THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND DURABILITY OF
GENUINE TERRAZZO FLOORS... at a Fraction of the Cost
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No floor covering is better than the subfloor over which it is installed. The finished appearance and performance of the floor covering will be affected by the condition of the subfloor.
It is essential that all subfloors be rigid, smooth, flat, level, permanently dry, and free of all foreign materials. Dust, paint, grease, oils, solvents, curing and hardening compounds, sealers, asphalt and old adhesive residue must be removed. Subfloor preparation should be done with the permanent HVAC set at a minimum of 68°F (20°C).
Vacuuming the subfloor with a commercial shop vac is a preferred method of removing dirt and dust. For concrete floors, damp mopping the subfloor is an excellent way to remove fine dust. A clean subfloor is essential for proper bond between the subfloor and the floor covering.
Wherever trade names, trademarks, product names, or company names are mentioned; they are used only as a reference to establish a comparative standard of quality. It should not be assumed that the products named are the only products for the suggested use. Products named differently of similar or equal quality may also be suitable.
GRADE LEVELS DEFINITIONS
1. On Grade - A location for a finished floor with no portion below ground level, and with the floor and the ground in contact or separated by less than 18 inches of well-ventilated space between the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member and the ground at any point.
2. Above Grade - A location for a finished floor where the floor is not in contact with the ground and which provides at least 18 inches of well-ventilated space between the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member and the ground at any point.
3. Below Grade - A location for a floor structure, which is in contact with the ground or with less than 18 inches of well-ventilated space between the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member and the ground, at any point or the entire floor is below ground level.SUBSTRATE DEFINITIONS
1. Subfloor - That structural layer intended to provide support for design loadings. The substrate for the underlayment.
2. Underlayment - The layer of material installed on or over the subfloor to provide a smooth, clean surface to receive the resilient floor covering.
3. Subfloor-Underlayment combination - Designed to meet the structural requirements and provide a smooth surface to receive the floor covering.SUBFLOORS
Wooden
Wood floors should be double construction with a minimum thickness of 1". The floor must be rigid, free from movement and have at least 18" of well-ventilated air space below. Floorazzo should not be installed over wooden subfloors built on sleepers over, on grade, or below grade concrete floors unless specific design has been undertaken to eliminate the chance of failure due to the excessive moisture vapor emissions from the concrete.Underlayments
Underlayment panels are used to correct deficiencies in the subfloor and to provide a smooth, sound surface on which to adhere the resilient flooring. APA underlayment grade plywood, minimum ¼" thickness, with fully sanded face is the preferred panel. The underlayment must be free of any foreign material that may cause staining, such as patching compounds, sealers, inks, solvents, etc.The underlayment should be installed with dispersion type staples placed every 4 to 6 inches in the field and every 2 to 3 inches along the seams. Sanding is a preferred method for smoothing joints.
The American Plywood Association offers other acceptable guidelines for proper wooden subfloor installation. The above mentioned is not considered the only procedure for a successful installation. Always install and fasten underlayment panels according to the manufacturers' recommendations.
There are certain types of subfloors and underlayment that, through years of experience, are known to be prone to failure and are therefore NOT recommended.
Particle board/chip board, tempered hardboard are not suitable to install Floorazzo floor coverings over. Luan board is not considered a suitable underlayment to install Floorazzo over. In some cases permanent staining has occurred from chemicals used in the construction of Luan board. This is also true when using pressure treated or fire retardant wood. Regardless of which underlayment is used, failures in the performance of Floorazzo due to the underlayment are not covered by Floorazzo's warranty.
