Sales Offices
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(86) 10 8532 5820
(86) 21 6405 3578
(86) 20 8451 6737
(852) 8203 8330
(65) 6346 1585
(91) 80 3241 6204
(1) 800 248 2878
nstallatio
Tandus Floorings (Suzhou) Co., Ltd
Unit 6C/6D Suchun Industrial Square
No. 428 Xing Long Street
Suzhou 215021
P.R. China
Tel: (86) 512 6283 2669
Introduction
Proper installation provides not only the best appearance but also
helps to provide for superb long-term performance.
Your Tandus Flooring modular carpet has been designed for easy
installation. The Tandus Flooring installation guide provides simple
step-by-step instructions for installing your new floorcovering.
Contents
02
Step 1 - Preparation for Installation
03
Step 2 - Tools Needed
07
Step 3 - Installation Instruction Guidelines
08
Step 4 - Different Tandus Flooring Installation Methods
12
Step 1
Preparation for Installation
Highly Acidic
1/4
to 2 inches
(6 to 50mm)
Total slab
thickness
Topping course (white
portland cement concrete,
pigment optional)
Base course (gray portland
cement concrete)
Neutral
Subbase (optional)
Compacted subgrade
Highly Alkaline
04
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Acceptable pH range
Moisture
pH
Temperature & Humidity
Floor Inspection
Excessive sub-floor moisture can cause product failure.
The maximum allowable amount of moisture vapor emission rate
(MVER) is 3.0 lbs/24hours/1000 sq. feet or 1.36 kg/24 hours/92.9
sq. meters.
Acceptable pH range is 7.0 to 9.0 with the maximum relative
humidity not to exceed 80%.
The area in which modular carpet is to be installed (including the
sub-floor) should be between 18 C – 32 C (65 F – 90 F) for at least
72 hours prior to, during and after the installation.
Installation materials should be stored for at least 48 hours prior to
installation.
The sub-floor must be structurally sound and dry prior to
installation.
Concrete takes approximately 3 months to cure. Until
concrete is cured, it will release water.
Humidity of the room should be less than 65% 24 hours
prior to installation.
Any curing chemical treatment used on sub floors must be
chemically and physically compatible with our Tandus Flooring
backing and adhesive systems.
06
Floor Debris Cleaning
Floor Patching and Leveling
Floor Cleaning
Clean the sub-floor of all excess concrete spots, solid debris or paint
spots using suitable scraping methods.
Completely remove all wax, dirt, grease, paints or old adhesives
(especially cutback or emulsion).
Do not use solvents or any chemical adhesive removers to clean the
sub-floor.
All sub-floors should be level prior to installation.
Sweep and vacuum the floor after patching and debris removal.
Concrete sub-floors should be troweled smooth, if necessary.
Concrete sub-floors should be flat within 1 mm per 1 meter (or 1/8”
per 10 feet). Cracks, holes and depressions can be filled using a
good grade of cement, concrete or fortified patching material.
Do not use oil or silicone based sweeping compound.
Do not use oil-based or silicone based sweeping
compound.
Do not install over loose tile.
Make sure all perimeter areas are clean.
Smooth, nonporous floors should be damp mopped prior to product
installation.
Step 2
Step 3
Tools Needed
Installation Instruction Guidelines
08
1
a. Tape Measure
d. White Chalk Line
2
W
L
b. Straight Edge
c. Utility Knife
e. Nap Paint Roller
f. Tandus Flooring
Approved Adhesive
1
Measure the length and width of the room. Locate the first
center line in the installation area by marking the center
point of two opposing, parallel walls. Snap a white (not blue
or red) chalk line between the two center marks. Snap a
second, perpendicular chalk line at the mid-point of this
line (use a 3-4-5 triangle method to make sure the second
line is perpendicular to the first).
This procedure is very important.
3
2
Check the distance from each center line to its parallel wall
and determine how many 500 mm (19.6 inch) tiles will be
required. Shift the line as needed (in a parallel direction) to
balance the width of the border tiles (tiles against the wall).
Border tiles, where possible, should not be less
than half of a tile.
10
5
3
90
4
3
Apply the adhesive with a short nap paint roller. Do not
allow the wet adhesive to puddle. Allow the adhesive to set
and dry (approximately 40 minutes) prior to installation.
Adhesive is set when it dries clear and will not transfer to
the hand when touched. Tiles should be installed
immediately after the adhesive is dried.
Only Tandus Flooring Approved Adhesives should
be used on Tandus Flooring modular carpet.
4
Directional arrows are printed on the back of all tiles.
Determine the “arrow direction” for the installation
in accordance with the designer’s intentions.
5
Start from intersection point in the center of the floor and
install the first line of tiles along first center line. Install the
second line of tiles along the perpendicular center line. Keep
all the tiles exactly on the chalk lines. Fit the tiles snugly
next to each other by sliding them into place. Do not force the
tiles together. Let them loosely lay. Do not trap face yarn
between or under tile edges.
Any tile that has any issue should be cut in along
the wall.
6
Continue to install the tiles in a stair step or pyramid pattern
starting from the intersection point. Check to make sure the
tiles are properly aligned at the edges during installation.
When applying additional adhesive to the floor, do
not roll wet adhesive onto the yarn of tiles that are
installed.
Step 4
Step 1
Tandus Flooring Modular Installation Methods 12
Monolithic
Max 50oC
Step 2
Step 3
7
Install border tiles along the wall by placing a tile face down
in the dried adhesive along the wall - this is the “cut tile”.
Take another full tile and butt it against the wall allowing it
to fall on top of the cut tile with the yarn face down on top
of the cut tile – this will keep you from getting adhesive on
the yarn of the tile you wish to install. Use a metal straight
edge to line up the size of the tile with the closest tiles. Cut
through the backing along the straight edge. Remove the cut
tile and save it for the next cut.
When flipping the tile back over, the machine cut
edge will be against the installed carpet tile and
the hand-cut edge will be against the wall.
Tandus Flooring modular carpet can be installed
over heated flooring.
• Tandus Flooring modular carpet can be installed on
surfaces that never exceed 50 C (122 F)
• In cold regions with heated floors, the heat may be turned
off every weekend or every night.
• If Tandus Flooring modular carpet is installed over heated
flooring, do not install the tiles too tight and do not use a
tool for hitting the tiles together.
For a monolithic installation, tiles are installed
with the heads of all arrows facing the same
direction, as shown in the figure.
Arrows are printed on the back of each tile.
Use these arrows to guide the installation
method you choose.
14
Horizontal Ashlar
Quarter Turn
For a horizontal ashlar installation, tiles are
installed with the heads of all arrows facing the
same direction. Alternate rows of tiles so that
seams from previous rows are aligned with center
of tiles, as shown in the figure.
For a quarter turn installation tiles are installed
with the heads of arrows facing in two directions
only. The second tile is installed with the head of
the arrow facing 90 degrees to the first tile, as
shown in the figure.
16
Random
Mirror
For a random installation tiles are installed with
the heads of arrows facing in all four directions.
Care should be given so that no more than two tiles
touching each other are installed in the same
direction, as shown in the figure.
For a mirror installation, tiles are installed with the
heads of arrows facing in two directions only. The
first row of tiles should all face in the same
direction. The second row of tiles should all face in
the opposite direction from the first row, as shown
in the figure.
Quick Reference
Quick Reference Installation Instruction Guidelines
1. Measure the length and width of the room.
2. Use a white chalk to mark the center of the room lengthwise and perpendicular.
3. With a nap paint roller apply Tandus Flooring approved adhesive to floor.
4. Once adhesive is dried, immediately begin installing tile on the chalk line. Then install on
perpendicular chalk line.
5. Start installing tile in a stair step or pyramid pattern.
6. Around the wall use a straight edge to make a perfect cut with a utility knife.
7. When installing around the wall, the hand cut end of the tile should be placed along the wall. The
factory cut edge should be set against the interior installed tile.
18
General Notes
Tandus Flooring Modular Installation Methods
Monolithic
Random
Horizontal Ashlar
Mirror
Quarter Turn
These instructions cannot cover all sub floor conditions. Tandus
Flooring can not be held responsible or warrant modular products
if these floor preparations and installation procedures are not
followed. If you have any questions concerning the proper
installation (or use) of any Tandus Flooring products, please
contact your Tandus Flooring representative, or email us at
[email protected].
All Tandus Flooring products should be inspected for dye lot, style,
color, size, quality and shipping damage prior to installation. Do
not install Tandus Flooring products if any problems are noted.
It is the responsibility of the installation contractor to make certain
the sub-floor is properly prepared prior to starting the installation.