Installation Guide

EARTHWERKS SPC FLOATING PLANK FLOOR
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES
A product of Swiff-Train Company ▪ 10850 Train Court, Houston TX 77095 ▪ 800-275-7943
J a n u a r y 2018 4 | P a g e
7. For any subfloors or substrates not listed please contact EarthWerks Technical Services. Any surface
deemed unsuitable should be covered with an approved ¼” wood underlayment or suitable Portland-based
cement leveler or patching compound. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended practices when
covering an existing substrate.
Installation and Layout
Plank Layout
EarthWerks SPC product is designed to be installed as a “floating” floor. Do not secure the planks to the
subfloor. Always undercut all doorjambs. Do not install cabinets or kitchen islands on top of SPC. Use care
when installing wall moldings and transition strips to not fasten through the SPC floating planks.
Layout
a. Install flooring perpendicular to direct sunlight sources, including large windows, doors, etc.
b. It is important to balance the layout of the plank format. Proper planning and layout will prevent narrow
piece widths at wall junctures. Determine layout to prevent planks having less than half the width or
very short length pieces.
c. A 5/16” spacing along all walls and all vertical surfaces must be allowed for when determining your
starting plank width. On runs of flooring longer than 100 feet (30 meters) control joints with a suitable
T-molding are recommended to be installed with a minimum of 5/16” (8mm) gap between the sides of
the t-molding.
d. For areas with varied or inconsistent temperatures from other installed areas, utilization of t-moldings
between these area/rooms is recommended. A minimum of 5/16” gap is to be allowed on either side
of the installed track where moldings are used; this will allow the installed areas to freely expand and
contract during the extreme temperature fluctuations.
e. Dry lay a section of plank from the center line to one wall to determine that the pattern is centered and
fit. Border cuts should be measured and should not be less than half the width of a plank. If the cut
row falls under these conditions, adjust the first row at the center line to make the centerline match the
centerline of the row of planks.
2. Installing EarthWerks Floating vinyl flooring
Use of several 5/16” spacer blocks along the first wall will ensure the proper spacing is achieved and that
floor does not ‘walk’ back towards the wall during installation.
a. Determine if the starter row will need to cut from the Layout instructions above. It will be necessary to
cut off the unsupported tongue on full planks on the edges placed against the wall so that a clean, solid
edge is toward the wall.
b. Starting in the farthest left, upper corner of the room position the first piece so that both the head
and side seam groove is exposed. This requires installing the product from left to right in the room.
WARNING!
DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, BEADBLAST, SHOTBLAST OR USE ANY OTHER MECHANICAL MEANS TO
PULVERIZE EXISTING TILE FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUT-BACK” OR ANY
OTHER ADHESIVES. THESE PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN ASBESTOS FIBERS AND/OR CRYSTALLINE
SILICA. AVOID CREATING DUST. INHALATION OF SUCH DUST IS A CANCER AND RESPIRATORY TRACT
HAZARD. SMOKING BY INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS FIBERS GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK
OF SERIOUS BODILY HARM. UNLESS POSITIVELY CERTAIN THAT THE PRODUCT IS A NON-ASBESTOS
CONTAINING MATERIAL, YOU MUST PRESUME IT CONTAINS ASBESTOS. REGULATIONS MAY
REQUIRE THAT THE MATERIAL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE ASBESTOS CONTENT.