Page 4 - 2018-11-CFR Volume 122 A Smart Guide to PVC Backed Modular Carpet and Vinyl Flooring November 2018

This plasticizer migration is also the reason that it
is imperative that the installation contractor and all
parties involved KNOW what is being removed
from the floor and what type of adhesive will be
exposed to the potentially damaging action of plas-
ticizer. Plasticizer is basically an organic solvent.
Over time it will soften and begin to liquefy the ex-
isting adhesive. The very worst situation is where
there is exposed asphaltic adhesive such as “cut
back”. Plasticizer literally returns the “cut back” to
the consistency it had when it came from the pail.
Once this happens it is inevitable that this nasty,
gooey, black “stuff” works it way to the joints and
seams and wicks to the surface of the flooring ma-
terial. With latex based general purpose adhe-
sives, this effect still happens but is not so dra-
matic. As a general rule, the softer and stickier the
exposed general purpose film is, the more likely it
is to reach a degree of emulsification that allows it
to wick up between the seams or joints in the floor-
ing tiles. Remediation of this type of problem can
easily reach 10 to 15 dollars per square FOOT.

WAIT – THERE GOES THE CASH REGISTER
AGAIN AND AGAIN IT IS THE INSTALLATION
CONTRACTOR THAT WILL BE BLAMED UN-
LESS THEY ARE SMART.

REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF ADHESIVE
EXPOSED, GET DETAILED PREPARATION
GUIDELINES FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF
THE FLOORING MATERIAL IN WRITING. IF THE
MANUFACTURER IS RELUCTANT TO PUT
GUIDELINES IN WRITING – DON’T INSTALL
THE FLOOR.

PLASTICIZER HYDROLYSIS FROM WET SLAB – GLUED DOWN –
NOT A MANUFACTURING ISSUE

4 Commercial Flooring Report November 2018