Armstrong Flooring

Armstrong Flooring Luxury Vinyl Planks and Tiles (LVP/T) must be installed in accordance with these instructions and current AS/NZS 1884: Floor Covering – Resilient Sheet and Tiles Installation Practices, and other applicable national standards or building codes at the time of installation.

This product is for internal use only - it is not suitable for outdoor use or areas subjected to continually wet conditions. Armstrong Flooring recommends installation be undertaken by a professional flooring installer.

Important Note to the Installer

Inspect the LVP/T Flooring before cutting/installation: The flooring materials should be inspected in a well-lit area to ensure correct product, colour, pattern and quantity (as ordered), that given areas are from the same batch and there are no obvious transit damage, manufacturing defects or other visual faults.

Armstrong Flooring reserves the right to refuse an adjustment or claim for materials that are cut or installed where a reasonable inspection of the materials before installation would have identified the fault.

Do not cut or install any damaged or defective material unless accepted, agreed and approved by all parties concerned.

Subfloor Preparation

Subfloor preparation and LVP/T flooring installation should not begin until all other trades have completed their work.

Subfloor preparation must comply with and be prepared in accordance with the current AS/NZS 1884. The subfloor must be firm, hard, flat, level, smooth, dry, clean and dust-free and should be prepared dependent on your subfloor type.

The subfloor must comply with the adhesive manufacturer's requirements.

Moisture in Subfloors

The base subfloor (concrete and timber) must be measured for moisture content according to the current AS/NZS 1884 Appendix A (or Appendix B where applicable). For any subfloor showing a moisture value above these limits, a suitable damp proof membrane / moisture suppression system must be used.

Subfloor Quality

Concrete and timber subfloors must meet overall surface quality as per AS/NZS 1884:2021 3.1.4.

Armstrong Flooring recommends the removal of existing floor coverings, underlays and adhesives prior to the installation of new resilient floor coverings.

Where a subfloor is not back-to-base subfloor, such as but not limited to ceramic tiles or metal floors, refer to your underlayment supplier to achieve a subfloor compliant with AS/NZ1884.

NOTE: Existing resilient flooring coverings may contain asbestos – see the 'WARNING' panel set out later in these instructions.

Installation Preparation

Flooring products and installation materials must be allowed to condition in the room where installation is to take place (tiles/planks may be stacked but must be rested flat). Site conditions and acclimatisation should be as set out in AS/NZS 1884 clause 4.1.1 – On-site storage and conditioning. HVAC systems, where available, should be in operation during the acclimatisation period. Exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided during the acclimatisation and installation process by means of window coverings or temporary measures. Room temperature should always be maintained between 15°C-28°C before installation, during installation and after installation as set out below:

• LVT/P up to 3.0mm thick - minimum 24hrs prior to and during, and 24hrs post installation.
• LVT/P greater than 3.0mm thick - minimum 48hrs prior to and during, and 24hrs post installation.

Dry-lay the first 2-3 rows. Step back and inspect the overall effect: Armstrong Flooring LVP/T flooring is randomly distributed in print and colour variation. Some designs contain a higher variation than others. To prevent clusters of print and/or colour shading, the flooring should be unboxed and shuffled. Dry lay the planks/tiles to check prior to adhesive application for correct random staggering and balance of pattern distribution.

Heated Subfloors

Armstrong Flooring LVP/T flooring can be installed over heated subfloors provided the temperature at the surface of the slab does NOT exceed 28°C. If installing over a heated subfloor refer to AS/NZS 1884: Floor Covering – Resilient Sheet and Tiles Installation Practices for appropriate management of underfloor heating systems.

Prior to the installation, the heating should be turned on for a minimum of 7 days prior to installation to remove traces of residual dampness that may be present in the subfloor.

Heating should be turned off 48 hours prior to and during the installation to allow the subfloor to return to recommended installation temperature range.

Heating should not be turned on until 48 hours after completion of installation to allow the adhesive to set and fully cure. Temperature can then be increased by 2 degrees per day until desired temperature is achieved (not exceeding 28°C).

Maximum heating conditions should be avoided for a period of 7 days post completed installation. Underfloor heating can cause localised hot spots that may be detrimental to the adhesive bond and to newly laid floor coverings.

Installation

Adhesives

LVP/T Flooring is to be installed with recommended adhesives as set out in the Armstrong Flooring Recommended Adhesive guide or other reputable brand adhesives that has been tested with Armstrong Flooring LVP/T products. Follow the adhesive manufacturer's instructions regarding open-times and trowel notch. Use of incorrect adhesive system may void the Armstrong Flooring product warranty.

45kg Roller

LVP/T Flooring is to be rolled in both directions progressively through the installation and whilst the adhesive is still wet. Wipe excess immediately with a wet cloth. Re-roll the entire LVP/T flooring both directions 90 minutes after installation.

Post Installation

Clean-up

Sweep/vacuum post installation. Remove surplus adhesive following adhesive manufacturer guidelines.

No traffic on the floor for 24 hours post installation to allow the adhesive to fully cure.

Protect the floor post installation and before final builders handover using a non-waterproof flooring protector.

Download a copy of the Armstrong Flooring Care and Cleaning Instructions for LVP/T (available at www.armstrongflooring.au or www.armstrongflooring.co.nz) for review by occupiers of the property. Occupiers should be aware to provide protection to the feet of all moveable furniture.

WARNING!

Resilient floorcoverings, adhesives and underlays manufactured in or imported to Australia prior to 1 January 1984 may contain asbestos. If it cannot be definitively established that the previous floorcoverings, adhesives and/or underlay do not contain asbestos:

• You should avoid creating dust and should not sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, bead blast or mechanically chip or pulverise the existing floorcoverings, adhesives or underlay, and
• The previous flooring should only be removed by an appropriately licensed asbestos removal contractor.

AU: customerservices@armstrongflooring.au

NZ: customerservices@armstrongflooring.co.nz