Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, with these limitations: Use MAPEI adhesive Ultrabond ECO 350, Ultrabond ECO 360, Ultrabond ECO 373 or Ultrabond ECO 399. Also, follow MAPEI’s Technical Data Sheet instructions and use a 1/32" (1 mm) U-notch trowel. Finally, expect 60 to 90 minutes of flash time before installing the LVP/LVT.

Yes, with these limitations: Tile must be installed per installation standards published in the most current TCNA Handbook, ANSI 108 specification. And if the OSB is weather-beaten or delaminated, it must be properly overlaid with a cement backer unit or an additional layer of subfloor.

Yes, however, do not use with radiant floor-heating systems that exceed 104°F (40°C). 

Yes, it can be used for sound reduction, crack isolation, waterproofing and vapor management. However, when using Mapesonic 2 for vapor management, do not use MAPEI SM Primer or MAPEI SM Primer Fast; instead, use MAPEI HM Primer. If there are seams, the use of Mapetape BB tape is also be necessary for waterproofing and vapor management.  

Yes, with these limitations: Do not use on exterior floors with drainage of less than 1/4" per foot (6 mm per 30 cm). And do not use on shower floors or in submerged applications, or on floors subject to standing water.

The answer to this question depends on what substrate you are working over. If you are installing adhesives over soft surfaces like plywood, then a trowel can last quite a while. If you are installing over a concrete or hard, abrasive surface, then a trowel may last about 2,000 square feet (186 m²) before the notches wear down. An installer may think that this is a good thing because his coverage will get better per gallon of adhesive, but in the end this is not a good situation as there may not be enough adhesive on the floor for proper bonding. Some trowels may last longer, but this is always something to check before getting started on any given flooring project: Make sure that your trowel is in good condition and will deliver the right amount of adhesive required for the project.

Since the introduction of the BioBlock logo in 2003, MAPEI has continued to develop and expand the range and depth of products that include this technology. The list of MAPEI products that carry the BioBlock logo is evolving with the technology and is constantly growing. Look for these innovative products across the following categories: Liquid membranes, adhesives, sealants, caulks, mortars, grouts and finishes.

Excess moisture in a plywood or wood substrate is a probably just as damaging to a floor installation as high moisture content in a concrete slab. According to industry standards, the moisture content of a plywood substrate should be in the range of 10% to 15%. Dryer than that risks extreme adhesive absorption and subsequently poor adhesive transfer to the flooring. Wetter than that (such as through exposure to rain before installation) and the adhesives will take longer to dry; then when you have installed the flooring and the plywood has dried out, you will see the result of the plywood panel shrinkage through the surface of the flooring. A critical success factor for any floor installation is to make sure that the substrate you are working on is stable and acclimated to the working environment. Anytime you step outside that playing field, you will find yourself in trouble.

Open time, sometimes called flash time, describes the amount of time that you want the freshly troweled adhesive to remain open to the elements before you start installing floor covering. There is a good reason why open time needs to be followed: Many water-based adhesives need a little time to start evaporating and letting some of the water out before you start installing flooring. Moisture-curing adhesives need to be exposed to atmospheric humidity to get the reaction started. Again, if you start installing before allowing for the recommended open or flash time, you run the risk of a delayed curing time, which can lead to placement problems and long-term performance issues.

This term refers to the amount of time, after the open time or flash time (if any), during which the adhesive you just applied will accept the flooring material and still provide an adequate bond. If you leave certain adhesives open to the atmosphere for too long, they will skin over or cure out and not be wet/sticky enough to accept the flooring material.  In other words, they will dry out. It is important to note that working time is often affected by the ambient temperature as well as the ambient humidity. For example, in arid conditions when the temperature is very high, working times will be much shorter for water-based materials but much longer for moisture-curing materials. Areas of high humidity and high temperature will have longer working times for water-based materials but potentially shorter working times for moisture-curing products. Cold temperatures are going to slow everything down whether the products be water-based or moisture-curing. For reactive adhesives like epoxies or epoxy-modified polyurethanes, temperatures will greatly affect the working time. Reactive adhesives are very sensitive to temperature, so cold conditions will extend the working time and hot conditions will speed things up.

Products identified with MAPEI's BioBlock logo have been developed in such a way that they do not support mold/mildew/fungi growth after product installation as certified by external laboratories per industry standard ASTM G21: Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Synthetic Polymeric Materials to Fungi. Common cleaning and maintenance practices are still needed.

ASTM G21 is an industry standard that uses an intensive testing protocol for determining if fungi, including mold and mildew, can grow on a polymeric material. MAPEI uses a third-party lab and the ASTM G21 standard for testing the antifungal effectiveness of MAPEI products containing polymer that incorporate BioBlock technology. The ASTM G21 test uses a mix of mold and mildew spores commonly found in household environments. Product samples are placed on nutrient-containing plates and sprayed with a mixture of these fungi. For 28 days, the test plates are kept at a constant temperature of 84.2°F (29°C) and exposed to high humidity, which are excellent conditions for fungal growth. The samples are then examined for fungal growth. If no growth is present, the product is considered to not support mold/mildew/fungal growth.