General Information
All of the general installation instructions stated in General Installation Guidelines regarding storage and job site conditions, including climatic and structural requirements, are applicable to Stainmaster Luxury Flooring. Review and consider these requirements before proceeding with the installation.
These installation specifications are for all Fully Adhered installations of Stainmaster Luxury Flooring. Recommendations are based on the most recent available information. All instructions and recommendations must be followed for a satisfactory installation.
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Stainmaster Luxury Floors must be stored and installed in climate-controlled interior locations where the temperature can be regulated between 65° and 85° F.
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Install Stainmaster Luxury Floors only after the job site has been cleaned and cleared of other trade apparatus that may damage a finished installation.
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Before installation, always check the cartons to ensure the pattern number is correct. Work from several cartons to mix design elements. Do not "cluster" similar design elements.
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All subfloor/underlayment patching must be done with a non-shrinking water resistant Portland cement patching compound such as Mannington MVP-2023.
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Never install Stainmaster resilient product over residual asphalt-type (cut back) adhesive. It can bleed through the new floor covering. Residual asphalt-type adhesive must be thoroughly removed or covered with underlayment plywood or Mannington latex underlayment.
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Stainmaster Luxury Floors are to be adhered with Mannington MT-711. MT-711 is a solvent-free, acrylic-based pressure sensitive adhesive that is appropriate with Stainmaster resilient and carpet modular flooring products.
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Use only Adura Luxury Grout when grouting is desired.
All precautions and requirements regarding subfloor selection and preparation found in the General Installation information section apply to Stainmaster Luxury Flooring.
Installation
Tile Layout
As with all tile formats, Stainmaster tiles should be "balanced" in the work area. Tiles may be laid squarely in the work area or laid out diagonally in the work area. In either case, the room must be accurately measured to square off the area and to determine the center point of the area. The work area should be divided into quadrants designated by striking chalk lines. It is critical that the intersection of the chalk lines be square at 90°. All border tiles should be of nearly equal dimensions and at least one-half of a tile wide. Careful and precise measurements must be taken during tile layout. Lay all tiles in the same direction with all directional arrows pointing in the same direction.
Plank Layout
It is also important to balance the layout of the plank format. Proper planning and layout will prevent narrow plank widths at wall junctures. Determine layout to prevent having less than half a plank width (2") or very short length pieces. As with all plank products, lay the long dimension of the plank parallel to the long dimension of the work area. Accurately measure the room to determine the center line; adjust this established line to accommodate a balanced layout and then transpose this line to a comfortable width away from the starting wall (approximately 2' to 3' wide). Apply the adhesive in this area and being installing planks.
Combinations - Tile and Plank Layout
The modularity of Stainmaster Luxury Flooring allows for interesting and decorative combinations of tile and planks. When determining proper layout for this custom installation, it is important to consider the dimensions of the modular "design unit" and then balance the design unit in the work area. Careful and precise measurements must be taken to ensure success with a combination design.
Adhesive Application
Mannington MT-711 adhesive is required for adhering Stainmaster to all approved substrates. Apply the adhesive with a 1/16" wide, 1/16" deep, and 1/16" apart notched trowel. The MT-711 adhesive should be given sufficient open time so that the trowel ridges appear "cloudy" or "hazy" and the trowel "valleys" are clear. The adhesive must be sufficiently tacky to prevent tile slippage during placement.
Tile Installation
After the MT-711 has had sufficient open time, begin laying the tile at the intersection of the working lines. Be certain this tile is installed squarely on the lines. After the first tile is in place, begin laying tiles outward along both guide lines. Press tiles firmly against adjoining tiles and press into the adhesive. Begin stair-stepping the tiles into the field area. Maintain the squareness of the installation by keeping tiles along guide lines. Lay all tiles in the same direction, all directional arrows pointing in the same direction.
Plank Installation
After the MT-711 adhesive has had sufficient open time, begin laying planks along the designated starting line. Planks ends should be staggered in a random manner so as to avoid clustering the end joints. Varying the length of the starting plank can assure sufficient stagger of end joints. End joints should be staggered by at least 4". Pay particular attention to the randomness of the plank layout; avoid establishing a repeating pattern. Continue installing the planks in a random fashion and complete each area before beginning the next. If required, use a kneeling board to avoid walking on freshly installed planks.
Cutting and Fitting Border Tiles and Planks
Stainmaster Luxury Flooring can be cut with a large tile cutter or by using the score and snap technique. Direct or pattern scribe the tiles to fit into complicated, irregular walls or pipes, etc.
Grouting Stainmaster Luxury Tile
Certain Stainmaster Luxury Floor tile patterns lend themselves to the design option of applying a specially produced acrylic grout between the tiles. Specific installation procedures must be followed when grouting Stainmaster tiles.
1. Required Tools
2. Procedure
The desired grout width must be determined before tile layout begins. It's critical to include grout width measurement to tile size to ensure a balanced layout. Grout width should be at least 1/16" wide and no more than 1/4" wide. Commercially available hard plastic ceramic tile spacers may be used to maintain equal grout joint width.
Tiles may be grouted immediately after installation. Insure that the tiles are firmly bonded to the subfloor by re-rolling the entire installation with a three-section 100 pound (or heavier) floor roller just prior to grouting. Be certain to clean any debris from grout joints.
Only Adura acrylic grout may be used with Stainmaster luxury vinyl tiles. This pre-mixed grout has been developed to bond to Luxury Vinyl tiles and is flexible and durable. Never use cement-based, epoxy or furan grout.
Apply the acrylic grout in to the tile joints with the narrow edge of the rigid rubber float. Firmly pack each tile join so as to leave no voids or skips. As each tile joint is grouted, remove excess grout from tile edges with the stiff edge of the float pulled in a 45º angle across each joint. Grout only in small increments and clean each section as you go. Never apply grout in an area greater than 20 square feet without stopping to clean.
Use a dampened nylon scrubbing pad to loosen remaining grout from the tile surface. Wipe alongside the joint with the nylon pad to avoid removing grout from the joint. Do not use excessive water during cleanup.
Use the special square edge sponge to remove the excess water and grout haze. Be certain to wipe diagonally across tile joints to avoid dragging grout from the joint. Rinse the sponge frequently and change the cleanup water frequently. Thoroughly remove all residual grout and grout haze before leaving the job. Dried grout haze is difficult to remove.
If a slight grout haze is noticed after 24 hours, it can be removed by scrubbing with the nylon pad and a solution of 1/4 cup ammonia in a gallon of clean water. Thoroughly rinse the area with clean water. Do not use chemical grout cleaners.
If skips or voids in the grout joint are discovered after final cleanup, they can be filled by applying new grout directly over the old.
Finishing the Job
Stainmaster luxury floors must be rolled with a minimum 100-pound three-section floor roller immediately after installation. Before grouting, roll the flooring in both directions to firmly seat the tile into the adhesive.
Cover all exposed edges. Use wood molding or vinyl cove base along all walls, cabinet toe kicks, etc. Use transition strips in doorways or where new flooring joins another floor covering. Caulk along tubs, toilet bowls, etc.
Do not wash the floor for 48 hours after installation. After 48 hours, damp mop to remove residual surface dirt. Follow appropriate maintenance schedule for Stainmaster luxury floors.
Repairing Stainmaster Tile and Plank
Although the wear surface of Stainmaster plank and tile is durable, it is not bulletproof. Should an incident occur that damages the surface of the product, a simple repair procedure exists. The key to this process is having ample material available to replace the damaged area(s). This should be considered when placing the original order. Extra tiles and planks should be wrapped in their packaging and stored in an interior, climate-controlled location.
To remove a tile or plank, gently heat with a hot-air blower to allow the material to become more flexible. Insert a thin 2" wide putty knife in the seam and gently lift up. Be careful not to damage the surrounding flooring. Remove the damaged tile or plank from the floor. When removing a tile, pay attention to the orientation of the embossed arrow on the back of the damaged piece so that the new tile can be installed in the same direction. Inspect the subfloor for lumps of residual adhesive, remove and smooth out as necessary.
Using a 1/32" notched trowel, apply a thin coating for MT711 to the back of the replacement piece. Consider the thickness of the residual adhesive layer when determining the appropriate adhesive application to the replacement piece; too much adhesive will cause the replacement flooring to be higher than the surrounding tile or plank. Provide sufficient open time (typically 15 minutes) and then position the tile or plank into the repair area. Roll evenly with a hand roller and, if necessary, weight the tile or plank for several hours until the adhesive sets.
If the tile was grouted, the grout must be removed and replaced during tile replacement.
Cautions and Miscellaneous
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Furniture should be moved onto the newly-installed floor, using an appliance hand truck over hardboard runways.
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Do not place heavy items on newly-installed floor covering for at least 24 hours after completion of the installation. Heavy furniture should be equipped with suitable non-staining, wide-bearing casters.
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Floor covering subjected to excessive heat and light exposure is subject to thermal degradation. Use appropriate precautions to minimize potential effects on the floor covering.
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Oil or petroleum-based products can result in surface staining. Do not track asphalt driveway sealer or automobile oil drips onto the vinyl floor covering.
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Use non-staining walk-off mats. Rubber can discolor resilient floor coverings.
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To achieve maximum product performance, Stainmaster Luxury Vinyl floors should not be installed over existing resilient floor coverings. In the rare cases where removal of the existing resilient floor covering is not an option, the existing flooring must be covered with MANNINGTON MVP 2023 used as an Embossing Leveler or other appropriate porous underlayment.