ARDEX GUIDE SPECIFICATION

ARDEX K 15® Premium Self-Leveling Underlayment

A Self-Leveling Underlayment that Consists of a Blend of Portland Cements and Other Hydraulic
Cements and Polymers for Interior Applications

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HYDRAULIC CEMENT UNDERLAYMENT

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 RELATED DOCUMENTS

A. Drawings, general provisions of the Contract, and other related construction documents such as
Division 01 specifications apply to this Section

1.2 SUMMARY

A. This Section includes a self-leveling underlayment that consists of a blend of Portland cement
and other hydraulic cements and polymers that is used to level and smooth interior concrete,
terrazzo, well-bonded ceramic & quarry tile, epoxy coating systems, wood, metal and properly
prepared, non-water-soluble adhesive residue on concrete prior to the installation of finish
flooring on all grade levels.

1. ARDEX K 15® Premium Self-Leveling Underlayment

2. ARDEX P 51™ Primer

3. ARDEX P 82™ Ultra Prime

4. ARDEX EP 2000™ Substrate Preparation Epoxy Primer

5. ARDEX E 25™ Resilient Emulsion

B. Related Sections include the following:

1. Section 03 30 00, Cast-In-Place Concrete

2. Section 09 05 61.13, Moisture Vapor Emission Control

3. Division 09 Flooring Sections

1.3 REFERENCES

A. ASTM C109M, Compressive Strength Air-Cure Only

B. ASTM C348, Flexural Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars

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 C. ASTM F2170, Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes

D. ASTM F710 - Standard Practice for Preparing Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Product Data: Submit manufacturer's product data and installation instructions for each material
and product used. Include manufacturer's Safety Data Sheets.

B. Qualification Data: For Installer

1.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Installation of the ARDEX product must be completed by a factory-trained applicator, such as an

ARDEX LevelMaster® Elite, Choice Contractor or INSTALL Substrate Prep Certified Installer,
using mixing equipment and tools approved by the manufacturer. Contact ARDEX Engineered
Cements (724) 203-5000 for a list of recommended installers.

B. Product must have a hydraulic cement-based inorganic binder content as the primary binder
which includes portland cement per ASTM C150: Standard Specification for Portland Cement
and other specialty hydraulic cements. Gypsum-based products are not acceptable.

C. Manufacturer Experience: Provide products of this section by companies which have successfully
specialized in production of this type of work for not less than 10 years. Contact Manufacturer
Representative prior to installation.

1.6 WARRANTY: ARDEX K 15® installed as part of a floor system, shall be installed in conjunction
with the recommended ARDEX Tile & Stone Installation Materials or WW HENRY Flooring
Adhesive, as appropriate, to provide the ARDEX SystemOne comprehensive warranty,
depending on the system installed.

1.7 DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING

A. Deliver products in original packaging, labeled with product identification, manufacturer, batch
number and shelf life.

B. Store products in a dry area with temperature maintained between 50° and 85°F (10° and 29°C)
and protect from direct sunlight.

C. Handle products in accordance with manufacturer's printed recommendations.

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1.8 PROJECT CONDITIONS

A. Do not install material below 50°F (10°C) surface and air temperatures. These temperatures must
also be maintained during and for 48 hours after the installation of products included in this
section. Install quickly if the substrate is warm and follow warm weather instructions available
from the ARDEX Technical Service Department.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 HYDRAULIC CEMENT UNDERLAYMENT

A. Hydraulic Cement-Based Self-Leveling Underlayment

1. Acceptable Products:

a. ARDEX K 15®; Manufactured by ARDEX Engineered Cements: 400 Ardex Park

Drive, Aliquippa, PA, 15001, USA, (724) 203-5000, www.ardexamericas.com
i. Primer:
1. Standard Absorbent Concrete: ARDEX P 51™ Primer
2. Extremely Absorbent Concrete: May require two applications of
ARDEX P 51™ to minimize the potential for pinholes forming in the
ARDEX K 15.
3. Wood: ARDEX P 82™ Ultra Prime
4. Metal: ARDEX EP 2000™ Substrate Preparation Epoxy Primer
5. Other Non-Porous Substrates (burnished concrete, terrazzo, well-
bonded ceramic, quarry and porcelain tiles, epoxy coating systems and
non-water soluble adhesive residue on concrete and concrete treated
with silicate compounds): ARDEX P 82™ Ultra Prime
ii. Performance and Physical Properties: Meet or exceed the following values for
material cured at 73° F+/-3°F (23° C+/-3°C) and 50% +/-5% relative humidity:

1. Application: Barrel Mix or Pump

2. Flow Time: 10 minutes
3. Walkable: 2 to 3 hours
4. Compressive Strength: 5,500 psi (385 kg/cm2) at 28 days, ASTM
C109M
5. Flexural Strength: 1,200 psi (84 kg/cm2) at 28 days, ASTM C348
6. VOC: 0

2.2 WATER: Water shall be clean, potable, and sufficiently cool (not warmer than 70°F).

PART 3 – EXECUTION

3.1 PREPARATION

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 A. General: Prepare substrate in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

1. Concrete:

a. Prior to proceeding please refer to ASTM F710 Standard Practice for Preparing
Concrete Floors to Receive Resilient Flooring. All concrete subfloors must be sound,
solid, clean, and free of all oil, grease, dirt, curing compounds and any substance that
might act as a bond breaker before priming. Mechanically clean if necessary using shot
blasting or other. Acid etching and the use of sweeping compounds and solvents are
not acceptable.

b. Substrates shall be inspected in accordance with ASTM F2170 and corrected for
moisture or any other conditions that could affect the performance of the underlayment
or the finished floor covering. For areas where moisture vapor emissions exceed the
required limits refer to Section 09 05 61.13, Moisture Vapor Emission Control and
install the appropriate ARDEX Moisture Control System.

B. Crack and Joint Preparation:

1. Moving Joints and Moving Cracks – honor all expansion, isolation joints and moving
cracks up through the underlayment. A flexible sealing compound such as ARDEX
ARDISEAL™ Rapid Plus Semi-Rigid Joint Sealant may be installed.

2. Saw Cuts, Dormant Control Joints and Dormant Cracks – fill all dormant control joints and
dormant cracks with ARDEX ARDIFIX™ Low Viscosity Rigid Polyurethane Crack &
Joint Repair or ARDEX FEATHER FINISH® Self-Drying, Cement-Based Finish
Underlayment as recommended by the manufacturer.

C. Wooden subfloors: The wood subfloor either must be solid hardwood flooring; a minimum of
¾” (19 mm) tongue-and-groove, APA-rated Type 1, exterior exposure plywood; or an approved
OSB equivalent. The wood subfloor must be constructed according to prevailing building codes
and must be solid and securely fixed to provide a rigid base free of undue flex. Any boards
exhibiting movement must be refastened to create a sound, solid subfloor. The wood must be
clean and free of all foreign matter. If necessary, sand down to bare wood. Vacuum to remove all
dust. Do not use solvent, strippers or cleaners. Open joints should be filled with ARDEX
FEATHER FINISH®. It is the responsibility of the installation contractor to ensure that the wood
subfloor is thoroughly clean and properly anchored prior to the installation of any ARDEX
material.

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 D. Metal subfloors:

1. Metal subfloors must be rigid, well supported, properly anchored and free of undue flex
and vibration. They must also be clean and free of all rust, corrosion and foreign matter.

2. Non-lead metal substrates must be mechanically cleaned and profiled to create a bonding
surface. Please note that care must be taken when mechanically preparing thin metal foils
so that the metal foil is not compromised. Use an #80 or #100 grit sanding screen to
mechanically profile the metal surface. A hand or floor sander may be used. After sanding,
thoroughly deep vacuum to remove all loose material, and then wipe the metal using a
clean, white cloth dampened with 91% isopropyl alcohol. Repeat wiping using a new cloth
on each pass until the degree of discoloration on the cloth remains consistent on subsequent
passes (typically, approx. 5 – 7 passes). Lightly shot blasting also is suitable. From this
point until the metal has been primed, disposable shoe covers should be worn by anyone
traversing the surface of the prepared metal. Allow 15 – 20 minutes for residual alcohol to
evaporate before proceeding. Contact the Technical Service Department for guidelines on
preparing lead substrates.

E. Adhesive residues on concrete must first be tested to make certain they are not water-soluble.
Water-soluble adhesives must be completely mechanically removed down to clean concrete.
Non-water-soluble adhesives should be prepared to a thin, well-bonded residue using the wet-
scraping technique as recommended by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (www.rfci.com).
The prepared residue should appear as nothing more than a transparent stain on the concrete after
scraping.

F. Non-porous subfloors such as ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile, burnished concrete, epoxy
coating systems as well as terrazzo should be clean and free of all waxes, sealers, dust, dirt, debris
and any other contaminant that may act as a bond breaker. If necessary, clean by mechanical
methods such as shot blasting.

3.2 APPLICATION OF ARDEX K 15®

A. Examine substrates and conditions under which materials will be installed. Do not proceed with
installation until unsatisfactory conditions are corrected.

B. Coordinate installation with adjacent work to ensure proper sequence of construction. Protect
adjacent areas from contact due to mixing and handling of materials.

C. Priming:

1. Note: When using ARDEX P 51, It is critical to ensure that the ARDEX P 51 is dry prior
to proceeding with the next installation step. To determine if the ARDEX P 51 is dry after
a minimum of 30 minutes (max. 24 hours), pour water onto the surface of the primer in
several areas and rub it with your finger. If the water remains clear, the primer is dry. If the
water turns cloudy or milky, additional drying time is needed.
2. Primer for standard absorbent concrete subfloors: Dilute ARDEX P 51 1:1 with water
and apply evenly with a soft push broom. Do not leave any bare spots. Remove all
puddles and excess primer. Allow to dry to a clear, thin film (min. 30 minutes, max. 24
hours). Underlayment shall not be applied until the primer is dry.

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 3. Primer for extremely absorbent concrete subfloors: Make an initial application of ARDEX
P 51 mixed with 3 parts water using a soft push broom. Do not leave any bare spots.
Remove all puddles and excess primer. Allow to dry thoroughly (1 to 3 hours) before
proceeding with the standard application of primer as described above for standard
absorbent concrete.
4. Primer for non-porous subfloors such as burnished concrete, terrazzo, well-bonded
ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile, epoxy coating systems, wooden subfloors and non-water
soluble adhesive residues over concrete: Prime with ARDEX P 82 Ultra Prime. Follow
the mixing instructions on the container and apply with a short-nap or sponge paint roller,
leaving a thin coat of primer no heavier than a coat of paint. Do not leave any bare spots.
Remove all puddles and excess primer. Allow to dry to a clear, slightly tacky film
(minimum 3 hours, maximum 24 hours). Underlayment shall not be installed until primer
is dry. Note: If a suitable acrylic curing compound has been used on the concrete, test the
surface for porosity. If the concrete is porous, prime with ARDEX P 51. If it is non-porous,
prime with ARDEX P 82. For wood substrates, once the primer is applied, install 3.4
galvanized, expanded diamond metal lath mesh, stapling approximately every 6 inches
(15.2 cm). Do not walk on wet primer.
5. Primer for metal substrates: Prime the prepared subfloor with ARDEX EP 2000 and
immediately broadcast fine sand to refusal into the fresh epoxy. After a 16-hour cure
remove all excess sand. Remove all excess sand prior to proceeding:

a. Do not sweep. Using a rubber squeegee, consolidate excess sand into piles.
b. Shovel the piles of sand into barrels.
c. Vacuum remaining sand using a heavy-duty, bucket-style (Shop-Vac®-style)
vacuum and HEPA dust extraction vacuum system.

D. Mixing: Comply with manufacturer's printed instructions and the following.

1. Add 7 quarts (6.6 L) of clean potable water per 55 lb. (25 kg) bag. For applications over
wood and metal, the addition of ARDEX E 25™ Resilient Emulsion is required to increase
the resiliency of the ARDEX K 15. In these cases, mix 2 quarts (1.9 L) of ARDEX E 25
with 6 quarts (5.68 L) of water for each bag of ARDEX K 15.

2. Mix using a ½” (12 mm) heavy-duty drill (min. 650 rpm) with an ARDEX T-1 mixing
paddle. Do not overwater. When mixing sanded materials, ARDEX recommends using the
ARDEX DUSTFREE™ or a standard “gutter hook” vacuum attachment in combination
with a wet/dry (Shop-Vac® style) vacuum and HEPA dust extraction vacuum system.
Additionally, each bag should be handled with care and emptied slowly to avoid creating
a plume of dust. Contact the ARDEX Technical Service Department for more details on
ARDEX products and air quality management.

3. Aggregate mix: For areas to be installed over 1 ½” (4 cm) thick, aggregate may be added
to reduce material costs. Mix ARDEX K 15® with water first, then add 1 part aggregate by
volume of washed, well-graded 1/8" to 3/8” (3 to 9.5 mm) pea gravel. The aggregate size
must not exceed 1/3 the depth of the pour. Do not use sand. Note: The addition of aggregate
will diminish the workability of the product and may make it necessary to install a finish
coat to obtain a smooth surface. Allow the initial application to dry for 12 to 16 hours, and
then prime this layer with ARDEX P 51 mixed 1: 1 with water. Allow the primer to dry
(min. 30 minutes, max. 24 hours) before installing the neat coat of ARDEX K 15.

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 4. For pump installations, ARDEX K 15® shall be mixed using the ARDEX ARDIFLO™
Automatic Mixing Pumps. Contact the ARDEX Technical Service Department (888) 512-
7339 for complete pump operation instructions.

E. Application: Comply with manufacturer's printed instructions and the following:

1. Installations over metal and other non-porous substrates should be limited to a thickness of
½” (12.7 mm) unless otherwise approved by the ARDEX Technical Services Department.
For all other substrates, ARDEX K 15® must be installed at a minimum thickness of 1/8”
(3 mm) over the highest point in the floor, which typically results in an average thickness
of ¼” (6 mm) or more over the entire floor. ARDEX K 15® can be installed up to 1 ½” (4
cm) over large areas neat, and up to 5” (12.7 cm) with the addition of proper aggregate.
ARDEX K 15® can also be featheredged to match existing elevations. If a true featheredge
is needed, ARDEX recommends using ARDEX FEATHER FINISH® for transitions.

2. Pour or pump the liquid ARDEX K 15® and spread into place with the ARDEX T-4
Spreader. Immediately use the ARDEX T-5 Smoother to smooth the surface. Wear non-
metallic cleats to avoid leaving marks in the liquid ARDEX K 15®.

3. Wood subfloors require the use of the mesh-reinforced ARDEX K 15® + E 25™ Resilient
Emulsion Underlayment System. After priming, install 3.4 galvanized diamond metal lath
by stapling to the wooden subfloor approximately every 6 inches to center.

4. Metal subfloors require the use ARDEX K 15® + E 25™ Resilient Emulsion Underlayment
System.

F. Curing

1. ARDEX K 15® can be walked on in 2-3 hours. Moisture-insensitive tiles such as ceramic,
quarry and porcelain can be installed after 6 hours. All other finish floor coverings can be
installed after 16 hours at 70°F (21°C). For resinous systems such as epoxy and
polyurethane floors please contact the ARDEX Technical Services Department.

3.3 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL

A. Where specified, field sampling of the ARDEX underlayment is to be done by taking an entire
unopened bag of the product being installed to an independent testing facility to perform
compressive strength testing in accordance with ASTM C 109/modified: air-cure only. There are
no in situ test procedures for the evaluation of compressive strength.

3.4 PROTECTION

A. Prior to the installation of the finish flooring, the surface of the underlayment should be protected
from abuse by other trades by the use of plywood, Masonite or other suitable protection course.

END OF SECTION

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