Manufacturers, in an attempt to control the installation of their flooring materials and prevent failures of the installation, are mandating you use their adhesives. They have worked with adhesive manufacturers to develop the best formulations for use with their products and, as a result, they feel the adhesive they specify using will do the best job. Why should you use the specified adhesive? It generally works, and if you don't use it they won't warrant the material or the installation.

Many of you might think the only reason they tell you to use their adhesive is so they can make more money. Well, you wouldn't be wrong saying that certainly, as it's the truth, and, there's nothing wrong with that. After all, you have "add-ons" and additional profit centers that you make money with and that's business. However, they also sell the adhesive with the flooring material because they have done testing and know it works best with their products. If for some reason you should have a claim on the flooring material they will not warrant it if you did not use their adhesive.

Now, what a defect in the material has to do with the adhesive used is a stretch of logic, but that's their policy. This is just more reinforcement to get you to use the right adhesive. So rather than fight the issue, just do the right thing. This is very similar to using motor oil or parts recommended by your automobile manufacturer; substitutions may also work but they may void your warranty.

To give you an example, an installer called here last week and had a question about the adhesive he was given by his boss to use with a sheet vinyl installation. He questioned using the adhesive first, because it specifically stated it couldn't be used with a vinyl-backed product, and second, he was installing a vinyl floor that the manufacturer mandated only its adhesive be used. I told the installer not to use the glue, and unless he had the specified adhesive not to install the flooring material. If he had used the adhesive he was given, he would have voided the warranty on the vinyl and would have been blamed for any installation failure. It's not worth the risk just to save a few bucks.

Most adhesive manufacturers put identifiers in their products so they'll know whether or not their adhesive was used. If you file a claim and they get a sample of the adhesive from beneath the flooring and it's not their adhesive, they have the right to refuse your claim.

If you feel the adhesive or seam sealer specified isn't working properly, you should call the flooring manufacturer and let it suggest an alternative. If a mill does suggest an alternative, have it send you an email confirming it was alright. On a recent double stick re-installation we worked on, the manufacturer's seam sealer was not flowing well, came out in gobs and was very difficult to work with. I called the manufacturer, told it about this and said what we wanted to use, a new product that can be used on carpet and vinyl and is one of the best seam sealers on the market, if not the best right now. The flooring manufacturer said it had had some bad batches of its seam sealer and it was alright to use the alternative, which actually is a much better product.

So, to avoid losing money on a claim and to prevent aggravation with the products you install, only use what the manufacturer tells you to use. If you have a complaint later, as long as you really didn't do something wrong, and the installation or product fails, at least you won't be on the lurch because you didn't use the specified adhesives. This is another simple way to avoid claims and keep your profit. Do what they tell you to do.