Understanding Underlayment and Proper Installation for GAIA Flooring
What Is Underlayment?
Underlayment is a layer of material installed between the subfloor and the flooring to enhance performance and comfort. It is designed to provide benefits such as sound reduction, cushioning, thermal insulation, and in some cases, moisture resistance. Underlayments are typically made of materials like foam, cork, or felt.
GAIA flooring products come ready to install right out of the box, with every product line featuring an attached underlayment. This built-in underlayment is specifically designed to optimize the performance and durability of the floor. To ensure the longevity of your GAIA floor, additional padding or underlayment should not be added, as doing so will void your warranty and could lead to floor failure over time.
What Are Acceptable Susbstrates to install GAIA over?
Carpet | Sheet vinyl floors wiht more than one layer | Wood floors glued down to concrete substrates | Additional underlayment (cork/Soundboard/Felt/etc) | Strip wood planks or tongue and groove plank substrates | substrates with deflection | Substrates with loose areas, hollow spots, cracks, or excessive moisture content
Suitable Substrates:
One layer of sheet vinyl |One layer of glue-down flooring| Concrete Ceramic/Porcelain tiles over concrete
Suitable Substrate Specifications
General Specifications
Ensure the subfloor is level, with no more than 3/16" in a 10' radius (5mm in 3m) or 1/8" in a 6' radius (3mm in 2m). Sand down high areas or joints, and fill low areas with a high-compressive-strength (minimum 3,000 psi) Portland-based compound.
Vertical deflection must not exceed 3/16".
Address and correct any job site moisture or pH issues before installation. Substrates must be free from excessive moisture or alkali.
Remove dirt, paint, varnish, wax, oils, solvents, and other foreign materials or contaminants.
Failure to use a moisture barrier may compromise the integrity of the eTERRA flooring installation or void your warranty.
For ceramic tile, terrazzo, or marble tile floors with grout lines, use a cementitious patch to fill all grout lines, voids, or cracks.
Wood Sub-floors
Structural Integrity: Wood subfloors must be structurally sound, with joists spaced a maximum of 16" on center. Do not install over chipboard, wafer board, or floating wood floors.
Approved Materials: Acceptable subfloor materials include CDX-rated plywood (minimum rating of BB or CC) or existing wood flooring securely fastened to a wood subfloor beneath.
Moisture Testing: Test wood subfloors for moisture content using a moisture meter specifically recommended for wood flooring. Take a minimum of 20 readings per 1,000 sq. ft. Moisture levels should not exceed 12% in any location.
Concrete & Gypcrete Sub-floors
Density and Material
Subfloor material must have a minimum density of 3,000 psi. Concrete subfloors must be smooth, permanently dry, and meet the requirements outlined in ASTM F710, "Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring." Certain gypcrete and other non-cementitious subfloors may not meet this requirement. The subfloor must be fully cured before installation.
Imperfections
Depressions, cracks, grooves, expansion joints, and other subfloor imperfections must be filled with an appropriate patch or leveling compound. Grind down any high spots as needed.
Moisture and Alkalinity Testing
Perform moisture and alkalinity tests on all concrete subfloors, regardless of grade level or slab age.
Conduct either an in-situ relative humidity test or a Calcium Chloride moisture test (ASTM F1869).
Perform a pH test as outlined in ASTM F710 to determine the alkalinity of the slab.
Moisture vapor emissions should not exceed 80% RH per ASTM F2170 or 3 lbs per ASTM F1869. pH levels should not exceed 9 per ASTM F710.
Subfloors outside these ranges, the issue must be corrected prior to installation.
Warranty Limitations: The manufacturer’s warranty does not cover:
Discoloration caused by mold or flooding.
Water damage from plumbing leaks, faulty appliances, or water entering through sliding glass doors.
Floor covering failure due to hydrostatic pressure or excessive moisture vapor emissions.