Installation Guide

Elastilon Product Manual
~ 9 ~
equilibrium or moisture balance between the new flooring with its surroundings before the installation.
Very dry or humid regions usually require extended conditioning. Recommended acclimation levels
maintained even after the installation will minimize board movement, excessive squeaks and gaps. Proper
jobsite conditions such acclimation, moisture testing of the subfloor, the room and the new flooring are
important components for a successful installation. This is the responsibility of those overseeing the
project.
Why does it recommend that a small amount of glue be used on the end joints?
Depending on the quality of the milling, hardwood flooring has a tendency to move up or down especially
on the end joints. Glue should be placed on the inside of the groove joint on the small ends of all floor
boards. (eg. the 3 ½” width)
Can a floor be repaired when installed with Elastilon?
It is possible to remove an installed floor board for only a brief period after it has been installed on
Elastilon. Slowly pull up the board from the Elastilon taking particular care not to damage the adhesive
layer. You may need to force some of the loose release foil under the piece of wood you are removing to
help separate it from the Elastilon glue surface. A removed board can then be reinstalled correctly. Once
the adhesive has set (approximately 20 minutes), the only means to remove a board is to cut out the piece
in question and replace it by gluing the four sides of a new board back in place. Be sure to place a piece of
Elastilon underneath the new board so as to ensure a level surface with the rest of the floor.
Our board replacement instructions are available from www.elastilonusa.com or by contacting
Elastilonusa directly at 1-877-526-9663.
What makes Elastilon different than other installations?
Remember that this is a free floating floor that should never be fastened directly to the floor beneath it and
an expansion space of at least 5/8” (16mm) must be maintained around all walls and stationary objects.
Expansion joints will also need to be installed in doorways, long hallways, and larger areas more than 33
ft (10m) in length following the direction of the small width (eg. 3 ½” width) of the floor boards.
Additional Expansion joints are not necessary in the direction of the long length of the floor boards with
expanses longer than 33 ft (10m) permitted (all small end joints must be glued). Please note expansion
joints must be covered with the appropriate molding.
Where necessary cut the door casings/jambs to allow the wood flooring to slide underneath. Baseboards should
never be fastened directly to the floor itself and may need to be raised to allow the flooring to slide underneath. If
not raised, a small molding can be added to conceal the expansion gap after the installation is complete.
Once the floor has been completely installed, remove the expansion spacers and trim any excess poly to the floor
level. To cover the expansion gaps, install / reinstall all baseboards and add appropriate moldings as needed.
How do I work around small or tight areas such as door jambs while trying to remove the release paper?
In areas where there is limited space or where the release foil will be difficult to work with, the release foil may
be removed around the area and the exposed Elastilon glue surface misted with water to allow for the easy