Engineered Hardwood Flooring Installation.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
1/4", 3/8" & 1/2"
(6 mm, 10 mm and 13 mm)
ENGINEERED PRODUCTS
FOR STAPLE-DOWN, MECHANICALLY FASTENED,
GLUE-DOWN AND FLOATING METHODS

Owner/Installer Responsibility

Beautiful wood floors are a product of nature and, therefore, not perfect. All wood floors are manufactured in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit grading deficiencies not to exceed 5%. These grading deficiencies may be of a manufacturing or natural type. When flooring is ordered, 5% must be added to the actual square footage needed for cutting and grading allowance (10% for diagonal installations).

• The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality. This inspection of all flooring should be done before installation. Carefully examine flooring for color, finish and quality before installing it. If material is not acceptable, do not install it and contact the seller immediately.

• Prior to installation of any wood flooring product, the owner/installer must determine that the job-site environment and the sub-surfaces involved meet or exceed all applicable standards. Recommendations of the construction and materials industries as well as local codes must be followed. These instructions recommend that the construction and subfloor be clean, dry, stiff, structurally sound and flat. The manufacturer declines any responsibility for job failure resulting from or associated with subfloor and substrates or job-site environmental deficiencies.

• Prior to installation, the owner/installer has final inspection responsibility as to grade, manufacture and factory finish. The installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with deficiencies, whatever the cause. Should an individual piece be doubtful as to grade, manufacture or factory finish, the installer should not use the piece.

• Use of stain, filler or putty stick for touch-up and appropriate products for correcting subfloor voids is accepted as part of normal installation procedures.

II. PREPARATION

Storage and Handling

Handle and unload with care. Store in a dry place and be sure to provide at least a four-inch air space under cartons which are stored upon “on-grade” concrete floors. Flooring should not be delivered until the building or home has been closed in with windows and doors in place and until cement work, plastering and all other “wet” work is completed and dry.

Although it is not necessary to acclimate engineered flooring, it is best to store it in the environment in which it is expected to perform prior to installation. Check adhesive label for adhesive storage limitations.

Job-Site Conditions

* The building should be closed in with all outside doors and windows in place. All concrete, masonry, framing members, drywall, paint and other “wet” work should be thoroughly dry. The wall coverings should be in place and the painting completed except for the final coat on the base molding. When possible, delay installation of base molding until flooring installation is complete. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry and well ventilated.

* Exterior grading should be complete with surface drainage offering a minimum drop of 3” in 10’ to direct flow of water away from the structure. All gutters and downspouts should be in place.

* Engineered flooring may be installed below, on or above grade level. Do not install in full bathrooms.

* Crawl spaces must be a minimum of 18” (46 cm) from the ground to underside of joists. A ground cover of 6-20 mil black polyethylene film is essential as a vapor barrier with joints lapped 6” (15 cm) and sealed with moisture resistant tape. The crawl space should have perimeter venting equal to a minimum of 1.5% of the crawl space square footage. These vents should be properly located to foster cross ventilation. Local regulations prevail over all installation requirements, so make sure to check local building codes.

* Permanent air conditioning and heating systems should be in place and operational. The installation site should have a consistent room temperature of 60-80F (16-27C) and humidity of 35-55% for 14 days prior, during and until occupied.

Subfloor Conditions

* CLEAN: Subfloor must be free of wax, paint, oil, sealers, adhesives and other debris.

* LEVEL/FLAT: Within 3/16” in 10’ (5 mm in 3 m) and/or 1/8” in 6’ (3 mm in 2 m). Sand high areas or joints. If the floor is to be glued down, fill low areas with a latex additive cementitious leveling compound of 3,000-PSI minimum compressive strength such as Armstrong S-194 Patch, Underlayment and Embossing Leveler with S-195 Latex Underlayment Additive. Follow the instructions of the leveling compound manufacturer but make certain that the leveling compounds are completely DRY before beginning installation. When mechanically fastening the floor down, flatten low spots with layers of 15lb builders felt, plywood or shims (not leveling compounds). Leveling materials must provide a structurally sound subfloor that does not affect the holding power of the fastener.

* DRY: Check and document moisture content of the subfloor using the appropriate moisture test. Concrete subfloors must be a minimum of 30 days old before testing begins.

* STRUCTURALLY SOUND: Nail or screw any areas that are loose or squeak. Wood panels should exhibit an adequate fastening pattern, glued/screwed or nailed as system requires using an acceptable nailing pattern. Typical: 6” (15 cm) along bearing edges and 12” (31 cm) along intermediate supports. Flatten edge swell as necessary. Replace any water-damaged, swollen or delaminated subflooring or underlayments.

NOTE: Avoid subfloors with excessive vertical movement. Optimum performance of wood floor covering products occurs when there is little horizontal or vertical movement of the subfloor. If the subfloor has excessive vertical movement (deflection) before installation of the flooring it is likely it will do so after installation of the flooring is complete.

Subfloors with Radiant Heat

NOTE: Always make certain the product selected is recommended for this type application.

* System must be operational and heated for at least 7 days prior to beginning the installation.

* Use a control strategy that brings the floor through temperature changes gradually which may include an external thermostat.

* Turn off heat and let subfloor cool down to room temperature 3-4 hours prior to starting the job.

* BEFORE installation begins, ascertain that the heating system is designed and controlled for wood flooring and that the circuit does not include other floor covering types. Failure to do so may cause excessive heat damage and shrinkage.

NOTE: Refer to radiant heat system manufacturer’s precautions for staple-down installation. Beware of stapling through radiant tubing or mesh.

• After installation, turn system back on immediately. The finished floor surface must not exceed 85F (29C) throughout the life of the floor.

• Radiant heating systems normally create dry heat that can lower interior humidity levels. It may be necessary to add humidity with humidifiers to maintain the recommended levels (35-55%) and prevent damage to the wood floor.

• The flooring should be end-glued over radiant heat to reduce longitudinal shrinkage. Apply a bead of the recommended wood glue to the groove end then insert the tongue. Wipe excess adhesive away immediately.

Tools & Accessories Needed

All Installations
* Broom * Tape Measure * Hammer * Chalk Line & Chalk * Hand Saw or Jamb Saw * Recommended Wood Flooring Cleaner * Electric Power Saw * Eye Protection * Moisture Meter (wood, concrete or both) * Transition and Wall Moldings * NIOSH-designated Dust Mask

Add for Glue-Down
* Recommended Adhesive & Adhesive Remover
* 3/16” x 1/4" x 5/16” (5 mm x 6 mm x 8 mm) Trowel
* 3M Scotch-Blue 2080 Tape
* Armstrong VapArrest S-135 Professional Moisture Retardant on concrete (if needed). Use with urethane adhesive only.

Add for Staple-Down
• Stanley-Bostitch "FloorRunner", Senco SLS20HF or equivalent
• 1" Staples/fasteners (minimum)
• Compressor and Hose
• Nylon/Plastic Tapping Block
• In-Line Regulator

Add for Floating
• Recommended Underlayment
• Pull Bar
• Tapping Block
• Recommended Wood Glue

This concludes part 1 of engineered hardwood flooring installation. Make sure to checkout part 2 which will be available in a few days.