U.S. General Services Administration
Historic Preservation Technical Procedures
09660-03
REPLACING DAMAGED OR MISSING CORK FLOOR TILES
PART 1---GENERAL
1.01 SUMMARY
A. This procedure includes guidance on the replacement of
all cracked, broken, worn, curled or missing cork tiles
with new to match existing. This includes the removal of
cementitious patching materials. This procedure may also
be used for the installation of a new cork tile floor to
match the original design and configuration.
B. See 01100-07-S for general project guidelines to be
reviewed along with this procedure. These guidelines
cover the following sections:
1. Safety Precautions
2. Historic Structures Precautions
3. Submittals
4. Quality Assurance
5. Delivery, Storage and Handling
6. Project/Site Conditions
7. Sequencing and Scheduling
8. General Protection (Surface and Surrounding)
These guidelines should be reviewed prior to performing
this procedure and should be followed, when applicable,
along with recommendations from the Regional Historic
Preservation Officer (RHPO).
1.02 SUBMITTALS
A. Product Data: Submit manufacturer's technical data for
each type of synthetic flexible composite flooring and
accessory.
B. Samples for Initial Selection Purposes: Submit
manufacturer's standard color charts in form of actual
sections of synthetic flexible composite flooring,
including accessories, showing full range of colors and
patterns available for each type of synthetic flexible
composite flooring required.
C. Samples for Verification Purposes: Submit the following
samples of each type, color and pattern of synthetic
flexible composite flooring required, showing full range
of color and pattern variations.
1. Full size tile samples.
2. Other materials as requested.
D. Certification for Fire Test Performance: Submit
certification from an independent testing laboratory
acceptable to authorities having jurisdiction that
synthetic flexible composite flooring complies with fire
test performance requirements.
E. Maintenance Instructions: Submit two copies of your
manufacturer's recommended maintenance practices for each
type of synthetic flexible composite flooring and
accessory required.
F. Work Description: Prior to commencing the work,
Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer's
representative a written description of the entire
methods and procedures proposed for all the work to be
carried out including, but not limited to, preparation of
substrate, cutting out existing tiles, replacement,
installation of new tiles and cleaning of existing tiles.
G. Methods of Protection: Prior to commencing cleaning
operations, the Contractor shall submit to the
Contracting Officer's representative for review a written
description of proposed materials and methods of
protection for preventing damage to adjacent materials
and the building interior during the cleaning and
replacement of the cork tiles.
1.03 QUALITY ASSURANCE
A. The general objective of the installation of new cork
tiles is to recreate the original design intent of the
primary historic spaces. Refer to the original design
drawings, historic photographs or physical evidence
remaining in the building for the installation patterns.
B. The general objective for replacement of cork floor tiles
is to match the existing floor color, pattern and the
existing floor tiles, and all other respects so that the
new floor tiles are not visible in the overall view of
the floors.
C. The general objectives for cleaning the cork tile floor
are to remove dirt, grime and protective coatings from
the surface without damaging the underlying material, and
to give all the flooring a clean uniform appearance.
D. Contractor:
1. The work of this section shall be performed by an
installer who is certified in writing by the cork
tile manufacturer as qualified to complete the
scope of work described.
2. Work in this section shall be performed by a
Contractor possessing a minimum of three (3) years
of specialized experience in the installation of
synthetic flexible composite flooring. The
Contractor shall submit to the Contracting
Officer's representative references of previous
work justifying the firm's experience. The
Contracting Officer's representative reserves the
right to approve or disapprove the use of the
Contractor contingent on the firm's experience.
E. In the event that a Contractor wishes to modify any
methods specified in this section, he shall submit his
proposal in writing for consideration and review. The
Contracting Officer's representative will have the right
to ask for samples before final approval. Any such
modifications or changes shall be a no additional cost to
the Government.
F. Regulatory Requirements:
1. Comply with municipal and Federal regulations
governing the cleaning, chemical waste disposal,
scaffolding protection to adjacent properties and
workers.
2. Refer to Federal Government Specification Section
01546, Health and Safety, and comply with all the
section requirements.
G. Samples: The Contractor shall clean a 4'-0" by 4'-0" bay
of the existing cork floor tile on each different color
for review by the Contracting Officer's representative.
Locations of sample floor bays to be selected by the
Contracting Officer's representative. These cleaned cork
floor tile bays are to be protected by the Contractor and
will be used for matching replacement cork floor tiles.
H. The Contractor shall prepare a sample bay, approximately
4'-0" by 4'-0", of replaced cork floor tile. The sample
bay should be made to match the existing cleaned adjacent
cork floor tile in all respects. The Contracting
Officer's representative shall select the location for
the sample of replaced cork floor tile.
1.04 PROJECT/SITE CONDITIONS
A. Environmental Requirements: Maintain minimum temperature
of 65 F (18 C) in spaces to receive synthetic flexible
composite flooring for at least 48 hours prior to
installation, during installation and for not less than
48 hours after installation. Store synthetic flexible
composite flooring materials in spaces where they will be
installed for at least 48 hours before beginning
installation. Subsequently, maintain minimum temperature
of 55 F (13 C) in areas where work is completed.
1.05 SEQUENCING AND SCHEDULING
A. Coordinating Work: Install synthetic flexible composite
flooring and accessories after other finishing
operations, including painting, have been completed.
1.06 WARRANTY
A. The contractor shall guarantee and maintain the cork tile
floors in good condition for a period of two years.
1.07 MAINTENANCE
A. Extra Stock:
1. Deliver stock of maintenance materials to
Government. Furnish maintenance materials from same
manufactured lot as materials installed and
enclosed in protective packaging with appropriate
identifying labels.
2. Tile Flooring: furnish not less than one box for
each 50 boxes, or fraction thereof, for each type,
color, pattern and size installed.
PART 2---PRODUCTS
2.01 MANUFACTURERS
A. Dodge-Regapol, Inc.
P.O. Box 989
Cornel and Manor Streets
Lancaster, PA 17603
800/322-1923
B. Permagrain Products, Inc.
22 West State Street
Media, PA 19063
215/563-1575
2.01 MATERIALS
A. Cork Floor Tiles such as "Dodge cork tile" (Dodge-
Regapol, Inc.), "Cork-o-plast" (Permagrain Products,
Inc.), or approved equal; color and pattern selected to
be consistent with existing cork tile flooring.
1. Cork tile shall be not less than «" thick,
weighting not less than 18 ounces per square foot,
made of the best quality of clear cork shavings.
2. The cork shall have no added cementing or coloring
materials and must be free from all foreign
substances, be thoroughly consolidated under heavy
pressure, and thoroughly baked.
3. The tile must be free from pits and be impervious.
B. Adhesives (Cements): Waterproof stabilized-type to be
recommended by the manufacturer of the synthetic flexible
composite flooring to be installed.
C. Concrete Slab Primer: Non-staining type as recommended by
the flooring manufacturer.
D. Leveling and Patching Compounds: Latex-type as
recommended by the manufacturer.
PART 3---EXECUTION
3.01 EXAMINATION
A. Verification of Conditions:
1. Require installer to inspect subfloor surfaces to
determine that they are satisfactory. A
satisfactory subfloor surface is defined as one
that is smooth and free from cracks, holes, ridges,
coatings preventing adhesive bond, and other
defects impairing performance or appearance.
2. Work shall not proceed until the subfloor surfaces
have had all dirt, foreign matter, old mastics and
adhesives removed.
3.02 PREPARATION
A. Surface Preparation: Prepare subfloor surfaces as
follows:
1. Use leveling and patching compounds as recommended
by synthetic flexible composite flooring
manufacturer for filling small cracks, holes and
depressions in subfloors.
2. Remove coatings from subfloor surfaces that would
prevent adhesive bond, including curing compounds
incompatible with flooring adhesives, paint, oils,
waxes and sealers.
3. Broom clean or vacuum surfaces to be covered and
inspect subfloor.
3.03 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION
A. General:
1. Install synthetic flexible composite flooring using
method indicated in strict compliance with
manufacturer's printed instructions. Extend
synthetic flexible composite flooring into toe
spaces, door reveals, and into closets and similar
openings.
2. Scribe, cut and fit synthetic flexible composite
flooring to permanent fixtures, built-in furniture
and cabinets, pipes, outlets and permanent columns,
walls and partitions.
3. Tightly cement synthetic flexible composite
flooring to sub-base without open cracks, voids,
raising and puckering at joints, telegraphing of
adhesive spreader marks or other surface
imperfections. Hand roll synthetic flexible
composite flooring at perimeter of each covered
area to assure adhesion.
B. Installation of Tile Floors:
1. Lay tile from center marks established with
principal walls, discounting minor offsets, so that
tile at opposite edges of room area of equal width.
Adjust as necessary to avoid use of cut widths less
than one-half tile at room perimeters. Lay tile
square to room axis, unless otherwise shown.
2. Match tiles for color and pattern by using tile
from cartons in same sequence as manufactured and
packaged if so numbered. Cut tile neatly around all
fixtures. Broken, cracked, chipped or deformed
tiles are not acceptable.
a. Lay tile to follow the existing floor tile
pattern or as recommended in the original
drawings.
3. Cork tile shall be laid in waterproof cement,
thoroughly weighted with sand bags until cement is
set. Adhere tile flooring to substrate using full
spread of adhesive applied in compliance with
flooring manufacturer's directions.
4. At completion, tile shall be sand papered and
rubbed to an even polished surface.
3.04 ADJUSTING/CLEANING
A. Perform the following operations immediately upon
completion of synthetic flexible composite flooring:
1. Sweep or vacuum floor thoroughly.
2. Do not wash floor until time period recommended by
synthetic flexible composite flooring manufacturer
has elapsed to allow synthetic flexible composite
flooring to become well sealed in adhesive.
3. Damp mop floor being careful to remove black marks
and excessive soil.
4. Remove any excess adhesive or other surface
blemishes, using appropriate cleaner recommended by
synthetic flexible composite flooring
manufacturers.
3.05 PROTECTION
A. Apply protective floor polish to synthetic flexible
composite flooring surfaces free from soil, excess
adhesive or surface blemishes. Use commercially available
metal cross-linked acrylic product acceptable to
synthetic flexible composite flooring manufacturer.
END OF SECTION