This is the first installation of our flooring blog subcategory for product reviews. Metro Atl. Floors will periodically compare and contrast particular products that have been used in flooring installations throughout the Atlanta area. The first products to be looked at will be Mapei Eco moisture adhesive and Elastilon underlayment.
Mapei Eco 995 is an adhesive with moisture barrier included. Metro published an article on moisture bubbles a little over a month ago, and the adhesive used for that project was Mapei. To apply the product to the slab a particular type of trowel must be used. The key to a professional and quality installation is to change the trowel on a consistent basis. Too often DIY homeowners and average Joe installers don’t change the trowel often enough and issues arise. If the trowel is not changed when needed there will be leveling and thickness problems with the floor. When discussing your flooring options with your chosen installer be sure to ask how many times they have used Mapei Eco 995 and confirm that they are familiar with the intricacies of the adhesive.
Elastilon underlayment is an insulated pad that is laid over a concrete slab with an adhesive film being used to attached the pad to the hardwood planks. The initial step is to clear the concrete of all debris and check that the flatness is up to NWFA standards. Elastilon underlayment sheathing and the adhesive film will be laid over the whole space where the wood is to be installed. Now the first couple rows of planks can be laid with the installer gently removing the film as they go. We are left with a solid hardwood floor that sits over a poly-sheathing layer that is insulated as well as noise reducing. One of the main benefits of Elastilon underlayment is that takes a fraction of the time of an adhesive installment, but still produces a high quality flooring installation. Even though Elastilon takes less time to install, properly laying the poly-sheathing and installing the wood planks requires professionally certified experience. Metro Atl. Floors has been certified by Elastilon and you should make sure that the installer you use is as well.
We hope you find this information useful, either as a do it yourself aid, or to better understand what your pro installer is using. If you have any questions regarding either one of these products please leave us a comment below. If there are any particular products that you would like us to review in the future, please include them in a comment as well.
The mentioned trowel pattern is the most common spread pattern used with your basic adhesives. However, Mapei specs a horizontal spread to unlock its moisture blocking characteristics. Please see link for the manufacture specifications.
