Getting off to a clean start
Planiprep™ Surface Preparation products ensure a suitable surface for new floor-covering installations By Jeff Johnson, Business Manager, MAPEI Floor Covering Installation Systems
Planiprep AR adhesive remover begins to work immediately when applied to the old adhesive.
Problem: A Very Messy Flooring Failure What if this happened at your school? A previous resilient floor-covering installation has failed due to high moisture emission coming through the concrete subfloor. Moisture testing results show moisture vapour emission rates (MVERs) averaging somewhere between 10 to 12 pounds per 1,000 square feet (4,54-5,44 kg per 92,9 m2) per 24 hours. Relative humidity testing of the concrete slab also indicates the slab is still damp, with readings between 90 to 95 per cent. It is necessary to remove the existing resilient material and successfully replace it with new vinyl flooring. Shot52
Ops Talk • Spring 2014
blasting is not a viable option for surface preparation due to noise, cost and dust containment issues, but the subfloor must be “clean” and free from any contaminants that might affect the new floor installation.
Solution: Getting to a Clean Base Virtually all flooring manufacturers require a concrete subfloor to be free from any dirt, debris, adhesive residues, curing or parting agents, and other contaminants that may interfere with the bond of any given installation method. On virtually all replacement flooring installation projects, some form of contaminant
remains on the subfloor. Planiprep Surface Preparation Products offers a three-step process for adhesive removal, concrete cleaning and capping of the subfloor prior to installing new flooring. 1. Planiprep AR is the first step in preparing a concrete subfloor to receive new floor covering. This adhesive remover is a powerful, waterbased adhesive remover designed to remove most latex-based adhesives quickly and easily from the surface of concrete subfloors, replacing the need for shot-blasting. 2. Planiprep SA is a powerful, water-based stripping solution that
