For Use With
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AHF PRODUCTS FLOORING.
If properly installed and cared for your new flooring will be easy to maintain 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. |
Installation: All Grade Levels
Adhesive: Armstrong Flooring S-295 or S-299
Trowel Notch: 1/32″ (0.8mm) deep, 1/16″ (1.6mm) wide, 1/32″ (0.8mm) apart
Pattern Match: Yes; do not reverse pieces
Seam Method: Double-cut
Seam Treatment: Apply S-763 Seam Adhesive
Fitting: All Methods
GENERAL INFORMATION
ToughGuard II flooring in residential applications can be installed by two installation methods. The flooring can be installed by the modified loose lay installation method using acrylic double-faced tape, S-295 or S-299 under seams and other critical areas, or it can be installed by a full spread option using Armstrong Flooring S-295 or S-299 Flooring Adhesive. The modified loose lay method requires that the flooring be cut 1/8″ (3.18 mm) to 3/16″ (4.76 mm) away from all vertical surfaces such as walls, cabinets, pipes, etc. This gap must then be filled and the edges sealed with a good quality silicone or acrylic caulk. ToughGuard II flooring should not be installed by perimeter fastening methods.
Keys to Successful Installation
- Proper conditioning of both the jobsite and the flooring is necessary. Do not expose the installation to wide ranges in temperature and moisture/humidity levels in the home.
- Store, transport and handle the flooring so as to prevent creases or other distortions in the sheet. Always roll face-out on a cardboard tube. Distortions will generally not disappear or shrink on their own. Sheet must be lying flat at time of installation.
- Just prior to installation, unroll flooring so it can acclimate to jobsite conditions. Allow the roll-up stresses to relax and the flooring material to flatten out.
- Undercut door trim to allow for free movement of the flooring.
- Island cabinets are permissible on top of the flooring but perimeter base cabinets should be cut around as noted above.
- Seams must be double cut, net, with no fullness. Do not straight edge and butt seams. Do not stretch or compress at seams as this will lead to small buckles.
- Do not compress the edges of the sheet in any way when installing adjacent flooring materials. Installation of carpet, metal strips and other transition moldings should not push fullness into the flooring.
- Always protect flooring from rolling loads from other trades and replacement and/or movement of appliances.
- Radiant heated substrates must not exceed a maximum surface temperature of 85° F (29° C).
- As with many flooring products, the full spread adhesive methods generally require somewhat more attention to the condition of the substrate so that it will not telegraph irregularities through the finished floor.
SUMMARY OF TOUGHGUARD II INSTALLATION OPTIONS
| Installation Feature | Modified Loose Lay | Full Spread with S-295 or S-299 Flooring Adhesive |
| Spacing (gap) at vertical surfaces (walls, pipes, etc.) | 1/8” (3.2 mm) to 3/16″ (4.8 mm) | None |
| Base cabinets on top of flooring | No | Yes |
| Island cabinets on flooring | Yes | Yes |
| Bathrooms | Yes | Yes |
| Stairs, landings or rooms with floor drains | No | Yes |
| Seams on suspended wood underlayments | Multiple OK | Multiple OK |
SUBFLOORS & SUBSTRATES
All substrates listed below must be properly prepared and meet certain requirements. There may be other exceptions and special conditions for these substrates to be suitable for the flooring installation.
- Concrete on all grade levels
- Ceramic tile, terrazzo, marble
- Approved suspended wood underlayments
- Approved suspended single layer wood subfloor system (modified loose lay installation only)
- Polymeric poured (seamless) floors
- Single-layer, fully-adhered, existing resilient floors
- Radiant-heated subfloors where the surface temperature does not exceed 85oF (29o C)
NOTE: For wood subfloors and underlayments, the moisture content must be 13% or less.
DO NOT INSTALL OVER
- Particleboard or waferboard
- Carpet
- Hardwood flooring that has been installed directly over concrete
- Existing cushion-backed vinyl flooring
- Existing resilient tile floors that are below grade
ToughGuard II materials can also be installed directly over suspended single-layer wood subfloors such as plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) when using the modified loose lay method. The subfloor system must be designed to meet or exceed applicable building codes with a minimum of 18″ (45.7 cm) well ventilated air space below. It must be installed according to the subfloor manufacturer’s recommendations. The moisture content must be 13% or less for direct installation of ToughGuard II materials.
The subfloor panels must have a smooth, sanded face and show no swelling of edges or surface due to exposure to weather conditions or construction traffic. “Base grade” subfloor panels are not recommended as they generally do not provide a sanded face or the moisture resistance of “better” and “best” grade panels. The panels cannot be contaminated by staining agents. Otherwise, an additional 1/4″ (6.35 mm) or thicker underlayment is recommended. Single-layer wood subfloors increase the potential for staining from the panel components, coated nails, construction adhesives, spills, overspray and show-through from texture and mechanical or water damage when resilient flooring is installed directly over them.
JOB CONDITIONS/PREPARATION (for all installation options)
- 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 subfloor sufficiently. Kerosene heaters should never be used.
- Substrates must be sound, dry, clean, smooth and free from excessive moisture or alkali.
- The surface shall be free of dust, solvents, varnish, paint, wax, oil, grease, sealers, curing compounds, residual adhesive, adhesive removers and other foreign materials that might affect the adhesion of resilient flooring to the substrate or cause a discoloration of the flooring from below. Spray paints, permanent markers and other indelible ink markers must not be used to write on the back of the flooring material or used to mark the substrate as they could bleed through, telegraphing up to the surface and permanently staining the flooring material. If these contaminants are present on the substrate, they must be mechanically removed prior to the installation of the flooring material.
- Do not use products containing petroleum solvents or citrus oils to prepare substrates as they can cause staining and expansion of the new flooring.
- In renovation or remodel work, remove any existing adhesive residue* so that 100% of the overall area of the original substrate is exposed.
- When fully adhering flooring over an existing resilient floor, use S-194 Patch, Underlayment & Embossing Leveler/S-195 Underlayment Additive to fill and smooth any embossing in the old floor.
- With modified loose lay method, typical embossing of rotogravure floors (less than 3/16″ [4.76 mm] wide and less than 1/32″ [0.8 mm] deep) would not show through and would certainly not cause performance problems. Deeper embossing such as on old inlaid Designer Solarian floors, deeply embossed tile floors, and ceramic tile grout joints should be leveled even for the loose lay method.
- The area to receive resilient flooring and the flooring materials and adhesives should be maintained at a minimum of 65° F (18° C) for 48 hours before installation, during installation, and 48 hours after completion. Maintain a minimum temperature of 55° F (13° C) thereafter.
- For concrete substrates, conduct moisture testing (moisture vapor emission rate [MVER]) and/or percent relative humidity (in-situ probe). Bond tests must also be conducted for compatibility with the substrate.
AHF Products cannot be responsible for
- Joint or texture show-through.
- Tunneling and ridging over board joints.
- Discoloration from stain sources in the panel, regardless of the type of panel used.
- Problems caused by local climate conditions, basement wall and subfloor construction, or improper installation.
MODIFIED LOOSE LAY METHOD
Keys to Successful Modified Loose Lay Installation over OSB
- Not all subfloors will be suitable for direct installation. The builder basic panel is generally not sanded and will have poor resistance to moisture exposure leading to swollen edges, flake pops and general gauge and fastener issues.
- Use subfloors with a smooth sanded face and properly installed with recommended joint spacing. Most boards are designed to have 1/8″ (3.18 mm) gap at joints.
- Do not use staining agents such as plumber’s primer or construction adhesives on surface.
- Do not take short cuts in timing of installation or conditioning the home. Follow standard vinyl recommendations for conditioning of both jobsite and flooring materials.
Keys to Successful Modified Loose Lay Installation
- Tape may be used at doorways if needed, however the preferred method is to use transition strips, similar to a “T” molding, that cover the edge of the flooring while at the same time allowing for some movement of the flooring beneath the molding. Do not use the tape around the entire perimeter of the room and do not install base cabinets on top of the flooring.
- Multiple seams are allowed when this method is used over concrete subfloors. Tape may also be needed under relief cuts that were made to slip around pipes, etc. and at some doorways where transition moldings cannot be used. Do not overuse tape and do not tape around the entire perimeter of the room.
Adhesive Open Times and Trowel Notchings
| Adhesive for Modified Loose Lay Installation (Optional instead of tape) | Dry-to-Touch for all Substrates |
| S-295, S-299 Adhesive 2” (5.08 cm) to 3” (7.62 cm) wide band under seams | Open Time: 30 minutes or more Fine Notch: 1/32″ (0.8 mm) deep, 1/16″ (1.6 mm) wide, 1/32″ (0.8 mm) apart |
This type of flooring is designed for modified loose lay installation using acrylic double-faced tape, S-295 or S-299 at seams and other critical areas. In bathrooms, the acrylic double-faced tape, S-295 or S-299 adhesive should be used to secure the flooring in front of tubs and shower enclosures. Other critical areas could be a doorway where trim cannot be used to cover an exposed edge or an area in the kitchen with a heavy movable appliance. Do not use the acrylic double-faced, S-295 or S-299 Adhesive around the entire perimeter of the room.
The small gap allowed around all vertical surfaces provides enough space where caulk must be used to seal the edges to prevent moisture from getting underneath the new flooring. All edges must be sealed with a good quality siliconized or acrylic caulk, even in areas where trim moldings or vinyl wall base will be put on top. ToughGuard II flooring should not be cut full or snug. Make sure all areas are lying flat before applying caulk in the perimeter gap.
CAUTION: Do not stand or walk on the release liner, as it is extremely slippery. Place it in a wastebasket immediately upon removal from the tape.
Planning and Layout
- Plan the layout so seams in the new flooring fall at least 6˝ (15.2 cm) away from seams and joints in existing flooring and underlayments.
- Remove wall base and quarter-round moldings.
- The decorative trim and jamb moldings at doorways should be under-cut to allow flooring to slip underneath as you can’t hide perimeter gap with wall base in these areas.
- After preparation work is completed, be sure to sweep and vacuum entire work area, taking extra care to remove all dirt and debris.
- Do not install over expansion joints.
Fitting
- Recommended fitting procedures include pattern scribing, straight scribing and free hand knifing.
- Do not cut full or compression fit
Procedure
- If more than one piece of flooring is used, the pieces should be pattern matched and double-cut prior to placing the acrylic double-faced tape, S-295 Adhesive or S-299 Adhesive under the seam.
- When installing with S-295 or S-299 Adhesive, cut seams dry then apply adhesive.
- The edges where the seam will be cut should be overlapped with a piece of scrap material underneath to protect the substrate while cutting through both pieces of flooring. It is important that the seam be cut in a straight line using a straight edge as a guide. The knife should be held completely vertical to put a clean 90° edge at the seam. Seams should be cut net, not full or snug as it can result in buckles.
S-763 Seam Adhesive Procedure
S-763 Seam Adhesive helps reduce installation time significantly compared to traditional seaming methods.
- Double-cut the seam before applying the vinyl tape or adhesive.
- After seam is cut, fold back both edges and apply the tape or adhesive.
- After applying the tape or after proper open time with the adhesive place one side back down.
- Using the applicator bottle, apply a 1/8” bead of S-763 Seam Adhesive along the seam edge.
- Tuck the seam edge into place, forcing the S-763 Seam Adhesive up through the seam.
- Clean adhesive residue from the surface of the flooring using a clean, white cloth dampened with neutral detergent and water.
- Roll the seam using a hand roller.
- Allow 2 hours before foot traffic and 4 to 6 hours to fully dry for rolling loads
NOTE: Replace or install wall base and quarter-round moldings to cover the gap around the perimeter of the room. Do not pinch the molding down on top of the flooring. Leave a slight clearance between the molding and flooring so any effects of seasonal movement in the home due to temperature or humidity changes will be minimized.
FULL SPREAD METHOD WITH S-295 OR S-299 ADHESIVE
Planning and Layout
- Plan the layout so seams in the new flooring fall at least 6˝ (15.2 cm) away from seams and joints in existing flooring and underlayments.
- Do not install over expansion joints.
- Remove wall base and quarter-round moldings if appropriate. (ToughGuard II flooring may be fit net when installed full spread using S-295 or S-299 adhesive.)
Fitting
- Unroll material and lay flat to allow roll curl to relax before fitting.
- ToughGuard II flooring products are dimensionally stable. They should be cut net to vertical surfaces or slightly loose where they will be covered with molding or wall base. Do not cut full or compression fit.
- Recommended fitting procedures include pattern scribing, straight scribing or freehand knifing.
Procedure
If seams are involved, they should be double-cut dry prior to spreading adhesive in the seam area. Use a piece of scrap material underneath the seam when cutting. Do not straightedge and butt seams as this can lead to loose and tight areas along the seam resulting in buckles or distortion. Also, do not try to stretch or compress material at the seam to obtain pattern match. This too can result in buckles or distortion.
Use Full Spread adhesive method with S-295 or S-299 Flooring Adhesive. Apply adhesive with trowel. It is important to use the correct trowel notching. Inspect and replace worn trowels frequently. Follow adhesive open time and working time recommendations on the adhesive label.
Allow enough time for the adhesive to dry until tacky with no transfer to the finger (dry to-touch) before placing the material into it. This normally takes 30 minutes or more, depending on temperature and humidity. After the adhesive has reached this condition, there is at least one hour working time in which to install and roll the flooring.
NOTE: Allowing proper open time will help to minimize knee marks, roller marks and trapped blisters. The amount of open time will vary according to job conditions— temperature, humidity, air flow and type of substrate.
Roll Thoroughly. Starting at the center and working toward the edges, roll in two directions using 100-lb roller. Seams must be hand rolled, then rolled again with a 100-lb roller. Give special attention to cleaning adhesive residue from the seam areas as they must be clean and dry in order to proceed with seam treatments. 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.
Replace or install wall base and quarter-round moldings as needed. Fasten molding to the vertical surface. Do not nail through the new floor.
Armstrong Flooring S-763 seam adhesive must be used during the installation. The freshly applied seam must be protected for several hours from dirt, dust and traffic. Follow instructions on package.
S-763 Seam Adhesive Procedure
S-763 Seam Adhesive helps reduce installation time significantly compared to traditional seaming methods.
S-295 or S-299 Flooring Adhesive
- Double-cut the seam dry before applying the adhesive.
- After seam is cut, fold back both edges and apply the adhesive.
- After proper open time (dry-to-touch) place one side back down.
- Using the applicator bottle, apply a 1/8” bead of S-763 Seam Adhesive along the seam edge.
- Tuck the seam edge into place, forcing the S-763 Seam Adhesive up through the seam.
- Clean adhesive residue from the surface of the flooring using a clean, white cloth dampened with neutral detergent and water.
- Roll the seam using a hand roller.
- Roll immediately in both directions with a 100-lb. roller.
- Allow 2 hours drying before foot traffic and 4 to 6 hours to fully dry for rolling loads.
PRECAUTIONS FOR ALL INSTALLATION METHODS
- Do not wash or scrub the new flooring for at least 5 days after the installation. This will help prevent excess moisture and cleaning agents from interfering with the bond of the fresh adhesive or vinyl flooring tape.
- When moving appliances or heavy furniture, lay a plywood panel on the floor and “walk” the item across it. This protects the floor from scuffing and tears.
- Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. The heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.
- The flooring material should not be exposed to sudden changes in temperature and moisture/ humidity. The site needs to be closed in with HVAC operating. In new construction, do not power wash the basement and introduce excessive moisture to the subfloor above after the flooring has been installed.
- ToughGuard II materials need to be protected from rolling loads and construction traffic by other trades. Kitchen cabinets, water heaters, furnaces and other appliances being hauled over the flooring can cause problems if not protected with boards.