Installation Guide

TOOLS & ACCESSORIES NEEDED
(All Installation Methods)
• Broom • Tape measure • Hammer • Chalk line & chalk • Hand saw or jamb saw
• Recommended hardwood flooring cleaner • Electric power saw • Eye protection • Recommended wood glue
• Moisture Meter (wood, concrete or both) • Transition and wall moldings • NIOSH-designated dust mask
(Add for Glue-Down Installations)
• Recommended adhesive and adhesive remover • Recommended trowel • 3M Scotch-Blue™ 2080 tape
• Recommended wood glue for floors exceeding 3-1/4˝ (9.5 cm) in width
(Add for Mechanically Fastened/Staple-Down Installations)
• PowerNail
®
, Primatech
®
, High ProStanley Bostitich
®
, Senco
®
• 1˝ Staples/fasteners (minimum) for 3/8˝ – 1/2˝ products, for 9/16˝ products, 1-1/4˝ fastener
• 20 gauge fasteners • Compressor and hose • Nylon/Plastic tapping block • In-line regulator
• Recommended wood glue for floors exceeding 3-1/4˝ (9.5 cm) in width
*The Flooring Manufacturer does not recommend or endorse any specific brand or type of mechanical fastener.
(Add for Floating Installations)
• Premium underlayment for floating hardwood flooring • Pull bar • Tapping block • Recommended wood glue
III. SUBFLOOR/UNDERLAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
RECOMMENDED SUBFLOOR/UNDERLAYMENT SURFACES
(Glue-Down and Floating Installations Only)
• Concrete • Ceramic Tile, Terrazzo, Slate & Marble • Acoustic cork
(All Installation Methods)
• Wood subfloors • Wood structural panels and underlayment • Fully adhered existing wood floors
• Fully adhered non-cushion vinyl sheet, resilient tile, cork flooring and linoleum
Concrete
(Glue-Down and Floating Installations Only)
The flooring can be glued directly to concrete with a minimum compressive strength of 3000 PSI. Do not install over
a concrete sealer or painted concrete. If present, sealer or paint must be removed by grinding or sanding. Do not
install over slick, heavily troweled or burnished concrete. The surface must be roughened as necessary by sanding or
grinding. Use an appropriate NIOSH-designated dust mask. Floating floors can be installed over any structurally sound
concrete.
Concrete Moisture Tests
All concrete subfloors should be tested, and results documented, for moisture content. Visual checks may not be
reliable. Test several areas, especially near exterior walls and walls containing plumbing. Acceptable test methods for
subfloor moisture content include:
• Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter Meter (Figure 2): Moisture
readings should not exceed 4.5 on the upper scale. (Figure 3 shows
an unacceptable reading of over 4.5) Concrete Moisture Meters give
qualitative reading results-not quantitative ones. These results are a
quick way to determine if further testing is required.
NOTE: The following tests are required in residential/commercial
applications. Either or both tests are acceptable. If both tests are
conducted then both tests must pass.
• Calcium Chloride Test (ASTM F 1869): The maximum moisture
transfer must not exceed 3 lbs./1000 ft.
2
in 24 hrs.with this test
• RH Levels in Concrete Using In-situ Probes (ASTM F 2170) should
not exceed 75%.
“DRY” CONCRETE, AS DEFINED BY THESE TESTS CAN BE WET AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR. THESE TESTS DO
NOT GUARANTEE A DRY SLAB.
Moisture Retardant Systems
If excessive moisture is present or anticipated, use a Moisture Retardant System, such Bruce Summit adhesive or
inexpensive sheet vinyl must be used to reduce vapor intrusion.
NOTE: DO NOT use Bruce Proconnect
™
Professional Hardwood Flooring Adhesive when using moisture retardant
system or sheet vinyl as a moisture retardant. Use only Bruce
®
Equalizer
™
moisture cured adhesive or Bruce Summit
Select
™
All In One premium adhesive.
• Bruce Summit adhesive: Apply the adhesive using the Summit trowel that is included in every pail. Flooring can be
installed immediately after applying the adhesive.
• Sheet vinyl: Sheet vinyl or “slip-sheet” (felt-backed with vinyl wear layer) must be installed. Use a premium grade,
alkali resistant adhesive and a full spread application system to properly bond the vinyl to the subfloor. Follow the
sheet vinyl manufacturer’s instructions for installation procedures. A bond test may be 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 hardwood flooring should not not be directly installed use of 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 cementitious leveling compound
Patch, Underlayment & Embossing Leveler with Underlayment Additive. The surface must 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 must be removed Always check for adequate adhesive bond.
Acoustic Cork Underlayment
(Glue-Down or Floating Installations Only)
The flooring must be glued or floated directly over full-spread, permanently bonded acoustic cork. The cork must 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 12% moisture content. Using a reliable wood moisture
meter, measure moisture content of both the subfloor and the hardwood flooring to determine proper moisture
content.The wood subfloor should be checked at various locations throughout the installation approximately 20
readings or more should be taken and documented. The difference between the moisture content of the wood subfloor
and the hardwood flooring must not exceed 3%. 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
2
joist spacing and thinner subflooring materials. When wider joist spacing of 19.2˝ or greater is used at least one of the
following options must be used:
Option 1: When wider joist spacing of 19.2˝ or greater is used, additional plywood subfloor material must be added to
reduce movement and deflection.
Option 2: In addition to the use of mechanical fasteners, assisted glue applications must be used. The glue should be a
premium grade urethane construction adhesive applied in a serpentine pattern to the back of each board. Then follow
the recommended fastening pattern.
Option 3: With wider spacing of 19.2˝ apply a bead of Bruce EverSeal to the bottom of the end and side groove.
This will lock the tongue and groove together eliminating movement that may contribute to noise. Then follow the
recommended fastening pattern with a staple or cleat.
NOTE: Following one of these options is also intended to reduce noise associated with a mechanically fastened installation.
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 must be allowed 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.
• The subfloor must be 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 a 3/8˝ (9.5 mm) approved underlayment, must be added.
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)
NOTE: DO NOT use Bruce ProConnect Professional Hardwood Flooring Adhesive when installing over these surfaces.
Use only Bruce Equalizer moisture cured Premium Urethane Adhesive or Bruce Summit Select All In One Premium
Adhesive.
• Make certain 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. (See previous sections).
• Some tile products may be too brittle for staple penetration. Always test an area for breakage before proceeding.
IV. INSTALLING THE FLOOR
General Installation Tips
NOTE: When installing UNFINISHED engineered flooring, allow a
minimum of 72 hours adhesive curing time before applying seals,
stains and finishes to unfinished flooring. Test the moisture content
of the wood in accordance with the stain/finish manufacturer’s
recommendations.
• All Products may be stapled or mechanically fastened, but products
over 5˝ will require a serpentine bead of Premium construction
adhesive applied to the back of the plank.
• Floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to ensure
good color and shade mixture.
• When possible, preselect and set aside boards that blend best with
all horizontally mounted moldings used to assure a uniform final
appearance. Install these boards adjoining the moldings.
• Be attentive to staggering the ends of the boards at least 4˝-6˝ (10-15
cm) when possible, in adjacent rows (Figure 3). This will help ensure a
more favorable overall appearance of the floor.
• When installing engineered products of uniform length, begin the rows
with starter boards cut to various lengths. Avoid staggering the rows
uniformly to prevent stair-stepping. Boards cut from the opposite end
of the row may be used for the next starter boards.
• Always allow a minimum 1/4˝ (6 mm) expansion around all vertical
obstructions. Allow 1/2˝ (13 mm) for floating floors.
NOTE: For Glue-Down Installation: When installing products wider
than 3-1/4˝ (8 cm), apply a bead of recommended wood glue to all of
the end grooves prior to installing into the adhesive. For Staple-Down
Installation: When installing products wider than 3-1/4˝ (8 cm) but not to
exceed 5˝ (13 cm), apply a bead of recommended wood glue to all of the
end grooves prior to stapling down.
Figure 2
Figure 3
Preferred Alignment
Figure 5
Figure 4