Armstrong Do-It-Yourself Tile Installation System

What tools will I need to install my tile floor?

You'll need just the basics:
- floor tile (make sure you have enough tile to finish the job)
- adhesive (not needed for self-adhering tile)
- adhesive trowel (not needed for self-adhering tile)
- underlayment or leveler (follow manufacturer's recommendations to determine
quantity)
- smooth-edge trowel (if using underlayment or leveler)
- tape measure
- pencil
- chalk line and chalk
- carpenter's square or metal ruler
- sharp utility knife and
- roller (kitchen rolling pin will do)

Subfloor Prep

• Store tile in the room in which you plan to install for 48 hours. Keep room
at minimum of 65° F (18° C) during that time and during installation.
After installation, temperature should not fall below 65° F (18° C) for the
first 48 hours, and not below 55° F (13° C) after that.
• If room is heated by radiant coils in the subfloor, the temperature of the
floor surface should not exceed 85° F (29° C).
• Install over smooth, well-bonded resilient floors; dry concrete; and wood
floors with a plywood overlay.
• Subfloor must be level, clean, and free of wax, grease, oil, or dust.
• If necessary, patch or fill any cracks with S-184 Fast-Setting Patch and
Underlayment.
• Use Armstrong One-Part Embossing Leveler to smooth any texture or
embossing on the old floor.

What You Should Know About Existing Resilient Floor Covering Structures
Some flooring materials and adhesives contain asbestos fibers. The presence of the
asbestos in these products is not readily identifiable. Unless absolutely positive beyond
any doubt that the product is a nonasbestos-containing material, always assume it does
contain asbestos.

Alternatives to the Removal of Existing Resilient Floor Covering

Armstrong recommends that whenever possible you leave the existing resilient floor
covering in place and go over the top with your new floor. Alternatives to the removal of
an unsuitable resilient floor over approved subfloors are:
 1. Installing directly over a single layer of existing resilient flooring.
2. Filling the embossing of the existing resilient flooring with S-199 Embossing
Leveler or S-194 Patch, Underlayment and Embossing Leveler mixed with S-195
Underlayment Additive before installation (residential only).
3. Covering existing resilient flooring on an approved suspended wood subfloor with
a recommended wood underlayment.

WARNING! In-Place Resilient Floor Covering and Asphaltic Adhesives:

DO NOT SAND, DRY sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, beadblast, or mechanically chip or
pulverize existing resilient flooring, backing, lining felt or asphaltic "cut-back" adhesives.

These products may contain either asbestos fibers or crystalline silica. Avoid creating
dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard. Smoking by
individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm.
Unless positively certain that the product is a nonasbestos-containing material, you must
presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that material be tested to
determine asbestos content and may govern the removal and disposal of material.
Whenever possible, existing resilient flooring should be left in place and the new floor
installed over the top. If you must remove the flooring material, contact your retailer or
Armstrong Customer Response Center, P.O. Box 3001, Lancaster, PA 17604, 1-800-233-
3823 for a copy of recommended work practices. These should be followed.

Preparation

• Remove furniture and appliances (use a piece of

hardboard to protect the floor).
• Remove baseboard molding.
• Undercut doorframes (optional) - this makes fitting
tiles around doorframes easier.
• If subfloor is existing resilient vinyl:
- Do not install over an existing "soft" or cushioned
vinyl sheet flooring.
- Do not install tile over existing tile over below-grade
concrete.
- Floor must be firmly bonded to the original subfloor.
- Use Armstrong New Beginning to strip any polish or
cleaning residues
from the surface.
- Use Armstrong S-199 Embossing Leveler to smooth
any texture or
embossing on the old floor.
- When going over existing tile floors, seams should
fall in the center of
the tile.
• If subfloor is wood:
- Check that the wood is firmly nailed to the original
 subfloor. We
recommend 1/4" minimum APA-rated plywood
designed specifically for
underlayment purposes. Whatever board you choose,
make sure you get
written instructions and a guarantee.
- Repair any knotholes, indentations or open joints
with Armstrong S-183,
S-184 or S-194 Underlayment.
- Use a belt sander or sanding block to smooth out any
rough areas.
- The prepared subfloor must be smooth, clean, dry
and dust-free.
• If subfloor is concrete:
- If the floor has been painted, make sure the paint is
completely dry and
firmly bonded to the floor.
- NOTE: Only self-adhering tiles can be installed over
a painted concrete
floor. Tiles that require adhesive should not be used.
- Fill low spots with Armstrong S-183, S-184 or S-194
Underlayment.
- The prepared subfloor must be smooth, clean, dry
and dust-free.
• Find the center point between the two longest parallel
walls. Mark guidelines from centers of opposite walls.
• Without removing backing, lay rows of tiles in both
directions from the center, adjusting to give the most
balanced cutting at the borders.

Spreading Adhesive (Skip if installing self-adhering tile.)

• Cover 1/4 of the room with Armstrong S-515 or S-750

Adhesive.
• Allow adhesive to "set" according to manufacturer's
instructions.

Laying Tile

• Peel the backing from self-adhering tile and place it at

the center point.
• Starting where the perpendicular lines cross, firmly
press the first tile into place. Make sure edges are flush
with chalk lines.
• Make sure it's positioned correctly and then press
down firmly.
 • Lay all full tiles in step fashion, starting in center of
room.
• Position tiles so arrows on back all point in the same
direction.

CAUTION
Do not stand or walk on release paper or a tile with
release paper on the back as it is extremely slippery.
Place it in a wastebasket immediately upon removal
from tile.

Fitting Partial Tiles

• To fit partial tiles, lay the tile to be cut exactly over the
last full tile; place another full tile against the wall and
mark the cutting line where the tiles overlap.
• Cut tile on line. Before peeling the backing paper of
self-adhering tile, check that the cut tile fits. Do not
force it into place.
• Install tile (removing paper from self-adhering tile),
and press tile firmly into position.

Fitting Around Pipes

• To fit around pipes, make a cardboard pattern as a

guide and use to draw an outline on the tile. Cut to
shape.
• Check fit before peeling backing paper. It should be
snug but don't force into place.

Finishing Up

• Remove any excess adhesive from the tile surface

immediately after installation. Lightly dampen a clean,
white cloth with mineral spirits, and wipe over the
adhesive. Change the area of the cloth frequently as the
adhsive is removed.
• When finished installing, roll the floor to make sure
tiles are firmly stuck down.
• Replace baseboard molding.
• Carefully move furniture and appliances back into the
room using hardboard panels to protect new floor.
• Don't wash wet the floor for 5 days.
Care Instructions

• Sweep or vacuum regularly.

• Wash regularly with a no-rinse floor cleaner such as Armstrong Once 'n
Done Floor Cleaner.
• Do not use soap-based detergents, abrasive cleansers, or "mop and shine"
• products. They can leave a film on your floor.
• To restore the shine, polish with a liquid floor polish such as Armstrong
Shinekeeper Floor Polish. Do not use paste wax or solvent-based polishes.
• Use floor protectors on chair and table legs to distribute furniture weight
and protect against indentation damage.
• Use natural-fiber mats at outside doorways to reduce tracked-in dirt, stains
and moisture. Do not use mats with rubber backing which can cause
permanent discoloration.