Mannington Insight Plus GB Installation Manual

Insight® Plus GB

Installation Guidelines

GENERAL INFORMATION

General installation methods are designed to simplify the installation process by allowing the best method to be utilized
for each jobsite depending on conditions and use. In the residential and commercial application these options are loose
laid, releasable bond, and permanent bond. See page 4 for recommended use chart.

These instructions cover all installation methods of Mannington Residential and Commercial Insight® Plus GB.
All recommendations are based on the most recent available information. The information on these sheets provides
general guidelines. For complete details consult Mannington’s General Installation Guide or visit our website
at manningtoncommercial.com. These instructions and recommendations must be followed for a satisfactory installation.

The installation of Mannington Insight® Plus GB is straight forward and similar to the installation procedures that apply to all
quality resilient fiberglass backed sheet floors. Good preparation is essential for a trouble-free installation. Do not install
Mannington resilient flooring until jobsite testing and subfloor preparations are finished and the work of all other trades is
complete. Site conditions must comply with the relevant building codes and local, state and national regulations.
Documentation of Moisture and pH test results is required when processing claims.

• Mannington Insight® Plus GB is recommended for use over properly prepared concrete, suspended wood, metal and
other suitable substrates. Never install Mannington Insight® Plus GB over residual asphalt type (Cutback) adhesive as
“Bleed Through” may occur.

• Mannington Insight® Plus GB can be used with radiant heating systems (maximum subfloor surface temperature of 85° F).

• Mannington Insight® Plus GB is not suitable for external installation or unheated locations.

• Mannington resilient flooring, adhesive, jobsite and subfloor must be acclimated to a stable condition before installation.

• Following installation, Mannington Insight® Plus GB should be protected from traffic for 24 hours, point loads and
rolling traffic for 48 hours when the pressure sensitive and permanent bond methods are used.

• Mannington Insight® Plus GB flooring should remain at a temperature between 55°-85° F (13°-27° C) during its service life.

• Always follow other manufacturers’ written recommendations when using their proprietary materials for subfloor
preparation.

Insight

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Plus GB Installation Guidelines

MATERIAL RECEIVING, HANDLING & STORAGE

1. Always store Insight® Plus GB tightly rolled, face out on a sturdy cardboard core designed for that purpose. Store the
roll horizontally and support it across the entire width. Notice the Insight® Plus GB printed pattern backing provides
important information such as product name and run date. Before starting the job, always check the flooring materials
to ensure they are the correct pattern, style, and color. Also make the sure the size and amount of the products are
sufficient to complete the installation. Inspect the material closely before installation for any visible defects.
Mannington Flooring products are manufactured to high quality standards and are carefully inspected before leaving
our facility. Occasionally, however, defects are not detected. If you notice a visible defect in the flooring product,
stop the installation and contact your local Mannington Distributor for assistance.

2. Report discrepancies immediately to Mannington Customer Service at 1-800-356-6787 (residential) 1-800-241-2262 EXT 2
(commercial) Claims for installation of products installed with visual defects or incorrect style will not be honored.

3. Store all materials in a weather-tight enclosure between 55°-90° F (13°-32° C).

4. Acclimate flooring, adhesive and jobsite to a stable condition between 65°-85° F (18°-29° C) and 50% +/- 10% RH for 48
hours before, during and after installation. Acclimate all materials onsite. Temporary heating and cooling should be used
if permanent HVAC is not operational.

JOBSITE TESTING

1. Before jobsite testing, the house/building envelope must be sealed (walls, roofing, windows, doorways etc., installed).

2. Anticipated environmental conditions must be maintained at 75°F +/- 10°F (24°C +/- 6°C) and 50% +/- 10% RH a
minimum of 48 hours before and during testing (ASTM F 710).

3. Test sites must be properly prepared and protected for the duration of testing to achieve valid results.

4. Surface Flatness for all Subfloors: The surface shall be flat to 1/8” in 10 ft (3 mm in 3 m). To check flatness, place a
10 ft straight edge on the surface and measure the gap or use another suitable method.

5. Concrete Subfloors:

a. Concrete subfloors must be finished and cured without additives, curing compounds, hardeners or surface

treatments that may prevent proper bonding of the flooring materials (ACI 302.1 and ASTM F710).

Choices that Work.

Questions about warranties? call 800 241 2262 or visit www.manningtoncommercial.com July, 2015

Insight® Plus GB

Installation Guidelines

Insight

b. Randomly check concrete subfloor for porosity using the drop water test. Place a 1 inch diameter drop of water

directly onto the concrete subfloor. If the water droplet does not dissipate within 60 to 90 seconds the subfloor
is considered non-porous. If the substrate is too porous apply Mannington Premium Universal Primer to render

the surface suitable for adhesive and floor covering.
c. Concrete subfloors must have a minimum compressive strength of 3000 psi.
d. Concrete subfloors shall not consist of lightweight concrete or gypsum with less than 105 lbs. /cubic foot density.
e. Moisture Testing: Perform either the preferred In-situ Relative Humidity (RH) Test (ASTM F2170) or the acceptable

Moisture Vapor Emission Rate (MVER) Test (ASTM F1869). Acceptable moisture limits must not exceed 3lbs per

1000 square feet per 24 hours 1869 or 75% per 2170.
f. Alkalinity: Must test surface alkalinity (ASTM F710). A 7.0 to 9.0 pH is acceptable. Reduce higher pH by applying

Mannington Premium Universal Primer.

6. Wood Subfloors and underlayment panels shall have the moisture content tested using a suitable wood pin meter.
Readings between the wood subfloor and underlayment pan should be within 3% and have a maximum moisture
content of 14% or less. Effective moisture control in basements and crawlspaces is essential for achieving a successful
long term installation.

MOISTURE SUPPRESSANT SYSTEM

Concrete subfloors that exceed adhesive specifications will require a Moisture Suppressant System. Due to complexities
associated with moisture vapor transmission, emissions and movement of soluble salts (alkalinity) in concrete subfloors, we do
not offer, recommend or warranty a specific solution for excess moisture in concrete slabs. However, there are many
companies that offer solutions with warranties for excess moisture in concrete slabs.

Mannington Commercial suggests that you reference the current ASTM F710, “Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete
Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring” and contact one or more of the following or other moisture suppressant system suppliers
for assistance:

Ardex [phone] www.ardex.com
Koester American Corp. [phone] www.koesterusa.com
Mapei [phone] www.mapei.com
Uzin Ltd. [phone] www.ufloorsystems.com

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Plus GB Installation Guidelines

SUBFLOOR PREPARATION

Concrete

Careful subfloor preparation is vital for an excellent floor appearance and good sheet adhesion. The subfloor must be smooth,
firm, flat, clean, dry, and free from defects and fit for purpose. A suitable smoothing compound should be used to ensure that
no irregularities show through to the surface of the finished floor. In all cases, the subfloor must meet the moisture and pH
requirements before installation.

Below and On-grade concrete subfloors must have a suitable vapor retarder properly installed beneath the slab. Crawlspaces
and basements directly beneath the new floor installation should be maintained with a relative humidity +/- 10% of the room
relative humidity where the flooring is installed. This can be accomplished by proper ventilation and air circulation or using a
dehumidifier. Always follow other manufacturers’ written recommendations for the use and installation of their proprietary
surface preparation materials.

1. Record site conditions, test results and corrective action(s). Mannington Commercial requires written documentation of

site conditions, test results and corrective action(s) before processing claims.

2. Subfloor must be clean (free of dirt, sealers, curing, hardening or parting compounds or any substance that may stain or

prevent adhesion), smooth, flat, sound, fit for purpose, free of movement, excessive moisture and high alkalinity.

3. Slick surfaces such as power troweled concrete shall be profiled to allow for a mechanical bond between the adhesive

and subfloor.

4. Remove existing resilient floor covering, 100% traces of old adhesives, paint or other contaminants by scraping,

sanding, grinding, shot blasting or scarifying the substrate. The use of adhesive removers or solvents in the abatement
or removal of existing or old adhesives is prohibited and may void any warranty.

WARNING: ASBESTOS & SILICA - Refer to the current Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) document “Recommended
Work Practices for Removal of Existing Resilient Floor Coverings” for guidance.

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Questions about warranties? call 800 241 2262 or visit www.manningtoncommercial.com July, 2015

Insight® Plus GB

Installation Guidelines

Insight

5. Perform corrective actions necessary for elevated moisture or high alkalinity conditions.

6. Surface Flatness for all Subfloors: The surface shall be flat to 1/8” in 10 ft (3 mm in 3 m). Bring high spots level by

sanding, grinding etc. and fill low spots. Smooth surface to prevent any irregularities or roughness from telegraphing
through the new flooring.

7. Leveling and Patching:

a. For concrete subfloors, use only high quality Portland cement based materials (minimum 3500 psi compressive

strength according to ASTM C109). Mix with water only, do not use latex. Caution: Do not lightly skim coat highly
polished or slick power troweled concrete surfaces. A thin film of floor patch will not bond to a slick subfloor and may
become a bond breaker causing tiles to release at the interface of the subfloor and patching material.

Wood

b. Wood subfloors require an underlayment (double layer construction) with a minimum total thickness of 1” (25 mm).

Use minimum ¼” (6 mm) thick APA rated “underlayment grade” plywood with a fully sanded face or other
underlayment panel that is appropriate for the intended usage. Install and prepare panels and seams according to the
manufacturers’ instructions.

c. Many times wood panel subfloors are damaged during the construction process or are not underlayment grade.

These panels must be covered with an appropriate underlayment. Underlayment panels are intended to be used to
provide a smooth surface on which to adhere the finished floor covering. It should be understood that underlayment
panels cannot correct structural deficiencies.

d. Panels intended to be used as underlayment should be specifically designed for this purpose. These panels should

have a minimum thickness of ¼”. Any panels selected as an underlayment must meet the following criteria:

• Be dimensionally stable

• Have a smooth, fully sanded face so graining or texture will not telegraph through

• Be resistant to both static and impact indentation

• Be free of any surface components that may cause staining such as plastic fillers, marking inks sealers, etc.

• Be of uniform density, porosity and thickness

• Have a written warranty for suitability and performance from the panel manufacturer or have a history of
proven performance

e. Any unevenness at the joints between panels must be sanded to a level surface. Gaps between panels, hammer

indentations, and all other surface irregularities must be filled and sanded.

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Plus GB Installation Guidelines

8. Particleboard, chipboard, construction grade plywood, any hardboard and flake-board are not recommended as
underlayment for fully adhered installations. All have inadequate uniformity, poor dimensional stability, and variable
surface porosity. Mannington Resilient Floors will not accept responsibility for adhered installation over these subfloors.
Insight® Plus GB loose laid method can be installed over all wood and wood composition panels provided that they are
smooth, flat, structurally sound and free of deflection. This includes plywood, particleboard, oriented strand board
(OSB), flake-board and wafer board. If the surface of the subfloor is not smooth, a ¼” underlayment should be installed
over the subfloor.

In all cases, the underlayment manufacturer or underlayment installer is responsible for any / all underlayment warranties.

INSTALLATION METHODS

LOOSE LAID- RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL

Application- Good

Up to 30 square yards and only 1 seam
The Loose- Laid is the easiest method. Using this method, Insight® Plus GB requires that the flooring be cut (1/8”to 1/4”)
away from all vertical surfaces such as walls, cabinets, pipes, or any permanent fittings, once trimmed all gaps can be covered
with baseboard and or quarter round. Under cut all door casings when possible, on metal door casings cut the flooring back
1/8” and caulk with silicone caulking. With this method the flooring should be allowed to float freely over the subfloor. Loose
laid floors can be installed over many substrates that are not suitable for fully adhered products (particle board, flake board,
lightweight concrete). One seam is allowed with this method. This non adhered installation method allows the material to
be rolled back to correct any substrate problems and is easily removed when required.

Choices that Work.

Questions about warranties? call 800 241 2262 or visit www.manningtoncommercial.com July, 2015