Assembly Instructions
Rev010813 3
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
•
Always use underlayment and a minimum 6 mil poly moisture barrier
New Construction (Concrete):
• A new concrete subfloor must dry at least 1 week per 1 cm (3/8”) thickness up to 4 cm
(1 ½”), thicknesses over 4 cm (1 ½”) require twice as much drying time. For example,
6 cm (2 ½”) concrete subfloor must dry for at least 8 weeks. The moisture content must be
less than 5 lbs/24 hour per 1000sqft (Calcium chloride method ASTM 1869).
Renovation (Concrete):
• Remove any damp-porous floor covering (carpet, needle felt, etc.) first.
• Damp-sealed floor covering (PVC, linoleum, VCT, etc.) does not have to be removed
as long as it is well secured to the subfloor.
WOODEN SUBFLOOR
• Remove any existing damp-porous floor covering first.
• Make sure the sub floor is stable. Nail down any loose parts and apply a leveling
layer if necessary.
• Install the Uniclic® planks crosswise to the direction of the existing subfloor.
• It is necessary that the crawl space under the plank floor is sufficiently ventilated.
Remove any obstacles and provide sufficient ventilation (minimum 4 cm (1-1/2”) of total
ventilation holes per meter (40”) of floor). The moisture content of the wood may not
exceed 12%.
INSTALLING THE FLOOR
• First install the underlayment, per width and gradually as you progress. If the
underlayment is pre-mounted on the planks, then only use a damp-proof
moisture barrier (6 mil poly) with water resistant adhesive tape. For Concrete, let
the membrane run up the wall a bit before cutting to size. For wood, cut the moisture
barrier 1 inch from the wall. A molding will be attached to this later. See diagram 3A.
• Begin the first row with a whole plank. First, saw off the tongue on both the long and the
short sides. See diagram 3B.
• Put the plank with sawn off sides against the walls. Put spacers from the installation
kit between the planks and the wall. This will ensure that your expansion joint is wide
enough: 8 to 10 mm (5/16” to 3/8”). See diagram 3C.
• The diagrams indicate where the Uniclic® planks are clicked together by angling up and
down or where they are tapped together flat. Follow the diagrams precisely. See diagrams
4A – 4F
• In places where it is too difficult to install the Uniclic® planks with the tapping block
(e.g. against the wall), you can tap them together using the pull bar and a hammer. See
diagrams 5A-5B-5C.
• There must also be an 8 to 10 mm (5/16” to 3/8”) expansion joint between the last row
and the wall. Keep this in mind when sawing the last row of planks.
INSTALLATION IN WET AREAS
Since prolonged water exposure could damage your laminate flooring, the following
installation recommendations should be closely followed to validate your residential
moisture warranty. Wet areas would include, but not limited to, bathrooms, powder
rooms, kitchens, mud rooms, foyers, and laundry rooms. Neither Mohawk® Laminate
flooring planks, nor Mohawk® Accessories, are recommended for extreme humid
applications such as in saunas or swimming pool areas. The water warranty excludes all
products thinner than 8mm and does not apply to beveled edge products when used in
bathrooms. An expansion area of 8 to 10mm (5/16” - 3/8) must be provided around all
vertical obstructions including walls, permanent cabinets, pipes, etc. All perimeter