CFI Vinyl & Resilient Flooring 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What tool is used to measure the moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) of a concrete slab for resilient flooring installation?
- Relative humidity probe
- Calcium chloride test kit (Correct answer)
- Pin-type moisture meter
- Infrared thermometer
Correct answer: Calcium chloride test kit
The ASTM F1869 calcium chloride test kit measures MVER in pounds of moisture per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours.
Question 2: When installing vinyl composition tile (VCT) in a large open area, where should the installer begin laying tiles?
- At the door threshold
- At the farthest wall from the entrance
- From the center of the room working outward (Correct answer)
- From the left corner of the room
Correct answer: From the center of the room working outward
Starting from the room's center ensures balanced border tiles on all sides for a professional, symmetrical appearance.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT an acceptable subfloor for glue-down LVP installation?
- Cement backer board
- Plywood
- Existing single-layer vinyl (Correct answer)
- Oriented strand board (OSB)
Correct answer: Existing single-layer vinyl
Glue-down LVP should not be installed over existing resilient flooring because the old surface can flex, fail, or contain asbestos.
Question 4: What is 'telegraphing' in the context of resilient flooring?
- A method of transmitting installation instructions
- Subfloor imperfections that show through the finished floor surface (Correct answer)
- A seaming technique for sheet vinyl
- Adhesive bleed-through at seam edges
Correct answer: Subfloor imperfections that show through the finished floor surface
Telegraphing occurs when subfloor irregularities such as fastener heads, joints, or ridges are visible through the resilient flooring.
Question 5: When heat-welding seams in commercial sheet vinyl, what is the correct sequence?
- Route, weld, trim flush (Correct answer)
- Weld, route, trim flush
- Trim flush, route, weld
- Route, trim flush, weld
Correct answer: Route, weld, trim flush
The seam is first routed to create a uniform groove, then filled with welding rod, then the excess is trimmed flush in two passes.
Question 6: What does the term 'open time' refer to when working with resilient flooring adhesive?
- Time allowed before the adhesive expires
- The window after troweling during which the adhesive remains workable (Correct answer)
- Time the adhesive takes to fully cure
- The gap left at walls for expansion
Correct answer: The window after troweling during which the adhesive remains workable
Open time is the period after spreading adhesive during which flooring can be placed and achieve a proper bond.
Question 7: A 100 sq ft room needs VCT. Each tile is 12"×12". With 10% waste factor, how many tiles should be purchased?
- 100 tiles
- 105 tiles
- 110 tiles (Correct answer)
- 120 tiles
Correct answer: 110 tiles
100 sq ft × 1.10 (10% waste) = 110 tiles, each covering 1 sq ft.
CFI Vinyl & Resilient Flooring 3
What tool is used to measure the moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) of a concrete slab for resilient flooring installation?