Flooring Pre-Installation Checklist

For LVP, SPC, and WPC Flooring Installation with ASTM F710-22 Requirements

General Guidelines

Standard industry guidelines for LVP/SPC/WPC flooring installation.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: Most manufacturers require following ASTM F710-22 for concrete substrate preparation.

Shaw Flooring Guidelines

Shaw Flooring is one of the largest flooring manufacturers in the United States.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: Shaw requires following ASTM F710-22 with stricter moisture requirements. Shaw allows concrete moisture up to 90% RH or 8 lbs/1000 sq.ft./24hrs and pH levels between 5-9.

Mohawk Flooring Guidelines

Mohawk Industries is one of the world's largest flooring manufacturers.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: Mohawk strictly follows ASTM F710-22 and requires concrete moisture to be below 85% RH or 8 lbs/1000 sq.ft./24hrs. pH testing is mandatory with acceptable range of 7-9.

COREtec Guidelines

COREtec is a premium brand of rigid core luxury vinyl flooring.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: COREtec follows ASTM F710-22 but allows higher moisture readings due to their waterproof core. Acceptable up to 95% RH or 9 lbs/1000 sq.ft./24hrs.

Armstrong Flooring Guidelines

Armstrong is one of America's oldest and most trusted flooring manufacturers.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: Armstrong has more stringent flatness requirements (1/8" in 6' radius) than ASTM F710-22. Different moisture limits for glue-down (80% RH) vs. floating installations (95% RH).

Mannington Guidelines

Mannington is a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial flooring.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: Mannington follows ASTM F710-22 and requires concrete moisture to be below 80% RH or 8 lbs/1000 sq.ft./24hrs. Requires tensile strength tests for commercial installations.

Karndean Guidelines

Karndean is a global manufacturer specializing in luxury vinyl flooring.

ASTM F710-22 Requirements: Karndean strictly follows ASTM F710-22 with varying moisture requirements: 95% RH for Korlok (floating), 75% RH for glue-down products.

ASTM F710-22 General Requirements

ASTM F710-22 specifies that concrete floors shall be clean, smooth, flat, and permanently dry for resilient flooring installation.

  • Verify concrete is clean, dry, structurally sound, and smooth
    Per ASTM F710-22, concrete surfaces must be free of dust, solvent, paint, wax, oil, grease, residual adhesive, adhesive removers, curing compounds, and other extraneous materials.
    Required by ASTM F710-22
  • Test concrete alkalinity/pH level
    ASTM F710-22 requires pH testing of concrete floors. Acceptable pH range is typically 7-9, but check adhesive requirements for specific ranges. Test with pH test strips or digital pH meter.
    Required by ASTM F710-22
  • Check floor flatness with 10' straight edge
    ASTM F710-22 requires subfloor to be flat with no depressions or raised areas exceeding 3/16" in 10' (4.7mm in 3m).
    Required by ASTM F710-22
ASTM F710-22 Moisture Testing Requirements

ASTM F710-22 specifies concrete moisture testing is required before installing resilient flooring. The results must be documented.

  • Conduct moisture testing according to ASTM F1869 (Calcium Chloride)
    ASTM F710-22 requires moisture testing using ASTM F1869 (calcium chloride test). Results should be below 3 lbs/1000 sq.ft./24hrs for most adhesives, but check manufacturer's requirements.
    Required by ASTM F710-22 & F1869
    General guideline: Below 8 lbs/1000 sq.ft./24hrs for floating floors
  • Conduct moisture testing according to ASTM F2170 (RH)
    ASTM F710-22 allows for moisture testing using ASTM F2170 (in-situ relative humidity test). Results should be below 75% RH for most adhesives, but check manufacturer's requirements.
    Required by ASTM F710-22 & F2170
    General guideline: Below 75% RH for floating floors
  • Test subfloor porosity according to ASTM F3191
    Water drop test: Place a drop of water on the subfloor. If it absorbs in less than 60 seconds, the substrate is porous; if not, it's non-porous. This affects primer and adhesive selection.
    Required by ASTM F3191
ASTM F710-22 Expansion Joint & Crack Treatment
  • Treat and repair all expansion/control joints per ASTM F710-22
    Expansion and control joints must be properly identified and honored. Do not install flooring over expansion joints. Use proper transition strips at these locations.
    Required by ASTM F710-22
  • Repair cracks, gaps, and low spots
    ASTM F710-22 requires all cracks, gaps, and low spots to be filled with a cementitious patching compound designed for this purpose.
    Required by ASTM F710-22
  • For slabs with high moisture content, use vapor retarding system
    ASTM F710-22 permits the use of vapor retarding systems when concrete moisture exceeds manufacturer's limits. These must be applied according to the vapor retarding system manufacturer's instructions.
    Required by ASTM F710-22

ASTM F710-22 Notes & Resources

This checklist covers key requirements from ASTM F710-22 "Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring" along with manufacturer-specific requirements.

Remember to document all your pre-installation checks with photos and measurements, especially for warranty purposes.

Important Note on RH Testing:

The standard ASTM F2170 RH requirement has been updated to 75% RH for most adhesives. Many manufacturers have their own specific limits that may be higher, so always check your specific product requirements.

ASTM References:

  • ASTM F710-22: Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring
  • ASTM F1869: Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate
  • ASTM F2170: Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs
  • ASTM F3191: Standard Practice for Field Determination of Substrate Water Absorption
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