Installation Guide

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Installation:
1. From the top, le corner of the room put the rst plank in place so both the head and side seam grooves are exposed. Planks are to be
installed from le to right. Cut o the tongue on the long side of each piece in the rst row with a utility knife.
2. Install the second piece in the rst row by laying the short-end tongue onto the previously installed piece short-end groove. Fasten the piece
together by rmly pressing down with your thumb along the seam to lock the planks together. is will engage the 5G locking clip into the
piece you just placed; you will hear and feel the pieces lock together as the locking tab engages in the joint. Use of a so, white No. 2 rubber
mallet is also recommended to vertically engage the joint.
3. Continue in this manner for the rest of the rst row. e last piece in the row should be cut to length while maintaining the 5/16” (8mm)
expansion space along the perimeter of the room.
4. Cut a piece in half of the lengths to start the second row or use the cuto from the previous row, keeping in mind the length requirements
above. Install the rst piece in the second row by inserting the long side tongue into the groove of the piece in the rst row at a low angle
(25°) to the installed piece. en rmly lower the plank while maintaining a slight pressure toward the installed piece. e pieces should t
snugly together and lay at. Ensure that expansion space is kept along this wall.
5. To install the remaining planks in the second row, rst align the long edge tongue into the groove of the previous row at a shallow angle. Slide
the piece to the le until the piece meets the previously installed piece.
6. Firmly lower the piece while maintaining a slight pressure towards the installed piece. e pieces should t snugly together and lay at.
Engage the short edge joint as in #2 and #4 above.
7. Work across the length of the room installing pieces in the second row. It is critical to keep these rst two rows straight and square, as they are
the “foundation” for the rest of the installation. Check oen for squareness and straightness while installing the oor.
8. Use of several 5/16” (8mm) spacer blocks along the rst wall will ensure the proper spacing is achieved and that oor does not ‘walk’ back
towards the wall during installation.
9. Continue installing ooring, being certain to maintain a random appearance (planks) or the pattern and oset end seams by at least 6”.
Maintain a 5/16” (8mm) expansion gap at all xed vertical surfaces. Check to be certain all planks are fully engaged; if slight gapping is
noticed or the pieces will not lay at, simply disengage the long/top side joint and then carefully slide the short/end joint apart. Do not pull
up on this joint as it will damage the locking mechanism! Reinstall the piece.
10.Install wall moldings and door transition moldings last. Be sure that all moldings are fastened directly to the wall studs or directly into the
ooring; do not place any fasteners through the oating vinyl ooring!
AFTER INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE
Be sure all pieces are set at and have tight edges. Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum the oor to remove any debris. In the event that the ooring
is not the last portion of the construction project, the oor must be protected from construction trac and damage. Utilize a reinforced ber
protective board or a heavy Kra paper (min. 60#) to cover the oor. Make sure no debris is under the paper.
Initial maintenance:
• Aer installation, thoroughly sweep the oor and then clean with a neutral pH cleaner. Do not soak the oor as the water will migrate
through the joints and lay on the suboor, possibly causing condensation and moisture issues.
• If necessary to remove stubborn dirt or build up, a slow speed (275-350 rpm) buer can be utilized with a white, non-abrasive pad.
• Be sure to rinse the oor thoroughly and allow to dry.
• Use of commercial, heavy duty auto-scrubbers is discouraged for cleaning solid vinyl ooring.
Regular maintenance:
• Regular sweeping or vacuuming with a brushless vacuum will keep dirt and debris o the vinyl oor.
• To avoid possible permanent indentation or damage, proper oor protection devices must be used under furniture and appliances.
Exercise care when removing and replacing furniture or appliances.
• Sweep or vacuum the oor regularly and damp mop weekly to remove dirt; a small amount of a neutral pH cleaner can be used to help
remove dirt and buildups. We recommend using Earthwerks Floor Cleaner EWFC32 for routine cleaning. is can be purchased from the
ooring dealer where the Product was purchased. Do not use soap based detergents or abrasive cleaners.
• Clean up spills immediately. Earthwerks does not recommend the use of steam cleaners on our ooring.
These instructions are general guidelines for the proper procedures for installing and maintaining this ooring product.
For detailed instructions on Installation and Maintenance, please contact:
The Manufacturer is represented by: EarthWerks® 10850 Train Ct. Houston , Texas 77041-6208 U.S.A. Email: [e-mail] @earthwerks.com
Last updated: 12•29•2014 • EarthWerks® Vinyl Tile Flooring • Installation Instructions