subfloor is a suitable substrate.
All other carpet and any carpet pad must be removed. If the carpet was glued in place, remove all remaining debris and excessive adhesive residue. Do not install laminate over carpet adhered to concrete.
Quiet Comfort or Quiet Comfort Premium Underlayment is not recommended.
Use Moisture Barrier Sheeting over the carpet. The seams do not need to be taped.
Armstrong Commercial Laminate is
not
recommended to be installed over carpet in commercial applications.
Radiant Heated Subfloors
Subfloor should not exceed 85°F.
F. ROOM PREPARATION
Conditioning
Armstrong and Bruce Laminate floors do not require acclimation.
The room temperature should be at a minimum of 65° F (18° C) for 48 hours before, during, and 48 hours after installation.
During and after installation, the room temperature should not exceed a maximum of 100° F (38° C).
Preparation
Removal of existing wall base, millwork, or trim is optional.
Door trims and doorjambs must be undercut to allow the floor to move freely. Use a discarded piece of floor and foam underlayment to support the saw blade at the correct height for undercutting (Fig.2 ).
Sweep the subfloor and remove all dust and debris.
If the drywall is slightly elevated at the floor and wall juncture, create a solid wall surface by fastening a 2-3" (5 cm - 7.6 cm) wide facing strip such as 1/4" (6.35 mm) plywood to the wall at the stud location.
New wall base or moulding must be installed at the end of the job to cover the 1/4" (6.35 mm) to 1/2" (12.7mm) expansion zone around the perimeter of the floor.
It may be necessary to plane or cut the bottom of the door to accommodate the change in floor height.
Layout
Install parallel to incoming light from any windows, or if lighting is not a concern, parallel to the longest wall in the room (Fig 3).
Fig. 3
High Moisture Areas
It is a good idea to use 100% silicone caulk in areas of rooms where excessive moisture may be present, such as at kitchen sinks, dishwashers and ice makers. See
Bathroom Installation section
for instructions on Full Bathroom Installations.
Installing Cabinets
Install cabinets then install the laminate around the cabinets leaving the 1/4" (6.35mm) to 1/2" (12.7mm) expansion zone.
If installing cabinets after the laminate has been installed, most or all of the cabinet weight should be supported by the wall mountings. To secure the cabinets to the substrate with screws or nails, drill holes through the laminate 1/2" (12.7mm) diameter larger than the screw or nail to allow for expansion.
Installing Kitchen Islands
The island must be free standing and weigh less than 250 pounds if it is to be installed over the laminate.
If the island weighs more than 250 pounds, the laminate is to be installed around the island allowing the normal 1/4" (6.35mm) to 1/2" (12.7mm) expansion area around the base of the island.
If the laminate has already been installed, and the island must be installed over the laminate, and the island weighs more than the 250 lbs maximum, drill holes through the laminate 1/2" (12.7mm) diameter larger than the bolts (to allow for expansion) and bolt the island to the subfloor.