Practice Test Geeks(CFI) Certified Flooring Installer Practice Test
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Adhesive & Underlayment Selection Flashcards

7 cards from real CFI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Adhesive & Underlayment Selection flashcards as text

  1. Which standard governs moisture testing of concrete substrates before flooring installation in the US?

    Answer: ASTM F1869

    ASTM F1869 is the standard test method for measuring moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) from concrete using anhydrous calcium chloride, widely used before flooring installation.

  2. When must a secondary moisture barrier be installed under underlayment in a crawl space application?

    Answer: Always, as part of proper crawl space moisture management regardless of conditions

    A ground cover moisture barrier should always be installed in crawl spaces as standard practice because soil continuously releases moisture vapor that can migrate upward into floor systems.

  3. An installer is bonding sheet vinyl to a wood subfloor using a full-spread adhesive. What is the correct method to ensure proper bond?

    Answer: Use a 100-lb floor roller to ensure full contact after positioning

    A 100-lb floor roller ensures full contact between the vinyl and adhesive, eliminating air pockets and achieving consistent bond across the entire surface.

  4. Which underlayment product is most appropriate to use between an old ceramic tile subfloor and a new porcelain tile installation?

    Answer: Uncoupling membrane

    An uncoupling membrane allows the new tile layer to move independently from the old substrate, preventing crack transmission from the old grout joints or any minor substrate movement.

  5. What is the primary reason to back-roll adhesive after troweling when installing resilient flooring?

    Answer: To flatten trowel ridges and achieve a more uniform adhesive film thickness

    Back-rolling with a short-nap roller collapses trowel ridges to create a uniform film, preventing ridge telegraphing through thin resilient flooring materials.

  6. A flooring contractor selects an underlayment with an STC rating of 52. What does this rating measure?

    Answer: The underlayment's ability to reduce airborne sound transmission between rooms

    STC (Sound Transmission Class) measures how well a building component reduces airborne sound transmission, such as voices or music, between adjacent spaces.

  7. When installing adhesive-backed LVT over an existing VAT (vinyl asbestos tile) floor, what is the recommended approach?

    Answer: Encapsulate the VAT with an approved embossing leveler and install over it without disturbing tiles

    Intact VAT should be encapsulated with an embossing leveler rather than disturbed because sanding or removing VAT releases asbestos fibers, posing a serious health hazard.