CFI Flooring Materials & Installation Techniques 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which adhesive type is generally recommended for installing rubber flooring in commercial applications?
- Latex pressure-sensitive adhesive
- Solvent-based contact cement (Correct answer)
- Epoxy adhesive
- Hot-melt adhesive
Correct answer: Solvent-based contact cement
Solvent-based contact cement provides the high initial tack and strong permanent bond needed for rubber flooring in demanding commercial environments.
Question 2: The term 'flash cove' in resilient flooring installation refers to:
- A waterproof coating applied over seams
- Turning the floor material up the wall to form an integral coved base (Correct answer)
- A type of heat-welding technique
- A pre-formed vinyl transition strip
Correct answer: Turning the floor material up the wall to form an integral coved base
Flash coving turns the resilient sheet or tile up the wall to create a seamless, sanitary cove base that is integral to the floor, commonly used in healthcare and food service settings.
Question 3: What is the purpose of heat welding seams in commercial sheet vinyl or linoleum installations?
- To speed up adhesive curing
- To fuse seam edges together creating a watertight, monolithic surface (Correct answer)
- To soften the material for easier cutting
- To bond the sheet to the subfloor at seam locations
Correct answer: To fuse seam edges together creating a watertight, monolithic surface
Heat welding melts a compatible welding rod into the seam groove, fusing the edges into one continuous surface that prevents moisture infiltration and seam lifting.
Question 4: Which moisture test measures the relative humidity within a concrete slab using in-situ probes?
- Calcium chloride (ASTM F1869)
- Relative humidity (ASTM F2170) (Correct answer)
- Phenolphthalein indicator test
- Plastic sheet test (ASTM D4263)
Correct answer: Relative humidity (ASTM F2170)
The ASTM F2170 in-situ relative humidity test uses probes inserted at 40% of slab depth to measure moisture within the concrete, providing a more accurate reading than surface-only tests.
Question 5: What is the correct direction to install strip or plank hardwood flooring relative to floor joists?
- Parallel to the joists
- Perpendicular to the joists (Correct answer)
- At a 45-degree angle to the joists
- Direction does not matter for hardwood
Correct answer: Perpendicular to the joists
Hardwood planks should run perpendicular to floor joists so each board crosses multiple joists, maximizing structural support and minimizing deflection.
Question 6: When installing luxury vinyl tile (LVT) using the dry-back glue-down method, the floor temperature during installation should be maintained at:
- Below 55°F to slow adhesive curing
- Between 65°F and 85°F (Correct answer)
- Above 90°F to activate the adhesive
- Exactly 72°F only
Correct answer: Between 65°F and 85°F
Most LVT adhesive manufacturers specify a working temperature range of 65°F–85°F for proper adhesive open time, tack, and bond development.
Question 7: What does a floor flatness specification of 3/16 inch per 10 feet mean for a flooring installer?
- The subfloor can slope up to 3/16 inch across the entire room
- No high or low spots greater than 3/16 inch should exist within any 10-foot span (Correct answer)
- Grout joints must be 3/16 inch wide
- Expansion gaps must be 3/16 inch at 10-foot intervals
Correct answer: No high or low spots greater than 3/16 inch should exist within any 10-foot span
This tolerance means that a 10-foot straightedge laid anywhere on the subfloor should not reveal a gap greater than 3/16 inch, ensuring adequate flatness for the flooring product.
CFI Flooring Materials & Installation Techniques 5
Which adhesive type is generally recommended for installing rubber flooring in commercial applications?