By Bob Blochinger
The three components of a flooring system—preparation, installation and maintenance—each have a direct relationship to flooring performance. Yet without correct preparation, the other components will inevitably fail. Despite this, some installation contractors only perform the installation, forgoing preparation entirely. Leaving money on the table is never a good idea, and ignoring a profit opportunity is not good either. Don’t let yourself get behind the eight-ball and create a failure from the beginning.
As a work action, preparation is separate from installation. During preparation, we are correcting a physical issue that, if not fixed, will ensure the failure of our workmanship and the product. This holds true whether the substrate is concrete, wood, metal or fiberglass. I use the terms “substrate preparation” and “substrate remediation” interchangeably. In essence, it involves:
- Cleaning the Substrate: Removing dirt, dust, paint, oil and other materials that could interfere with the installation.
- Surface Modification: Smoothing rough surfaces, repairing defects and/or creating the desired surface profile through grinding, shot blasting, etc.
- Ensuring Compatibility: Preparing the substrate to ensure it will adequately support the flooring material and bond with the adhesive applied.
- Managing Conditions: In some applications, this includes managing moisture and/or relative humidity levels.
Prior to installation, the installation contractor must perform a site review to ensure the substrate and overall site is ready. If this is not possible, which is typical when bidding on projects prior to construction, a contract clause should be added that includes a preparation or remediation process. This helps ensure not only a successful installation, but that you don’t get stuck with the cost.
This is the first step to making substrate preparation an add-on service. It is difficult for a general contractor or owner to argue against this service, especially since it is usually required by the product manufacturer for successful performance of the flooring system. The GC may want something different — however the warranty will be void if the installation does not meet manufacturer’s requirements.
A major consideration for a substrate’s acceptability to receive the intended floor covering is bonding ability. In other words, will the adhesive bond correctly to the substrate as intended for the product’s usage. Today’s concrete slabs are typically troweled with automatic machines which create a hard, smooth finish. This does not allow adhesives to bond; it’s like gluing the flooring to glass and expecting it to hold. Scarification will be needed. This can mean many things: sanding, grinding, bead blasting; each has a different level of removal of not just the debris, but the hard smooth skin created by steel troweling. The decision on which method to use should be based on a physical and visual review of the jobsite, the substrate condition and perhaps a bond test of the actual flooring product and adhesive selected to be used.
While determining the pricing of such an action, besides just putting in a cost based on generic information, add a disclaimer to prepare the owner and general contractor in case a condition exists which will require more than basic preparation or remediation. This can be in the form of a pre-loaded change order.
Remediation needs to considered on all installation projects. You should include it in all contracts and discussions. Manufacturers list strict requirements and guidelines for the installation and use of their products. Use this fact as a selling tool for preparation. Manufacturers spend a lot of time and money for their engineers and lawyers to write these instructions; make sure to follow them.
Presented in a professional manner, before the project starts, is the best way to get the GC or owner on-board when it comes to the importance of remediation. Do not present the required preparation process to them the day before the installation is scheduled to start.
