7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 1/52
FLOOR COVERING
FCI October 2015 • $17.00
UNDERSTANDINGCRACK ISOLATION P. 30
UNDERLAYMENTS FORHARDWOOD, RESILIENT P. 38
INSTALLING IN-FLOORRADIANT HEAT P. 46
MITIGATING MOISTUREIN WOOD FLOORS P. 42
GET MORE @ FCIMAG.COM
P L U S :
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 2/52
No matter how you slice it…
2 = 3 with MAPEI’s Ultracoat ™
wood-floor finishing system
UltracoatHigh Traffic finish
UltracoatPremium Basebasecoat
Competitor’sbasecoat
Competitor’s initialfinish layer
Competitor’s followupfinish layer
Due to high-solids content and film-build properties,MAPEI’s Ultracoat 2-coat system is equal to the 3-coatbuild using a competitor’s products. And that saves you
time, money and effort. Talk about a sweet deal!
Scan here and watch to learn thesecrets of finishing a beautifulwood-floor.
Visit www.mapei.us to learn more aboutthe world of MAPEI.
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 3/52
TFACV
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 4/52
FLOOR COVERING INSTALLERVolume 22, Issue 6 (ISSN: Print 1099-9647 and Digital 2328-6059) is pub-lished 7 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar/ Apr, May/Jun, July/Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov/ Dec by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W.Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI48084-3333 Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317.No charge for subscriptions to qualifiedindividuals. Annual rate for subscrip-tions to nonqualified individuals in theU.S.A.: $123.00 USD. Annual rate forsubscriptions to nonqualified individualsin Canada: $160.00 USD (includes GST& postage); all other countries: $178.00(int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds.Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2015,by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights re-
served. The contents of this publicationmay not be reproduced in whole or inpart without the consent of the pub-lisher. The publisher is not responsiblefor product claims and representations.Canada Post: Publications Mail Agree-ment #40612608. GST account:131263923. Send returns (Canada) toIMEX Global Solutions, P.O. Box 25542,London, ON, N6C 6B2.Change of address: Send old addresslabel along with new address to FLOORCOVERING INSTALLER, P.O. Box 2146,Skokie, IL 60076.For single copies or back issues: contactAnn Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or [email protected].
On the cover: An installation
of Loxcreen’s ProVa Flex
uncoupling membrane for
ceramic and natural s tone tiles,which is designed to protect
against substrate cracks, stress
and dampness. Tile can be laid
immediately after the membrane
is installed, according to the
company.
30
38
30UNDERSTANDING CRACK
ISOLATIONManufacturers of tile-setting materials share their
perspective on the differences between crack
isolation, anti-fracture and uncoupling membranes.
Also discussed are application methods and why
using a membrane is not a substitute for movement/
expansion joints.
38UNDERLAYMENTS FOR
HARDWOOD, RESILIENTIndustry experts talk about the installation of
underlayment for hardwood, laminate and resilient
flooring. They go over the importance of subfloor
prep, tackling possible moisture concerns, thebenefits of sound control and other considerations.
42MITIGATING MOISTURE IN
WOOD FLOORSColumnist Roy Reichow explains how vital it is
to figure out a project’s moisture levels before
installing hardwood flooring, and ways to correct
imbalances in moisture so the flooring will not fail.
He also cautions on over-drying a floor.
6 EDITORIAL COMMENT
8 DIRECTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
12 PRODUCT FOCUS
14 MUST HAVE PRODUCTS
18 CTEF TILE TIP
20 INDUSTRY NEWS
34 AVOIDING CRACK ISOLATION FAILURES
36 SOUND CONTROL PRODUCTS GALLERY
46 INSTALLING IN-FLOOR RADIANT HEAT
50 AD INDEX/CLASSIFIED ADS
Departments
FCI
InstallerFLOOR COVERING
October 2015 • Vol. 22, No. 6
4 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 5/52
Ready to go head-to-head with some of your most intimidating subflooring challenges?
Then now is the time to weigh in, grab some Schönox, and show us what you’ve got. Just submit before and
after pics of your toughest subfloor renovation job along with what Schönox products it took to whip that
subfloor back into shape, and you may win some great prizes. Winners to be announced at Surfaces 2016.
Visit hpsubfloors.com/worstsubfloor for all the details.
www.hpsubfloors.com HPS North America, Inc. is a TMT America Company
Toll Free: 855.391.2649
BEFOREBadly damaged
ordinary gypsum
in a multi-family
housing situation
AFTERFloor primed with KH
Fix and Schönox APF
poured directly over
broken gypsum
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 6/52
B Y M I C H A E L C H M I E L E C K I , E D I T O RFROM THE EDITOR
The year 2015 has been one
of upheaval, changes and
evolution—for the industry
and also personally.
Industry-wide, there have
been big-name mergers,
big-time reorganizations
and questions about how to
stop a projected shortfall in qualified installersas the experts retire and not enough bright,
young, hungry installers are attracted to the
field to succeed them.
Personally, this year has also been a massive
upheaval because my father—a brilliant,
hardworking, generous and hilarious hardware
engineer with several patents to his name
that I would never be able to explain—passed
away at 68 after a three-year battle with a
rare and aggressive cancer. My wife and I
were basically living out of my parents’ (now
parent’s) house for the final week of his life,trying to usher him out of confusion and pain
and into a deserved peace. The finality of it
pretty much exploded everything I thought I
understood about my own life, but his strength
and willpower all the way to the end was also
deeply inspiring.
I say this not to garner sympathy or
to exclusively share personal stories in a
professional space. Just, it’s something that has
been on my mind constantly, and as a writer
doing his best to communicate the truth of
what’s going on out there, I couldn’t leave this
unannounced in the forum I use to chat with
you all each issue. It might also help explain why
this year of industry upheavals, changes and
evolution feels particularly significant to me.
Just to show you how absolutely surreal
this year has been, consider this. My dad
died a week after the close of the National
Wood Flooring Association’s 30th anniversary
celebration, which ran in late April untilMay 1. While industry professionals were
out networking, catching a Cardinals game
and learning about the newest hardwood
flooring products, I was listening to a hospice
nurse explaining which medicine to give my
dad at which time, and how to operate his
morphine pump. It’s a sense of dislocation
and detachment that really has no language to
explain it.
Because of the timing of everything, I
haven’t been on the road at all since mid-
April. It’s been good to have the time togrieve and reflect, but I also miss bumping
into everyone on the show floors. I never get
tired of the energy at these events. There’s
always something new to see, and plenty of
people willing to offer their perspectives and
experience even when the news isn’t rosy. Even
during tough times, the industry is resilient.
And so am I. nnFCI
6 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
Personal
Refectionson A Changing Industry
EDITORIAL STAFFGROUP PUBLISHER: Larry Bagan
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR,FLOORING GROUP: Matthew Spieler
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Jon Namba
EDITOR: Michael Chmielecki
[email protected] EDITOR: Danielle Clair
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Terra Donnelly
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, TALKFLOOR:Dave Foster, [email protected]
SR. ART DIRECTOR: Rick Arvidson
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jennifer Allen-Wise
MARKETING & TRADE SHOW MANAGER:Valsa Terron-Khan
ONLINE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:Nikki Smith
DIRECTORY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER:Erin Mygal
SALESASSOCIATE PUBLISHER,FLOORING GROUP:
Keith Parry • (973) 248-6097 WESTERN ADVERTISING MANAGER :Janelle Minghine • (734) 340-5211CORPORATE REPRINT MANAGER:Jill DeVries • (248) 244-1726
Corporate Office:2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 700
Troy, MI 48084Phone: (248) 362-3700 • Fax: (248) 362-0317
CORPORATE DIRECTORSPUBLISHING: John R. Schrei
CORPORATE STRATEGY: Rita M. Foumia
CONTENT DEPLOYMENT: Michelle HucalCREATIVE: Michael T. Powell
EVENTS: Scott Wolters
FINANCE: Lisa L. PaulusINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Scott Krywko
HUMAN RESOURCES: Marlene J. Witthoft
PRODUCTION: Vincent M. MiconiCLEAR SEAS RESEARCH: Beth A. Surowiec
AUDIENCE MARKETINGAUDIENCE MARKETING MANAGER: Kathleen Koval
MULTIMEDIA COORDINATOR:Lauren Kastman
BNP CUSTOM MEDIA GROUP:Christopher Wilson
(248) 244-8264 • [email protected]
LIST RENTAL POSTALAND EMAIL CONTACTS:Kevin Collopy, Sr. Acct. Mgr.
Phone (402) 836-6265
(800) 223-2194 ext [email protected]
Senior Account Manager:Michael Costantino
Phone (402) [email protected]
SINGLE COPY SALES: Ann Kalb
Phone (248) 244-6499Fax (248) [email protected]
For subscription information or service,please contact Customer Service at:Phone: 847-763-9534 or Fax: 847-763-9538 orEmail: [email protected]
BNP MEDIA II, L.L.C.BNP Media Helps People Succeed in
Business with Superior Information
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 7/52
CUSTOM OFFERS 40 COLORS
IN ALL GROUTS.Refreshed Palette Complements Today’s Trends
CUSTOM continues to lead the grout industry by offering the best color lineup that combines existing popularfavorites with nine new nature-inspired colors added for 2015.
Designers have a new array of colors to choose from – all complementing today’s tile trends including woodplank, stone, reclaimed wood, and glass. The new colors are drawn from nature with inspiration from water,sand, and fog with muted gray, brown, green and blue tones.
Choose the right grout!CUSTOM empowers tile contractors and design professionals to choose the right grout type for the job.
All 40 colors are now available in all grout lines, including Fusion Pro. ®
CustomBuildingProducts.com | 800-272-8786FC0615B
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 8/52
DIRECTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
Summer was much too short and now fall is in the
air. So what does that mean for hardwood floors?
It means as installers and retailers we need to make
sure to educate our customers on maintaining proper
humidity levels in homes. Most areas of the United States
go through the four seasons, and that means during the
winter months heat is required to maintain a comfort
level. What that also means is if forced air heating is
utilized, there is a much drier environment. Inspections
of gapping (Photo 1), cracks (Photo 2), checking (Photo
3), cupping (Photo 4), bond line failure (delamination)
(Photo 5) and shear (Photo 6) start about two monthsafter the heaters get turned on.
Inspectors are typically busy from November to April
conducting inspections due to dry conditions. So what
can we as installers and retailers do? Let our customers
know they need to take responsibility in maintaining
their environment.
It’s our responsibility as professionals to educate
the end user in understanding the importance
of maintaining a constant environment that the
manufacturer and industry recommend. If you decide
not to, be prepared for the famous paper trail of sticky
notes (Photo 7)—or worse, monetary losses. Whether it’s a portable humidifier (Photo 8) or a
built-in humidistat system (Photo 9), both will help
introduce moisture into the air. If the homeowner/end
user decides on a portable system, make sure to discuss
placement of the humidifier. Some areas of the country
have hard/heavy minerals in their water, and if a
humidifier is placed directly on a wood floor or if the
mist falls directly onto the wood floor it may display
a white haze from the mineral residue. Distilled
water will not leave a residue like hard water. Portable
systems also require filling on a constant basis.
As an installer, you should be documenting
The Heat is On, or It Will Be Soon:Maintaining Humidity for Hardwood
8 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
B Y J O N N A M B A , E D I T O R I A L D I R E C T O R
Photo 1
Photo 2
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 9/52
carpet-rug.org P.O. Box 2048 Dalton Georgia 30722-2048 706.278.3176
CARPET INDUSTRY UPDATES LEADING INSTALLATION STANDARDS
Our companies are making an unprecedented array of the most innovative carpet products in history.
Designing, creating and marketing those floor coverings are just part of the process. High quality carpet
installation is critical to ensuring customers benefit from the advanced materials and manufacturing that
go into our products today.
That’s why a group of industry professionals recently updated the Carpet and Rug Institute’s 104/105
installation standards for commercial and residential carpet. They drew upon practical experience and
research and sought input from carpet manufacturers, retailers, installers, customers, testing laboratories
and other experts. The resulting updated standards emphasize planning and preparation—and deliver on
the industry’s commitment to ensure quality and customer satisfaction through proper carpet installation.
The Carpet and Rug Institute will periodically evaluate these guidelines to ensure they continue to serve
as the industry’s gold standard for carpet installation.
To view the updated 104/105 installation standards for commercial and residential carpet, visit
www.carpet-rug.org.
John R. Wells
President & CEO, Interface Americas, Inc.
Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum
Chairman & CEO, Mohawk Industries
David JollyPresident & CEO, J + J Flooring
Karel Vercruyssen
CEO, Beaulieu Group, LLC
Robert E. Shaw
Chairman & CEO, Engineered Floors
Daniel K. Frierson
Chairman & CEO, Dixie Group
Jack GanleyPresident, Mannington Commercial
Vance Bell
Chairman & CEO, Shaw Industries
Ralph Grogan
President & CEO, Bentley Mills
Philippe HamersGeneral Manager, Balta
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 10/52
ambient site conditions as well as
moisture content of the subfloor and
wood to protect your business. If you
read the installation guidelines from the
manufacturers or the National Wood
Flooring Association’s installation
guidelines, you’ll find there is a
temperature and relative humidity range
that should be constantly maintained.
One of the first questions an inspector
wil l ask is whether or not the instal ler
has documentation of site conditions
and moisture content of the subfloor and
wood flooring.
So as the sun sets on summer (Photo
10) and things get cooler outside,
remember to address the heat on the
inside. nnFCI
10 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
Photo 3
Photo 5
Photo 7
Photo 9
Photo 4
Photo 6
Photo 8
Photo 10
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 11/52
TEC®
: Fewer steps for moisture mitigation
Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, turned to TEC® to protect against moisture damage when the hospital was rebuilt after
a tornado struck. With a one-step, one-coat formula and no shot blasting required,* The LiquiDAM® from TEC® efficiently
protects the flooring from moisture.
Visit tecspecialty.com/moisture and enter offer code FCIad to learn how
to protect your floors from moisture damage and receive a free TEC® T-shirt.
©Copyright 2015 H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.
TEC® and The LiquiDAM® are trademarks of H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.
* No shot blasting required for clean, sound concrete.
Mercy Hospital Joplin, Joplin, MO
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 12/52
PRODUCT FOCUSFCI
CS Unitec’s Trelawny Long-Reach Scrapers feature one tool with multiple applications—chipper, scraper anddescaler. Standard scrapers are available in 2’, 4’ and 5’ lengths to efficiently remove residue, corrosion, adhesives,
floor tiles, plaster, mortar and more.
CS Unitec’s offers a series of “lite” models up to 6’ long that weigh less than 8.5 lbs., making them ideal foroverhead use. All long-reach scrapers can be converted to needle scalers by changing the scraper/chisel with a
needle attachment (P/N 415.3532). These air-powered long-reach scrapers consume only 4.5 CFM of air at 90 PSIand are safer for use in hazardous areas where pneumatic power is the norm.
Accessories include chisel blades in 1”, 2” and 4” widths. Spark-resistant aluminum bronze blades are available foruse in potentially hazardous environments.
For more information, visit www.csunitec.com.
12 Ocotber 2015 I www.fcimag.com
CS Unitec’s Long-Reach Scraper tools used to break up old tiles.
‘Lite’ models are up to 6 feetlong and weigh less than 8.5lbs., according to the company.
CS UNITECH LONG-REACH SCRAPER
ALSO INCLUDES CHIPPER AND DESCALER
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 13/52
LVT ADHESIVE DESIGNED
TO WITHSTAND ALL TYPES
OF TRAFFIC
Titebond 670 is an acrylic, water-resistant, resilient flooring adhesive designed for luxury/solid vinyl tile and rubber flooring.
Applied using either a nap roller or trowel, it can be used with both the wet lay and pressure sensitive installation method.
It provides a strong, durable bond in a variety of high traffic residential and commercial areas.
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 14/52
Tec Adds In-Floor Heat to Line UpTec Skill Set has added a UL-
approved floor warming system toits product line of tile installationmaterials. With its infrared radiantheat technology, the product allowstile contractors to efficiently install aheating system with uniform warmthunderneath tile and stone floorswith the assistance of a l icensedelectrician.tecskillset.com
14 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
FCI MUST HAVE PRODUCTS
Stauf PUK-455 for Wide-Width FloorsStauf’s new PUK-455 was developed specifically for theinstallation of solid wood planks without limitations on width,length or thickness, according to the company. PUK-455has a shear strength of over 680 psi, allowing it to stabilizeand help control common cupping problems associated withwide-width solid flooring.staufusa.com
Measure Tape Introduces eTape16Measure Tape’s eTape16 features a large, easy-to-read digital readoutthat is accurate to 1/16” or 1 millimeter, according to the company. Asimple push of a button allows one to read the measurement in inches,feet, fractions and decimals, as well as converting to metric. Anotherfeature allows the tape to switch between measurement of the bladelength alone and a measurement which adds the 3” width of the tapemeasure case to the readout.etape16.com
Loxcreen Updates Shower Base KitLoxcreen has updated its ProVa-Showerbase extension kit. According to thecompany, the kit was designed withperforated corners so an installer canbuild a shower base with or without cutsto accommodate many styles and baseshapes. The kit also aids in installationof large showers/saunas/steam showerswith a variety of size options when usingmultiple kits.loxcreen.com
Laticrete Offers BarrierFree Shower SystemLaticrete’s Hydro BanBarrier Free ShowerSystem provides a completewaterproof assembly forinstalling a barrier-freeshower. The adjustablegrate height also allows fora wide range of tile or stonethicknesses. Hydro BanLinear Drains and Hydro BanBonding Flange Drains canbe installed to form a gentleslope into the shower, or usethe Pre-Sloped Shower Panand Ramp combination.laticrete.com.
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 15/52
www.schluter.com | 800-472-4588Connect with us!
Schluter®-DITRA-HEATElectric floor warming system with integrated uncoupling
•
Heating and uncoupling in a single layer
•
No self-levelers required to encapsulate heating cables (no need to wait for curing)
•
Place the heating cables exactly where they are needed, without clips or fasteners
• Combines the flexibility of loose cable with the ease of installation of a mat system
•
120 V and 240 V options
•
Programmable and non-programmable thermostats available
Don’t need the heat?
Schluter®-DITRA Uncoupling membrane
for tiled floors
Faster, Thinner
Floor Warming
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 16/52
Coatings for Industry’s Pitch
Identification ToolCoatings for Industry is making itsself-branded Pitch Identification Toolavailable to customers who place anysize order. Additionally, this productis available for non-customers andprospective customers for $5.99. ThePitch Identification Tool uses ball bearing-type rollers to let the installer visuallydetermine where the substrate slopes.cficoatings.com
16 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
FCI MUST HAVE PRODUCTS
Whisper Mat CS from Protecto WrapProtecto Wrap’s Whisper Mat CS is a sound control and cracksuppression membrane for ceramic and natural stone tile. Thepeel-and-stick membrane reduces impact and airborne soundtransmissions, while isolating finished flooring from subfloor cracksup to 3/8”. The product is made of a crosslinked polyolefin foamsheet combined with an aggressive rubberized adhesive and a
polyester mesh fabric.protectowrap.com
DriTac Golden Bullet OffersSound ControlDriTac’s 4141 (The GoldenBullet) single-componentadhesive is a urethane-basedproduct that offers sound andmoisture control for woodflooring. The Golden Bullet canadhere engineered plank, solidwood plank and bamboo flooringwithout restriction on width,length or thickness, accordingto the company. It also meets orexceeds all IIC and STC buildingcode requirements for soundreduction.dritac.com
Bostik Ultra-Set SingleStep2 WithAxios TechBostik’s Ultra-Set SingleStep2featuring Axios Tri-Linking polymertechnology combines a high-strengthadhesive, moisture barrier and soundabatement underlayment in oneformulation. It also contains ThicknessControl Spacer Technology, aproprietary feature ensuring the idealmembrane thickness between thesubstrate and hardwood flooring, thecompany said.bostik-us.com
WarmlyYours Launches Accessory, Rough-in KitsThe Installation Accessory Kits include all of the tools necessary to
install a TempZone floor-heating system and tile. They come in fourdifferent kits—Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum—to suit variousinstallation needs. The Electrical Rough-in Kits, available with andwithout conduit, include all the parts needed to install a thermostat.warmlyyours.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 17/52
To learn more:
800-356-7887 •
MOISTURE MITIGATED.PROTECT YOUR FLOOR COVERINGS.
Let a Maxxon System lay the ground work to ensure seamless floor covering installation and protection.
• Ideal for new construction and renovations
• Reduces moisture vapor emission rates of up to 25 lbs to 3 lbs or less
• Ready to be capped with a high strength Maxxon Underlayment the very next day
• One system warranty when topped with a Maxxon Underlayment
© 2015 Maxxon® Corporation, all rights reserved.
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 18/52
The topic of spot bonding floor tile was covered in CTEF Tile Tipabout a year ago, and one would think the installers that utilize thistechnique would heed the warning and stop installing tile in this
way. Unfortunately, that has not happened.This problem continues to be high on the list of questions received
by the CTEF offices when things go wrong. Too many installerscontinue to spot bond their floor tile by placing a dollop of mortar(about the size of a golf ball) on each corner with one in the middleof the back of the tile. This process, commonly known as “fivespotting,” fails almost every time because the majority of the tile isnot supported or bonded by the mortar (see attached photo).
The TCNA Handbook method W260 illustrates the installationmethod for spot bonding ceramic tile on walls only, using a particular
epoxy setting material which is recommended by the manufacturerfor this specialized purpose. This detail is very specific and clearly isrecommended for interior use on a wood or steel stud wall over cementbacker board. It further states these limitations: It will not withstandimpact and the maximum stud spacing is 16” on center.
The reason installers use this “shortcut” to install floor ti le, especiallylarge format, is that it virtually eliminates lippage. With the mortarconcentrated in these five areas, the installer can easily push downon the mortar spot and get it to flatten out with the adjacent tiles.Continuing to push down on the other three corners usual ly yields alippage-free installation. Life is good, right? Wrong!
This mistake creates a number of problems which many times willbe cause for a callback and/or potential failure. The number-oneproblem caused here is the lack of support of the tile. Any point
load, including a woman’s high heel, will cause the tile to crack. Thesecond problem occurs when a hollow sound is detected in the area
which has no mortar underneath—which is not acceptable. Anotherproblem occurs when moisture collects in these hollow areas causingthe grout to remain dark until the water has completely evaporated.If the tile is a natural stone, the moisture could permanently discolorthe stone, not to mention the grout.
In order to save yourself a lot of time, trouble and possibly financial loss,use the industry recommended method to spread your mortar. Properlykey in your mortar to the substrate, comb it in one direction and place thetile into the mortar moving it in a back and forth motion perpendicularto the trowel ridges. This method should provide the necessary mortarcoverage while keeping problems away from your door and keeping the
money you have earned in your pocket—where it belongs!
TILE TIP
Spot Bonding Tile Problems,
Again and Again
• 30 years in floor heating & electronic controls
•
Thousands of installations• Above- and below-floor solutions, for new and retrofit
projects
• Thermostat options with programmable touchscreensand remote access
• 25-year warranty for WarmWire®, whether used withSunTouch or other manufacturers’ membranes
SunTouch.com
Rely on our experience and broad productselection to make your next floor heatinginstallation a success!
electric floor heating & snow melting
A Watts Water Technologies Company
Go with
the experts!Extensive product line
Feature-rich controls
Flexible installation
18 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 19/52
Find out more by going here!
Shouldn’t you specify the best performing and most cost effective systemto protect your finished floor installation?
Moisture Mitigation...
for up to 99.0% RelativeHumidity!!!
• Suppresses water vapor emission fromconcrete up to 99.0% RH
• Peel-&-Stick installation provides afully secured flooring system
• ‘Zero Telegraphing’ of seams
• For use under carpet, VCT, LVP, wood, ceramic
and many more types of flooring!
w w w . t r a x x c o r p . c o m
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 20/5220 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
NWFA Launches Partnership to
Benefit Military Veterans
Former U.S. Marine and combat veteran NickKimmel at the pitcher’s mound during the NWFA’s30th anniversary convention.
When former U.S. Marine and combat
veteran Nick Kimmel walked to thepitcher’s mound before the St. Louis
Cardinals baseball game on April 28 at
the start of the National Wood Flooring
Association’s 30th anniversary convention,
he represented the Gary Sinise
Foundation. He represented veterans
across the country. And, standing on two
prosthetic legs and having only his right
arm with which to toss the ceremonial
first pitch, he represented what is possible.
Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E.
(Restoring Independence, SupportingEmpowerment) program builds smart
homes for veterans who have sacrificed
their health, many losing multiple limbs
during their military service. Gary Sinise,
the Oscar-nominated actor, attended
NWFA’s Wood Flooring Expo in St. Louis
to officially announce his foundation’s
partnership with the NWFA, giving a
stirring 15-minute speech to an overflow
crowd at the Kickoff General Session.
Eight NWFA member manufacturers
have committed to providing materials: American OEM, Mannington Wood
Floors, MAPEI, Mullican Flooring, Rust-
Oleum, Sheoga Hardwood Flooring,
Somerset Hardwood Flooring and WD
Flooring. Distributors and contractors in
the communities where homes are being
built will have opportunities to participate
as well, creating locally based support for
the home-building projects.
NWFA members will participate in
projects for up to 12 homes per year,
and will partner with manufacturers that
match the U.S.-based manufacturing
requirements of the R.I.S.E. program.
More information about the Gary
Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. programis available at garysinisefoundation.
org. NWFA manufacturer members
interested in being involved should call
NWFA at (800) 422-4556.
Halex Joins Fuse Alliance as
Preferred Supplier
Fuse Alliance announced that Halex
Corp. has joined the Fuse Alliance
network as a Preferred Supplier. Based in
Southern California, Halex is a leadingmanufacturer of flooring installation
products including seam tape, flooring
nails, underlayment and moisture barriers.
Halex offers Fuse Alliance network
members brands such as VersaShield,
Orcon, Capitol, Roberts and Preferred
for products ranging from carpet seaming
tape to installation tools. Halex also has
two additional U.S. manufacturing and
distribution centers located in Calhoun,
Ga. and Bensalem, Pa.
WFCA Acquires CFI; New
Programs Announced
Scott Humphrey, World Floor Covering
Association (WFCA) CEO, recently
announced his organization has added
the International Certified Floorcovering
Installer Association (CFI) and provided
“the infusion of capital necessary to
continue and expand CFI’s installation
training and certification programs.”
Robert Varden, who was tapped to leadCFI after Jim Walker stepped down, will
take on the role of vice president of the
CFI Division, overseeing existing and
expanded certification training programs.
To accommodate this move, WFCA has
opened an office and training facility in
Lenexa, Kans., which will house staff
from both organizations including Tom
Jennings, WFCA’s vice president of
development.
In a related announcement, CFI has
opened a new 10,000 sq. ft. installation
training facility in Forney, Texas, about 21
miles east of Dallas. This new facility will
be able to accommodate workshops and
classes for all types and levels of installationtraining and certification. “The Dallas-area
location is projected to be the first leg of
a larger plan to bring CFI training and
certification to other markets across the
U.S.,” the WFCA stated.
To start, the school will be offering
R1C1 courses in carpet certification; one-
and two-week classes in every category
of hard surface; and an extensive course
on carpet installation that will turn
entry-level individuals into professional
residential carpet installers in just five weeks, CFI said.
The school will also offer new one-
week advanced commercial installation
workshops as well as classes on pattern
correction, woven carpet and specialty
products. In addition to the programs
offered through the school, CFI will also
continue with regional training programs
throughout the country.
Additionally, Varden said CFI will
enhance its recruitment efforts. “We
are tapping into targeted demographicgroups such as veterans and high school
vocational groups, who we feel would be
great candidates for this field.”
The CFI has announced it will be
holding its next convention Nov. 12-
14, in Dallas. This year’s event is set
to include “extensive daily installation
seminars and hands-on workshops taught
by leading industry professionals, as well
as numerous networking opportunities
with executives and colleagues across the
country,” the association noted. For moreinformation, visit cfiinstallers.org.
Wagner Meters Offers Updated
Webinar
Wagner Meters is offering the recently
updated online course, “Moisture
Testing of Concrete Floor Slabs.” This
training webinar is especially designed for
contractors and flooring installers, and is
presented by Howard Kanare, a leading
expert in concrete moisture issues.
FCI INDUSTRY NEWS
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 21/52
Take
UltraCare
™
of your tile and
natural stone project
Total Solutions for Stone, Tile and Grout CareAlong with developing UltraCare Grout Maximizer and UltraCare Grout Refresh , MAPEI’s world-leading
Research and Development team has produced a complete line of high-quality sealers, finishes, cleaners
and problem-solvers that complements our full line of installation products. Each product is formulated to
be environmentally friendly and easy to use, as well as to provide outstanding performance and durability.
MAPEI’s UltraCare care and maintenance products deliver outstanding results.
Scan here to learn more about
our other UltraCare products orvisit ww w.mapei.com.
Grout Refresh ™
Renovate and renew your groutGrout MAX imizer Grout and seal in one step
BEFORE AFTER
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 22/52
Kanare, a former senior principal
scientist for the Portland Cement
Association’s Laboratory (CTLGroup),
shares breakthrough scientific dataregarding methods for moisture testing
of concrete slabs. The one-hour webinar
includes a live question-and-answer
session.
The updated, online course is now
being offered twice monthly. Early
registration is encouraged and can be
done online at www.wagnermeters.com/
webinar.
INSTALL Announces TexasExpansion
INSTALL, which said it has had Texas
marked as a strategic next step in its
expansion plan for years, recently held an
open house at the existing North Texas
Training Center at 1901 Susan Drive in
Arlington. Welcoming INSTALL staff
and instructors, contractors, installers and
manufacturer representatives, the event
celebrated the INSTALL curriculumbeing brought to the Texas location for
the first time.
“Texas is the most vibrant market in the
country and it’s booming with projects
and available workforce,” said John
McGrath, INSTALL executive director.
“We want to get those workers trained
and certified so they can deliver quality
commercial flooring installations to the
Texas market.”
Representatives from manufacturers
and mills including Ardex, ArmstrongFlooring, Gerflor, H.B. Fuller, HP
Schonox, Halex, Mohawk, nora, Shaw
and Tarkett/Johnsonite were in attendance
for the open house.
For more information, visit
installfloors.org.
Laticrete-Sponsored Joey Ternullo
Wins Race
Joey Ternullo wins the Legend Car race atWaterford earlier this year.
Laticrete announced that Joey Ternullo
won the Legend Car race at Waterford
Speedbowl’s earlier this year.Ternullo is the son of Middletown
Ceramic Tile Co.’s Joe Ternullo.
Middletown Ceramic Tile Company
has been using Laticrete materials and
methods for over 50 years.
Laticrete has sponsored Ternullo in
FCI INDUSTRY NEWS
22 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
www.nacproducts.com • 1 -800-633-4622
Waterproong and
sound control systemsfor bathrooms.
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 23/52
his Legend Car for the past few years. A
Legend Car is a five-eighths scale replica
of a pre-World War II coupe car and can
reach 80 miles per hour.
AccuTec Blades Acquires EPC
Industrial Blades Division
AccuTec Blades Inc. has announced
the acquisition of Edgewell Personal Care
Company’s (EPC) Industrial Blades divi-
sion. EPC announced in May 2015 its
intent to discontinue its industrial blade
operations in Verona, Virginia and Ob-
regon, Mexico.
EPC acquired the Industrial Bladesdivision in a deal with American Safety
Razor in 2011. EPC will be retaining
the Personna brand and will continue to
market wet shaving products under this
name, only divesting the Industrial Blades
business in this sale.
DMU Provides Focused Education
for Maximizing Sales and
Profitability
The 2015 Distribution ManagementUniversity (DMU) will be held in
conjunction with the NAFCD +
NBMDA Annual Convention, on
Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at
the Hilton Orlando.
The 2015 DMU is a unique
opportunity for general, sales, branch
and operations managers to expand
their industry knowledge and enhance
leadership skills. The 2015 DMU is
focused on the real world of the market
level manager. Sessions are designed tobe fast-paced, interactive and fun, and
provide real tools to grow profit and
market share.
Bob Langdon, author of Managing
Your Business for Profit , will lead the 2015
DMU. Since beginning his consulting
practice in 1983, Langdon has been
assisting business owners in achieving
their sales and financial goals.
In this program, Langdon will showattendees proven techniques to increasing
gross margin, cash flow and return on
investment, while retaining their best
customers. They will learn how to
calculate breakeven for their business
and how to prepare alternative financial
forecasts for their business.
For more information, visit
distributorconvention.org.
Keene Building Products’ GetsWebsite Makeover
Keene Building Products’ has revealed
the new and modern KeeneBuilding.com.
The site is fully responsive, faster, easier to
navigate and more user-friendly. There are
many highlights of the new site, including
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 23
FCI1015
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 24/52
the ability to visit any individual product
page in two clicks. Just select ‘Products’ at
the top to see a list of all the products in
the line.The site also offers customized pages
for architects, contractors and developers;
resources and education; a search box;
project profiles; Keene blogs The Quiet
Guy and The Dri Guy; and links to
Keene’s family of companies: Cansto
Coatings and Dependable.
Individual product pages include
photos, videos, downloadable files and
a quick way to reach Keene if there are
any questions or need for additional
information.
Custom Introduces Commercial
Installation Systems Guide
Custom Building Products recently
published the Custom Commercial
Installation Systems Guide, a resource
for architects, specifiers, designers
and contractors. The guide provides
guidance on how to confidently select
the right system of surface preparation,
setting, grouting and care productsfor tile projects across a variety of
applications including healthcare,
hospitality, commercial kitchens,
retail, transportation, entertainment,
commercial, intuitional, government and
public works.
The Custom Commercial Installation
Systems Guide features detailed
information on its products and systems
in the context of specific building types
or end-use applications, including typical
challenges like high point loads, extremesoil situations, fast track timelines,
how to qualify for Custom’s System
Warranties and common considerations
such as waterproofing, sound
attenuation, uneven subfloors, chemical
exposure, crack isolation, stain resistance,
color consistency, exterior conditions
and more.
All product recommendations—which
may include categories that are new to the
user—are based on ANSI standards, the
company noted.
Ardex Canada Project Receives
Top Honors
Various Ardex products were used on complex tileinstallations at this modern, private residence inVancouver, BC.
Ardex Canada received Project of
the Year and Best Technical Product
Application at the Terrazzo, Tile
and Marble Association of Canada’s
(TTMAC) 72nd Annual Convention
Hardsurface Awards Gala recently.
“Many people contributed to thisproject. This is a team victory and a
supreme honor,” said Don Brletic,
western regional manager, Ardex
Canada. “Metroworks Tile and Stone
used Ardex products purchased through
Fontile and Pacific Rim and the Ardex
Canada team supported every phase of
the installation.”
Principal Shawn Perepelytz of
Metroworks Tile and Stone used Ardex
X 77 Microtec Fiber Reinforced Tile
and Stone Mortar, Ardex AM 100 RapidSet Pre-Tile Smoothing and Ramping
Mortar, along with Ardex SX 100%
Silicone Sealant for Tile and Stone
Applications for the various complex
tile installations at a modern, private
residence in Vancouver, BC.
The TTMAC Hardsurface Awards
recognize and highlight terrazzo,
tile and natural stone installations
submitted by trade contractors, material
suppliers, architects, designers, specifiers
and builders.
Bissler, Reeve Earn FCICA’s CIM
Certification
FCICA has announced James Bissler
and Bruce Reeve are now credentialed as aCertified Installation Manager (CIM), the
only certification program for commercial
flooring installation managers.
Bissler and Reeve were both awarded
this designation for the successful
completion of all eight modules of
learning and related assessments with
the required passing score. The CIM
program is an online certification
program specifically developed for and
available to all who want to obtain
the knowledge necessary to become aCertified Installation Manager and learn
the important skills required of that
position, regardless of their affiliations.
To find out more, visit fcica.com/
training-program.
Bostik’s New Video Showcases Ed
Begley, Jr.’s Home
Ed Begley, Jr., features in Bostik’s new videohighlighting the actor’s LEED Platinum home.
Bostik has produced a new video
featuring well-known green activist andactor Ed Begley, Jr. In it, he speaks of
why Ultra-Set SingleStep2 was the ideal
wood flooring installation product for
his LEED Platinum home. This video
is easily seen by visiting: http://bit.ly/
Bostik-EdBegley.
Philadelphia Floor Store Launches
‘Lessons Learned’ Blog
Philadelphia Floor Store (PFS) recently
launched a new “Lessons Learned” blog
24 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
FCI INDUSTRY NEWS
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 25/52
series. The company developed the idea
for the series in the wake of a fire earlier
this year that completely destroyed their
main headquarters and distribution cen-ter. The goal is to help other small busi-
ness owners avoid insurance pitfalls and
be prepared should disaster strike.
After what the company has been
through these past few months, PFS feels
an obligation to educate contractors and
other small business owners and help
them avoid some of the common (and
not so common) pitfalls related to insur-
ance coverage and disaster recovery.
Continuing their mission to inform and
educate, the company will take a “deepdive” into insurance coverage as it relates
to small businesses and examine some of
the common mistakes business owners
make. Blog posts will focus on everything
from making sure business owners have
the proper insurance coverage, to how to
develop a disaster recovery plan.
Read the series at blog.phillyfloor.com/
posts/training-and-education/lessons-
learned.
Experts to Judge in the Schönox
Worst Subfloor in NA Contest
HPS Schönox has asked flooring
professionals to “Show us your worst
and how you made it your best” with
the opening of its second annual
Schönox Worst Subfloor in North
America Contest. A three-judge panel of
independent industry experts was recently
announced.Tom Jennings (World Floor Covering
Association) Dean Thompson (Resilient
Floor Covering Institute) and Robert
Varden (International Certified
Floorcovering Installers Association)
will judge contest entries in an impartial
manner that includes having all
identifying information removed from
the entry with only the photos and
project notes provided for their review. Judging will begin after December 11, the
deadline for contest submissions.
The judges will review photos
submitted by contest entrants showing
the before and after conditions of the
subfloor along with details of how the
project was executed. The contest entries
will be independently judged with first,
second, and third place winners based
on the severity of the original subfloor’s
condition, the skill and attention to detail
taken in executing the project, and thequality of the finished subfloor.
The contest runs through December 11
with winners to be announced at TISE
(The International Surface Event) in Las
Vegas in 2016. Entries can be submitted
at hpsubfloors.com/worstsubfloor.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 25
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 26/52
Ceramic Tile and Stone
Consultants Update Website
Ceramic Tile and Stone Consultants
(CTaSC) announced the launch of itsnew website at CtaSC.com. While the
website address is the same, the content,
features and resources have been
improved.
The updated CTaSC website features
an extensive menu of services including
forensic investigations, quality control,
testing, training, marketing and business
planning, and more.
In addition to its business services,
the website provides resources for
companies in the tile and stoneindustries as well as some for
consumers, including: Resource
Directory, Industry Statistics, Economic
Indicators and Forecasts, Industry
Research Reports, Expert Answers,
Training Services, and Events.
CRCII, LMCCA and PCRA Sign
Memorandum of Understanding
Three long-time professional associations
formalized an agreement recently that theorganization’s leaders say will lead to stronger
ties, shared resources and cross-membership.
The signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding means greater organizational
stability and growth for the Carpet & Rug
Cleaners Institute of Illinois (CRCII), the
Low Moisture Carpet Cleaning Association
(LMCCA) and the Professional Cleaning
and Restoration Alliance (PCRA), said
LMCCA president Lonnie McDonald.
The Memorandum of Understanding
includes, but is not limited to, theability to promote each other’s respective
associations and providing mutual
technical support. Notably, all members
of each association also become members
in all three associations.
The MOU goes into effect immediately.
MIA Accreditation Program
Reaches 100-Member Milestone
The Marble Institute of America (MIA)
accreditation program has reached the
milestone of 100 accredited locations
in North America. Sims-Lohman in
Zionsville, Ind., and Pittsburgh, Pa., werethe 99th and 100th member locations
to earn MIA Accreditation. Several
companies are nearing completion of the
accreditation process, meaning that MIA
will have over 100 accredited locations by
the end of 2015.
FCI INDUSTRY NEWS
26 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
Globally ProvenConstruction Solutions
Grout in Any Color.Your clients want choice in every element of their design.Now, with PERMACOLOR® Select ANYCOLOR™, there areno limits on grout color choices. Simply choose a Sherwin-Williams®† or Benjamin Moore®† color from their vast colorpallet, and in less than two weeks your customers’ designvision becomes reality. Ask your LATICRETE Sales
Representative for details.
Another Industry First from LATICRETE
Your color here
ww w.laticrete.com l 1.800.243.4788
Anti-MicrobialTechnologyEquippedwith
Warranty
LIFETIME*
T E C H N O L O G Y
EQUIPPED WITH
STONETECH®
SEALER
^
■ Never needs sealing – equipped withSTONETECH® Sealer Technology
■ Also available in 80 stocked colors, including all 40LATICRETE® colors and the top selling competitor colors
■ Vibrant consistent color
*See Data Sheet 230.99 for complete warranty information. ^When mixed with PERMACOLOR® Select Base.†Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore have no inv olvement with this program.
A-6004-0915 ©2015 LATICRETE International, Inc. All trademarks shown are the intellectual properties of their respective owners.
Snap for more information.
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 27/52
MIA Accreditation Commission Chair
Rodney Harvey looks forward to what
this milestone means for the program.
“The future of the MIA Accreditationprogram is very bright, as the number of
accredited companies in each category
(Natural Stone Fabricator, Commercial
“A” Contractor and Commercial “B”
Contractor) are expected to experience
continued growth to meet the needs of
the consumers, the construction market
and the design community.”
Steve Steinman, owner of Sims-
Lohman, said, “We view MIA as the
gold standard in the stone industry, so
it was important for us to earn MIA Accreditation.” Sims-Lohman also has
MIA Accredited locations in Cincinnati
and Columbus, Ohio.
Earning MIA Accreditation means a
company has gone through a rigorous
application process and is held to the
highest industry standard available.
MIA Accredited companies are reviewed
to ensure best business practices are in
place, tested on proper fabrication and
installation methods and inspected to
ensure safety, fabrication, and installationstandards are met. To learn more about the
MIA Accreditation program, and to see a
full list of MIA Accredited companies, visit
www.marble-institute.com/gettheseal.
NEW HIRES AND
PROMOTIONS
John Barrett
ISSA (the Worldwide Cleaning Industry
Association) has appointed John Barrett
as executive director. Barrett replaces John
Garfinkel, who will work in a consultative
capacity through 2016 to facilitate a
smooth transition. Barrett has served as an
ISSA board member for the past six years,
with the last three as an officer, serving
this year as treasurer.
Laticrete has promoted its nationalaccounts manager Ken Madison, adding
Daltile and Florida Tile to his existing
accounts of Lowes and Floor & Décor.
With this promotion, Madison will
continue to report to director of sales,
North America, Rob Smith and willmaintain responsibility for his existing
national accounts.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 27
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 28/52
Eric Edelmayer
Eric Edelmayer has joined MAPEI
Americas as business development
manager for sheet membranes.
Edelmayer has been in the tile industry
for over 30 years, specializing in sheet
membranes for waterproofing, crack
isolation and sound reduction. Before joining MAPEI, Edelmayer was the
director of contractor services with
Noble Co.
James Ammer
UFloor Systems Inc. recently announced
that James Ammer joined the Wolff team
as a technical sales representative for the
southeastern U.S. Ammer’s experience in the
floor covering industry spans more than 15
years, with 10 of those years operating his
own company: Ammer Flooring.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FCICA Mid-Year Meeting – NewCastle, Del., Oct. 7-9. www.fcica.com
TISE East 2015– Orlando, Fla., Nov.
2-5. www.tiseeast.com
NAFCD/NBMDA Convention
– Orlando, Fla., Nov. 3-5. www.
distributorconvention.org
CFI 2015 Convention – Dallas, Nov.
12-14. www.cfiinstallers.org
For more industry events and training,
visit www.fcimag.com and click Calendar
of Events under the More tab.
FCI NEWS
28 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
Well equipped for all events!
Loba-Wakol, LLC | 521-C Eagleton Downs Dr. | Pineville, NC 28134 800.230.6456 | [email protected] | loba-wakol.com
Complete – PU & MS Adhesives for all wood flooring types and widths
Safe - VOC free, low odor adhesives that are easy to cleanup
Versatile - Firm, flexible and firm-flexible adhesive options
Reliable - Superior sheer resistance, elasticity and performance under stress
Compatible - Can be used in conjunction with Wakol Moisture Barrier and Sound Abatement
Wakol Wood Flooring Adhesives
HIGH EXPECTATIONS?
HireONLY
CTEF
Certified Tile
Installers
e ONLY Tile Installer Certification
recognized by the tile industry
www.tilecareer.com / 864.222.2131
Signature Sponsors:
ASCER • Ceramics of Italy • Coverings • Crossville • CTDA • Daltile
Florida Tile • James Hardie • MAPEI • NTCA• Schluter Systems • StonePeak • TCNA • TEC
Platinum Sponsors:
Bostik • CertainTeed • Laticrete • Marazzi USA • Porcelanite/Lamosa • USG
i il i i
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 29/52
fcimag.comgoes responsive!
Visit Our New Site Today!
• Information on the go
• Easy to read access
• Simplified with ALL site content
Floor Covering Installer (FCI) is dedicated to the complete spectrum of fl ooring installation,
serving fl ooring installers, installation managers, contractors, inspectors and distributors inboth the residential and commercial markets.
E a s i e r t o u s e !
M o b i l e & t a b l e t
f r i e n d l y !
FCI
InstallerFLOOR COVERING
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 30/52
B Y M I C H A E L C H M I E L E C K I , E D I T O RCRACK ISOLATION
Most installation
professionals
understand what
crack isolation,
anti-fracture and
uncoupling membranes are for, but
confusion still reigns on what thedifferences are among the products.
Do crack isolation and anti-fracture
mean the same thing? Are uncoupling
membranes standardized? When
should partial coverage be chosen over
a full ins tallation? We asked a panel of
industry manufacturers to weigh in.
Defining the terms. According to
Eric Edelmayer, MAPEI’s business
development manager for sheet
membranes, the terms crack isolation
and anti-fracture membranes are often
used interchangeably, while uncoupling
membranes are a different category
altogether.
“With crack isolation or anti-fracture,
the ANSI standard would be 118.12,
with a defined amount of movement
required to pass the test. At the presenttime, there is no measurement for
uncoupling membranes other than the
minimum 50 psi shear strength in seven
days, as defined by the Tile Council of
North America (TCNA) Handbook.
However, the Material and Methods
Standards Association has formed a
committee to establish an ANSI standard
for uncoupling membranes.”
Jay Conrod, Laticrete product manager,
said the preferred industry term is crack
isolation. He also noted some subtle
differences in meaning between the terms.
“Crack isolation is when you’re trying to
isolate existing cracks from telegraphing
from the substrate into the tile. Anti-
fracture would be about preventing
existing and future cracks. Uncoupling
is when you’re trying to isolate stresses inthe substrate via a membrane that moves
independently of the floor surface.”
Custom Building Products’ Steve
Taylor, director of technical and
architectural marketing, explained the
different terms as well. “Anti-fracture
is sometimes considered an older term
that was used to indicate the membrane
would protect the tile from cracking if
CRACK ISOLATION, ANTI-FRACTUREAND UNCOUPLING MEMBRANES
Install ing Loxcreen’s ProVa Flex
uncoupling membrane.
30 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 31/52
there was movement in the substrate.Unfortunately, many incorrectly believe
these membranes should provide
protection from all actions—above as
well as below the tile.”
He added, “Many crack isolation
membranes have multiple functions. Not
only do they isolate the tile from cracks
below, they also waterproof the floor and
reduce sound transmission from impact
noises. Uncoupling is a separate class of
membrane. It does not have an ANSI
standard and is only defined by TCNA
as a geometric formed plastic membraneto provide an air space below the tile and
allow independent movement between
the tile assembly and the substrate.”
According to Michael Venturelli, QEP
divisional vice president, crack isolation
and anti-fracture are virtually synonymous.
“They both perform by adhering to the
slab; then the tile is set onto the crack
isolation or anti-fracture membrane. The
crack energy is absorbed by the product
and spread over a large area, preventing
telegraphing through the tile. In some
cases, the crack may transfer to the grout
joint. That is easily repairable.”
Regarding uncoupling membranes,
Venturelli noted, “Uncoupling, also
called a cleavage membrane, is a system
that is centuries old. This is where thefloor is completely isolated from the
substrate. Hence, any force or movement
on the subfloor is completely isolated
from the finished floor.”
Loxcreen’s Duane Farley, national sales
manager—Canada, and Wade Verble,
ceramic industry specialist—U.S., said
the term anti-fracture is usually associated
with older technology such as peel-and-
stick asphalt underlayments for use on
concrete. Some products are also hybrids.
“ProVa Flex is both an anti-fractureand an uncoupling membrane, and we
like to define it as a ‘lightweight’ tile
underlayment. It will not break apart and
will handle deflection within industry
standards. ProVa Mat is a waterproof
anti-fracture membrane that can be used
for crack isolation to deal with a small
number of cracks in a large area.”
They added crack isolation is ideal “for
large jobs which have some cracks but
not many, with the hope cracks don’t
occur anywhere else. It’s for dealing withexisting cracks.”
Going into greater detail about
uncoupling membranes, Alan Kin,
Texrite sales and technical, stated, “The
uncoupling method is a layered system
that tangentially hinges or has a moveable
bond, like a train-car connection.”
He noted that using a crack
isolation, anti-fracture or uncoupling
system does not in any way circumvent
the need for movement joints or
expansion joints. “Addressing minorcrack movement with a membrane
system will not also cover all building,
construction and movement joints.”
Application methods. Edelmayer
stated choosing a sheet, liquid or
trowelable membrane comes down to
the contractor’s preference. “However,
performance levels may differ from
product to product and manufacturer to
manufacturer, so it is important to always
check the ANSI standard for the required
performance level.”
An application of Custom Building Products’ RedGard Waterproofing and Crack
Prevention Membrane.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 31
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 32/52
Conrod said choosing between the
methods comes down to several factors.
“It really depends on the application,the substrate, the type of tile or stone
to be used, and whether you also need
waterproofing. Sheet membranes
are preferred if you need a quicker
turnaround, such as in a mall or retail
setting where you want to get in and get
out really quickly. With trowel-applied
products you can see some labor savings
because you’re often applying anti-fracture
and a thin-set in one application.”
Taylor also said sheet membranes
are typically the fastest application.“Generally one must wait for a liquid-
applied membrane to dry and cure,
whereas you can begin setting ti le on
a sheet membrane immediately. Sheet-
applied products can have a pressure-
sensitive adhesive backing or be installed
with a separate adhesive or mortar.
Liquid-applied products can be applied
with a roller, sprayer or trowel.”
Patrick Giles, vice president of
technical and research & development
for Maxxon, said his company
recommends applications including
trowel-applied, sheet-applied and
uncoupling on its underlayments.“The TCNA has published installation
methods over gypsum concrete
(Method F180-12) and other substrates
(Method F185-12). Maxxon gypsum
underlayments should be completely
dry when using trowel-applied or peel-
and-stick sheet anti-fracture/waterproof
membranes. Uncoupling membranes
such as Schluter Ditra mat can go over a
slightly wet Maxxon underlayment.”
Venturelli believes the most secure
method is peel-and-stick sheets.“Homelux’s CIM Pro and Primer allows
up to 3/8” separation movement in the
substrate and prevents the crack from
telegraphing through to the tile.”
He added since liquid membranes are
“only waterproof—not vapor-proof—
this eliminates liquid membranes for
use in steam rooms. Liquid membranes
also need several coats and drying time
in-between. Liquid and trowel-applied
products generally will not handle
the same type of movement as a sheet
membrane would, as it is difficult to
predict in-plane movement.”
Farley and Verble said the installershould choose an application
system based on comfort level and
manufacturer recommendations. “The
installer should make sure the crack is
1/8” maximum in plane, as to industry
standards. ProVa Mat is a great choice
for crack isolation and must be 1.5 times
wider than the tile. For example, for a
24” tile the installer should cover the
crack with a 36” wide roll, making sure
the crack is centered in the roll.”
Tom Plaskota, Tec technica l supportmanager, stated trowel-applied products
sometimes have the advantage of
acting as the adhesive for the tile as
well. “Other products are al lowed to
cure prior to the tile instal lation or are
applied as sheet goods and then serve as
the substrate for the tile.”
According to Mark Pennine, Ardex tile
& stone installation systems technical
manager, uncoupling membranes can
also offer several additional features.
“Some uncoupling membranes can be
Rolling on Tec’s HydraFlex waterproofing crack isolation membrane.
32 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 33/52
used as vapor management and top-down
waterproofing when a seam tape is used.”
Kin said when working with large-format tiles, liquid- and trowel-applied
products remain the best option. “Liquid-
applied membranes have limitless path
width when working with large-format
tiles, with no concerns for overlap or
abutted sheet membrane requirements.
An installation contractor should be aware
of the proper coverage amounts or width
required for larger-format tile situations,
and recognize that one size/width
application does not fit all tile sizes.”
Partial vs. full coverage. Edelmayernoted choosing partial membrane coverage
versus a full-field approach depends on
the substrate itself. “Chasing individual
cracks is very common in older pours or
renovation work, where the substrate has
already cracked and additional cracking
is less likely. In new construction where
the concrete may not have cracked yet
or radiant heat is involved, a full-field
approach is definitely the way to go. Same
for those crack isolation membranes that
are used for waterproofing.”
Taylor believes full coverage is the
best option, even in older slabs. “Full
coverage will protect the tile and groutfrom any new cracks that may form in
the substrate. Older slabs may be stable
and only require a partial install, but this
is not necessarily true and we suggest full
coverage in nearly all cases.”
Venturelli suggests when the subfloor
is new, using an uncoupling mat for a
full install is ideal. “However, if money
is an issue, I would suggest using an anti-
fracture membrane.”
Plaskota said whenever possible, covering
the full installation area is the best optionas it not only isolates visible cracks but
prevents future cracking and movement.
“In addition, using the membrane over
the entire installation area and combining
it with compatible products from
the same manufacturer may improve
the installation’s overall strength. For
example, Tec membranes are formulated
specifically to receive Tec bonding mortars.
When they are used with other Tec
mortars and grouts, they are eligible for a
comprehensive limited warranty.”
According to Pennine, when choosing
a partial install to isolate a crack,
“materials must be applied a minimum ofthree times the width of the tile or stone
being installed over the crack.”
Kin thinks it’s best to go with a full
installation whenever possible, partly
to help protect the contractor against
possible claims. “A homebuilder may
submit a claim for in-plane fractured/
cracked tile. From practical experience,
upon investigation or removal of the tile
and mortar typically no membrane or an
insufficient width of membrane will be
present underneath the tile.”He added that the option of a full
coverage membrane should always be
discussed with the customer before
installation. “With the cost of construction
being scrutinized, building owners and
homeowners often comment about why
they were not given the choice of full
coverage membranes after experiencing
failures or repairs. It is key that the
installation/bidding group have better
contact with the customer and allow them
the choice of full coverage.” nnFCI
Installing a membrane improperly—or neglecting to install one at all—can lead to cracks telegraphing
into the tile from the substrate. Photo courtesy of Alan Kin.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 33
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 34/52
CRACK ISOLATION
Millions of square feet of
sheet-applied crack isolation
membrane are successfully
installed every year under natural
stone and ceramic tile. Yet there are an
increasing number of membrane failures
occurring. It is important to address this
problem because cheaply made products
are giving quality crack isolation
membranes an undeserved reputation.
Why is this happening? There
are a couple of factors that typicallycontribute to membrane failures,
including adhesion (or rather, a
lack of adhesion) and deterioration/
emulsification, or lack of primer
between the membrane and substrate.
Fabric separation. One of the main
reasons some sheet applied (peel and
stick) membranes fail is due to fabric
separation. Some laminated sheet
membranes have a low tensile strength
and separate from the elastomer (rubber/
asphalt) base. You can easily check this
by trying to separate the fabric from the
rubber, if it separates, do not use it; it can
be very expensive to repair.
Professional-grade sheet membranes
generally use the extrusion method of
manufacturing. This process creates a
semi-encapsulating, high-strength bond
between the fabric and elastomer. The
fabric material can range from natural
to higher-performing synthetics. One
system utilizes non-woven polyester fabric
laminated to both sides of the membrane.Either way, make sure the fabric layer does
not separate from the membrane.
Primer failure. Some membrane
systems use water-based latex primers
that can re-emulsify. Adhesion with
the substrate is then compromised—
especially if there is water vapor present
from the concrete floor. This causes the
adhesion to break down and a possible
failure of the finished floor.
Membrane primers are essential and
developed to a high strength, non-
emulsifying formulation. The primer
should be formulated to rapidly cure
in place and provide a surface that
permanently bonds with the adhesive base
of the membrane. Once applied to the
substrate, the primer cures in approximately
20-30 minutes and forms a permanent
bond to the floor with applied pressure.
Following are some considerations
when choosing a crack isolation
membrane.
1. Demand Performance Data. Long-
term installation success depends on the
ability of the crack isolation membrane
system to meet all 10 of the A118.12
standard’s tests for crack isolation
membranes. The two most critical are
shear strength after accelerated aging
and long-term water emersion. Poor
performance or failure of these two tests
Avoiding Crack Isolation Failures
Above: A sheet membrane with low tensile strength
can cause fabric separation.
34 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
B Y T O M D U V É
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 35/52
indicates the membrane will not provide the adhesion necessary
for a natural stone or other hard surface flooring installation.
Insist on seeing results from all 10 performance tests.
2. Follow Installation Instructions. A successful installation
begins by reading and following the installation instructions
developed by the manufacturer. There are important variationsbetween installation procedures that can lead to fai lure if not
properly handled. For a porous substrate or when a patching
or leveling compound is used, some manufacturers call for an
additional treatment of the slab before the primer is applied.
These products can be very absorptive and may need to be
sealed before applying the membrane’s primer. Existing cracks
or control joints may need to be addressed prior to primer
application as well.
3. Note Manufacturer Cautions and Conditions. A
crack isolation membrane may not be the answer for all types
of flooring situations. A substrate with vertical sheer or an
uneven floor may not benefit from the use of a crack isolationmembrane. It is important to know and understand the
suitable substrates for the membrane application. What product
limitations and expectations can be anticipated when using a
particular membrane?
4. Perform a Bond Test . A bond test may be the only way to
know if a membrane system will bond securely to a substrate.
A bond test is merely a small installation of membrane over
a surface in order to determine if sufficient bonding can be
achieved. It is performed by priming a small section of the
worst part of the floor and placing a 1’ x 1’ section of membrane
according to the membrane manufacturer’s instructions. After a
24-hour cure, check membrane adhesion to the substrate.Make a cut in the center of the sample with a knife and peel
it back. Transfer of the rubberized compound should be evident
and the membrane should be difficult to remove. If it is removed
easily without evidence of transfer, do not proceed with the
installation. Call the manufacturer for corrective action.
5. Use Quality Setting Materials. It is crucial that the proper
setting material be applied for successful hard surface flooring
installations. Large format tiles installed via the thin-bed
method require a medium-bed mortar meeting ANSI A118.4.
The use of a 1/2” by 1/2” U-notch or square-notched trowel is
usually recommended for applying the medium-bed mortar.
Most national brand medium-bed mortar companies use a largeraggregate in the matrix, which creates a stiffer, stronger mass
under the large-format tiles or stone.
DO NOT use a standard A118.4 latex mortar not designed
for large-format tiles, as they have a smaller aggregate and may
retain too much water contributing to the warpage and failure of
the tile. Some green marbles and absorbent clay tiles will require
special setting materials like an epoxy mortar or a rapid-set
mortar specifically designed for natural stone.
Crack isolation membrane systems serve an important purpose
and when installed correctly, can provide a lifetime of protection
for a flooring investment. Careful consideration of a membranesystem should be studied prior to installation, including the
performance data, the manufacturers’ recommendations for a
suitable substrate and condition of the substrate.
Reading and following the manufacturers’ installation
instruct ions, the performance of a bond test, and the use of
a quality setting material appropriate for the hard surface
flooring being installed should also be observed. Following
these guidelines can go a long way towards ensuring the
successful installation and long-lasting beauty of the hard
surface finished floor. ■■FCI
Top Left: Anatomy of a crack isolation membrane.
Bottom: A bond test may be t he best way to know if a membrane systemwill bond securely to the substrate.
Tom Duvé is founder of NAC Products Inc. For more information, visit www.nacproducts.com.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 35
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 36/52
MAPEI Mapesonic 2for Tile, Stone, Wood
MAPEI’s Mapesonic 2 offers next-generationtechnology, combining sound reduction andcrack isolation in a thin, flexible, lightweight,load-bearing, fabric-reinforced peel-and-stickmembrane approved for ceramic tile, stoneand wood flooring. Mapesonic 2 is ideal forsound reduction in both residential and lightcommercial environments. The membrane alsohelps prevent movement up to 3/8” wide fromtransmitting through flooring assemblies.mapei.com
36 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
FCI SOUND CONTROL PRODUCTS GALLERY
Maxxon’s Acousi-Mat HP:Three Sound-Control ProductsMaxxon Corp. presents the Acousti-Mat HP series ofhigh-performance sound control mats: Acousti-Mat II HP,Enkasonic HP and Acousti-Mat 3 HP. Acousti-Mat II HPadds sound control without adding to the overall floorheight. Enkasonic HP requires only a 1 ½” topping yet addssignificant impact sound control. Acousti-Mat 3 HP provides“ultimate sound control without significantly increasing theoverall floor height,” the company noted.maxxoncorporation.com
Sound Seal CerazorbNow for Wood FlooringSound Seal presents CerazorbAcoustical Underlayment for woodflooring. The product is available for
floating and glue-down wood flooring,offering up to a 23 decibel decreasein a lightweight system. Cerazorbexhibits outstanding energy absorptionproperties according to the company,in addition to being non-toxic andrecyclable. Cerazorb also does notsupport microbial growth.soundseal.com
Stauf ULC-500 Level-Seal a Two-Part UrethaneULC-500 Level-Seal is a two component urethane levelingcompound capable of creating a moisture barrier of up to 18 lbs.CC or 97% RH. Once cured, installation can begin by applyingadhesive directly to the urethane sealer. ULC-500 must be spread toa minimal thickness of 1/32” but can be applied as thick as 5”. ULC-500 provides moisture mitigation and levels of STC/IIC that will meetmost sound transmission codes, according to the company.staufusa.com
Custom Building ProductsEasyMat for Tile/StoneA versatile mat underlaymentwhen setting tile and stone
over concrete, plywood, primedOSB or another acceptablesubfloor, EasyMat Tile & StoneUnderlayment from CustomBuilding Products is up to 25times lighter than 1/4” (6 mm)backerboard, cuts easily with autility knife, doesn’t require anynails or screws, and comes ina peel-and-stick version. It alsofeatures SoundGard Technologyto provide high and credibleimpact sound reduction.custombuildingproducts.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 37/52
Sound Suppression inTec Sheet MembraneH.B. Fuller Construction Products’ Tec CrackIsolation Sheet Membrane is a peel-and-stick underlayment that protects ceramictile, natural stone and other hard surfaceflooring from in-plane cracks and movementup to 3/8”. It also contributes to soundsuppression in commercial and residentialsettings. It can be used indoors over avariety of substrates and over most existingvinyl, tile and stone floors.tecspecialty.com
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 37
Roxul’s Safe’n’SoundMade Using Stone WoolRoxul Safe’n’Sound stone wool insulation is ideal for interior wall partitions,ceiling and floor applications where acoustic dampening is required. Stonewool is a combination of natural basalt rock and recycled slag, a byproduct ofsteelmaking. It reduces air flow and sound transmissions between rooms dueto its unique non-direction structure and dense content, according to Roxul.roxul.com
NAC Super SAM 125a Sound-Deadening Sheet
NAC Products’ Super SAM 125 hasachieved a 51 IIC and 54 STC on abare 6” concrete slab in a recentlyconducted laboratory test. The self-adhering, sound-deadening sheetmembrane can be used over 6” or 8”concrete slabs, with or without a soundrated ceiling assembly. Super SAM125 also provides up to 3/8” of crackisolation protection and can functionas waterproofing membrane whenused in conjunction with SubSeal liquidwaterproofing membrane.nacproducts.com
MP Global’s QuietWalk Includes Moisture ManagementMP Global Products’ QuietWalk underlayment, made primarilyfrom postindustrial/pre-consumer textiles diverted from landfill,is engineered to enhance performance of floating wood andlaminate floors. Filaments are randomly air-laid, creating acapillary effect to cushion the floor, absorb sound and helpfloating floors sound more like fastened wood. QuietWalk alsofeatures an exclusive moisture management system and adds0.50 R-value to the flooring system.quietwalk.com
W.F. Taylor’s Acous-TecDesigned for Floating Floors
W.F. Taylor’s Acous-Tec Sound ReducingLiquid Underlayment Patch and Leveler isdesigned for all floating floor systems (vinyltile/plank, laminate and wood) to reducesound transmission. Acous-Tec offersASTM E492/ASTM E-986-06 impact ratingup to 71 IIC, reducing the resistance totransmission of impact noise or structure-borne noise, and ASTM E90-04/E413-10sound transmission loss rating up to 67STC, reducing airborne sounds.wftaylor.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 38/52
B Y T E R R A D O N N E L L Y, A S S O C I A T E E D I T O RUNDERLAYMENTS
Flooring underlayments
for laminate, hardwood
and resilient flooring
are designed for many
things—including sound
absorption, stability, moisture protection
and extra comfort underfoot. Whetherrecycled rubber, cork, wood composite,
foam or sheet, these products are built
to withstand everyday stresses…as long
as they’re installed properly.
Subfloor prep. “Subfloor prep is
critical to any successful installation for
any underlayment and the major source
of failures. Inadequate prep results
in laitance [an accumulation of fine
particles on the surface of concrete] and
other bond-breakers, forming a barrier
between the underlayment and the
subfloor,” said Joe Host ler, Dependable
general manager. “In laymen’s terms,
if you don’t clean up the dirt, you
are going to stick to it instead of the
concrete underneath.”
According to Larry Scott, DriTac vice
president, field technical services, subfloorpreparation is key for all types of floor
coverings. “Proper subfloor conditions
center primarily on being clean, flat and
dry as commonly referenced by industry-
accepted standards. Proper subfloor
preparation is paramount and should be
among the preeminent objectives when
attempting to achieve a successful flooring
installation.”
David Ford, vice president of sales
and marketing, Stauf USA, echoed
those sentiments. “Subfloor prep is the
foundation of good installation. If you
have hollow spots or high spots in the
floor it could turn a great floor into a
less than appealing installation.”
Patrick Giles, vice president, technical
and R&D, Maxxon, also stressed
the importance of subfloor prep.“Components of floor prep are moisture
or relative humidity testing, and
determining floor smoothness, flatness
or levelness as well as whether floor patch
and sanding will be necessary. Also
important is determining the porosity
UNDERSTANDING UNDERLAYMENTSFOR HARDWOOD, LAMINATE, RESILIENT
An installer from ReSource New
Jersey used DriTac 6200 premium
pressure-sensitive flooring adhesive
over Healthier Choice’s Sound Solution
Underlayment to install engineered
hardwood flooring.
38 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 39/52
M a r y B i s h
o p *
F a m i l y F l
o o r c o v e r
i n g B u s i n e
s s
“ I t ’ s
t r u l y a e u
p h o r i c
f e e l i n
g
w h e n
e v e r
f r i e
n d s a
n d f a m i l
y
h e l p
y o u
, b u t
w h e
n s t r
a n g e
r s
h e l p
y o u
, i t m
a k e s
y o u
w a n t
t o s t o
p a n
d h u
g t h
e r
s t
s t r a n g
e r y o u
s e e .
F o r m
e, i t ’ s
a l l a
b o u t p e
o p l e
h e l p i n
g p e
o p l e .
”
T h a n k
y o u,
M a r y
Do you know someone who could use our assistance? Let them know there’s hope.
For information or to make a donation, please call 714.634.0302 or visit FCIF.org.
*The FCIF treats all of its grant recipients confidentially. Mary wanted to share her story with the public but asked that we keep their identity veiled. Her name has been changed
Mary Bishop* was
devoted to her
family’s ooring
business. When a
Christmas Eve seizure
led to the discovery
of a grade III brain
tumor, Mary suddenly had to focus on an
intense treatment plan which included
radiation, and chemotherapy.
Good thing someone told
her about the Floor
Covering Industry
Foundation
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 40/52
of the subfloor, whether a primer/sealer
is required and choosing the proper
adhesive depending on your findings.”
Bas Vangenderen, managing director,
InstaFloor NA, said even small
imperfections in an improperly prepped
subfloor can spell trouble. “These
small imperfections can cause echochambers to form below the hardwood
unless the underlay adheres to the base
of the board. Non-adhesive underlays
with irregular subfloors fall away from
the base of the board in the subfloor
depression areas and footstep noise is
reflected back into the room.”
Moisture concerns. Determining
the amount of moisture in a subfloor
is critical. Improper installation can
lead to many problems in the substrate
and in the flooring, such as cracking,
creaking and unwanted panel shifting.
Moisture testing is an essential
part of prep, noted Brad Miller, vice
president of product management and
development, QEP. “A moisture test is
always recommended on the subfloor
before installing any type of flooring.
Flooring should never be installed oversubfloors with a moisture level that
exceeds the recommended level as stated
by the flooring manufacturer.”
Testing the moisture levels can never
be skipped when installing hardwood
flooring, Ford explained. “Moisture
vapor testing is an absolute must.
The slab has to be tested for vapor
emission—no slacking in this area.
It’s as important as using a trowel for
spreading. Don’t assume a slab is dry
just because it looks dry.”
Hostler stated the nature of hardwood
flooring to expand and contract in
all directions makes moisture control
underneath hardwood critical. “For slab
installations, we recommend contractors
follow ASTM 3010. This requires a permrating of .10 or less which will ensure that
the hardwood can handle the moisture
emissions coming from the subfloor.”
When in doubt, consult the
manufacturer. “Subfloor moisture control
requirements are typically determined
by manufacturer recommendations and
subsequent moisture testing conducted
prior to the floor covering installation,”
said Scott. “There are several types of
moisture mitigation products available
on the market. Make sure to first checkthe manufacturer specifications before
installing any kind of floor type, and that
includes underlayments.”
Vangenderen noted that a vapor retardant
or Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) is
required below hardwood floors where
there is any concern regarding moisture.
“When in doubt use a DPM. This does not
have to be part of the underlay, but could
be a separate 6 or 12 mil polyethylene sheet
or Visqueen. The underlay can then be
laid on top of the DPM and the hardwoodinstalled on the underlay. This is a highly
effective moisture barrier system that is
simple and cost-effective to install.”
Sound control. “Acoustic performance
of a flooring system greatly improves
the perception of quality and comfort
of occupants and neighbors,” stated Eric
Kurtz, hardwood installation systems
market manager, Bostik. “While acoustic
underlayments are available for use
under floated floors to reduce sound
transmission between floors, the soundof footsteps on the floating flooring is
typically much louder than footsteps on
glue-down flooring applications.”
Jack Boesch, MP Global Products
director of marketing, said sound control
underlayment is most often installed in
multi-family properties. “If you’re in a
single family home you’re not as worried
about the transfer of sound.”
In sound control situations, wood
underlayments are typically floated over
or glued to the top floor, noted Dale Asp,
A subfloor needs to be clean, flat and dry in order for underlayment or flooring to be
installed. Often, as in this picture courtesy of Keene Building Products, the subfloor
will need a lot of prep.
40 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 41/52
national business development manager,
Impacta. “Rarely will it be acceptable
to nail. There are underlaymentoptions that offer a sleeper system
that will allow you to nail 3/4” solids
without compromising installation. It
is important to note that by using this
method you won’t penetrate the actual
acoustical product; therefore you won’t
compromise the acoustic value.”
He added, “There are some acoustical
underlayments offered on the market
that are designed to both correct
subfloor imperfections as well as offer
sound control. Like anything else, anyimperfections being dealt with must be
within reason for these solutions to be
applicable.”
Giles prefers a specific sound control
product installation when working
with LVT. “LVT applied directly over a
sound mat is temporary sound control
if the underlayment itself is not floating
over a sound mat. If you remove and
replace it with a different floor finish,
the sound control may change for the
worse. LVT installed directly over sound
mats have trouble at the lower end of the
frequency spectrum, which can generate
footfall complaints.”He added, “It is my opinion and
significant experience that permanent
sound mats be installed under a
pumpable underlayment, which, with the
appropriate mat, would meet or exceed
footfall code before the finished floor
coverings, as this a llows floor finishes to
be changed and replaced over the years
without sacrificing sound control.”
Other considerations. Operations
manager of Builders Granite & Tile
in Houston, Andres Lopez, says anessential part of the installation process
is getting it right the first time. “We
as installers have to be cautious. We
have to make sure we’re using proper
adhesives so the flooring is able to
function properly. The only downside
I see with LVT is when it comes to the
repairs—planking tends to suf fer a bit
more through the construction process.”
Resilient flooring is also susceptible
to telegraphing, said Bob Cummings,
Pak-Lite sales and marketing manager.
“Telegraphing is where objects below
the floor visually show through to the
top of the vinyl flooring over time. Itscause can be traced to cracks and minor
protrusions in the subfloor or variations
in height of the subfloor.”
Vangenderen noted floor prep for
resilient is much more demanding
because of this reason. “Resilient
floorcoverings tend to telegraph any
subfloor imperfections, which become
visible and unsightly when looking down
at the floor. Laminate and hardwood
are more forgiving of minor subfloor
imperfections, but major subfloorproblems will still need to be addressed
and rectified before installation.”
Miller emphasizing the importance
of choosing the right underlayment for
the job. “Picking the right underlayment
for your flooring and the type of
installation is essential to the success of
the project. Good surface preparation
and the right underlayment mean
beautiful floors can be enjoyed for
many years. The underlayment is just as
essential as the flooring itself.” nnFCI
Using InstaFloor’s InstaLay system under LVT.
Pak-Lite’s Selitbloc underlayment is designed for floating LVT and
is designed to meet the need for acoustic improvements while also
protecting the LVT from damage, according to the company.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 41
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 42/52
Whether we’re
speaking
of topicallyapplied
moisture,
or moisture
intrusion from the side or beneath the
wood floor, moisture intrusion can be
tricky to mitigate correctly. In many
cases, production schedules often dictate
our timeline and how long we have to
mitigate moisture-related concerns. With
wood flooring being moisture-sensitive,
it is very important to understand a few
basic principles.Understanding properties of wood
flooring. It’s vitally important to
ensure proper mitigation techniques
are used to salvage a water-damaged
wood floor. In almost all cases, wood
flooring manufacturers produce their
product between 6-9% moisture content.
Therefore, it is necessary to ensure
moisture is balanced from above and
below the wood floor to keep the wood
stable. Elevated subfloor moisture content
will cause buckling, cupping, compression
and other problems to any wood floor.
Subfloor drying—plywood/OSB/
pine. Many mitigation professionals usescan-type moisture meters to take their
readings during the drying process. These
meters can be used to provide a snapshot
of moisture conditions throughout the
project; however they are not accurate
enough for a detailed look at the wood
flooring. These types of meters send a
signal approximately ¾” to 1” in depth,
providing an average moisture content
throughout the thickness of the material.
These types of meters work well for
the beginning drying process. Once themoisture content is 15% or below, it is
recommended to use an insulated pin-
type meter. This will provide gradient
moisture measurements and provide
different moisture levels, whether in the
hardwood flooring or the subfloor.
If moisture levels are elevated above
the dry standard within the project,
cupping of the wood floor is inevitable. It
is vitally important to ensure the subfloor
and flooring moisture levels is the same
as the dry standard within the rest of
the property before any remedial floor
restoration takes place.
There are a few concerns with dryingplywood, as some of the adhesives
used to adhere the plies together will
provide false negative readings. We must
understand the pin meter is a resistance-
type meter which measures the resistance
between the two pins to obtain a reading.
Many plywood adhesives have properties
which provide resistance and give us
inaccurate test results. In many cases the
moisture levels will record higher due to
the resistance properties of the adhesive.
This wouldn’t matter if it was aplywood subfloor or the plywood core
(back) of the engineered product. It
may require cutting a small section
of plywood out of the subfloor and
placing the pins between the adhesive
lines to obtain an accurate moisture
reading. This is essential to the success of
mitigating the wood floor properly.
B Y R O Y R E I C H O WINSPECTIONS
Mitigating Moisture in Wood Floors
Above: Tented drying does not
cause rapid evaporation, but it can
create face-checking of the flooring if
precautions aren’t taken.
42 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 43/52
Look for the
CLEARSELECT AWARD, presented to companies thatachieve an outstanding levelof brand preference.
www.clearseasresearch.com/clearselect
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 44/52
Drying systems. Many technicians
use drying mats to bring the wood
flooring moisture content down. This is
fine for the initial drying process of the wood floor; however, once the moisture
content gets down around 14% the mat
drying must cease. If it is required to
continue the drying process it would be
recommended to use a tenting system
until the dry standard has been obtained.
The reason for pulling the mats off
around 14% is to prevent fiber structural
damage.
In many cases when the mat drying is
left on after obtaining 14% (safe zone),
excessive shrinking will occur. Thisscenario could happen in an overnight
situation depending on fiber density and
porosity of the wood flooring. The mat
drying is so effective one could reach the
safe zone at 4 p.m. and be in the danger
zone by 6 a.m. from cell wall collapse.
The tech may not reach the jobsite until
after 8 a.m. when structural damage is
already done.
Tented drying. Tented drying is
simply controlling the air space between
the wood surface and the atmosphere.
This process is considerably much slower,
but does not cause rapid evaporation that
could lead to fiber/cell wall damage. The
greatest risk we have in tented drying is where the air supply duct enters the tent
and provides the driest location, which
may cause face checking on engineered
and/or solid wood floors. This area
should be rotated as the drying process is
taking place.
Concrete drying. Mitigating moisture
in a concrete subfloor was covered last
month in this magazine, so I’m not going
to get into specifics. I’ll just say whatever
requirements are given by the flooring
manufacturer/adhesive manufacturerregarding moisture control systems
need to be followed under moisture-
sensitive flooring like wood. If the
test results are not favorable for wood
flooring, the adhesive manufacturer
will suggest moisture control systems
to be used under the wood floor. It’s
vitally important to follow flooring
manufacturer’s specifications regarding
concrete and mitigate appropriately.
Flooring underlayment papers. Let’s
say we have a wood floor mechanically
fastened over a wood subfloor that has
experienced water damage. The first
thing we must identify is what type of
flooring underlayment paper was used
under the floor. The reason for this is
some underlayment papers have a perm
rating of .7 to 1, which will make it
virtually impossible to dry the subfloor
through this underlayment paper
(moisture retarder). Even though flooring
underlayment paper has been perforated
by mechanical fasteners, the water haspenetrated through the tears of the paper
onto the subfloor.
In many cases the wood floor is still
going to have to be refinished; therefore
the restoration professional can remove
one short plank next to the baseboard
to identify the underlayment paper. If
the underlayment paper is identified as a
low-perm rating product, it would require
the drying process to be done from above
and below the wood floor. In that case,
the drying of the plywood would be frombeneath the floor and the wood floor
drying would be from the top side.
Timing is important here because
of the potential mold growth that
could happen in a matter of a few days
if moisture levels exceed 15% for an
extended period of time. Depending on
the starting point of the water damage,
i.e. 35%, there may not be enough time
to dry the wood floor below the threat
of mold. Therefore, in some cases low-
perm rating underlayment papers mayrequire removal of the wood floor and
underlayment paper to dry the wood
subfloor before the restoration process.
Flooring restoration. Flooring
restoration typically means replacement
or repair of a few planks up to several
hundred square feet. Before this process
begins we must understand a few simple
rules between mitigation services and
flooring professionals. In many cases the
mitigation team will say the floor is dry
at 12% when the dry standard within the
When using a drying mat to bringwood flooring moisture content down,take care not to use the mat past 14%moisture content. Otherwise, you mayend up with structural damage of thefloor.
44 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 45/52
home may be 8% and flooring restoration
work cannot begin until the dry standard
has been obtained. Sometimes when we’re
looking at a 4% difference this may mean
one to two months of additional drying
on its own prior to any flooring restoration
work. If the wood floor restoration is
rushed before obtaining the dry standardmoisture content, the flooring, which is
most likely cupped at the time of remedial
work, will experience crowning within
months thereafter.
This phenomenon happens when we
don’t obtain moisture balance throughout
the thickness of the flooring and subfloor
to reach the dry standard of the non-
concerned area. The delay from the time
moisture mitigation began to reaching
the dry standard may be outside the
timeline of the project. Therefore in
cases such as this, it may be required to
complete removal of the wood floor and
dry the subfloor to the dry standard and
replace with new flooring. This processmay cost up to 65% more than just
waiting the additional time for the floor
to properly dry. This is the Catch-22
between the insured and the insurance
company and who picks up the tab for
the delay or additional costs.
Flooring restoration is not as simple
as one may think, as wood flooring can
only release moisture at a certain rate and
speed. Wood flooring may take several
months to reach a dry standard prior
to the refinishing process. Often when
damaged, cupped wood flooring is given
appropriate time to dry; it will most
likely be reasonably flat and sometimes
undetectable other than a few high edges.Once flooring reaches the baseline, it
takes two to three additional weeks to
stabilize the wood flooring from previous
tension and stress.
When it comes to mitigating wood
flooring there is one simple rule: Don’t
be in a hurry unless you want to do it
over again. nnFCI
Roy Reichow brings over 40 years of experience in the wood flooring industry as a wood floor contractor, consultant and educator. Roy is founderand principle of Reichow Parquet Flooring and National Wood Floor Consultants. He holds National Wood Flooring Association Certified Profes-sional certification in Wood Floor Installation, Sanding, Finishing, Sales Counselor, Inspector and Commercial Inspector. Roy also serves on theNational Wood Flooring Association’s Certified Professional Board of Directors and Marketing Committee.
Roy has authored articles published by the NWFA and the International Fraud Update, a publication of the International Association of InsuranceFraud Agencies. His wood flooring projects have been featured in American Woodworkers Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, and Mpls/St.Paul magazine.
Roy has led educational seminars for the NWFA, wood flooring distributors, contractors, and home builders, and has been a featuredspeaker at the MPLS Home & Garden Show.
Roy is a regional trainer for the NWFA and is an instructor for the Wood Floor Maintenance Technician (WFMT) course for IICRC. Healso conducts sales training for various wood floor retailers. You may contact him at [email protected].
• Easiest to comply with ASTM F2170
• 10 Times FASTER
• Lowest Cost/test
• Simplest to UseU.S. Patent 7,231,815 & 8,047,056 . Additional patents pending
RapidRH.com
1.800.207.2486
Moisture Measurement in
Concrete Slabs webinar
Wagner Meters is proud to offer,“Moisture Measurement in Concrete
Slabs,” a webinar presented by Howard
Kanare, a leading expert on con-
crete moisture issues. Kanare speaks
about breakthrough scientific data that
seriously challenges what we have be-
lieved regarding traditional methods
for moisture testing of concrete slabs.
This free presentation was created to
bring you the most current informa-
tion on accurate moisture testing of
concrete slabs.
When: For times and dates please visit
online at: www.moisturewebinar.com
or email [email protected]
or call 541.582.0541.
Registration: This webinar is available
by invitation only and online seating
is limited. Please contact Wagner
Meters today to reserve your seat for
this ground-breaking presentation.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 45
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 46/52
RADIANT HEATING
In-floor electrical radiant heat
installed under tile floors, floating
floors and glue-down hardwood is
a hot trend these days. It entered the
marketplace some years ago primarily
in high-end new construction and
renovations, where it has been a popularoption under tile, floating floors and
laminate in bathrooms, kitchens, family
rooms and mudrooms. Now in-floor
electric radiant heat is finding favor
as a perk in mid-tier and multi-family
housing as well as in light commercial,
hospitality and residential healthcare
facilities.
In-floor electric radiant heat systems
are very user friendly—no drafts, noisy
fans or blowers, and no moving parts.
Unlike hot air systems or hydronic
baseboard radiator systems, which heat
air and move the heated air around a
space, in-floor electric radiant heat warms
objects in the room, including people.
Because the systems deliver even,
gentle heat controlled at the local
level, end users often reap “comfortand cozy” benefits for three—or even
four—seasons of the year. In recent
years, new technologies for generating
and delivering the heat have enabled a
variety of affordable systems that feature
straightforward installation. In the past,
heat wires had to be laid in a mortar bed
with the finished floor installed on top
(and all the extra steps that required).
Now, however, there are products on
the market that either roll out or are
laid out over a subfloor or on top of
underlayment, with the finished floor
installed right after.
The systems feature just a few main
components: the heating elements (which
can be heating cables, heating mats
or mesh, or heating film); an in-floor
sensor which monitors the temperatureof the floor (and typically aims for a
setting a few degrees above the room
temperature); and a GFCI thermostat,
generally wall-mounted, that affords
local control.
Residential settings. The residential
target market for in-floor electric radiant
heat includes families with babies and
Installing In-Floor ElectricRadiant Heat
Above: Before installing any type of underlayment orin-floor electric radiant heating system, make sure the
subfloor is clean and free of any debris.
46 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
B Y J A C K B O E S C H
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 47/52
toddlers who play on the floor, older
homeowners and builders of adult
communities where residents would
appreciate the extra bit of warmth that
in-floor electric radiant heat can provide.
It can also be an easy sell for rooms in
the house that are at the far end of the
zone of the primary heating system.
The systems can also be used as gentle
heat for rooms otherwise unheated, such
as a three-season room, a finished but
unheated attic, or a finished but unheatedbasement.
Systems for tile floors are also available
that combine the electric radiant heat
elements with underlayment. The
underlayment may include an anti-
fracture membrane that isolates lateral
cracks up to 3/8” in a concrete subfloor
from telegraphing through to the tile or
grout above. This same type of system
can also be used with glue-down wood
floors. For wood-frame construction,
there are systems designed to be installedunder the subfloor, just wide enough
to fit between the joists supporting the
subfloor.
Commercial settings. In the
commercial sector, in-floor radiant heat is
an efficient way to provide supplemental
heating in offices and other workspaces
that, because of location in the building,
placement and configuration of windows
and other non-controllable factors,
could benefit from the ability to activate
added warmth to the space. It is also anexcellent way to provide additional heat
in offices built inside converted lofts,
former factories or other high-ceilinged
repurposed spaces. Tucked away under
the floor, out of sight and operating
silently, in-floor electric radiant heat is
quieter and safer than space heaters that
may hum and can tip over when set up
next to or under a desk.
Programmable thermostats can be
set to activate the electric radiant heat
individually in each office, enabling
Top Left: Rolling out MP Global Products’ QuietWalkunderlayment before a radiant heat install.
Center: When installing the underlayment, be sure tobutt the seams.
Bottom: The company’s QuietWarmth Radiant FloorHeating Film is rolled out.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 47
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 48/52
highly customizable comfort at the start
of each work day. Both line voltage and
low voltage systems are available, with
power consumption measured by wattage
output per square foot. The standard
wattage density is 8–12 watts per square
foot, an expenditure that does not exceed
warranty requirements for most floating
floors.
Many systems are tested and UL
(Underwriters Laboratories) listed,
UL-Canada ETL or CSA (Canadian
Standards Association) listed. Typically,
they are easy to insta ll, requiring the
services of a licensed electrician only
for the final hookup of lead wires at
the junction box to the power and the
thermostat. Typically, the systems are
maintenance-free. Some are also certifiedto UL 1683 (requirements covering fixed
electric heating products for installation
under floor coverings and above a
subfloor, in accordance with NEC,
NFPA 70, Article 424, for use on system
voltages not exceeding 600V).
Types of products. Products that
feature mats or rollout film come in a
variety of sizes, making it easy to fit the
system to a room layout, especially those
with irregular spaces or spaces broken
up by interior walls and partitions.In the current crop of systems, some
manufacturers offer products that feature
elements that are very thin and don’t
detectably raise the level of the finished
floor.
While some systems feature cables
that cannot be modified, others are
engineered so the electric elements can
be cut, potentially enabling coverage of
a greater percentage of the floor surface
with minimal effort and minimal waste.
For example, some systems featureheating elements laid out in parallel on
the pad, which can be cut between the
parallel heating elements. This type of
system also affords the advantage that if
one section is damaged or compromised,
the rest of the elements continue to heat.
Layout and installation. While
products that provide even, gentle heat
are designed to be safe for finished
flooring, it is always a good idea to
check with the flooring manufacturer to
determine compatibility and warranty oftheir products before installing over floor
heat. Before starting any installation,
read the instructions that come with the
system. In addition, often manufacturers
have step-by step videos of how to install
their systems posted on their websites.
By UL requirement, electric radiant
heat must be kept a minimum of at
least 6” away from the outer edges of
permanent structures and fixtures,
including all walls; and in bathrooms 6”
away from tubs, water closets and other
Top Left: After the radiant heat system is inplace, create a channel for the wires to run fromthe system to the junction box.
Bottom: Recess the wires into the channel youmade and duct tape them securely.
48 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 49/52
bathroom fixtures. If the insta llation
includes a floor sensor to monitor the
temperature of the floor, be sure to install
it before starting to install the finished
flooring.
A typical installation of a rolloutsystem would pretty much proceed along
the lines of the steps below and may or
may not include underlayment designed
to enhance the overall performance of
the particular type of finished floor.
Underlayment well-matched to the type
of finished floor can improve acoustics in
the room, provide additional insulating
value and good compression resistance
that supports more comfortable walking.
It can also provide moisture management
that helps protect wood, engineered wood, laminate and luxury vinyl flooring
from moisture that can adversely affect
the finished floor. Under laminate,
underlayment designed for that flooring
can absorb the click sounds commonly
associated with the material and help the
finished floor sound more like real wood.
The following steps are what you
can expect to encounter when working
with an in-floor electric radiant heating
system. Always follow manufacturer
instructions for proper installation.
1. Clean the subfloor so it is free of any
debris and make sure the subfloorfasteners are secure and won’t protrude
above the surface of the subfloor.
The subfloor can be wood, concrete,
backer board, or OSB. If the subfloor
is concrete, it may be necessary to
lay down a vapor barrier and then
construct a second subfloor over it,
especially if the subfloor is at or below
grade.
2. Draw a sketch of the best layout of the
panels, including the locations of the
floor sensor, the thermostat and the junction box. Plan to position the panels
so that the factory-attached wires at the
ends of each are on the same side of the
room as the junction box.
3. If you are including underlayment
(fiber, cork, foam or rubber) in the floor
assembly, install it now over the entire
floor area, butting the seams.
4. Roll out the panels, mats or film
and fit them into the layout. Systems
that come in various lengths and
widths offer the advantage ofminimizing waste and/or cutting to fit.
5. Make a channel for the wires to run
from the mats or panels to the location
of the junction box.
6. Recess the wires and duct tape them
securely into place.
7. Run all the lead wires and the floor
sensor wire to the junction box.
8. If the system includes an in-floor
sensor, install it now.
9. Once the wires are at the junction box,
the electrician can test the floor circuitsand connect the wires.
10. As soon as the system is tested, the
installer can lay the floor.
An a ffordable supplemental heat
system easily installed under new
flooring, in-floor electric radiant heat
systems can be a profitable addition to
many flooring jobs. nnFCI
Once the system has been tested by anelectrician, install the flooring as usual.
Jack Boesch is the director of marketing at MP Global Products LLC, an innovator and market leader in the manufacture of Made-in-America in-
floor electric radiant heat systems for floating floors and tile floors. For more information, visit www.quietwalk.com or call (888) 379-9695.
www.fcimag.com I October 2015 49
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 50/52
CRI ................................................................................................ 9
(706) 278-3176 • www.carpet-rug.org
Custom Building Products ............................................................. 7
(800) 272-8786 • www.custombuildingproducts.com
CTEF ........................................................................................... 28
(864) 222-2131 • www.tilecareer.comFCIF ............................................................................................. 39
(714) 634.0302 • www.fcif.org
Franklin Int’l ................................................................................. 13
(800) 877-4583 • www.titebond.com
HPS North America .......................................................................5
(855) 391-2649 • www.hpsuboors.com
LATICRETE ................................................................................. 26
(800) 243-4788 • www.laticrete.com
Lignomat USA .............................................................................22
(800) 227-2105 • www.lignomat.com
Loba Wakol .................................................................................. 28
(800) 230-6456 • www.loba-wakol.com
MAPEI Corp. ............................................................................. 2,21
(800) 426-2734 • www.mapei.com
Maxxon ........................................................................................ 17(800) 356 -7887 • www.maxxoncorporation.com
NAC Products ..............................................................................22
(800) 633-4622 • www.nacproducts.com
Proknee ....................................................................................... 23
(800) 549 -5018 • www.proknee.com
QEP/Homelux.............................................................................. 27
(561) 994-5550 • www.homeluxusa.com
Schluter Systems ....................................................................... 15
(800) 472-4588 • www.schluter.com
STAUF ......................................................................................... 52
(866) 458 -3872 (GLUEUSA) • www.staufusacom
StonePeak ..................................................................................... 3
(312) 506-2800 • www.stonepeakceramics.com
Suntouch ..................................................................................... 18
(888) 432-8932 • www.suntouch.com
TEC Specialty, Div of HB Fuller Const. Products ........................ 11
(800) 552-6225 • www.tecspecialty.com
TISE 2016 .................................................................................... 51
(866) 860-1975 • www.TISEwest.com
Traxx ............................................................................................ 19
(888) 872-9926 • www.traxxcorp.com
Wagner Meters ..................................................................25,45,50
(800) 634-9961 • www.wagnermeters.com
AD INDEX
CLASSIFIED
Company Name Pg
Editor’s Note: The Advertiser’s Index is provided as a service to ourreaders. No liability is created by nor accepted for any inadvertent errorsor omissions.
• Self Paced Courses• 24/7 Internet Access• Management Monitoring
• No Travel Expenses• No Lost Productivity• Certificate Issued
Only$150per tuition
The Tile Installer Thin-Set Standards (ITS) Verificationis a new credential awarded by the University of Ceramic Tile and Stone(UofCTS) to tile installers who successfully complete a 4-hour online
course that teaches industry standards and methods for adhered thin-setapplications. The course can be taken at your own pace within a
two-week registration period, or finish it all at once in about 4 hours!
Volume discounts available
The UofCTS also provides tile and stone online courses for salespeople and design professionals.
[email protected] www.UofCTS.org (866) 669-1550The UofCTS is a division of Ceramic Tile and Stone Consultants, Inc. / www.ctasc.com
Earn more jobs, earn more money and avoid problems
Get Your Installers ITS Verified!
50 October 2015 I www.fcimag.com
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 51/52
U S E P RO MO C
O D E A D6 2 D U R I N
G R EG I S T RA T I
O N R E G I S T E R T O D A Y
ignite your knowledge + growth + profits
Featuring 170+ hours of on-floor, demo, training, and standard industry education,Ignite Education provides you with the chance to learn from more than 100 speakers,panelists and business professionals. This adds up to over 80 obtainable CEU’s.
IGNITE Education… No matter your industry segment, there is something for you.
in other distributors, retailers, architects, designers, installers,
bricators and more at the largest North American floor covering,
one and tile industry event of the year, The International Surface
ent 2016. Find products and services, learn skills and trends, andake connections that will grow your business and build your career.
ON THE CUTTING EDGE
intlsurfaceevent.comerican Monument Assoc. | Canadian Stone Assoc. | Elberton Granite Assoc. | Indiana Limestone Institute | Nat. Building Granite Quarries Assoc. | NW Granite Mfr. Assoc.
rtners:
TTEND TISEwest.com /Register EXHIBIT TISEwest.com/ContactMe
. . :
7/21/2019 Floor Covering Installer - October 2015
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/floor-covering-installer-october-2015 52/52
HOW WIDE
DID YOU SAY?
Top Related