Materials Required for Installation

• Tape Measure
• Square Ruler
• Chalk Line
• Utility Knife
• Hand/Seam Roller
• 100 lb. Roller

Acceptable Subfloors

Wood Subfloor

• Wood subfloor must be American Plywood Association (APA) rated subfloor grade as specified and warranted by the manufacturer. All wood subfloors require a double layer construction.
  Porous wood subfloors must be primed.
• Any failure of the subfloor or flooring due to the subfloor is not the responsibility of EverStep. EverStep does not recommend installing resilient flooring over wood flooring or subfloors applied directly over concrete or sleeper-construction floors.

Concrete

• See Grade Levels below. All concrete subfloors require moisture testing.

Grade Levels

Suspended

• An acceptable suspended floor is a concrete or wood substrate with a minimum of 18” (460 mm) of well-ventilated air space beneath it. EverStep recommends that a moisture vapor barrier be placed on the ground below the air space.

On-Grade

• An acceptable on-grade floor is a concrete substrate in direct surface contact with the ground at the surrounding ground level. The concrete slab should be protected from moisture penetration and incorporate a permanent, effective moisture vapor retarder with a minimum thickness of 0.010” and a permeance of 0.1” per ASTM F710.

Below-Grade

• An acceptable below-grade floor is a concrete substrate partially or completely in contact with the ground below the average surrounding ground level. The concrete slab should be protected from moisture penetration and incorporate a proven moisture vapor barrier. The concrete slab should be protected from moisture penetration and incorporate a permanent, effective moisture vapor retarder with a minimum thickness of 0.010” and a permeance of 0.1” per ASTM F710.

Approved Substrates

• Concrete
• Portland Based Underlayment’s
• Terrazzo
• APA Approved Plywood
• Fiber Cement Underlayment
• Radiant Heated Subfloors (not exceeding 85°F (29°C))
• Properly Prepared VCT
• Properly Prepared Sheet Vinyl (single layer, fully adhered)

Unacceptable Surfaces

• Cushion-back Vinyl
• Laminate
• Any Floating Floor System
• Carpet

EverStep will not warrant or accept responsibility of any kind for flooring failures related to the use of unacceptable substrates and surfaces.

Floor Preparation

The smoothness and cleanliness of concrete subfloors must meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM F710. Fill all holes and cracks with a latex fortified Portland cement based patching compound. EverStep only recommends the use of latex fortified Portland cement based products as a satisfactory patching or leveling compound. The floor should be flat 3/16” in a 10 foot span.

EverStep recommends priming extremely porous floors with a Premium Acrylic Latex Primer to prevent over absorption of adhesives, dust containment, and to insure a better bond of the adhesive to the subfloor/underlayment.

Moisture Testing

All concrete slabs, both old and new, must be tested for moisture transmission using the Calcium Chloride Moisture Test according to ASTM F1869. Moisture vapor transmission should not exceed the recommended levels of 3 lbs. per 1,000 square feet in 24 hours. This test should be performed and documented prior to installation. Also test for relative humidity in concrete floor slabs using in-situ probes, which should be no more than 80% RH per ASTM F2170 before, during and after installation. These acceptable moisture readings are only applicable when using ES1000 Transitional Adhesive.

Storage and Handling

Acclimate the flooring a minimum of 48 hours before installation in the area it is to be installed. Conditions between 65°F and 85°F (18°C and 29°C) are required BEFORE, DURING and AFTER installation. Cartons should be evenly stacked no more than two high on a flat surface and away from any heating/cooling ducts or direct sunlight.

Floor must be CLEAN, SMOOTH, FLAT and DRY. Remove all foreign substances such as wax, grease, dirt, construction marks and contaminants, and any substance or chemical that would interfere with a good bond. Avoid using sweeping compounds. Do not install over substrates that have been chemically cleaned. The flatness of wood subfloors or underlayment must not exceed on variation of 3/16” in 10 feet.

PH Levels

PH on concrete substrates must be between 7 and 9. Inspection of flooring material prior to installation is required. Any defects should be immediately reported to the retail store from which the flooring was purchased before installation. (Within 24hrs of install) EverStep will not be responsible for labor costs to repair or replace material with defects that were apparent before or noticed at the end of an installation. The job site and all flooring material and adhesive must be kept for 48 hours before, during and after installation between 65°F and 85°F (18°C and 29°C).

Note: If removal of existing resilient floor covering is required, follow all recommended Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) work practices at www.rfci.com EverStep only recommends the use of Portland cement based products as a satisfactory patching or leveling compound for the installation of all EverStep flooring products.

Common Uses

• Leveling substrates
• Filling holes
• Filling cracks
• Embossing existing resilient floor, ceramic tile or VCT
• Leveling non-water-soluble adhesives
• Filling saw cuts and/or construction joints

Trowel Specifications

*Trowel dimensions are width x depth x spacing. Coverage is approximate and may vary depending on porosity of substrate and the angle at which the trowel is held. IT IS THE INSTALLER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO APPLY THE PROPER AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE FOR THE JOB CONDITION.

Do not fill actual expansion joints or other moving joints with elastomeric fillers that are designed to absorb movement in concrete slabs. Cementitious underlayment, patches and resilient flooring installed across true expansion joints will often buckle or crack when the slabs move. Usually architects will specify expansion joint covers for the use with various floor coverings.

Warning

For installation over old resilient floor coverings or when considering removing existing resilient floors, please be advised that these products may possibly contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica. Please follow all recommended Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) work practices at www.rfci.com.

Cutting

Tiles and planks may be cut with a small tile cutter or scored and snapped.

Precautions

Planks/tiles may be walked on immediately; however, the floor should be protected with plywood when moving heavy furniture and appliances back into the room.

Start of Installation

The adhesive, floor covering, and area to receive flooring must be maintained at a temperature of 65° to 85° F and at a relative humidity of 30% to 60% for 72 hours BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER installation. Follow the flooring manufacturer’s guidelines regarding site conditions and installation.

Porous Surfaces

May be used with transitional adhesive over porous surfaces. To use wet, apply adhesive with the recommended trowel and allow to flash off for 5-10 minutes before installing flooring. Lay tile, plank or sheet goods into wet adhesive according to flooring manufacturer’s instructions. Adhesive must transfer to floor product to ensure proper bond. After installation is complete, roll and cross roll with a 100 lb sectional roller. Use a hand roller in areas which cannot be reached with a larger roller. Check 1-2 hours after installing the flooring material and roll again if necessary.

Non-Porous Surfaces

Tile & Plank

• Apply with the recommended trowel, allow to dry completely from yellow to tan, and lay in the tile or plank according to the flooring manufacturers instructions within 3 hours. The highly aggressive pressure sensitive grip prevents slippage and minimizes seam gaps. Drying time is
  45- 90 minutes and will vary depending on temperature and humidity. Installation over areas of incomplete drying can result in job failure. After installation is complete, roll and cross roll with a 100 lb sectional roller. Use a hand roller in areas which cannot be reached with a larger roller. Check 1-2 hours after installing the flooring material and roll again if necessary.

Note: EverStep Flooring recommends consulting with customers Adhesive Manufacturer on their product with IXPE Backed Flooring. Please Follow Adhesive Manufacturers Installation Guidelines.

DO NOT use a damp cloth or damp mop on the new flooring for at least 14 days after the installation. This will allow planks/tiles to become “seated” in the adhesive and prevent excess moisture from interfering with the adhesive bond.

For more information, call 844-296-4669.