INSTALLATION PREPARATION
MOISTURE TEST
It is essential that moisture tests be taken on all concrete and wood floors regardless of the age or grade level. Concrete should be tested in a minimum of three places for every 1,000 square ft. The test should be conducted according to ASTM F1869-98 using a calcium chloride test or digital meter. The test should be conducted around the perimeter of the room, at columns, and where moisture may be evident. The moisture emission from the concrete should not exceed 5.0 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. in 24 hrs. Wood should be tested with a digital moisture meter and should have a content not lower than 5% and not higher than 10%. If your results exceed these limits, please contact Stagestep for more information. It is not the floor installer's responsibility to conduct the test. However, the floor covering installer is responsible to make sure these tests have been conducted with proper results prior to installing the floor covering.
When moisture tests are conducted, it only indicates the conditions at the time of the test. The flooring contractor cannot be held responsible if moisture is present in the future and causes a failure.
JOB CONDITIONS
The installation of flooring should not begin until the work of all other trades has been completed, especially overhead trades.
Areas to receive flooring should be clean, fully enclosed, weather-tight with the permanent HVAC set at a uniform temperature of at least 68°F. The flooring material should be conditioned in the same manner. Maximum temperature should not exceed 100ºF after installation.
Areas to receive flooring shall be adequately lit to allow for proper inspection of the substrate, installation and seaming of the flooring, and final inspection.
NOTE: Conducting a moisture test prior to having a controlled environment may cause your results to change drastically once a controlled environment is established. This could result in an installation failure due to created temperature inversions in the interior environment.
MATERIAL STORAGE AND HANDLING INSPECTION OF MATERIAL
Material should be delivered to the job site in its original unopened packaging with all labels intact.
Store all rolls vertically.
Material should be stored in areas that are fully enclosed and weather-tight, with the permanent HVAC system set at a uniform temperature of at least 68°F for 72 hours prior to, during and after installation.
Material should always be stored and transported rolled on a 6-inch diameter heavy duty tube.
Material should always be visually inspected prior to installation. No labor cost will be covered on claims based on visual defects that could have been seen prior to installation.
COLOR MATCHING
When more than one roll of a color is being installed, all material should be from the same batch. If material from more than one batch is to be used, the job should be laid out so that different batches match as closely as possible.
When installing Stagestep vinyl, all sheets must be installed running in the same direction.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more extensive guidelines and stances of the mentioned topics, Stagestep would encourage you to contact the following associations:
- APA - The Engineered Wood Association - 253-565-6600 - www.apawood.org
- ACI - American Concrete Institute -248-848-3700 - www.concrete.org
- PCA - Portland Cement Association - 800-868-6733 - www.cement.org
- RFCI - Resilient Floor Covering Institute - 301-340-8580 - www.rfci.com
- ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials - 610-832-9500 - www.astm.org
