Installation Guide

required as an adhesion test. Install several small areas (3´ x 3´) (1 m x 1 m) and allow the vinyl to set for 72 hours.
Remove the vinyl. If the backing remains attached to the concrete, the subfloor should be acceptable for sheet vinyl
installation. Install the sheet vinyl and allow the adhesive to cure for 24 hours prior to beginning installation. Degloss
as necessary to create an adequate adhesive bond. Always check for adequate adhesive bond.
Acoustic Concrete
(Glue-Down or Floating Installations Only)
Acoustic concrete normally contains large quantities of gypsum that may inhibit the adhesive’s capability to properly
bond. Acoustic concrete must be primed with the concrete manufacturer’s recommended primer/surface hardener. Test
the concrete by scraping the surface with a nail or other sharp object. If the concrete powders or crumbles, it is not
sound and suitable for direct application of hardwood flooring and may require the use of a floating sub-floor system.
Always check for adequate adhesive bond. The concrete must have a minimum compressive strength of 2000 PSI.
Ceramic, Terrazzo, Slate & Marble
(Glue-Down or Floating Installations Only)
All grout joints and broken corners that exceed 3/16˝ (5 mm) must be filled with a cementitous leveling compound
patch and underlayment. The surface should be cleaned and abraded to create a good bonding surface for the
adhesive. Loose tiles must be re-adhered to the subfloor or filled as above. Remove all sealers and surface treatments.
Always check for adequate adhesive bond.
Acoustic Cork Underlayment
(Glue-Down or Floating Installations Only)
The flooring can be glued or floated directly over full-spread, permanently bonded acoustic cork. The cork should have
a density of no less than 11.4 lb./cubic foot. The cork, in general, should be pure cork combined with a polyurethane
or resin binder. Install cork in accordance with cork manufacturer’s recommendations. Always check for adequate
adhesive bond. When floating floors over cork DO NOT use foam underlayment.
Wood Subfloors and Underlayment
(All Installation Methods)
General: The wood subflooring materials must not exceed 13% moisture content. Using a reliable wood moisture
meter, measure moisture content of both the subfloor and the hardwood flooring to determine proper moisture
content. Moisture content of wood subfloors must not exceed 12% as indicated by a wood moisture meter, and
be within 3% moisture content of the product being installed.. When installing parallel to the floor joists it may be
necessary to stiffen the subfloor system by installing an additional minimum of 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) approved underlayment.
Applicable standards and recommendations of the construction and materials industries must be met or exceeded.
NOTE: As flooring manufacturers, we are unable to evaluate each engineered system. Spacing and spans, as well as
their engineering methods, are the responsibility of the builder, engineer, architect or consumer who is better able to
evaluate the expected result based on site-related conditions and performance. The general information provided below
describes common, non-engineered joist/subfloor systems. Engineered flooring systems may allow for wider joist
spacing and thinner subflooring materials.
Wood Structural Panel Subfloors and Underlayment
(All Installation Methods)
Structural panels/underlayment must be installed sealed side down. When used as a subfloor, allow 1/8˝ (3 mm)
expansion space between each panel. If spacing is inadequate, cut in with a circular saw. Do not cut in expansion
space on tongue and groove panels.
• Plywood: Must be minimum CDX grade (exposure 1) and meet US Voluntary Product Standard PS1 performance
standard or Canadian performance standard CAN/CSA 0325-0-92. The preferred thickness is 3/4˝ (19 mm) as a
subfloor [minimum 5/8˝ (16 mm)] or 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) as underlayment.
• Oriented Strand Board (OSB): Conforming to US Voluntary Product Standard PS2 or Canadian performance standard
CAN/CSA 0325-0-92 construction sheathing. Check underside of panel for codes. When used as a subfloor, the
panels must be tongue and groove and installed sealed side down. Minimum thickness to be 23/32˝ (18 mm) thick
when used as a subfloor or 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) as underlayment.
• Waferboard and Chipboard: Conforming to US Voluntary Product Standard PS2 or Canadian performance standard
CAN/CSA 0325-0-92. Must be 3/4˝ (19 mm) thick when used as a subfloor and 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) thick when used as an
underlayment.
• Particleboard: Must be a minimum 40-lb. density, stamped underlayment grade and 3/4˝ (19 mm) thick.
Solid Wood Subfloors
(All Installation Methods)
• Minimum 3/4˝ (19 mm) thick with a maximum width of 6˝ (15 cm) installed at a 45˚ angle to the floor joists.
• Group 1 dense softwood (Pine, Larch, Douglas Fir, etc.) No. 2 common, kiln dried with all board ends bearing on
joists.
• For glue down applications add 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) approved underlayment.
Existing Wood Flooring
(All Installation Methods)
• Existing engineered flooring must be well bonded/fastened. When gluing over existing wood flooring of any
thickness, the finishing materials must be abraded or removed to foster an adequate adhesive bond. When flooring
is to be mechanically fastened, the existing engineered wood flooring must be a minimum of 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) thick
installed over approved wood/wood composite underlayment that has been properly fastened. When installing over
engineered flooring that is glued to concrete, the minimum thickness of that flooring must be 1/2˝ (13 mm) to allow
for the length of the fastener.
• Existing solid wood flooring that exceeds 6˝ (15 mm) in width must be covered with 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) approved
underlayment and fastened as required. Do not install over solid flooring attached directly to the concrete.
Vinyl, Resilient Tile, Cork Flooring and Linoleum
(All Installation Methods, see notes below)
(Glue-Down Installations)
• Make sure the floor covering materials are well bonded to the subfloor/underlayment with full spread adhesive and
are no more than two layers thick, not to exceed 3/16˝ (5 mm).
• With approved wood/wood composite subfloors, if vinyl or tiles are loose, broken, or in poor condition, install a 3/8˝
(9.5 mm) approved underlayment directly over the flooring materials.
• Clean the flooring materials as necessary to create a good adhesive bond. If a maintenance material is present on
the floor covering or a gloss is present, de-gloss with a flooring pad and a commercially available stripper, then rinse
completely. Allow ample drying time. (NOTE: Do not sand any resilient products. They may contain asbestos fibers,
which may be harmful.)
• Cork floors must have all sealers and surface treatments removed before installation begins. Always check for
adequate adhesive bond.
(Mechanically Fastened/Staple-Down Installations)
• Do not install over floors that exceed one layer, as the thickness of the flooring materials will prevent an adequate
mechanical bond.
• Make certain that the subflooring materials meet minimum requirements.
• Some tile products may be too brittle for staple penetration. Always test an area for breakage before proceeding.
INSTALLING THE FLOOR
Before You Start
• Before installing the planks, central heat or air conditioning should be operating for 14 days.
• Install only at room temperature above 60˚F (16˚C) and 30-50% humidity conditions.
• In rooms with under-floor (radiant) heating, the surface temperature of the subfloor may not, under any
circumstances, exceed 85˚F (29˚C). Increasing heat should be done in 5-degree increments. Ascertain that the
subfloor is properly engineered or controlled for the flooring being installed. Subfloors designed for materials with
higher resistance to heat transfer, such as carpet, WILL damage the flooring. Installations that include multiple floor
covering products on a single heating circuit must be adjusted for the flooring product with the highest heat transfer
or lowest temperature requirement.
2
• When possible, preselect and set aside boards that blend best with all horizontally mounted moldings (reducer/stair
nose etc.) This will assure a uniform final appearance. Install these boards adjoining the moldings.
• Floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to ensure good color and shade mixture.
• Be attentive to staggering the ends of the boards at least 4˝-6˝ (10-15 cm) when possible, in adjacent rows. This will
help ensure a more favorable overall appearance of the floor.
STEP 1: Doorway and Wall Preparation
(All Installations)
• Undercut door casings and jambs. Remove any existing base, shoe mold or doorway thresholds. These items can be
replaced after installation. When undercutting door casings the installer should confirm there is the recommended
expansion space. The floor must have 1/16˝ clearance under the door casing to be able to float freely without vertical
restriction.
STEP 2: Plan Your Layout Using the Following Steps
(All Installations)
• Decide the direction of the floor installation in the room. Planks installed parallel to windows accent the floor the best.
Floors should be installed perpendicular to the floor joists. If the floor is being installed parallel to the joists based
on installation needs, it may be necessary to add an additional underlayment, at least 3/8˝ thickness to ensure the
subfloor is adequate for this layout. Stiffen subfloors as necessary to prevent vertical movement.
NOTE: If your room exceeds a maximum room width of 30´ (9 m) or a maximum room length of 30´ (9 m) additional
expansion space is required. T- Moldings may be used at doorways or intersections to increase the expansion space.
(Floating Installations Only)
Room Width Room Length Expansion Space Required
30´ 30´ 1/2˝
40´ 40´ 3/4˝
50´ 50´ 1˝
60´ 60´ 1-1/4˝
STEP 3: Laying the Underlayment
(Floating Installations)
• Install the underlayment in the same direction that the hardwood flooring is to be installed.
• Extend the underlayment a few inches up the wall.
• Trim excess prior to installing trim or moldings.
• The floating floor underlayment already has double-sided tape for ease of taping the precut overlapping seams. If a
non-adhesive underlayment is used, tape all seams with the included tape.
STEP 4: Installing First Row
(Floating Installations)
• Select a board to begin installation of the first row using the longest boards available.
• Starting from the LEFT with the tongue facing the wall, carefully place the first board in place. Use wedges or 1/2˝
(13 mm) scrap along the wall to hold plank in place while allowing the required expansion space.
• Align the next piece by overlapping the end of the first board so that the joint is tight when the board lays flat. Some
slight adjustment of the board may be necessary to assure a tight fit.
• Again, place wedges or 1/2˝ (13 mm) scrap as necessary to restrain movement and maintain expansion zone.
• Continue in this manner until the first row is complete.
• Cut the final board to length allowing the necessary expansion zone.
• Place wedges to restrain movement and maintain expansion zone.
• A 1/2˝ expansion space is required throughout the installation. Do not attach or pinch the flooring to the subfloor at
any point of the installation including gluing, nailing, or by any other methods.
• If the wall is not straight, scribe the first board as necessary to maintain alignment.
• Continue to Step 7.
General Information for Glue-Down Installations
• Maximum adhesive working times: 50-60 minutes – When not in use, keep the adhesive container tightly closed to
prevent thickening. Thickening will cause difficulty in spreading the adhesive. Bruce
®
Summit Select – 45 minutes
• WORKING TIME WILL VARY DEPENDING ON JOB SITE CONDITIONS.
• Open times and curing times of ALL adhesives vary dependent upon
subfloor porosity, air movement, humidity and room temperature.
Urethane adhesive has a shortened working time in high humidity
environments. In areas of low humidity, open time will be longer with
urethane adhesives and shorter with some adhesives. Adjust the
amount of adhesive spread on the subfloor accordingly. The adhesive
should not be applied if subfloor or room temperature is below 60°F
(16°C). Hold trowel at a minimum 45° angle (Figure 3) firmly against
the subfloor to obtain a 50-60 ft.
2
(4-5.5 m
2
) per gallon spread rate
(20-30 ft.
2
per gallon for Bruce
®
Summit Select or Bruce
®
ProConnect
Plus spread with listed trowels) The trowel will leave ridges of
adhesive and very little adhesive between the ridges. This method will
allow you to still see the chalk lines between the ridges and provide the recommended spread rate.
• For additional application instructions, follow the recommendations on the adhesive container.
• Proper ventilation within the room must be provided. An electric fan is helpful.
STEP 3: Spread the Adhesive
(Glue-Down Installations)
• Spread sufficient amounts of the recommended adhesive with the recommended trowel in an area that can be
covered in 60 minutes (see adhesive information).
• If necessary, nail a sacrificial row with 1˝ (2.5 cm) nails on the dry side of your chalk line to help hold the first row
in place.
NOTE: Avoid installing on the surface of the flooring. If necessary, distribute weight using a kneeler board.
STEP 4: Installing the Floor
(Glue-Down Installations)
• Select a board to begin installation of the first row using the longest boards available.
• Starting from the LEFT with the tongue facing the wall, carefully place the first board in place. Use wedges or 1/4˝
(6 mm) scrap along the wall to hold plank in place while allowing the required expansion space.
• Align the next piece by overlapping the end of the first board so that the joint is tight when the board lays flat. Some
slight adjustment of the board may be necessary to assure a tight fit.
• Again, place wedges or 1/4˝ (6 mm) scrap as necessary to restrain movement and maintain expansion zone.
• Continue in this manner until the first row is complete.
• Cut the final board to length allowing the necessary expansion zone.
• Place wedges to restrain movement and maintain expansion zone.
• If the wall is not straight, scribe the first board as necessary to maintain. For random and alternate width products,
use the widest plank for the first row. The first row of planks should be installed with the edge of the groove lined
up on the chalk line. The tongue should be facing the starting wall. The first row must be aligned and seated in the
adhesive, as all additional rows will be pushed back to this original row. Remove tongue to allow for expansion space,
if necessary, on the row adjoining the wall.
• During the installation occasionally remove a piece of flooring from the subfloor and inspect the back for proper
adhesive transfer. Adequate adhesive transfer is necessary to ensure sufficient holding strength. Roll and cross roll
the floor with a 75-100lb. roller within one hour of the installation and again two hours to ensure proper transfer of
the adhesive.
• If the adhesive skins over and fails to transfer, remove and spread new adhesive to achieve proper bonding.
Figure 3