General Guidelines

All areas where product will be installed must have a fully operational HVAC system prior to installation and remain in operation during and after installation. Conditions should be at the same temperature and humidity level expected during occupancy. Temperature within the space should never drop below 55º F after installation while the building is occupied.

Product should be acclimated in the climate-controlled location for 48 hours before starting installation. Prior to installation, clean and clear the area of all debris.

Subfloor Preparation

Proper preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a successful installation. Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor may telegraph through the new floor. All subfloors should be smooth, flat and dust free with the tolerance not exceeding more than 1/32” in a 1’ or 3/16” in a 10’ span.

Concrete subfloors must be dry, smooth and free from dust, solvent, paint, wax, grease, oil, asphalt sealing compounds and other extraneous materials. The surface must be hard and dense and free from powder or flaking. The floor should have a reading of 95% RH or less (ASTM F2170) with a pH range between 8 and 10 when using M95.0 or between 8 and 11 when using MS160; bullet 5-’ceramic tile or rough surfaces.

Holes, grooves, expansion joints and other depressions must be filled with a Portland-based underlayment and troweled smooth and feathered even with the surrounding surface.

Concrete underlayments with a radiant heating system are acceptable, provided the temperature of the subfloor does not exceed 85º F at any point.

When installing over existing ceramic tile or rough surfaces, substrate surface should be made smooth by applying a Portland-based patching or leveling compound to smooth surface.

Any wood and wood composition panels should be APA rated and approved, and intended for subfloor use provided they are smooth, flat, structurally sound and free of deflection.

Product can be installed over most existing hard surface floor coverings provided the existing floor surface is smooth, or can be made smooth. Existing floors must be solid; fix any loose areas. For existing resilient floor, it may be required to apply an embossing leveler over a deeply embossed floor. Cushioned or multiple layer resilient flooring are NOT suitable subfloors for installation.

Metal and Painted Floors: Remove any loose paint or rust.

Existing adhesive residue needs to be removed and/or encapsulated. Never scrape adhesive residue unless it is confirmed to be asbestos free. Then scrape all ridges and puddles of adhesive down to the concrete.

 Never use liquid chemicals to remove old adhesive. Solvents and other abrasive chemicals used to clean the sub floor can damage the backing of loose lay if not properly removed, and can affect the product’s performance.

Other Floors: Consult Technical Services at 800.833.6954

ASBESTOS WARNING!DO NOT MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVES OR OTHER ADHESIVES. Previously installed resilient floor covering products and the asphaltic or cutback adhesives used to install them may contain either asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica. Avoid creating dust.

Inhalation of asbestos or crystalline 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 previously installed 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 the 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 detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.

Installation Requirements

Loose Lay product may be installed using minimal adhesive for perimeter bond or a full spread application.

Tools Needed

 Utility Knife

 Carpenters Square or Straight Edge

Tape Measure

When using M95.0 Adhesive, a 1/16”x1/32”x1/32” U-Notch trowel is needed

Commercial Installation Requirements

 Before installation, make sure the subfloor is dry and dust free.

Rooms and corridors with dimensions greater than 20 ft in any direction require a perimeter application of adhesive using either M95.0 Adhesive or MS160 Spray Adhesive, unless using a full spread method.

In areas of high foot traffic, more volatile temperature variations, excessive rolling loads or if there are concerns with the subfloor conditions, it is recommended to use full spread adhesive. Use M95.0 Adhesive or MS160 Spray Adhesive.

Make sure each tile/plank is fit ‘tightly’ to the next piece.

When using adhesive, planks or tiles should be placed 1/8” off the wall. When the room is less than 20’ in any direction, planks or tiles can be loose laid net fit around the entire perimeter.

Any adhesive installed planks or tiles must be rolled with a 3-section, 100 pound roller.

All instructions and recommendations are based on the most recent information available. If you receive a paper copy of these instructions, please refer to mohawkgroup.com to ensure you have the most up to date version of our installation instructions.