Existing Resilient Floors
Most Stagestep floor coverings may be installed over a single layer of non-cushioned resilient flooring provided it meets certain conditions.
• The existing flooring must be fully adhered and well-bonded.
• The existing flooring must not be embossed or textured enough that it will telegraph through the new flooring.
• All waxes and finishes must be removed and rinsed with clean water and a pH test should be conducted to assure stripper residues have been removed. An adhesive bond test should be conducted to ensure proper bond between the adhesive and the existing flooring material.
• Cuts, gouges, dents, and other irregularities must be repaired or replaced.
• The current subfloor must be sprung and must meet the recommendations of the existing and the new floor covering.
• The use of embossing levelers is not recommended for commercial installations.
Note:
Application of a skim coat of patching material over the existing resilient flooring may cause more problems than it resolves, such as bonding failures, cracking and indentations.
Note:
The responsibility of determining if the existing flooring is suitable to be installed over rests solely with the installer and flooring contractor. If there is any doubt as to its suitability, it should be removed or an acceptable underlayment installed over it.
Installations over existing resilient flooring may be more susceptible to indentation, and there is always a possibility the existing flooring may telegraph through. Remember, your flooring is no better than what you lay it over.
Telegraphing is when the conditions of the subfloor/underlayment show through or effect the conditions of the floor’s surface layer.
Radiant Heated Floors
Stagestep floor coverings may be installed over radiant heated floors provided the operating temperature does not exceed 85°F. To allow proper adherence of the adhesive to the subfloor, the radiant heating system should be lowered or turned off for at least 48 hours prior to installation of our flooring material. This will ensure the surface temperature of the subfloor does not exceed 65ºF during the installation of the flooring material.
The room temperature must be maintained at a minimum of 65°F prior to, during, and after installation for 72 hours. Then, the temperature of the radiant heating system can be increased. When raising the floor temperature, do so gradually so that the substrate and flooring material can adapt to the temperature change together. A rapid change could result in bonding problems.
For more information, contact our technical support at 800-523-0960.
The use of Stagestep vapor barrier, 8 mil. or better plastic barrier, is mandatory when installing our products over, above, on, or below grade concrete. Failure to do so will void all warranties.
