Flooring Products

Application Guidelines

Suitable Substrates:

Refer to the flooring manufacturer’s specific recommendations for suitable substrates. Porous: Concrete, well-bonded cementitious underlayments, APA grade underlayment plywood (untreated) and radiant-heated subfloors where temperatures do not exceed 85°F (29.4°C) on all grade levels. Also can be used over well-bonded, properly primed gypsum underlayments (above-grade only). Non-porous: Ceramic tile, terrazzo, marble, certain epoxy coatings and existing well-bonded resilient flooring (not perimeter bonded or cushion-backed). Please note that all substrates must be sound, solid and well-bonded.

Subfloor Preparation:

All substrates must be clean, dry, structurally sound, properly cured and free of dirt, oil, paint, old adhesive, wax, sealers and curing agents. General scouring with 20 grit or #3 1/2 open-coat sandpaper will remove most compounds. All loose materials must be vacuumed from the surface after scouring. The subfloor must be flat to a tolerance of 3/16” in a 10’ radius. Grinding concrete floors is preferred over the use of filling compounds. If filling/flattening compounds are used, they must be Portland-based cementitious material and have a compressive strength equal to or greater than 3000 psi when cured. Moisture level in concrete subfloor will fluctuate. Any cementitious material used must be rated for the highest moisture content possible. Consult the cementitious material manufacturer’s application directions. Use of adhesive over lightweight concrete and all gypsum-based materials requires the use of an approved concrete primer prior to application of adhesive. The substrate, adhesive and flooring must be acclimated in an enclosed building with the HVAC operational between 60-95°F (15-35°C), and between 30-65% relative humidity, for at least 72 hours before, during and after the installation.

Subfloor Moisture Check and Alkali:

Concrete subfloors should be tested for moisture prior to installation. Moisture levels cannot be greater than 7 lbs./1000 sq. ft./24 hours on a Calcium Chloride Test (ASTM F1869), or relative humidity (RH) of 90% or less when tested with an in situ probe (ASTM F2170). Alkali needs to be checked and should be in the range of 5-9. When installing directly over wood subfloors the moisture content of the subfloor, foam backed hardwood parquet and cork/foam underlayment should be 13% or less.

Floor Covering Recommendations:

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT), Foam Backed Hardwood Parquet & Cork/Foam Underlayment.

Installation Recommendations:

For VCT, apply Titebond 920 using one of the following trowels. On smooth surfaces use a 1/32” x 1/32” U-notched trowel at the rate of 250 square feet per gallon. On rougher surfaces use a 1/16” x 1/16” x 1/16” notched trowel. When using Titebond 920 over porous substrates a larger trowel must be used. For cork/foam underlayment, please follow manufacturers installation recommendations. Minimum open time is an hour after adhesive application, or until it has become nearly clear and no longer transfers to the finger upon light touch. Maximum open time is 24 hours. If applied adhesive becomes covered with foreign matter, it will be necessary to apply an additional coat in order to promote adhesion. When adhesive is ready, set tiles in place (they will not slide). Roll within 12 hours with a heavy linoleum roller. Restrict heavy traffic for 24 hours. Do not expose floor to water for 10 days after installation. Follow flooring manufacturers recommendations for sealing/waxing VCT.

Cleanup:

Clean wet adhesive with water. Clean dry adhesive with mineral spirits. Follow solvent vendor’s safety precautions.

Limitations:

Do not use over high alkaline concrete (over 9.0 pH). Do not use over or under solid vinyl tile or sheets goods. Do not store below freezing. Use in well-ventilated area. Warranty covers subfloor moisture resistance but does not cover damage from flooding or other surface moisture contamination.

CAUTION: Do not sand, scour or abrade any material that is suspected of containing asbestos fibers. Asbestos is known to cause cancer. Federal law requires that asbestos be handled by a licensed and certified hazardous materials contractor.

Franklin International will honor the applicable terms of any resilient floor manufacturer’s current published adhesive warranty or subfloor moisture warranty (where applicable) when the flooring was installed using Titebond 920 Clear Thin-Spread Tile Adhesive in accordance with product instructions and the instructions of the resilient floor manufacturer.*

Franklin International will also warrant Titebond 920 to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of manufacture, if the product has been installed in accordance with the Franklin Specification Guide and the installation instructions furnished with the product. In the event of loss of adhesion of Titebond 920 due to product defect, Franklin International will reimburse the customer for the cost of labor and materials necessary to repair or replace the affected area(s) of the installed resilient flooring.

* Any and all addendums or changes to the vinyl floor manufacturer’s warranties will be reflected in the execution of Franklin International’s warranty immediately upon release by the vinyl floor manufacturer. The effective date of said changes and addendums will dictate coverage by Franklin International in relations to the date of installation.

As Franklin International is honoring the applicable terms of all vinyl floor manufactures’ current published warranties, Franklin International will also require the same jobsite preparations and installation instructions that accompany each warranty in question.