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STORAGE
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RockWood Underlayment Panels must be stored indoors to protect from rain, snow and extreme humidity levels. Panels should be stacked squarely on 2 x 4 runners spaced every 16".
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ACCLIMATION
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Expansion and contraction is a natural characteristic of any wood product. RockWood Underlayment Panels should be brought to the job site at least 48 hours prior to installation and stacked on end to allow them to acclimate to job site humidity levels.
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SITE CONDITIONS
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The subfloor should be sound, flat, securely fastened and at least 3/4" thick. The subfloor should also be dry and free of oil, dirt, debris and deposits of paint, caulk or chemicals. Do not use RockWood Underlayment Panels over strip wood floors that are more than 3" wide. RockWood Underlayment Panels will not correct structural problems.
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MOISTURE
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Job site moisture can cause underlayment to expand and peak at the seams (joint telegraphing). Causes of moisture and dampness can be, but are not limited to:
 Moisture emitted from new foundation
Moisture emitted from wet or green subfloor
Moisture emitted from unventilated or uncovered crawl space
Leaks in plumbing or drainage systems.
It is important to check the subfloor moisture content before installing underlayment. The moisture content of the subfloor should not be more than 15% or vary more than 3% from the moisture content of the underlayment. |
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LAYOUT
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 Starting in a corner, RockWood Underlayment Panels should be installed in an ashlar fashion, with end seams staggered by at least 18" to assure that four corners never meet.
 Offset panels a minimum of 6" from the end and side joints of existing plywood subfloors.
 Leave 1/8" to 1/4" expansion space against any vertical element, i.e. walls, cabinets, fireplaces. At door jambs this spacing may be achieved by undercutting the jamb.
 Lightly butt seams in the field, do not leave a gap or force edges together.
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NAILING
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RockWood Underlayment Panels should be fastened every 2" on the edges and no further than every 4" in the field.
Fasteners should be applied 1/2" from the edge at all seams.
Make sure that the panel is always in firm contact with the subfloor, by keeping your body weight on the panel during installation.
Start at one corner and work along one entire edge nailing or stapling every 2". Return to the starting corner and fasten the other edge every 2". Return again to the starting corner and fasten diagonally across the panel to the opposite corner, nailing every 2". Return once more to the starting corner and fasten randomly the entire panel field at 4" intervals.
 Fasten the two remaining edges at 2" intervals.
 Nails or staples should be flush with, or countersunk slighty below the underlayment surface.
Note: Use only narrow crowned, galvanized chisel point or divergent staples; or ring-shanked nails. Nails should have a head no larger than a pencil eraser, be non-staining and galvanized. (Caution: some types of fasteners, such as common steel nails, cement coated, or some resin or rosin coated nails or staples may cause a discoloration of vinyl floor coverings. This staining shows up as yellow or brown spots under the wear layer of the sheet vinyl.) The fastener should be no longer than the underlayment and the subfloor combined, and should not penetrate the floor joists below.
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SANDING & PATCHING
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After RockWood Underlayment panels have been securely fastened, thoroughly sand all seams with a belt sander until they are level. (Sanding underlayment joints before patching will ensure that seams are flush.)
Patch and level underlayment joints, gouges or chipped edged with the patching compound recommended by the sheet vinyl manufacturer (do not fill or patch nail holes).
Once patches have dried thoroughly, sand again to ensure a smooth, level joint.
Note: Do not “Floor Mix” seam fillers, as pouring water on the floor to mix the fillers may cause underlayment panels to expand and cause "joint telegraphing".
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FINISH
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Use only vinyl manufacturers recommended adhesive over RockWood Underlayment Panels.
Install sheet vinyl immediately after installation of the underlayment so that foot traffic at the job site does not discolor or stain the underlayment. |
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