Installation Guide

ManualsBrandsMohawk ManualsEngineered HardwoodValley Ridge Armor Oak 1/2-in Thick x 7-in Wide x Varying Length Engineered Hardwood Flooring (35 sq. ft. / case)

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Generic Multi-Layered T&G Installation Instructions 020818

Multi-Layered Core Engineered Hardwood Flooring T&G Installation Instructions

Glue Down, Staple Down, or Floating Installation

INSTALLER / OWNER RESPONSIBILITY:

It is the responsibility of the installer and owner to ensure that job site environmental,

sub-floor and subsurface conditions involved meet or exceed all requirements as

outlined in installation instructions prior to installation. Manufacturer declines all

responsibility for product performance or installation failure due to sub-floor, substrate

or environmental deficiencies or jobsite conditions.

All wood continually expands and contracts until it reaches moisture equilibrium with the

environment in which it’s installed. As with all wood flooring, expansion and contraction

will be minimized if the interior relative humidity is consistently maintained year round.

Humidification and/or dehumidification systems may be necessary to maintain your

home environment to prescribed relative humidity conditions.

The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality.

Examine flooring for color, finish, and style PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. If material is

unacceptable, contact the seller immediately. Wood is a natural product and contains

characteristics such as variations in color, tone and graining. Flooring is manufactured

in accordance with industry standards, which allows manufacturing and natural

deficiency tolerances up to 5% of the total installation. Installer should work from

minimum of 3 cartons at the same time to ensure good color and shade blend. The

installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off piece with deficiencies.

Do not install undesirable pieces. Flooring warranties DO NOT cover materials with

visible defects once they are installed. Installation is acceptance of product quality.

All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, masonry, painting, plastering) must be

completed prior to flooring being delivered. Building envelope must be complete and

exterior doors and windows installed. Exterior grading and gutter downspouts should be

completed and permanent HVAC systems in operation.

Precautions should be taken to protect floors from other trade work. Do not cover floors

with plastic, red rosin, felt or wax paper or previously used cardboard. Instead

use a breathable material such as clean, dry, plain uncoated cardboard or Kraft

paper. Inks from printed cardboard could damage the hardwood floor. The floor

should be thoroughly cleaned before covering to remove grit and debris that would

damage the finish. The floor must be completely covered to eliminate uneven ambering

from exposure to UV light.

Permanent HVAC should be on and operational a minimum of 5 days and maintained between 65 –

75 degrees and a relative humidity of 35%- 55% prior to delivery, during, and after installation of the

flooring for the life of the product. If HVAC is not possible at time of installation the environmental

conditions must be at or near normal living conditions between 60 – 80 degrees and at the average

yearly relative humidity for the area.

Building interiors are affected by two distinct humidity seasons – Heating and Non-

Heating. Care should be taken to maintain humidity levels between 35-55% year round.

Heating season – Low Humidity, Dry. All heating methods create dry, low humidity

conditions. Humidifiers are recommended to prevent excessive shrinkage or gapping in

wood floors due to seasonal periods of low humidity.

Non-Heating Season and Coastal or Waterfront Areas – High Humidity, Wet During the

non-heating season proper humidity levels should be maintained by using an air conditioner or

dehumidifier.

Manufacturer warranties do not cover natural expansion and contraction which

results in separation between planks, or damage caused by excessively low or high

humidity. Seasonal gapping is not considered a manufacturing defect.

Purchase an additional 5% of flooring to allow for cuts and additional 10% if installing

diagonally

WARRANTY NOTE: Installer should provide owner with one carton end label from

product installed along with the pre-installation moisture content readings for

warranty purposes. Owner should retain carton end label and copy of invoice with

product style name and style number for their records. Owner should retain excess

flooring and store in a climate controlled area for future repairs in the event flooring

is damaged.

The use of stain, filler or putty for correction is considered a normal practice and a routine

part of installation.

Basic Tools Needed:

Safety Glasses NIOSH approved Dust Mask

Wood/Concrete Moisture Meter both Broom or Vacuum

Chalk Line Starting Row Wedges

Tapping Block Pry Bar or Trim Puller

Tape Measure Pencil

Jamb Saw Miter Saw

Table Saw Utility knife

Low Adhesion Painter Tape Appropriate Adhesive Trowel (glue down only)

Coordinating stain, filler, or putty Plastic Scraper

Mineral Spirits (odorless) Terry Towels

Thick Felt Protectors Pull Bar

Putty Knife Carpenters Square

Accessories Needed:

15 lb. felt or rosin paper Performance Accessories Underlayment - Flooring Adhesive -

Coordinating Transition Strips or Molding - Mohawk Floor Care Essentials Hardwood &

Laminate Floor Cleaner

Glue Down Installation. Use Performance Accessories Adhesives and Sealers or

products that meet or exceed manufacturer’s adhesive and sealer specifications as

specified in Adhesive Selection section below. Refer to container labels for specifics on

trowel size, etc.

Multi-Layered Core Engineered Hardwood Flooring can be installed over most properly prepared sub-floors and are engineered to be dimensionally stable,

making them suitable for installation on all grade levels where excessive moisture conditions do not exist. We continuously make technological advancements

that improve product performance or installation techniques and methods. To confirm you have the most recent installation instructions, please visit our website

at www.mohawkflooring.com or contact Technical Services at 888-387-9881, Option 3

Caution: Wood Dust

Cutting, sanding or machining wood products produces wood dust. While

wood products are not hazardous under the OSHA Hazard Communication

Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), the International Agency for Research on

Cancer (IARC) and the State of California have classified wood dust as a

human carcinogen.

Precautionary Measures: Airborne wood dust can cause respiratory, skin and eye

irritation. Power tools should be equipped with a dust collector. Use an appropriate

NIOSH-designated dust mask. Avoid dust contact with skin and eyes.

First Aid Measures in case of irritations: In case of irritation flush eyes with water.

If needed seek medical attention. If dermatitis occurs, seek medical attention.

To request a Safety Data Sheets, call 888-387-9881, Option 3

PROPOSITION 65 WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the state

of California to cause cancer.

WARNING! DO NOT MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT

FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVES OR

OTHER ADHESIVES.

Previously installed resilient floor covering products and the asphaltic or cutback

adhesives used to install them may contain either asbestos fibers and/or

crystalline silica. The products in this carton DO NOT contain asbestos or crystalline

silica. Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of asbestos or crystalline 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 and may govern the removal and disposal of material. See

current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication “Recommended Work

Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings” for detailed information and instructions on

removing all resilient covering structures.

IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE FOR MINNESOTA RESIDENTS ONLY: These building

materials emit formaldehyde. Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache. Nausea and a variety

of asthma-like symptoms, including shortness of breath, have been reported as a result of

formaldehyde exposure. Elderly persons and young children, as well as anyone with a history

of asthma, allergies, or lung problems, may be at greater risk. Research is continuing on the

possible long- term effects of exposure to formaldehyde. Reduced ventilation may allow

formaldehyde and other contaminants to accumulate in the indoor air. High indoor temperatures

and humidity raise formaldehyde levels. When a home is to be located in areas subject to

extreme summer temperatures, an air-conditioning system can be used to control indoor

temperature levels. Other means of controlled mechanical ventilation can be used to reduce

levels of formaldehyde and other indoor air contaminants. If you have any questions regarding

the health effects of formaldehyde, consult your doctor or call your local health department.

Summary of content (6 pages)

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Multi-Layered Core Engineered Hardwood Flooring T&G Installation Instructions Glue Down, Staple Down, or Floating Installation Multi-Layered Core Engineered Hardwood Flooring can be installed over most properly prepared sub-floors and are engineered to be dimensionally stable, making them suitable for installation on all grade levels where excessive moisture conditions do not exist. We continuously make technological advancements that improve product performance or installation techniques and methods.
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PRE-INSTALLATION & JOB SITE CONDITIONS Do not install wood flooring until appropriate temperature and humidity conditions have been achieved. Flooring should be delivered and stored inside the HVAC controlled portion of the jobsite. Flooring should be stacked with at least a four inch (4”) airspace under the cartons. Remove any and all plastic wrap that may have been used to ship the material. Make certain that the room temperature is set to normal living conditions as described above.
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Before installing over a radiant heat floor turn off heat and wait until the floor has reached room temperature (70°-75°F). After installing the floor, gradually return the heat in 5 degree increments. CAUTION: The floor surface must never exceed 85°F.  Plan your layout and determine the direction of the installation in the room. Planks installed parallel to windows accent the hardwood best. Do not use area rugs on top of engineered flooring installed over radiant heat systems.
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TYPICAL TROWEL AND APPROXIMATE COVERAGE* 3/16” x 1/4” x ½” V-notch trowel: 50 to 65 square ft. per gallon. *Coverage is based on application to a clean, smooth concrete substrate; therefore, application rate may vary depending on substrate conditions NOTE: Do not apply over self-stick tile, sheet vinyl, old adhesives, metal, linoleum, laminate, particleboard or strip wood sub-floors without first covering with an approved wood or wood composite underlayment.
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such as clean, dry, plain uncoated cardboard or Kraft paper. Inks from printed cardboard could damage the hardwood floor. A common reinforced builder’s paper is a good choice. Any covering should be taped, using a low-adhesion tape, to base or shoe moldings. Avoid taping to finished flooring. When taping paper or sheets together, tape them to each other, not to the floor. The floor must be completely covered to eliminate uneven ambering from exposure to UV light.
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 MAINTENANCE Engineered Hardwood Floors are very easily maintained. No wax, no mess. The best way to care for your new floor is to schedule routine maintenance which includes sweeping the entire floor at least once a week to remove dirt and debris that may scratch the floor. High traffic areas such as entrances, doorways, and traffic lanes will require cleaning more frequently depending upon of the amount of concentrated foot traffic.