Learn About the Installation Process

Step 1

Moisture testing prior to installation per flooring manufacturers instruction is NOT a condition of warranty. All concrete surfaces must be prepared prior to adhesive application per ASTM F710, level, firm, SMOOTH, POROUS and CLEAN. Mechanical bead-blasting is NOT recommended.

Fill pop-outs, cracks, holes, and depressions using only Aquaflex Patch & Skim. The concrete MUST be SMOOTH, POROUS and CLEAN in order to facilitate bonding with Aquaflex.

If the project is a remodel, remove old adhesive with an appropriate cut-away disk attachment.

To determine SMOOTH, gauge the concrete surface using a painter’s edge or carpenter’s level. A gap in excess of 1/16” may telegraph resulting in visual lippage.

Finish the use of Aquaflex Patch & Skim products by sanding, vacuuming and giving the slab a mop for final dust removal.

DO NOT use sweeping compounds.

Step 2

Acclimate all materials prior to beginning the installation process. Due to varying concrete substrate conditions it is always recommended that an adhesion and porosity test be performed prior to installation. Refer to the flooring manufacturer on proper installation method.

Consult technical service for job specific recommendations.

Use the supplied trowel with each unit, one unit covers approx. 800sf. Layout areas in sections, establish a section size that is easy to manage.

Never spread more adhesive than can be installed in 1hr.

TROWEL ACCURATELY, do not leave clumps or “snake tracks” of glue. Upon opening pail, slice open the foil bag and pour adhesive into pail. Apply adhesive until the pail is ½ empty then switch to a new trowel edge. If adhesive is left in pail for storage, it will skin over. Prior to using stored material, remove the adhesive skin. Aquaflex adhesives should never be used as a strategy for leveling a concrete surface.

DO NOT use Aquaflex adhesives to fill gaps, cracks, pop-outs, saw-cuts or voids of any kind in the concrete.

Step 3

For a Walk-Off-Work or Wet-Set method, place the tile into the adhesive early. Trowel only what you can place in a 20 minute window. Some LVT flooring materials perform better with this method, see our SOP list for material specifics.

Allow the tile to rest for 45 minutes in place and roll. Roll again 30mins after.

DO NOT leave gaps of adhesive at the edge line.

Clean off excess glue prior to moving on. Aquaflex has extremely aggressive bonding characteristics. All set and cure times provided are approximate and can vary with site, temperature and substrate condition.

Roll flooring once approx 20mins after flooring is set with an articulated 100lb roller lengthwise, and then again at a right angle to the first line of direction per flooring manufacturer’s instructions.

Caution: excessive rolling can create lippage with some rigid flooring products over less than smooth concrete.

Step 4

Aquaflex will cure to 85% strength within 3hrs.

The final strength of the reactive Aquaflex bond is 300% stronger than standard water b-based emulsion or “Acrylic” adhesives.

After 3hrs light foot and roll traffic is acceptable.

Aquaflex is waterproof out of the bucket. In fact, Aquaflex cures underwater!

After 3hrs the flooring material can receive wet-cleaning processes or wax-type finishing.

The finished installation now has a waterproof bond warranted to perform exposed to UNLIMITED concrete moisture and topical flood!