The goal of the Alberta Floor Covering Association 1979 (AFCA) is to continually strive to maintain the highest professional standards in floor covering installations. The AFCA recognizes and appreciates the vital role that our expert installers play toward accomplishing this goal and is committed to supporting them in the field.
An efficient and profitable construction project requires that all parties involved have a clear understanding of their individual responsibilities within the overall process. The AFCA Job Site Preparation Standards Manual is designed to protect AFCA installers and merchants from losses due to the negligence of other trades, job site managers who are negligent in preparing floor covering installation sites and uninformed consumers.
TheAFCA Job Site Preparation Standards Manual provides building superintendents, project managers, architects and consumers with a floor covering pre-installation checklist and breakdown of specific requirements and preparation requirements for each type of floor covering installation.
AFCA member sales representatives and estimators are encouraged to attach job specific sections of this manual to their estimates as a condition of the sale and to distribute the complete manual to building superintendents, builders, architects, project managers, and consumers whenever possible.
The AFCA thanks you for enforcing floor covering installation site standards that respect the professionalism of our installers and create mutual benefit for all concerned.
« The Guidelines contained in this manual are general in nature and may not apply in all situations. Contact your AFCA floor covering professional for specific advice about preparing for your floor covering installation. «
The installation time allowances quoted in this manual are based on typical scenarios. Actual installation times may vary depending on the unique characteristics of any given job.
To download a copy of this manual, click here.
a) Home address or job number clearly displayed.
b) Must have good access to house. Stairs should be installed, even if only
Construction/temporary stairs
c) Basement concrete poured and cured. (Minimum 28 days)
e) Entire site clear of any debris, all floors clean.
f) Subfloor free of ridges.
g) Subfloor properly installed and fastened.
h) Underlayment panels to correct floor covering transition points.
i) Heat vents cut out neatly and accurately.
j) No paint or stain on underlayment.
k) No oil spills on sub-floor or underlayment.
l) No gaps on stairs and risers to be done in vinyl, underlayment must be cut tight to walls.
m) Nosing on landings installed and secure.
n) No holes in floors. (i.e. extra heat vents)
o) Stone on fireplace hearths up from floor ½” to ¾” to allow carpet to be tucked under.
p) Gaps between walls and stairs or stringers not to exceed 3/8” for carpet.
q) Adequate lighting and electrical power must be in place.
r) Operational washroom or portable toilet available
s) Underlayment secure and stapled as per manufacturer’s recommendations.
(No high staples)
Must have safe access to job site and work area. Stairs must be properly installed and anchored, even if only construction/temporary stairs.
c) Clean potable water must be available on site.
d) Jobsite temperature must be a minimum of 12 ° C to a maximum of 35 ° C during installation and for at least 7 days after completion.
e) Where tile is to be installed over radiant heat, turn off the radiant heat for a minimum of 48 hours before installation and do not turn system on for at least 72 hours after installation is complete. Provide temporary heat source to maintain adequate temperature level in the working areas and surfaces. Ensure that temporary heat source is properly ventilated to prevent damage to the work or injury to personnel from carbon monoxide emissions.
f) Installation of all millwork, cabinetry and counter tops must be completed.
g) Work of other interior trades, such as drywall and paint should be completed a minimum of 24 hours prior to tile installation.
h) Plywood subfloors and underlayments should consist of a minimum of 2 glued layers for a combined minimum total thickness of 1 ¼” - 1 ½” depending on the specific material being installed (consult with your AFCA Flooring professional). Both panels should be fastened per the manufacturer’s recommendations over a joist span of 16” on center. Leave a ¼” gap between underlayment sheets and around the outside perimeter. Plywood should be screwed 6” O.C. around the perimeter and 8” O.C. in each direction throughout the body of the panel. Plywood underlayment edges should not deviate more than 1/32” out of plane. Cross-bridging or solid blocking of floor joists is recommended to reduce deflection.
i) Where I-joist spacing is 19” O.C., subfloor min. thickness must be ¾”.
j) Plywood substrates for countertops must be a minimum thickness of ¾”, level and properly fastened.
k) Use of plywood underlayments is restricted to interior residential and light commercial use in dry areas only.
l) All metal and fiberglass bathtubs and shower units must be properly installed, plumb, level and properly fastened. All units must be undamaged, clean and free of all dirt and construction debris.
m) Jetted or soaker tub decks and skirts be constructed with cementitious backer board or min. ¾” plywood, solid, plumb, level. Waterproofing is recommended.
n) Plumbing access panels on tub skirts must be cut out as required and solid to prevent warping.
o) All rough-in plumbing must be complete prior to floor tile installation.
p) Fireplaces must be installed plumb, level and flush or even in wall. Fireplace hearth tops and sides must be constructed with cementitious backer board.
q) Do not install tile over any exposed dimensional lumber.
r) Installation times vary by size and layout of job, allow for a minimum 2-3 day installation process (1 day install, next day grouting and if applicable return for optional sealing).
Average Installation time requirements: 150 SFT =3 days
300 SFT= 4 days
450 sq ft =5 days
s) Cement board or dense shield to 5’ minimum on exterior walls.
a) Must have a have a source of water.
b) Permanent heating operational. (65+ degrees 3 days prior to installation)
c)Adequate lighting and electrical power must be in place.
d) Subfloor to be swept clean and free of garbage and debris, ready to receive flooring materials.
e) No baseboards or excess drywall mud on floor.
f) Depending on size and layout of job, allow for 1 day up to 40 syds of material or 360 sft.
g) After sheet goods are installed, send plumber and electrical to finish out.
h) Subfloor should be installed at least 2 weeks after basement is poured.
i) No overspray from painting
a) Permanent heating operational. (65+ degrees 3 days prior to installation)
b) Needs to acclimate to job site for a minimum of 72 hours.
c) Must have had the basement floor poured at least 28 days prior to install.
d) Sub floor to be swept and scraped clean, level and without ridges.
e) Depending on layout allow for 2 days per 400 square feet.
f) Adequate lighting and electrical power must be in place.
g) Power humidifier needs to be installed and working to keep humidity at
Manufacturer recommended levels.
h) Sub floor joints must be sanded to remove any high ridges.
a) Temperature must be maintained at between 18 - 22 degrees c for 72 hours before, during and 72 hours after installation.
b) Adequate lighting and electrical power must be in place.
c) Ideally, Baseboards should not be installed but in some cases they are sprayed so this may not be possible, please advise prior to installation date.
d) If basement area is to be finished, please ensure that the painters protect (Shield) the concrete under baseboards when lacquering so that smooth edge can be attached to the concrete.
e) Be advised that there will be paint touch ups to be done and protect the carpet after installation.
f) Allow for 2 days per 100 syds of carpet, plus flight of stairs. (If specialty or rounded stairs, allow an extra ½ day).
a) Floor flatness generally within 1/8 in. per 10 ft. (ASTM Standards) for resilient flooring and 3/16 in. per 10 ft. for laminate flooring.
b) Adequate lighting and electrical power must be in place.
c) Sub floors should be sanded and vacuumed prior to underlayment installation.
d) Underlayment panels installed according to manufacturers instructions.
Generally, well secured with carpenters yellow glue and stapled with 1/4 inch (narrow crown) by 1 inch chisel point coated staples 3 inches apart on edges and 6 inches apart in the field.
e) Concrete floors for glue down products free of sealers or curing agents and cured f or a minimum 28 days. (Moisture testing may be required prior to installation)
f) All sub floors/substrates free of paint and overspray.