Installation Guide
Thank you for your purchase on discountmarineflooring.com. This marine flooring is waterproof, easy to maintain and resistant to stains, bait smells, and many common chemicals. This marine flooring is the finishing component of a decking system that also includes underlayment, sealants, fasteners, patch compounds and adhesive. Proper subfloor preparation and installation with compatible products in a suitable environmental range is required. The following guidelines are recognized as best practices for installation. Always follow safe work practices, wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and understand requirements for chemical usage. We respect the user’s right to deviate from these guidelines. Please consult with the manufacturers who supply each separate component of the decking system to ensure compatibility and possible conflicts with installation practices.
Reference When Installing on Marine Grade Sub-Floor (plywood)
MATERIAL STORAGE
All product must be allowed to acclimate for 24 hours prior to installation of the material. We do not recommend unrolling product if the temperature is below 60° Fahrenheit. All material must be properly stored prior to use. Please keep in a dry environment, in a temperature range between 60° - 100° Fahrenheit. If the product is delivered on a roll, ensure the product is rotated every three months to avoid flat spots. Please do not stack more than three rolls high and do not store upright. For long term storage, we recommend putting roll material back into the shipping tube. Adhesive and marine flooring must be acclimated on-site. The minimum temperature should be no less than 65 degrees for 24 hours before, during and 24 hours after installation.
MOISTURE
Wood is a cellulose material which is in a constant state of seeking moisture equilibrium with its surrounding environment. Dimensional changes depend on the moisture level of the decking. It expands when the humidity is high, which adds moisture. It shrinks when conditions are dry, which releases moisture. The average moisture percentages vary based upon the geographic area. This variation affects the stability of the decking and may transfer to the finished flooring. Please consult with the wood decking underlayment supplier for moisture content guidelines and tolerances.
CROSSMEMBERS
Apply butyl tape or adhesive sealant caulk, such as ChemLink M-1 Marine to each crossmember. Be certain the butyl tape is centered on each deck underlayment seam. When caulk is used, apply a double bead and ensure adequate coverage spans unbroken through both underlayment edges.
DECKING
Inspect underlayment and cull sheets for damaged edges. Any excess can be utilized as fill sections for aft, fill or bow decking. Apply sealants to the plywood seam edges. Make every effort to seal seams to prevent moisture from having contact with flooring and adhesives. If floor is made of multiple wooden planks, ensure that the entire floor is level and that there are no gaps or unfilled spaces between planks. Joints between planks should be level and smooth.
ATTACHMENT
Proper screw placement and spacing is a priority to firmly anchor the decking to the crossmembers. Along seams, screws are recommended at six inch intervals, offset distance from each other. Place the screws one half to three quarter’s inch from the underlayment edge. Screw spacing should not exceed twelve inches apart. Center the screws on crossmembers or structural components. Ensure that screws are secured with the heads just below the deck surface.
UNDERLAYMENT PREPARATION
Lightly sand the decking underlayment joints to ensure they are flat and even, spot sand other areas as required. Care must be taken not to over sand or dish out the underlayment surface. Apply a flexible waterproof patch to spot fill substrate imperfections. Ensure the filler is applied smoothly or sanded flat. Allow adequate time for the filler to gain hardness prior to application of adhesive. This is necessary to avoid cross contamination of filler and adhesive. Please consult with the patch manufacturer for suitability, compatibility and usage instructions.
INSTALLATION
Unroll the marine flooring and position pattern side up. Align the pattern edge with the length of the boat, allowing for excess to trim on all four edges.
G-Floor Marine and Outdoor Adhesive has been approved for applications on wood decking through qualification and testing processes. The adhesive can be troweled with a 1/16” x 1/16” x 1/16” square notch trowel or applied with a nap roller. A 1-gallon container will cover approximately 40 to 50 sq. ft. area and the larger 4-gallon adhesive will cover approximately 160 to 200 sq. ft.
Stir the adhesive prior to use and every 2 or 3 hours to ensure the contents are blended. Keep the pail lid secured when not in use to protect from drying. After spreading the adhesive, allow a minimum of five minutes open time for the adhesive to gain green strength. More open time is required for cooler temperatures or high humidity. The adhesive should just start to develop a skin.
Place the marine flooring flat and smooth on the adhesive, avoid trapping air or forming ridges. Roll in length and width with a seventy-five pound weighted roller as soon as the material is set into the adhesive. Ensure 100% adhesive transfer between the two surfaces. For best results, reroll after one hour.
Flooring must maintain contact with adhesive until curing is complete (20-28 hours). To facilitate proper contact, secure the edges by stapling around the entire perimeter of the boat and floor penetrations and install the edge rail.
There are many suitable adhesives for both marine grade plywood and composite decks that will bond marine flooring. You must use an appropriate marine grade adhesive. Solvent based adhesives are not compatible and will damage this flooring. Use only manufacturer suggested adhesives compatible with your subfloor.
Follow specific manufacturer recommendations.
For additional details, please contact the adhesive manufacturer:
Chemical Technology Incorporated
26067 Groesbeck Highway
Warren, MI 48089 586.533.2477
OPTIMAL INSTALLATION TIPS:
Excessive moisture content in plywood substrates could cause seam swelling, resulting in buckling or stretching of the finished marine flooring. Improper placement of screws (too few screws, screws spaced too far apart, screws driven too deeply into the plywood) can disrupt the integrity and holding power of the underlayment. Applying adhesive too quickly after patching substrate imperfections can cause cross contamination. This leads to adhesive and filler failure and may not properly bond with decking and/or marine flooring. Applying an insufficient amount of adhesive can cause future bond failure of the marine flooring. Always monitor the adhesive application process to ensure sufficient coverage. Applying marine flooring too quickly after spreading adhesive lengthens the curing time and weakens the early tack strength resulting in movement.