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Use & Removal:
TUFFGUARD is a temporary protective barrier designed to protect the surface of the material from foot trafc & scufng from ne
abrasives during installation. It is extremely important that TUFFGUARD be removed within 30 days to prevent possibility of any
residue remaining from the adhesive used to hold TUFFGUARD. If not removed within 30 days, TUFFPLANK is not responsible for
labor or material to remove any possible residue left on the surface of the vinyl plank. TUFFGUARD will NOT prevent damage from
abuse. Sharp and/or heavy objects will tear and allow damage to TUFFGUARD and wear surface under it.
TUFFGUARD vinyl planks come equipped with easy-grip tabs for removal of the TUFFGUARD protective barrier on one end of each
piece. The ooring installer (sub-contractor) is responsible for cutting planks at the proper end so as not to cut that tab off. The planks
must be installed with the TUFFGUARD Easy Grip TAB up and not squeezed between the joints. TUFFPLANK will not be responsible
for additional labor to remove TUFFGUARD or any labor or material needed to repair the plank if damage occurs to the vinyl tile trying
to remove the TUFFGUARD protective barrier due to the Easy Grip Tab not being accessible.
Understanding your Installation Setting
Review your installation site both inside AND outside to nd potential trouble spots BEFORE you start installing TUFFPLANK Flooring.
1. Where possible, check around the structure you intend to install TUFFPLANK ooring in for sources of, or accumulation of, water near the
foundation. ANY water that may be accumulating by the building, regardless of the proximity to your installation site inside, could create
excess moisture, pH or RH in your substrate.
2. Know your Substrate! Is your substrate a concrete foundation, wood or other product? Not all substrates are approved for use under
TUFFPLANK ooring. Review the approved substrate list to be sure TUFFPLANK can be installed in your building. Even concrete has
specications that must be met in order for your ooring to successfully install.
3. ALL substrates must be tested for moisture, pH and RH (Relative Humidity) before installing TUFFPLANK ooring. Any oor installed on an
untested substrate, or substrate with unacceptable test results as dened by TUFFPLANK, will void their TUFFPLANK warranty.
4. New concrete slabs (foundations) must cure for a minimum of 90 days AND must meet all moisture, pH and RH requirements prior to
installation of TUFFPLANK ooring. Review the acceptable ranges for these items in the Moisture, pH and RH section of this manual.
5. Verify the substrate is at. TUFFPLANK requires sub-oors to be at within 1/8” in a ten foot radius.
6. Be sure that Radiant Heat sub-oors are properly cast 1/2” below the surface of the concrete slab. This ensures safe use of the radiant heat
sub-ooring and provides the proper distance between the adhesive and TUFFPLANK ooring for proper installation under TUFFPLANK’s
warranty.
7. TUFFPLANK Vinyl Plank Flooring is naturally water resistant. However, water that is left to stand over long periods of time can ultimately
damage the oor. Tuffplank is not ood proof, but it does provide additional protection against ood prone areas like the bathroom and
laundry rooms.
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Underlayment Requirements
TUFFPLANK Flooring Preparation
Do not expose TUFFPLANK to extreme conditions or temperatures. Once ooring has been delivered, verify color and lot numbers.
Store boxes at so that the planks are sitting as they would on the oor after installation, not on their edges. The boxes must be in a
warm, dry area, preferably the room they will be installed in.
Building and Sub-Floor Temperature
Preparation for Installation begins weeks, sometimes months before the actual installation begins. For instance, new concrete ooring
must cure for a minimum of 90 days before beginning these activities.
3 Weeks Prior To Installation
Where applicable, radiant heat sub-oors should be actively used to drive out moisture and to assist in the calibration of the ooring
temperature to 70° and 80° Fahrenheit beginning.
1 Week Prior To Installation
Turn on the building’s heating and air-conditioning system one week prior to installation and set at a consistent 70° and 80° Fahrenheit.
Be sure that your heating & air-conditioning units can operate properly throughout the installation event, including potential extra drying/
curing times as needed.
3 days prior to installation
Turn off radiant heat sub-oors IF moisture, PH Testing, and other preparatory steps identied in this guide have successful results for
installation.
48 hours before scheduled installation48 hours before scheduled installation
- Acclimate all materials to job site conditions- Acclimate all materials to job site conditions
- Set Room & Sub-Floor Temperature to between 70° and 80° Fahrenheit for proper installation.- Set Room & Sub-Floor Temperature to between 70° and 80° Fahrenheit for proper installation.
During Installation keep room & sub-oor temperature between 70° and 80° Fahrenheit.
After installation - maintain room & sub-oor temperatures between 70° and 80° Fahrenheit.
Post-installation - radiant heat sub-oors must remain off for a minimum of 6 days to allow adhesive to fully cure.
Failure to follow these instructions may result in an installation failure (i.e. ooring may expand or contract resulting in gapping).
NOTE: Never operate the radiant heat ooring above 85°F. Separate ALL radiant heat components by a minimum of ½” (or more if
Radiant Heat Component Manufacturer states different requirements) from adhesive and tile for safe, proper operation post-ooring
installation. Bring temperature up slowly.
Porosity:
A non-porous substrate is one which does not absorb water. If you are not sure whether a oor is porous or non-porous, sprinkle some
water on the oor over several different areas. If the water beads up, then it’s a non-porous oor. If it soaks in, it’s a porous oor. Use a small
amount of water for the test, and allow oor to completely dry before continuing. If a bare concrete oor is not porous, a sealer or curing
compound may have been used. Such treatments should be removed before installing a new oor or underlayment, and the oor retested
for porosity at that time. Note: Adding latex to levelers normally cause oors to become NON-POROUS.
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Underlayment Requirements
Moisture, Relative Humidity & PH Levels:
TUFFPLANK requires all concrete sub-oors (new and old) be tested for moisture, pH and Relative Humidity. Moisture testing
is currently done using the Calcium Chloride Test ASTM F1869.pH testing is done using the ASTM F710 model and RH (Relative
Humidity) testing is done using the ASTM F2170. Concrete sub-oors must have moisture barriers installed under the slab and be
determined, through testing, to be dry and not subject to water absorption.
Do NOT install TUFFPLANK vinyl where surface or sub-oor moisture is evident as moisture content above acceptable range
will cause installation failure. New concrete slabs must cure for a minimum of 90 days prior to any installation of ooring. Existing
concrete slabs should be closely evaluated for moisture problems. The Installer is responsible for completing the moisture
test prior to installation. Failure to test may result in an unknown moisture content that will affect your installation adversely!
MOISTURE GUIDELINES FOR THE FLOOR COVERING INDUSTRY are available from the World Floor Covering Association,
at 1-800-624-6880.
Moisture Tests should have no more than 3lbs per 1000 sf in 24 hours MVER or be greater than 14% to use TuffTak5000. PH tests
verify alkalinity levels and should have results between 7 and 9. RH test results should not exceed 75% or 8lbs per 1000 sf in 24 hours
MVER to use TuffTak5000. If over these ratings but moisture under 8lbs per 1000 sf we recommend using DriBlock. This will isolate the
cut back adhesive as well.
Results outside these ranges require further preparatory work before TUFFPLANK installation can begin. In the case of a pH level
above a 9, TUFFPLANK ooring cannot be installed until the pH levels are brought down.
NOTE: Electronic meter testing is not considered a replacement for a Calcium Chloride Test.Moisture has a direct effect on the cure,
set and bond of adhesives. On well-cured adhesives, the presence of pH values outside the proper range has proven to be the most
signicant factor in adhesive failures. Moisture is present in all instances where pH levels are above the acceptable range. Thus,
reducing moisture may assist in bringing pH levels back into range for installation of your TUFFPLANK ooring.
Understanding Your Installation Area
Porosity:
1. Concrete: Only structurally sound concrete of proper density (90 lbs/cubic foot) and compressive density (3,500 psi) should be used as
a sub-oor for TUFFPLANK ooring. Concrete must be clean, dry, smooth, and free of paint varnish, adhesive, oil, grease, solvents or
other extraneous material (i.e. curing and parting compounds, sealers and surface hardeners) that will inhibit bonding. Never assume
a concrete oor is porous! Always be sure to remove old glued down carpet and scrape the old adhesive off the concrete. Frequently
though, the old adhesive has sealed the oor, therefore, a porosity test, using water, should be done. Porous suboors may
take a different adhesive than non-porous suboors so review your adhesive container for instructions.
NOTE: If oil, grease, or other contaminants have deeply penetrated the concrete, and cannot be thoroughly removed, TUFFPLANK
cannot be installed. If latex liquid has been used to seal off old cutback adhesives, the concrete has become non-porous.
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Underlayment Requirements
2. Lightweight concretes: Only concrete with a density of 90lbs per cubic foot and a compressive strength of 2,500 psi are approved as
a sub-oor under TUFFPLANK products. Concretes with density under this value are used most often as thermal or sound insulation
for roofs, oors and walls and are inherently weak. Gypsum and other forms of light concrete may be used when they meet these
requirements but when installing over them, always apply an Acrylic based Primer-Sealer coat prior to applying adhesive.
TUFFPLANK will not be responsible for material failure due to point loading that causes damages to the underlayment. Underlayement cracking or
crumbling will void warrantee. On any underlayment less than 3,500 psi, we recomnet the use of a pneumatic wheeled dolly or hand truck for moving
heavy items. No steel, solid plastic, or rubber wheels should be used.
3. Wood sub-oors: TUFFPLANK is approved for use only on standard double layer construction wood oors of proper wood types
(see non-approved substrates for further details). A wood sub-oor must have a nished thickness of at least 1” and at least
18” of well ventilated air space underneath. Crawl spaces under these sub-oors must be insulated and have a vapor barrier for
moisture elimination. Do not install vinyl ooring over a sleeper type sub-oor or over plywood when it has been installed directly
on a concrete slab.
Approved Underlayements:
1. PLYWOOD: Only American Plywood Association (APA) underlayment grade plywood with a minimum ¼” thickness may be used.
Provide expansion spacing between plywood butt joints of 1/32” – 1/16”. Stagger cross-joints 4’ on an 8’ panel (minimum 16”),
lightly butt the panels together,and set fasteners ush or slightly below the surface level of the underlayment. Use Portland cementtype oor patch to ll all uneven areas such as underlayment seams, nail holes and indentations. Allow oor patch to dry following
manufacturer’s instructions. Sand patch to smooth an uneven areas then remove any dust/dirt from the area. Apply adhesive (all dust
must be COMPLETELY removed to ensure a strong adhesive bond . In some cases a manufacturer-certied Poplar, Birch or Spruce
plywood underlayment product with a fully sanded face can be used when they are built using exterior glue.
2. LAUAN PLYWOOD: Only Type 1 (exterior grade), minimum Grade BB, preferably grade CC, may be used as an underlayment
to TUFFPLANK Flooring. Lesser grades or types of Lauan plywood are approved and TUFFPLANK warranties will not apply if
installations are done over unapproved products. The types and grades of lauan plywood that are not approved may present severe
problems including discoloration, indentation, loss of bond and delaminating when used as an underlayment.
NOTE: Lauan is a very porous product as are many other non-approved sub-oor products. These products may reduce the ash
and working time of adhesives. It is best to use an acrylic-based primer/sealer coat to seal these products prior to applying adhesive.
Any claims for ooring issues to TUFFPLANK on lauan underlayment installations must be accompanied by the manufacturer’s
certication of lauan grade.
Underlayments are frequently used to create a barrier between old adhesives or ooring and the new installation. If the underlayment
product you are using is not explicitly approved in the installation guide, contact TUFFPLANK Technical Support to conrm that the
product you intend to use will not void your TUFFPLANK warranty. There are special requirements for this group of products that are
designed to provide your oor with a long life. Use of non-approved underlayments and substrates will adversely affect adhesion,
installation success/failure, and the life of your ooring.
Allow at least 24 hours for underlayment drying before installing TUFFPLANK ooring. If self-leveling underlayments are used they must
fully cure before installing TUFFPLANK oor tiles. Test self-leveling compound for moisture before installing.
The installer is fully responsible for moisture, leveler-related and installation problems. Never install over more than one layer of
existing ooring.
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Underlayment Requirements
Non-approved Substrates
- Waferboard
- Hardboard
- Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
- Strip Wood Floors
- Chipboard
- Masonite
- Particleboard
- Glass Mesh Tile Boards
Testing your Sub-Floor
When in doubt, or unable to be completely certain that your sub-oor will accept the adhesive and TUFFPLANK Flooring, do a small
section Bond Test. This test can also be used to help verify porosity of your sub-oor for proper adhesive use.Allow at least 24 hours
for underlayment drying before installing TUFFPLANK ooring. If self-leveling underlayments are used they must fully cure before
installing TUFFPLANK oor tiles. Test self-leveling compound for moisture before installing. The installer is fully responsible for moisture,
leveler-related and installation problems.
- Tile backer boards containing cement
- Asphalt, Rubber or Self-Stick Tile
- Plywood with knots, preservatives, or other
treatments including re-retardant products
Bond Test Method: Use the ooring and adhesive suitable for the suboor as you know it. Install a 2’x2’ section following the
recommended installation procedures. Sections next to walls, columns, or other light trafc areas are best suited for this test. Tape the
perimeter of the test planks/area with duct tape to prevent edge drying of the adhesive. At the end of 48 hours the adhesive should be
dry and the ooring should be difcult to remove. Note: the adhesive is dry at this point, but not cured. Full cure and maximum bond
does not occur for 6-8 days.
Suboor Preparation
The substrates where TUFFPLANK will be installed must be free of dust, dirt, weak concrete, grease, wax, oil, sealers, paints, curing
compounds, old adhesives, or any other potential contaminant. Sub-ooring surfaces should be at within 1/8 inch in ten feet including
all constructions seams, expansion joints, and holes.
Old asphaltic “cut-back” adhesives can destroy new adhesive and stain TUFFPLANK vinyl, which is not covered under the TUFFPLANK
Warranty.
Properly prepare substrate by grinding or sanding. Concrete oors will react best to long-term use of TUFFPLANK ooring when ground
to level, rather than use of llers or levelers.
Be sure to remove ALL grinding dust to allow for a strong adhesive bond. Surface irregularities will telegraph through the tile causing
uneven oor, reduced ooring life & possibly voiding your TUFFPLANK Warranty.
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Underlayment Requirements
Removing Old Adhesives:
WARNING: Old adhesives may contain Asbestos bers that cannot be seen. Therefore, power removal devices, that create dust,
should not be used to clear oors of old adhesive. Do not use solvent-based adhesive removers to prepare the substrate. Use of
d-limonene (citrus-based) cleaners/removers are acceptable but must be thoroughly rinsed from the sub-oor. All old adhesive must be
completely removed, encapsulated or covered with plywood underlayment. Be sure to remove adhesive in dips, joints, etc. In the event
that the old adhesive cannot be completely removed consider covering them with plywood. Should this not be possible it is acceptable
to use Portland Cement-Based Leveling or Patching Compound. Use of self-leveling underlayments often have a very high moisture
content. In the event that these are used, they must fully cure before installation of ooring can occur.
NOTE: Curing times may be as long as 10 days or more for self-leveling compounds.
Approved Adhesives
OnlyTuffTak 6000, 8000, and RA 9000 is approved for use with TUFFPlank Vinyl. All instructions and requirements from TuffTak must
be followed, including but not limited to approved working conditions in order to be covered by TUFFPlank’s warranty.
All ooring must be rolled by a 100 lb roller after installation in order to help adhere ooring to adhesive properly within the required
timeframe as dened the adhesive. In hard to reach areas, use a hand roller. Failure to do so can result in lack of bond and/or excessive
thermal expansion, or contraction.
Patching & Leveling:
Sub-ooring surfaces should be at within 1/8 inch in ten feet including all constructions seams, expansion joints, and holes. The use
of levelers on non-porous sub-oors will not create a porous sub-oor. Only Portland Cement-Based Leveling or Patching Compounds
are approved for use with TUFFPLANK products!
Follow the manufacturer’s instructionsfor proper application of patching or leveling compounds. Sand underlayments, once cured,
become smooth and may not be useful for proper adherance to TUFFPLANK products.
The installer is responsible for cure times, moisture content, adhesive bonding and the structural integrity of any leveling or patch
compound used.
Use of latex in a leveler typically makes the oor NON-POROUS and will require a different type of adhesive for proper installation of
TUFFPLANK ooring.Always do a moisture test and conrm proper test results before moving on to installation of ooring regardless of
the leveler or patching compound used. Underlayments must dry at least 24 hours (or until fully cured) before installing TUFFPLANK
unless self-leveling compounds are used.
Embossing Levelers:
Embossing levelers are not recommended for use in a TUFFPLANK installation. These are appropriatefor sheet goods with textures that
may telegraph through TUFFPLANK ooring and be visible on the surface
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Underlayment Requirements
Sealers:
There are no TUFFPLANK-approved concrete or oor sealers. IF MOISTURE IS PRESENT, DO NOT INSTALL FLOOR.
Sealers may be helpful in alkaline environments or as a barrier between old and new adhesives. As a barrier they helpdeaden old
adhesive tack, prevent plasticizer migration and seal over dust or old cutback adhesives. Most latex and acrylic-based sealers are
compatible with TUFFPLANK adhesives and should be applied following the manufacturer’s instructions. Evenly distributed application
of the sealer, with NO Gaps, across the entire surface of the oor is important for proper drying. Sealer must be completely dry before
applying adhesive.
Existing Resilient Floors:
If your installation area has an existing resilient oor, TUFFPLANK recommends removing it before installing TUFFPLANK products.
All ooring must be rolled by a 100 lb roller after installation in order to help adhere ooring to adhesive properly within the required
timeframe as dened the adhesive. In hard to reach areas, use a hand roller. Failure to do so can result in lack of bond and/or excessive
thermal expansion, or contraction.
NOTE: Never install TUFFPLANK over any cushionedooring/construction or over more than one layer of existing resilient ooring.
Quarry Tile, Terrazzo, Ceramic Tile:
Commercial degreasing and dewaxing solutions are appropriate for preparingexisting tile for TUFFPLANK installation. Grind any highly
polished or irregular surfaces. Where grinding is not creating level ooring, ll in any low spots, holes, chips and seams to remove
uneven areas that could impact your TUFFPLANK installation. Test for porosity and use the appropriate adhesive application method.
Bond tests are required on these types of installation.
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Underlayment Requirements
TUFFPLANK Installation
All prior preparation activities are complete and test results are within proper ranges! You are now ready to install your TUFFPLANK ooring.
First, nd the center point of the room. Use of a carpenter’s square or chalk-lines may be helpful! Be sure you have a 90° angle at the
center point as your entire installation will be based upon this mark. Divide the room into 4 equal parts by marking a second chalk-line.
(Diagram A)
Measure the distance between the center of the room to the wall, parallel to the direction of the rst plank as seen in Diagram B.
(example = 10 ft) Divide this measurement by the width of the plank.(example 4”). When laying planks, be sure to leave a small gap
around the perimeter of the room for expansion and contraction.
NOTE: If the equation does not allow for at least 1/2 the width of the plank as a border, adjust the center point. The intention here is to
give a larger border along the wall, reducing the need to cut small sections of planks length-wise to place along the wall.
Install the planks beginning at the intersection of the chalk lines, laying each plank ush against the chalk line in the rst row and
tightly against the adjoining plank. Each plank should be well-seated into the adhesive, making sure that the edges of the planks are
well-connected as well. Use planks from several different cartons to create a more blended oor with minor shade variations. If the
TUFFPLANK Tile or Plank has directional arrows follow accordingly. If there are no directional arrows lay tile and planks keeping
the embossing of the product owing in the same direction. Continue laying planks row by row, using a pyramid form as shown in
Diagram C until no further full-length planks can be seated.
Completing the Border: Measure the distance from the last full plank in the row to the wall. (example = 20”) Cut the next plank to this
measurement being careful to cut the PROPER END of the plank especially when installing TUFFGuard! Place the cut edge of this
plank against the wall making sure to seat this into the adhesive properly. Don’t forget to leave a small gap for expansion & contraction
of the ooring between the end of the plank and the wall.
Irregular Objects: When laying TUFFPLANK oor around non-squared objects (i.e. pipes, etc), take a plank anddraw the shape of the
object on it, then trace-cut the plank along those lines.
NOTE: Never install TUFFPLANK over any cushionedooring/construction or over more than one layer of existing resilient ooring.
All existing tile, resilient oor ornew sheet vinyl must be stripped using TUFFPLANK approved stripper to remove wax or other
contamination and rinsed with clear water and allowed to dry. Lightly abrade all high-gloss or very smooth oors. This roughs up the
surface allowing proper adhesive bonding for the new application of ooring.In rare cases,, an existing resilient tile sheet vinyl oors
may be in good condition, thoroughly bonded to the structural oor and may accept an installation of TUFFPLANK without full removal.
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