Foot Fall insulation system
Foot Fall insulation system Installation
Prep Work
Foot Fall Underlayment and the flooring material to be installed must acclimatize, in their sealed packaging, in the room where they are installed for at least 48 hours, at a temperature of at least 65° F. Before starting your installation of Foot Fall, make sure the subfloor is permanently dry and free of dirt, dust, grease, and other foreign matter. Trapped moisture may cause wood to rot. Foot Fall may be glued down to the subfloor, though not required. If an adhesive is to be used, we recommend CX-941 polyurethane adhesive. A V-notched trowel and 50-100 lb. carpet roller will be required.
Wood Floor
The subfloor should be properly leveled, structurally sound, and clean. Plywood subflooring should be of a good grade. Variations in floor level over 1/8” within a three-foot span should be leveled before installing underlayment. Any nails or other protrusions should be pounded flat or removed. Holes and other surface variances should be repaired prior to installation of Foot Fall.
Concrete Floor
Inspect concrete subfloor for any open cracks and fill with high-grade epoxy filler. Remove any excess concrete lumps or residue that may interfere with the installation of Foot Fall. If using a vapor barrier, polyethylene sheeting is recommended. Install with overlapping seams (6-8” overlap) using tape to secure edges. The vapor barrier should be applied directly over the concrete.
Installation Instructions for a Floating System
The laminate or engineered wood flooring is to float on top of the Foot Fall underlay without the use of adhesives. Do not assume that walls are perfectly straight or square. Foot Fall will be installed perpendicular to the direction of the finished floor to avoid seams in Foot Fall and the wood floor being aligned. Start in a corner and roll out Foot Fall. Trim off the end of Foot Fall 3/8” from the wall. Maintain a gap of 3/8” between the wall and the edge of Foot Fall. Continue rolling out Foot Fall adjacent to the last roll until the entire area is covered. Make sure that Foot Fall edges are tightly butted together, both side by side and end to end. If desired, a good quality duct tape may be used to cover seams. (never overlap the edges). Do not glue or adhere Foot Fall to the subfloor. Start laying out floor covering directly over Foot Fall, perpendicular to the direction of Foot Fall, leaving the same 3/8” gap around the perimeter. Install baseboards 1/16” off the finished floor to prevent contact with the floor.
Installation Instructions for Glue-down System
The laminate or engineered wood flooring is to be glued on top of the Foot Fall underlay with the use of adhesives. Though Foot Fall does not require the use of adhesives, circumstances may dictate that one be used. We recommend the use of CX-941 polyurethane adhesive. DO NOT USE ANY ADHESIVE CONTAINING A PETROLEUM PRODUCT. Store CX-941 at 70°- 95°F for at least 24 hours before using. Apply adhesive with a V-notched trowel. For 2-3mm underlayment, use a 1/8”X1/16”x1/8” trowel. For thicker underlayment, use a 3/16”X1/4”X1/4” trowel. Put down Foot Fall immediately. Excess adhesive can be cleaned with a rag and mineral spirits. Be careful not to get mineral spirits on the Foot Fall. Use a 50-100lb. carpet roller to thoroughly bond Foot Fall to the sub-flooring. Roll both lengthwise and widthwise. Repeat rolling after 30 and 60 minutes. If seams are not taped, watch for shifting of Foot Fall, as gaps may occur between sections. Do not assume that walls are perfectly straight or square. Foot Fall will be installed perpendicular to the direction of the finished floor to avoid seams in Foot Fall and the wood floor being aligned. Start in a corner and roll out Foot Fall. Trim off the end of Foot Fall 3/8” from the wall. Maintain a gap of 3/8” between the wall and the edge of Foot Fall. Continue rolling out Foot Fall adjacent to the last roll until the entire area is covered. Make sure that Foot Fall edges are tightly butted together, both side by side and end to end. If desired, a good quality duct tape may be used to cover seams. (Never overlap the edges). Start laying out floor covering directly over Foot Fall, perpendicular to the direction of Foot Fall, leaving the same 3/8” gap around the perimeter. Install baseboards 1/16” off the finished floor to prevent contact with the floor.
WARNING
Do not use Foot Fall with any petroleum-based products. This includes solvents, adhesives, and sealants. New concrete must be cured for 45-60 days prior to installing Foot Fall.
Fire Safety
Foot Fall acoustical underlayment has been tested in accordance with the Consumer Products Safety Commission FF-1-70 Pill Test as a standard to determine the surface burning of flooring materials when exposed to a small-scale burning source. Foot Fall passed the test and self-extinguished with no measurable flame spread. Thermal barrier and structural requirements are met by using either a raft thickness of 5/8” or more of plywood or 1 1/2” of gypsum concrete. Always check with local building codes regarding the installation of all building components.