EMEA RETHINK & REFRAME INSTALLATION

i. GENERAL INFORMATION

Both ReThink and ReFrame luxury vinyl tiles are layered for strength and fused into a single solid surface and engineered to resist stains, scuffing and wear from demanding conditions. Shaw’s proprietary ExoGuard™ Quartz Enhanced Urethane surface finish is thinner and stronger than typical LVT wear layers, making them easier to clean and prevents fraying and edge wear.

All instructions and recommendations should be followed for a satisfactory installation.

• Prior to installing, the floor covering should be correctly acclimatized to an ambient site condition to a temperature of between 18 °C – 27 °C as per BS8203.

• Boxes of tiles should be removed from the delivery pallet and stored not more than five boxes high in the laying area for at least 48 hours.

• The conditioning time should be extended for a further 24 hours if the floor covering has been stored or transported at temperatures of less than 10 °C immediately prior to delivery.

• During peak sunlight hours, the use of the drapes or blinds is recommended. Excess temperature due to direct sunlight can result in thermal expansion and UV fading.

• Install product after all other trades have completed work that could damage the flooring. 

• Inspect all planks for damage before installing. If you have any concerns about the product fit or finish, call Shaw Contract EMEA tel: +44 (0) 20 7961 4120. Claims will not be accepted for flooring that has been cut to size and/or installed.

• Use of flooring grade cementitious patching and levelling compounds that meet or exceed the compressive strength value of 20 N/mm squared (3,000 psi) are acceptable.

• Should the base be found to be damp or have a moisture vapor content higher than 75% RH a suitable liquid applied surface damp proof membrane or a suitable moisture vapor suppressant should be incorporated into the subfloor treatment specification.

II. SUBFLOOR INFORMATION

All subfloors must be clean, flat, be permanently dry and structurally sound. The correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a successful installation. Subfloor must be within a surface deviation of no greater than 5 mm under a 2 metre straight edge (Surface Regularity 2 (SR2) – BS 8203/BS 8204).

A. WOOD SUBFLOORS

• Do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete.

• Basements and crawl spaces must be permanently dry. Where necessary, local regulations prevail.

• All other subfloors - Plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard, wafer board, etc.  must be structurally sound and be installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations. Local building codes, national standards and manufacturer’s recommendations may only establish minimum requirements of the flooring system and may not provide adequate rigidity and support for proper installation and performance.  Plywood should be of a suitable flooring grade, be at least 6 mm thick and conform to all relevant country applicable regulations and standards.

• The responsibility of determining if an existing flooring finish is suitable to be installed over rests solely with the installer/flooring contractor on site.  If any doubts exist in relation to the suitability of such a base, serious considerations should be given to its full removal and its subsequent repair. 

B. CONCRETE & SAND CEMENT SUBFLOORS

• Floors shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from any substance to impede adhesion.

• Cementitious based substrates should have a country applicable moisture vapor content that is deemed dry enough to lay resilient floor finishes upon.  The ‘British Standard 8203’ requires surface hygrometer readings to have reached equilibrium and be below 75% Relative Humidity (RH).  The ‘ASTM F1869’ states a maximum moisture level per the CaCl test method of 8 lbs. per 1000 ft² in a 24-hour period.

• Do not install over cementitious bases with a history of high moisture or hydrostatic conditions. Excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mold, mildew, and other moisture related issues like the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment. Shaw Industries does not warrant nor is responsible for damage to floor covering due to moisture related issues.

• pH level of concrete should be between 7-10.

• The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor covering installer. 

NOTE:  IT MAY NOT BE THE FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THESE TESTS. IT IS, HOWEVER, THE FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THESE TESTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED, AND THAT THE RESULTS ARE ACCEPTABLE PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE FLOOR COVERING. WHEN MOISTURE TESTS ARE CONDUCTED, IT INDICATES THE CONDITIONS ONLY AT THE TIME OF THE TEST.

C. LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE & ANHYDRITE (GYPSUM) BASED SCREEDS

All recommendations and guarantees as to the suitability and performance of lightweight concrete and anhydrite (gypsum) based screeds under resilient flooring are the responsibility of the supplier / manufacturer. The installer of the system may be required to be authorized or certified by the manufacturer. Correct on-site mixing ratios and properly functioning pumping equipment are critical. To ensure proper mixture, slump testing is recommended.

• Surface must be permanently dry, clean, smooth, free of all dust, and structurally sound.

• As with all bases, Relative Humidity (RH) moisture tests should be conducted prior to undertaking any flooring works. Materials should have a country applicable moisture vapor content that are deemed dry enough to lay resilient floor finishes upon. The ‘British Standard 8203’ requires surface hygrometer readings to have reached equilibrium and be below 75% Relative Humidity (RH). The ‘ASTM F1869’ states a maximum moisture level per CaCl test method of 8 lbs. per 1000 ft² in a 24-hour period.

• Bond testing to determine compatibility of adhesive to the substrate is advised. Primer can be utilized to promote adhesion.

D. RADIANT UNDERFLOOR HEATING: WET / HYDRONIC ONLY

In most instance wet or Hydronic underfloor heating systems are installed below sand cement / Anhydrite screeds that have been laid to a depth somewhere between 50 to 75 mm thickness.

It is imperative that the underfloor heating system has been previously commissioned and found to be fully functioning correctly prior to any part of the resilient floor coverings package being installed upon the base's surface. The underfloor heating system must be switched off for at least 48 hours prior to commencement of works and must remain off for a further 48 hours after the installation has been completed. It is also important to note that whilst the underfloor heating system has been decommissioned, an alternative heating source should be provided to ensure that the area of installation is kept at a constant temperature of between 18 °C and 27 °C.

After this 48-hour period, the underfloor heating system can be gradually recommissioned in accordance within standard industry recognized rules. Once operational, it is important to note that the heating system
must not exceed the industry agreed maximum operating temperature of 27 °C at the underside of the floorcovering (the adhesive line). 
 
In areas where the use of a higher temperature is unavoidable, agreement from your chosen adhesive manufacturer should also be obtained.
 
Failure to follow the aforementioned guidelines can result in floor finishes and their associated systems being irreversibly damaged.

E. EXISTING FLOOR COVERINGS

• Loose lay / interlocking type floor finishes can in most instances be installed over most existing hard-surface type floor coverings, provided that the existing material is fully adhered, is clean, flat, dry, structurally sound and free of deflection or material that could have an adverse effect on the installation.

• Existing sheet vinyl floors should not be heavily cushioned and not exceed more than one layer in thickness. Soft underlayment and soft substrates will compromise products with an interlocking ability as well as diminish indentation resistance.

NOTE: Resilient floor finishes that require fully bonding in most instances should NOT be installed over existing floor finishes.

• Installation of any floor finish is NOT allowed over any type of carpet.

• Do NOT install over wood floors that are adhered to concrete.

• Solvent residue left in and on the subfloor may have a negative effect upon newly installed floor finishes and their subsidiary underlying systems. Never use solvents or citrus adhesive removers to remove old adhesive residues.

F.  RAISED ACCESS PANEL SUBFLOORS

• 60 cm x 60 cm panels are recommended.

• Raised access panels must be stable, level, flat, free and clean of existing adhesives.

• Where / if necessary, repair or replace any loose or unstable panels.

• Lippage (variation of height) between of panels must not exceed 0.75 mm gaps between panels must not exceed 1 mm.

• There should be no deflection of the individual panels – Concave less than 0.75 mm.

• The surface of the system must be flat and level within a surface deviation of no greater than 5 mm under a 2.0 metre straight edge.

• Should access to the underside of the raised access base be a requirement, allow for framed inspection type hatches. 

• It is important to note that the joints of raised access bases can sometimes be physically viewed grinning back through the entire thickness of resilient floor finishes.  Such disparity is not considered to be a product defect.

• Use the appropriate installation methods for the product. 

**Floor finishes that are being installed directly upon such panels must have their joint lines staggered so that they do not coincide with those found on the raised access system.
NOTE: Should any doubt exist concerning the suitability of the raised access base, such surfaces can be covered with a 6 mm thick flooring grade plywood. Self-tapping screws, ring shank nails or divergent staples can be used to fix the boards. Should there be slight undulations or differences in height observed in the plywood sheets, a thin coat of a suitable flexible flooring / board grade feathering underlayment can be applied to the plywood’s facade prior to installing the floor finishes up on its surface.

III. INSTALLATION

Tools: Tape Measure, Chalk Line, Utility Knifes, T-Square, Adhesive Trowel (A1 or 1.5 mm x 5 mm ‘V’ notched trowel), Fluff Free Paint Roller, Paint Brush, Broom or Vacuum and if necessary, tools for subfloor repair.
 
Glue Down Installation: **Rethink and Reframe are permitted to be directly installed up the surface of raised access bases in conjunction with F Ball’s - Styccobond F41 Carpet Tile Tackifier or Uzin ‘Sigan Eleaments Plus’ double sided tape. They can also be fully adhered over approved plywood and concrete substrates. Always follow adhesive manufactures application instructions.
 
Recommended Adhesives are available from F. Ball and Co, Mapei, Uzin, Bostik, Thomsit, Tremco, Eurocol, Ardex and Schonox or comparable adhesive manufactures.
 
Install ReThink and ReFrame using conventional tile and plank installation techniques. Construction ‘type’ expansion joints should not be overlaid with any part of a Shaw Contract system. The material should be stopped either side of the joint and an expansion type cover strip should be incorporated into the installation.

• Carefully determine where to begin the tile installation. It is customary to center rooms and passageways so that perimeter cuts are not less than half a tile in size.

• Tile seams should be randomly staggered. Each stagger should not be less than 16 cm in length.

• Working out of multiple boxes at a time is recommended.

• In passageways and small spaces, it may be simpler to work lengthwise from one end using a center reference line as a guide.

• Make sure cut edges are always against the wall.

• To properly cut LVT type products score the top side of the material with a utility knife. Bend the product and finish the cut through the backside. This will ensure the cleanest cut.

• Cutting the product into a fine point may lead to delamination. Use Superglue to help fuse the LVT point together. Be sure to clean all glue from the top surface immediately.

• Roll flooring immediately after installation with a 68 kg 3‐section flooring roller. Continue to roll the floor throughout the working day to ensure a proper bond.

**When bonding, always follow the adhesive manufacturers recommendations.

F Ball Styccobond F41 Carpet Tile Tackifier should be applied using a suitable paint brush or roller, apply the adhesive evenly to the subfloor, over the whole area to be covered. Allow to dry to a clear, tacky film before placing the material into position, pressing firmly from the centre outwards and paying particular attention to the edges. When used over a raised access panel system, the tackifier should be poured into a tray and applied carefully using a roller to avoid excess adhesive seeping between individual panels and achieve the recommended coverage figure.

When bonding using the ‘Uzin - Sigan Eleaments Plus’ double sided tapemethod, prime the surface of the base where necessary using ‘Uzin Planus’ surface primer. Always follow product data sheets. 

• Install the 50 mm wide Sigan Elements Plus Tape around the walls perimeter and any abutments. Do not overlap any edge of the tape, mount edge to edge or cut back to a butt joint where necessary.

• Installing the 750 mm wide Sigan Elements Plus Tape in the running direction of the new floor finish. Overlap and trim in all seams. Remove any entrapped air and rub down well with a cork board or decorators brush. Only roll out enough tape that can be installed upon during the same working day.

• Set out the room and draw with a pen a starting point line. Cut and remove the protective paper to line to expose the adhesive tape below. Remove only enough tape to install a couple of rows.

• ​Install the tiles along the reference line without stressing and press down firmly by hand.

• ​Liberally remove the protective tape and continue to install as before.

• When completed, roll the installation with a 68 kg 3‐section flooring roller.

NOTE: Should the aforementioned guidance leave any unanswered questions or require more clarity, please call Shaw Contract EMEA tel: +44 (0) 20 7961 4120.