For Use With

• Dry-back LVT up to 4.5 mm thick, excluding 6.5″ x 48″ Square Edge items

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AHF PRODUCTS FLOORING

If properly installed and cared for, your new flooring will be easy to maintain and and will look great for years to come. These directions are based on industry standards and best practices. Failure to follow these installation instructions may result in damage to the flooring and void the floor’s warranty.

• For complete warranty information call 1-866-243-2726 or go to www.ahfproducts.com.
• For technical or installation questions, or to request a Safety Data Sheet, please call 1-866-243-2726 or visit www.floorexpert.com our technical website.
• For general questions or comments, please visit us at www.ahfproducts.com or call 1-866-243-2726

WARNING: EXISTING IN-PLACE RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING AND ASPHALTIC ADHESIVES. DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEADBLAST, OR MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVE, OR OTHER ADHESIVE. These existing in-place products may contain asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica. Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the existing in-place product is a non-asbestos-containing material, you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be tested to determine asbestos content and may govern removal and disposal of material. See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings for instructions on removing all resilient floor covering structures or contact your retailer or AHF Products at 866 243 2726. AHF floor coverings and adhesives do NOT contain asbestos.

Adhesive	Trowel	Set-in-Wet	Dry-to-Touch	Comments
Armstrong Flooring S-730 Wall and Wall Base	1/16˝ deep, 1/16˝ wide, 1/16˝ apart square-notch	Open Time: None Recommended Working Time: Up to 15 minutes	N/A	No open time – immediate installation

Do not wash or scrub the new flooring for at least 5 days after the installation. This will allow the tile to become “seated” in the adhesive and prevent excess moisture and cleaning agents from interfering with the adhesive bond.

GENERAL INFORMATION

CHECK RUN NUMBERS AND MANUFACTURE DATE
Upon receipt, immediately check material for damage and that the material is of the correct style, color quantity, and run number. Immediately report any discrepancies.

Locate the run number on the short end of each carton and verify that all the material for your job is from the same run.

Installation:
Location: All grade levels
Fitting: All Methods

Tools:

• Tape measure
• Chalk line
• Utility knife
• Pencil
• Straightedge
• Vacuum or broom
• Optional tile cutter or cutting shear
• Substrate prep supplies
• Latex primer

Keys to Successful Glue Down Installation

• Most installations will need approximately a 10% cutting allowance added to the square footage of the room.
• Proper conditioning of the job site is necessary. Flooring planks should not be exposed to sudden changes in temperature.
• Store, transport and handle the flooring planks in a manner to prevent any distortions. Distortions will not disappear over time. Store cartons flat, never on edge. Ensure that the flooring planks are lying flat during installation.
• Installations of carpet, metal strips and other transition moldings should not pinch the flooring against the substrate and should allow for some slight movement wherever practical.

Suitable Substrates
All substrates listed below must be properly prepared and meet certain requirements. There may be other exceptions and special conditions (as noted below) for these substrates to be suitable for the glue down installation system.

• Concrete
• Cement
• Properly prepared, smooth OSB
• Plywood
• Drywall

DO NOT INSTALL OVER

• Brick
• Cinder block
• Fiberglass
• Plastics
• Glass
• Lauan
• Particleboard
• Vinyl/PVC
• Carpets
• Beadboard
• Paneling
• Textiles

Job Conditions/Preparations

• Resilient flooring should only be installed in temperature-controlled environments. It is necessary to maintain a constant temperature before, during and after the installation. Therefore, the permanent or temporary HVAC system must be in operation before the installation of resilient flooring. Portable heaters are not recommended as they may not heat the room and substrate sufficiently. Kerosene heaters should never be used.
• All substrates must be structurally sound, dry, clean, flat, and smooth with minimal deflection. Substrates must be free from excessive moisture or alkali. Remove dirt, paint, varnish, wax, oils, solvents, and other foreign matter, and contaminantes.loose/chipping paint, wallpaper, residual adhesive
  • Substrate must be flat within 1/4˝
  • For concrete substrates, moisture testing should be conducted. Acceptable levels are determined by the adhesive being used. Check adhesive label for limitations.
• High spots on the substrate should be leveled and low areas filled with appropriate underlayments.
• Do not use products containing petroleum, solvents, or citrus oils to prepare substrates as they can cause staining and expansion of the new flooring.
• For renovation or remodel work, remove any existing adhesive residue so that 100% of the overall area of the original substrate is exposed.
• New drywall requires taping and finished of the seams where panels meet. Tapered edges of the panels should be leveled to create a smooth, flush substrate.
• The area to receive resilient flooring materials and adhesives should be maintained at a minimum 65°F (18.3°C) for 48 hours before, during, and 48 hours after installation. Maintain minimum temperatures of 55°F (12.8°C) thereafter.
• The substrate must have a smooth, sanded face and show no swelling of edges or surface due to exposure to weather conditions or construction traffic.
• There are numerous products available for use as fills, patches, and trowelable underlayments. They include proprietary blends of compounds such as Portland cement, calcium aluminates, and gypsum-based products. These are recommended by their manufacturers for smoothing rough or uneven substrate, enhancing acoustical and fire characteristics of structures or as substrates to receive floor covering for otherwise unsuitable substrate conditions. If the substrate surface appears to be dusty then apply a primer to the surface.

Installation Preparation

After preparation work, sweep and vacuum the entire work area to remove all dust and debris. Vacuum the walls surface. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth or sponge to remove any dust and debris. Allow the surface to dry completely before installing.

Determine which direction the plank will run. Find the center of each of the end walls (the walls perpendicular to the long dimension of the planks) and place a pencil mark on the wall. Connect these points by striking a chalk line down the center of the wall.

Avoid having border pieces less than half the width of the planks. If you find the border planks will be less than 1/2 the width of the plank, the center starting line should be shifted a distance equal to 1/2 the plank width. This will “balance” the room and provide for a larger cut piece at the wall.

NOTE: The substrate must be thoroughly free from dust and debris. If the substrate is dusty this may affect the product performance.

NOTE: Stagger end joints by 6˝. Cut pieces at the ends of rows should be 8˝ long or longer.

PROCEDURE – Armstrong Flooring S-730 Wall and Wall Base Adhesive

1. Apply Armstrong Flooring S-730 adhesive at the starting area, ensuring the area can be covered within the working time of the adhesive, approximately 60 minutes. Be sure not to apply adhesive too far ahead of your work area. It is important to use the correct trowel notching. Inspect and replace worn trowels frequently. Follow adhesive working time recommendations on the adhesive label. Armstrong Flooring S-730 adhesive has strong initial grab. After planks are laid into the adhesive, they will be difficult to adjust. Make sure the plank is positioned correctly and in the desired location before applying any pressure.
2. Install the plank as recommended above, carefully aligning each plank with the chalk lines or adjacent row.
3. Roll Thoroughly. Once the LVT is installed, roll the planks with a three-piece hand roller to promote adhesive transfer and appropriate contact from the plank to the wall. Give special attention to cleaning adhesive residue from the joint areas. Clean excess adhesive from the surface of the flooring using a clean, white cloth dampened with detergent and water. Mineral spirits will remove dried adhesive residue.

Safety and Clean-Up

• Wet adhesive drips should be cleaned up immediately with soap and water on a clean cloth. Dried adhesive may be removed with mineral spirits and a clean white cotton cloth.

Precautions for All Installation Methods

• LVT installed on walls is strictly for aesthetic purposes and does not add to the structural integrity of the wall.
• All wall hangings need to be structurally anchored into the wall. AHF Products does not recommend the use of adhesive strips or adhering any wall hangings superficially to the LVT wall covering.