Installation & Assembly

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Installation Instructions
0328_May/2019
Page 3 of 5
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
• Place the planks 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: 3/8-inch. 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. For better results, the floor should be installed with a
staggered random length for the starting planks in each row - be careful not to create a repeating pattern. For example,
start the first row with a whole plank, second row with 1/3 of a plank, third row with 2/3 of a plank, then a whole, then ½,
then ¼, then back to whole, then short, then medium, etc. Alternating the length of the starting plank on each row will
avoid creating a zigzag or stair step pattern in the floor.
• 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 be a 3/8-inch expansion joint between the last row and the wall. The width of the final row planks must be a
minimum of 2 inches wide. 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 water resistance warranty. Wet areas would include, but are not limited to:
bathrooms, powder rooms, kitchens, mud rooms, foyers, and laundry rooms. Neither flooring planks nor accessories are
recommended for applications with extreme humidity. The water resistance warranty excludes all products thinner than
5/16-inch and does not apply to beveled edge products when used in bathrooms. An expansion area of 3/8-inch must be
provided around all vertical obstructions including walls, permanent cabinets, pipes, etc. All perimeter expansion areas must
be completely filled in with a water-repellent flexible silicone sealant. When applying sealant, it is helpful to first apply a strip of
masking tape parallel to and approximately 1/32-inch from the edge of the flooring. Then fill the expansion area with sealant,
remove any excess with a plastic scraper or putty knife, then remove the tape. Let dry for 24 hours before exposure to water. It
is important that moisture does not enter the core of any cut planks.
PIPES
In rows where there is a pipe, make sure the pipe falls exactly in line with the short side of two planks. Take a drill bit with the
same diameter as the pipe plus 3/4-inch for the expansion. Click the planks together on the short side and drill a hole centered
on the joint between the two planks. Now you can install the planks in the floor. See Diagrams 6A-6B-6C.
UNDER DOORFRAMES
When sawing the planks, ensure that the expansion joint under the door is at least 3/8-inch. If you cannot lift the plank, use an
adapted tapping block or pull bar and hammer to tap the planks together with the planks flat on the floor. See Diagrams 7A-7B.
FINISHING
Remove all spacers.
Install the molding on the plastic membrane that runs up the wall from under the floor. Never attach the molding to the floor.
This method allows the floor to expand and contract under the molding. See Diagram 8A.
• For a perfect finish around pipes, use rosettes or flexible silicone sealant.
• In places where profiles or moldings cannot be placed, fill expansion gaps with flexible silicone sealant.
PRECAUTIONS
• Protect floors from furniture and chair legs with proper felt or rubber caps.
• Avoid bringing dirt, water, and grit indoors by providing a suitable solid-backed floor mat at any outside leading doors.
• Furniture on casters/wheels must use soft, rubber wheels that are suitable for a laminate floor and/or use a suitable
protective mat.
• Ensure that humidity in the room is always between 35-65%. Use a humidifier or de-humidifier if necessary.