REWORX INSTALLATION

For best results review the product and product specific guidelines prior to installation.  Shaw will not be responsible for improper installation and installation of visual manufacturing defects.  Failure to follow these guidelines may result in limited warranty coverage.  Contact Shaw Technical Support at 1-800-471-7429 for additional information. 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Recommended Safety Equipment: 

Safety glasses.  Cut glove. Dust mask. 

Recommended Tools: 

Table Saw, Jig Saw, Guillotine Cutter, Speed Square, Straight Edge, Utility Knife 

Site Conditions

• It is recommended that floor covering installation shall not begin until all other trades are completed. 

• Material should always be visually inspected prior to installations. Any material installed with visual defects will not be considered a legitimate claim as it pertains to labor cost. 

• HVAC System:  Must be operational, maintaining the following conditions 24 hours prior to, during and after installation. 

• Temperature:  The installation site, floor covering and adhesive must be between 50°F and 95°F.  Adhesives will not function properly when exposed to temperatures outside this range.  Do not begin the installation if the subfloor temperature is below 50°F. 

• Humidity:  The installation site’s ambient relative humidity must not fall below 40%.   

Substrate Testing

• Moisture Testing per ASTM F-2170:  Results must not exceed 99%. 

• pH / Alkalinity:  Results must below 11. 

• If the subfloor exceeds these values, moisture mitigation should be performed. 

• Perform Bond testing to determine compatibility of adhesive to the substrate. 

• ​Provided there is no visible moisture, no moisture testing is required if using 4151.  If another compatible adhesive is used, moisture test results must not exceed 99% RH. 

SUBSTRATE PREPARATION 

• Substrates must be structurally sound, clean, dry and level. 

• Substrates must be free of dust, dirt, oil, grease, paint, curing agents, concrete sealers, adhesives, loosely bonded toppings, loose particles and any other substance or condition that may prevent or reduce adhesion. 

• Substrates must be flat  and smooth within ⅛” in 6 feet or 3/16” in 10 feet. 

• Fill depressions or cracks with a cementitious patching / leveling compound that meet or exceed Shaw Industries maximum moisture level and pH requirements. Use of gypsum-based patching and/or leveling compounds which contain Portland or high alumina cement and meet or exceed the compressive strength of 3,000 psi are acceptable. 

• For cracks or saw cuts deeper than 1", follow the preparation and application instructions for QuikFill.  QuikFill is a 2-part urethane treatment that prevents future damage from moisture penetrating to the surface of the slab that may damage or break down adhesives or unapproved patching compounds. 

• For areas where new trenches for plumbing have been poured, in order to protect the floor covering to be installed, Shaw Technical Support recommends applying a 2-part epoxy such as MoistureTEK. Ensure that the concrete has been properly prepared per the installation guidelines, before applying MoistureTEK.  This will protect the floor covering from moisture related issues that could arise from the new concrete trench. Utilize QuickFil where the new concrete meets the old concrete.  Apply MoistureTEK over the entire trench and up to 8 inches over the old concrete.  

• For chemically abated substrates, ensure the proper cleaning methods have been taken to remove any residual abatement chemicals. 

• If a chemical abatement has been performed, use Surface Prep EXT to remove any residual chemicals present.  Once Surface Prep EXT has been properly cleaned and removed, apply one coat of MRP for additional protection. 

• Curing compounds (DO NOT USE). If present they can interfere with the bond of the adhesive to the concrete. Seek assistance from a substrate manufacturer if curing agents are detected. 

• Green sweeping compounds can be used but must be swept and removed immediately. 

• For dusting / powdering / porous concrete / lightweight concrete prime with a latex primer such as 9050. 

• For patches / levelers prime with a latex primer such as Shaw 9050. 

• If installed over existing resilient flooring (one layer only), all tiles must be secure to the subfloor.  Strip any wax from the surface. 

• Wood subfloors must be Wood Associations Approved and primed with a latex primer such as Shaw 9050. 

• Raised Access Flooring panels must be smooth, level, secure and free of any material that will affect the adhesive bond.  Planks  must be installed offset from access panel seams.  Gaps between panels must not exceed 1/16” or (1.6mm). 

Note: Do not sand or scrape Vinyl Asbestos tile (VAT) without proper attention to abatement procedures or precautions in accordance with all state and local codes. Shaw Industries makes no claims as to the acceptability of this procedure as a mitigation method in lieu of asbestos removal; and accepts no responsibility if any loose asbestos containing flooring are affected upon removal of a Shaw Industries commercial tile. 

Caution: Do not allow cutback asphaltic adhesive or any other non-approved adhesive to come in contact with new adhesives.  An installation failure could result.  If this situation arises, contact Shaw Technical Support. 

Radiant Heated Floors 

• The heating systems components must have a minimum of 1/2" separation from the   flooring product.  The system must be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation to reduce residual moisture. Three days prior to installation lower the temperature to 65 degrees, after installation gradually increase the temperature in increments of 5° F to avoid overheating.  Maximum operating temperature should never exceed 85°F. Use of an in-floor temperature sensor is recommended to avoid overheating. Contact the manufacturer of your radiant heating system for  further recommendations. 

• Electric Radiant Floors: consist of electric cables (or) mats of electrically conductive materials mounted on  the subfloor  below the floor covering.  Mesh systems are typically embedded in thin- set.  When embedding the system components, use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed Shaw’s maximum moisture level and pH requirements.  Use of gypsum-based patching and/or leveling compounds which contain Portland or high alumina cement and meet or exceed the compressive strength of 3,000 psi are acceptable. 

• Hydronic Radiant Floors: pump heated water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern under the flooring. Typically installed in channels under a wooden subfloor  (or)  imbedded in concrete slabs.  Requires the installer follow a specific nailing pattern to avoid penetration of the heat system. 

ADHESIVE / APPLICATION 

Prepare Existing Adhesive 

• Remove existing adhesives to prevent adhesive incompatibility / reactions and bonding issues. 

• Cutback Adhesive:  Wet scrape the adhesive, reduce to a well bonded residue.   

• Do not use adhesive removers, they will adversely affect the new adhesive and product installed.  

Lay Out Your Site

• Start the ReWorx plank installation as near to the center of the room as possible and position it to use the largest perimeter cut tile. 

• Snap a chalk line parallel to one major wall bisecting the starting point.  It may be necessary to offset the center chalk line to assure that the perimeter tile will be at least half the size. 

• Snap a second chalk line from the starting point at a 90o to the first line.  Use a 3-4-5 or 6-8-10 triangle or larger on the room size to verify squareness.  Meters or feet may be used to lay out the triangle in these proportions.  

Apply Adhesive 

Adhesive	CaCl/MVER Limit	RH Limit	pH Limit
4151	12 lbs.	99%	12
4252	N/A	99%	12

*4151/4252 are moisture resistant products; however, they do not eliminate moisture.

• Use a full spread adhesive application. 

• Use of 3800 Indoor Outdoor for specific applications (does not qualify for recycling program).

• Use a 1/16” x 1/32” x 1/32” U-notch trowel. When using a 1/16” x 1/32” x 1/32” U-notch trowel to install ReWorx flooring products, this application method will Increase the overall bond strength and reduce the ease of removing and replacing tiles. 

• Allow the adhesive to dry completely before installing the ReWorx floor covering.  If installed into wet adhesive, this will result in a permanent bond. 

Allow the adhesive to become dry and tacky prior to installing. 

INSTALLATION 

Directional designs are optional, however, once the installation is started, you have accepted those conditions. 

Install from multiple cartons and complete an entire pallet before starting another pallet to minimize product variation. All Shaw ReWorx planks have directional arrows on the back of the carpet tile to help facilitate the installation method for that product.   

• Begin the installation at the intersection of the two chalk lines.  Continue until you complete one quadrant. 

• Proceed to adjoining quadrants until all four quadrants have been completed.  Large areas may require additional chalk lines bisecting the original four quadrants. 

• Install the ReWorx plank using the pyramid technique.  This will provide alignment checks during the installation.  If the edges do not align and misalignment is noted, stop the installation and determine where the misalignment started and correct. 

• Slide the ReWorx plank tile into positions. 

• Planks must fit snugly, but not be compressed.  Press the entire surface of the tile to ensure adhesion. 

• After installation, roll the entire installation with a 75 lb or greater roller to assure proper adhesion to the substrate.  

Flatwire cables should be installed on top of the adhesive and centered underneath the ReWorx plank for better seam quality.   

ReWorx Plank Cutting

• Measure and cut tile from the back using a straight edge.  Ensure directional arrows are properly aligned with the installation.  

• Guillotine cutters can be used to properly cut ReWorx Planks. 

• For lengthwise cuts, a table saw maybe used as well. 

• Jig saws may be used for door jam cuts. 

Do not compress.   

Layout 

• Install using conventional plank installation techniques.  

• Carefully determine where to begin the plank installation. 

• It is customary to center rooms and hallways so borders are not less than half a tile or plank. 

Installing Plank/Tiles 

• Installing out of multiple boxes is recommended. 

• Planks must be installed joint-tight and tension-free. 

• Flooring should have a minimum of 6 – 8" seam stagger. 

• Make sure cut edges are always against the wall. 

• Roll the installation with a 75 lb roller in both directions once the installation is complete. 

• Traffic: Wait 24 hours before allowing heavy traffic or rolling loads. 

POST INSTALLATION CARE AND PROTECTION 

• Place plywood over the flooring when heavy objects are moved. 

• Use protective chair mats under chairs and castors.  This will prevent excessive wear to the face of the flooring and possible transfer of the pressure sensitive adhesive to the back of the flooring. 

• Non-staining building material paper can be placed on top of the flooring to protect it if additional building construction activity is taking place. 

• Do not use plastic sheeting.  This will trap moisture.