Healthier Choice OMNICHOICE Acoustical Underlayment - Manual

CHOICE OMNI
U N I V E R S A L
Acoustical Underlayment
TM
Installation Instructions
OMNICHOICE is a high density polyurethane acoustical underlayment designed to reduce in-room noise and floor-through-ceiling sound
transmission in multi-level construction. The floor coverings listed below are commonly installed over OMNICHOICE. For underlayment
installation instructions, first select the floor covering to be installed and the installation method to be used.
Site Conditions and Floor Preparation
First, follow the floor covering manufacturer’s site conditions and floor preparation instructions. Prior to the installation of OMNICHOICE, the
sub-floor must be clean and dry. When installing OMNICHOICE on a concrete sub-floor, the moisture emission rate may not exceed 3 lbs. /
1,000 sq. ft. / 24 hrs. per the anhydrous calcium chloride test (ASTM F1869). If moisture emissions exceed this level an additional moisture or
vapor barrier may be required, check the floor covering manufacturer’s guidelines.
MOISTURE VAPOR CAN PENETRATE OMNICHOICE, IF INSTALLING OVER A CONCRETE SUB-FLOOR MAKE CERTAIN
MOISTURE EMISSIONS ARE WITHIN GUIDELINES PERMITTED BY THE FLOOR COVERING MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO
INSTALLATION OR INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL VAPOR BARRIER FIRST.
ACCLIMATE OMNICHOICE FOR A MINIMUM OF 24 HRS. PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.THE HVAC SYSTEM MUST BE OPERATIONAL
AND THE INSTALLATION SITE MUST BE HEATED TO A MINIMUM OF 65°F FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY MAY NOT EXCEED 65%.
Floating Installation
1. Roll out OMNICHOICE underlayment parallel to the wall and perpendicular to the direction the floor covering will be installed. Avoid placing a
floor covering seam directly over an underlayment seam.
2. Use a utility knife to trim the underlayment to fit the sub-floor leaving no gaps.
3. Install the next section of underlayment in the same manner making sure the seams are butted together but not overlapping. Repeat until
the entire installation area is covered.
4. The seams may be taped to hold the underlayment in place during installation.
5. Install the floor covering according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Laminate
• Floating Installation
Engineered Wood
• Floating Installation
• Nail-Down Installation
• Glue-Down Installation
!
!
NOT ALL LUXURY VINYL PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED TO THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS; SOME MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
DAMAGE CAUSED BY INDENTATION WHEN INSTALLED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN UNDERLAYMENT. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR
LUXURY VINYL FLOORING MANUFACTURER FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE USE OF AN UNDERLAYMENT.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Plank (LVP)
• Floating Installation
• Glue-Down Installation
Ceramic Tile and Stone
• Thin-Set Installation
• Glue-Down Installation – See Glue-Down Installation for OMNICHOICE and follow the ceramic tile or stone manufacturer’s guidelines
for thin-set installation of ceramic tile or stone to OMNICHOICE.
Solid Hardwood
• Nail-Down Installation
Nail-Down Installation
1. Roll out OMNICHOICE underlayment parallel to the wall and perpendicular to the direction the floor covering will be installed. Avoid placing a
floor covering seam directly over an underlayment seam.
2. Use a utility knife to trim the underlayment to fit the sub-floor leaving no gaps.
3. Install the next section of underlayment in the same manner making sure the seams are butted together but not overlapping. Repeat until the
entire installation area is covered.
4. The seams may be taped to hold the underlayment in place during installation.
5. Install the floor covering according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
WHEN USING A PNEUMATIC NAILER OR STAPLER, ADJUST THE AIR PRESSURE ON THE FIRST PLANK SO THAT THE NAIL
STAPLE IS FIRMLY SET BUT NOT FULLY COMPRESSING THE UNDERLAYMENT.
Glue-Down Installation
Adhesive Guidelines: Underlayment to Sub-Floor
Premium multipurpose flooring adhesive may be used to adhere OMNICHOICE to the sub-floor. Suitable adhesives can be obtained from a
wide range of adhesive manufacturers. Prior to installation, contact the adhesive manufacturer to verify compatibility with OMNICHOICE which
is a polyurethane foam underlayment. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the performance of any adhesive used in
conjunction with OMNICHOICE since the manufacturing and the manner and condition of application is beyond our control. Be sure and follow
the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendation for trowel size and all site guidelines and installation instructions.
OMNICHOICE is a non-porous, waterproof membrane. Consideration must be given to the initial “open time” of the adhesive to avoid trapping
water beneath the underlayment. Temperature and relative humidity will determine the actual amount of open time needed and the adhesive’s
working time. One-hundred percent (100%) adhesive transfer to the underlayment is required. If proper transfer is not achieved, remove dried
adhesive and reapply the adhesive with the recommended trowel allowing the appropriate open time before proceeding.
URETHANE ADHESIVES MAY NOT BE USED FOR ADHERING OMNICHOICE TO THE SUB-FLOOR AS PROPER CURING MAY NOT
OCCUR DUE TO THE NON-POROUS NATURE OF THE UNDERLAYMENT. HOWEVER, IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO USE URETHANE
ADHESIVES TO BOND THE FLOOR COVERING TO OMNICHOICE.
Adhesive Guidelines: Floor Covering to Underlayment
Follow the floor covering manufacturer’s recommendation concerning adhesive used to adhere the floor covering. Most adhesives may be used
to adhere the floor covering to OMNICHOICE however, prior to installation, contact the adhesive manufacturer to verify compatibility with
OMNICHOICE which is a polyurethane foam underlayment. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the performance of any
adhesive used in conjunction with OMNICHOICE since the manufacturing and the manner and condition of application is beyond our control.
Be sure and follow the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendation for trowel size and all site guidelines and installation instructions.
1. Roll out OMNICHOICE underlayment parallel to the wall and perpendicular to the direction the floor covering will be installed. Install with the
fabric side of the underlayment up and the foam side down. Avoid placing a floor covering seam directly over an underlayment seam.
2. Use a utility knife to trim the underlayment to fit the sub-floor leaving no gaps. Tape seams with polyethylene “plastic” tape.
3. Pull back part of the cut-in underlayment and apply adhesive to the sub-floor with the recommended trowel per adhesive manufacturer’s
recommendations. Allow recommended open time. Place the underlayment into the adhesive minimizing trapping of bubbles.
4. Roll completed installation with a 35 lb. three-section roller in both length and width directions to ensure adequate bond.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the other part of the underlayment.
6. Allow recommended adhesive cure time before allowing traffic on the installed OMNICHOICE underlayment. If flooring is not to be installed
on the same day, take care to protect the underlayment from damage by using plywood panels or other means until the floor covering can
be installed.
7. Install the floor covering according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Thin-Set Installation
Thin-Set Guidelines: Underlayment to Sub-Floor
Thin-set mortar may be used to adhere OMNICHOICE to the sub-floor. Suitable thin-set mortar can be obtained from a wide range of
manufacturers. The type of mortar used depends on the substrate the underlayment is being installed over. Modified thin-set mortar generally
produces a stronger bond to OMNICHOICE compared to unmodified mortar. Prior to installation, contact the thin-set manufacturer and provide
the sub-floor construction and that the underlayment to be bonded to is a non-porous, waterproof membrane. The thin-set manufacturer will
provide a recommendation for the proper product to bond OMNICHOICE to the sub-floor. No warranty expressed or implied is made
regarding the performance of any thin-set used in conjunction with OMNICHOICE since the manufacturing and the manner and condition of
application is beyond our control. Be sure and follow the thin-set manufacturer’s recommendation for trowel size and all site guidelines and
installation instructions.
Thin-Set Guidelines: Floor Covering to Underlayment
Follow the floor covering manufacturer’s recommendation concerning thin-set used to adhere the floor covering. Most thin-set mortars may be
used to adhere the floor covering to OMNICHOICE however, prior to installation, contact the thin-set manufacturer to verify compatibility with
OMNICHOICE which is a non-porous, waterproof membrane. Modified thin-set mortar generally produces a stronger bond to OMNICHOICE
compared to unmodified mortar. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the performance of any thin-set used in conjunction with
OMNICHOICE since the manufacturing and the manner and condition of application is beyond our control. Be sure and follow the thin-set
manufacturer’s recommendation for trowel size and all site guidelines and installation instructions.
OMNICHOICE IS AN ACOUSTICAL UNDERLAYMENT ENGINEERED TO REDUCE NOISE AND SOUND TRANSMISSION, IT IS NOT
WARRANTED AS A CRACK SUPPRESSANT.
1. Roll out OMNICHOICE underlayment parallel to the wall and perpendicular to the direction the floor covering will be installed. Install with the
fabric side of the underlayment up and the foam side down. Avoid placing a floor covering seam directly over an underlayment seam.
2. Use a utility knife to trim the underlayment to fit the sub-floor leaving no gaps. Tape seams with polyethylene “plastic” tape.
3. Pull back part of the cut-in underlayment and apply thin-set to sub-floor with the recommended trowel per manufacturer’s
recommendations.
4. Lay OMNICHOICE into the thin-set and smooth the underlayment down with bottom of a clean trowel. Lightly smoothing the membrane
down into the thin-set will ensure good contact without displacing thin-set. Allow sufficient cure time of the thin-set before installing floor
covering.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the other part of the underlayment.
6. Allow recommended thin-set mortar appropriate cure time before allowing traffic on the installed underlayment. If flooring is not to be
installed on the same day, take care to protect the underlayment from damage by using plywood panels or other means until the floor
covering can be installed.
7. Install the floor covering according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.