ProductFocus
Subfloors + Subloor Prep
Underneath it All
T
he best installation, sand and finish job isn’t worth much if what’s underneath it wasn’t ready for the job. Subfloors and subfloor prep products are essential for a successful job. On the following pages, you’ll find the most up-to-date products that will help your installations succeed.
All Globe Inc. All Globe’s new underlayment, Silicon Vapor Shield, is designed for radiant-heated hardwood flooring. It has been tested in 100-degree-Fahrenheit conditions without detection of breakdown or odor, the company says. www.allglobe.ca
Bostik Inc. Bostik’s MVP4 (Moisture Vapor Protection) is a one-part, trowel-applied, elastomeric, moisture-cure urethane membrane designed to reduce moisture vapor transmission from the subfloor, create a noise reduction barrier over the substrate, and establish an anti-fracture membrane that can bridge subfloor cracks up to 1⁄8 inch prior to or after installation. It contains Bostik’s Blockade antimicrobial agent. www.bostik-us.com
Chemque Inc.
Ecore International
Chemque’s Fortane MVS Ultra Moisture Vapor & Acoustical Urethane Membrane reduces moisture vapor transmission to extremely low levels and provides enhanced acoustical properties, the company says, adding that it has excellent flow and self-leveling properties, outstanding elasticity, can bridge cracks up to 1⁄8 inch and is VOC-compliant. It is compatible with Fortane and Fortane LD. www.fortane.com
QT Sound Insulation is made from 100 percent recycled rubber that can be used under all floor finishes, gypsum or full-weight concrete. It is designed to solve almost any impact sound problem, and it can be used in any multi-level building. QT is backed by 185 independent laboratory and field tests, the company says. www.ecoreintl.com
DriTac Flooring Products LLC DriTac 8000 Moisture Guard is a one-component, low-VOC concrete sealer that forms a smooth, protective membrane on concrete subfloors and significantly reduces moisture vapor transmission. DriTac 8000 Moisture Guard is a trowelapplied urethane moisture barrier and crack-suppressant system that bridges cracks in a concrete substrate up to 1⁄8inch wide. www.dritac.com
Fortifiber Building Systems Group Fortifiber manufactures vapor retarder membranes, including the economical HWD-15 and highperformance Aquabar “B,” for use over wood subfloors. Moistop Ultra, an impermeable moisture barrier, is Fortifiber’s best choice for eliminating moisture migration in crawlspaces and over concrete subfloors, the company says. www.fortifiber.com
February|March 2010 n Hardwood Floors 51