Beckham Brothers LVP And Vinyl Installation Guides(Dry Back Jack, Posh Plank)

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INSTALLATION GUIDE Luxury Vinyl Plank

Loose Caboose, Posh Plank, Dry Back Jack

Note: it is important to read the instructions prior to installation.

PRIOR TO INSTALLATION AND ACCLIMATION

• Cartons should be always stored horizontally. Always store the boxes on a flat and level surface. Never store boxes on their sides.
• Protect carton corners from damage.
• Inspect all planks for visible defects and damage before and during installation. Do not install damaged planks. Beckham Brothers will not accept responsibility for claims on flooring installed with visible defects on installed product.
• Flooring should be installed in indoor climate-controlled locations between 65°F - 85°F (18.3°C – 29.5°C. H-Vac systems must be operational.
• Substrate should be no less than 65 °F (18.3 °C) for 48 hours before, during and after installation

SUITABLE SUBSTRATES

Beckham Brothers Dry back products may be installed on grade, above grade or below grade.

Concrete subfloors must be inspected prior to installation and if they do not meet the following requirements, do not install flooring. Concrete shall have a minimum compressive strength of 3500 psi. Concrete subfloors must be cured for 90 days prior to installation of the flooring and should be tested for excessive moisture. Moisture vapor emission rate should not exceed 5 lb/1000 sq. ft. (2.27 kg/92.9 sq. m)/24 hours per ASTM F1869.

The relative humidity should not exceed 80%, and the pH level should be between 7 and 9.

WOOD SUBFLOORS

Wood floors should be a minimum of 3/4” (19 mm) thick, APA approved grade tongue and groove plywood or OSB, with a smooth finish, free of deflection.

If the wooden subfloor is not an APA approved flooring grade underlayment, a minimum of 1/4” (6.35 mm) approved wood underlayment must be adhered to the existing substrate.

These subfloors must be clean, structurally sound, dry, smooth, and level. All fastener indentations and joints should be level and smooth using appropriate patching compounds. Deflection should not exceed 3/64” (1.1 mm).

OTHER SUBSTRATES

When installing LVP over existing resilient flooring, ensure that the existing sheet goods or tile product is in good condition, that it was installed in the full spread glue method and is properly secured.

• Beckham Brothers LVP can be installed over one layer of non-cushioned sheet good flooring.
• Existing tile or sheet resilient floorings should be stripped using a product that is an appropriate stripper for vinyl to remove wax or other contamination, rinsed with clear water and allowed to dry.
• Very smooth or high-gloss floors need to be lightly abraded to rough up the surface to allow proper adhesive bonding. Sealers and accomplish this as well.
• The exception is that any tile or sheet that is of a soft cushion construction must be removed.
• When installing LVP Plank over existing ceramic tile, you must skim coat the grout lines with a floor leveler.
• If you install LVP over an existing floor that has an embossing or grout line on it, we recommend you skim coat with a floor leveler.
• Check for any dips in the subfloor that can create a void underneath the floor that will cause stress on the plank seams when walking on it. If so, please fill in and level subfloor with embossing leveler.
• Concrete should be flat within 3/16” in 10 feet.

Beckham Brothers LVP can be installed over gypsum subfloors when properly installed following the adhesive manufacturer’s installation instructions. Gypsum subfloors are very porous and are required to be primed following the adhesive manufacturer’s installation instructions.

RADIANT-HEATED FLOORS

Beckham Brother LVP can be installed over embedded radiant-heated floors provided the operating temperature never exceeds 85 °F (29.4 °C). The radiant system should be in operation for three (3) weeks prior to installation of the flooring.

• For 48 hours prior to and during installation, the system should be kept at 65 °F (18.3 °C).
• Once the installation is completed, the heat should be gradually increased by a maximum of 5 °F (2.8 °C) per day until the desired setting is reached.
• Do not use radiant heat systems that expose the flooring to wide variations in temperature, such as a wire induction system.

JOB CONDITIONS/ PREPARATION

• Room temperature/substrate must be always maintained between 65 °F (18.3 °C) and 85 °F (29.4 °C).
• Substrate should be free of dust, debris from paint, varnish, wax, oils, curing sealers, solvents, and other foreign matter. Any adhesive residue from prior installations should be completely removed or sealed.
• Any looseness of the substrate should be secured.
• All construction seams, expansion joints, and holes should be filled level with the surrounding surface to eliminate telegraphing of such irregularities.
• Beckham Brothers recommends the use of floor primers on all porous substrates.

CAUTION: If you plan to remove old resilient flooring material or any type of old adhesive, please be aware that it may contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica; therefore, avoid creating dust Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard, and local regulations may require professional removal. Instructions for the removal of old flooring materials and adhesives may be found in the RFCI Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings. You may contact the Resilient Floor Covering Institute at 706-882-3833 or www.rfci.com.

Check moisture levels before starting installation to ensure moisture levels are within guidelines.

Note: Priming the substrate or adding latex to levelers will normally make the floors NONPOROUS. Test for porosity and use the non-porous adhesive instructions if necessary. The contractor or owner is responsible for cure time, moisture content testing, and the structural integrity of any leveling or patching compound used.

When installing over an existing resilient flooring material, an embossing leveler may be required to prevent the existing material pattern from telegraphing through the new material.

INSTALLATION

• Cartons should be always stored horizontally.
• Inspect all planks for visible defects and damage before and during installation. Do not install damaged planks. Beckham Brothers will not accept responsibility for claims on flooring installed with visible defects.
• Open several boxes at a time and mix planks from different boxes for best results and overall look.
• Room temperature and substrate should be no less than 65 °F (18.3 °C) for 48 hours before, during and after installation.
• Beckham Brothers LVP products are installed using Pressure sensitive adhesive. We recommend the following products.

UZIN KE 2000 S (everyday use)

A premium, universal adhesive designed for the installation of vinyl and rubber floor coverings on porous and nonporous substrates. UZIN KE 2000 S has excellent shear strength, high resistance to plasticizers and quick drying properties allowing for faster installations of floor coverings.

UZIN KE 66

Fiber- reinforced, wet set adhesive designed for the installation of vinyl and rubber flooring on porous substrates. This hard setting, high shear strength adhesive has excellent resistance to indentations and shrinkage and is especially effective in areas where rolling loads and furniture are in use.

UZIN KR 430

Is a 2-component polyurethane adhesive ideal for the installation of all types of floor coverings that demand reliable bonding in extreme conditions. Suitable for floor covering installations subject to heavy use and rolling loads, UZIN KR 430 cures to an extremely high final strength and hardness with excellent resistance to plasticizers, surface moisture and temperature exposure.

• Remove thresholds and baseboards before you measure the room to calculate how much flooring to purchase. Your surface to cover will be the length times the width of the room, plus the area of any nooks and closets. To this total surface, you will need to add 5-10% for trimming and waste. Beckham Brothers recommends keeping a few planks for replacement should any planks become damaged.
• Strip the existing flooring if necessary. If the existing floor surface is solid and smooth, you may choose to skip this step. If you remove carpet or old vinyl, you may need to use a power scraper to remove old adhesive.
• Use a patching compound to fill in any cracks and holes in your subfloor. Work the compound into the hole with and level it off. Once you have a smooth, even surface, sweep or vacuum the subfloor thoroughly.
• Planks are to be installed parallel to the wall that is the main line of sight in the room (usually this is the wall opposite to the room’s main entrance). Measure to determine the center of the room and adjust the center point so that planks are evenly distributed on each side. Mark this straight center line on the floor using a chalk line.
• Make sure to apply the adhesive only when you are ready to install the planks, using the proper trowel size and following the adhesive working time as outlined on the adhesive manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Starting from one corner of the room, lay down the first row of planks moving towards the other wall. Since these planks do not have any particular direction, they can be installed either from left to right or from right to left.
• When placing the second row and every subsequent row, make sure to stagger the end joints a minimum of 8” (20 cm) apart from the previous row. Staggering the planks creates a more authentic appearance. To accomplish this, you may need to cut a plank to start a row. Ends that have been cut should be placed against the wall. Use a vinyl plank cutter (recommended) or a utility knife and square to cut the plank at a 90-degree angle to its length. Planks that are against the wall also need to be a minimum 8” (20 cm) in length. Make sure there are no gaps between the planks; they should be fitted tight to each other on all four (4) edges.
• Once the planks have been installed, use a floor roller to ensure all the planks are firmly bonded to the floor. Rolling should take place during the working time of the adhesive (see adhesive label).
• To remove any adhesive residues on the surface of the floor, use a clean white cloth dampened with water if adhesive is wet and acetone, denatured alcohol, or mineral spirit if adhesive is dry.
• Post-installation temperature should be maintained between 65 °F - 85 °F (18.3 °C - 29.4 °C).
• Luxury vinyl flooring must be protected from direct sunlight exposure. Beckham Brothers recommends using UV protective film, blinds or curtains in all windows that provide direct sunlight to ensure that the products are not overheated. Luxury vinyl floor coverings exposed to excessive heat are subject to thermal expansion which may lead to buckling or peaking. Beckham Brothers will not be held liable for any claims or damages arising out of or related to the failure of the installation when the flooring is exposed to direct sunlight. Consider using our premium UZIN adhesive to help prevent this from happening.

For dry back (glue-down) vinyl products:

• Adhesive should be given ample time to cure and create a bond between the substrate and the LVP. Ensure that the post-installation room temperature is properly set and allow proper drying time according to the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions before walking or placing furniture and appliances on your new flooring.
• Sweep or vacuum thoroughly and remove any adhesive residue from surface. Mineral spirit is fine for this.
• Do not wash/mop the flooring for at least 48 hours after installation.

For all types of LVP products:

• Sweep or vacuum thoroughly.
• Be careful when placing furniture and appliances over your new flooring. For heavy items, it is recommended to use smooth furniture sliders or move furniture over sheets of plywood or hardboard to prevent damage to your new flooring.
• Check the condition of all the casters or rollers on your furniture before setting them on your flooring.
• Protect your LVP flooring by covering furniture legs with felt protectors.
• A regular maintenance program should include thorough dirt and grit removal by sweeping, dust mopping or vacuuming daily.
• It should be noted that the use of brush roller agitation on vacuums is not recommended.
• Do not clean your floors with abrasive cleaners, abrasive scrubbing pads or scouring powdered products.
• Promptly remove spills. Damp mop regularly using a pH neutral resilient floor cleaner or a solution of ammonia and water (four (4) parts water to one (1) part ammonia).
• Always test cleaners in an inconspicuous area or an unused sample before using on flooring.
• Abrasive cleaners should never be used on LVP products. Do not use vinegar, one-step cleaner/polishes or oil soaps on LVP.
• Use appropriate mats at entryways to collect dirt, sand, peddles and absorb moisture.

*If by any chance the product under performs its expectations and to ensure a fast and easy warranty claim. Please keep at least 4 pieces of the flooring for testing purposes. Also keep the original sales receipt and confirm the flooring was installed according to this document.