Installation Guide

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. For current information go to www.rfci.com
C. Existing Floor Coverings
• VersaLock ooring can be installed over most existing hard–surface
oor coverings, provided that the existing oor surface is clean, at dry
and structurally sound.
• Quarry tile, terrazzo and ceramic tile - Use caution with highly
embossed tile. This type of tile plus grout joints should be lled with a
high quality cementitious patching product.
• When the removal of the existing resilient oor covering is not an option
then it must be covered with an embossing levelling compound or an
equivalent in order to provide a smooth suboor surface. Otherwise,
telegraphing may occur.
• Existing sheet vinyl oors should not be heavily cushioned and not exceed
more than one layer in thickness. Soft underlayment and soft substrates
will diminish VersaLocks inherent strength in resisting indentations.
• Installation is NOT allowed over any type of carpet.
• Insert the following after Installation is NOT allowed over any type
of carpet.
• Never use solvents or citrus adhesive removers to remove old adhesive
residue. Solvent residue left in and on the suboor may affect the new
oor covering.
III. INSTALLATION
VersaLock plank ooring is designed to be installed
utilizing the oating method only. Never secure the
planks to the suboor. Do not install cabinets or xed
objects on top of the ooring. Proper expansion space
is required. Undercut all doorjambs. Do not fasten
wall mouldings and or transition strips to the planks.
1. Before you start with the installation, it is
important to determine the layout of the
ooring. Proper planning and layout will prevent
having narrow plank widths at wall junctures or
very short length pieces at the end of rows.
2. As with all plank products, install the planks
parallel to the longest exterior wall.
3. Determine if the starter row will need to be cut.
If the rst row of planks does not need to be
trimmed in width, it will be necessary to cut off
the unsupported tongue so that a clean, solid
edge shows towards the wall.
4. Installation of the product must start from the
left side of the room, working to the right when
working in front of the planks or facing the
starting wall.
5. Install the second plank in the row by angling
the end tongue into the end groove of the
rst plank. Be careful not to bend the corner
of the plank. Maintain an expansion gap of
approximately 5/16" - 8mm from the wall. Start
the second row by cutting a plank to the desired
length. Keep in mind that the plank must not
be shorter than 6" (15cm) to achieve the best
appearance.
6. Install the rst plank in the second row by inserting the long side tongue into
the groove of the plank in the rst row. This is best done with a low angle
of the plank. Maintain pressure into the side seam as you rotate the plank
to the suboor. Install the second plank in the second row by inserting the
short end tongue into the previously installed plank groove. Align the plank
so that the long side tongue tip is positioned just over the groove lip of the
plank in the rst row. Working from the end seam, at a low angle, insert the
long tongue into the groove of the adjoining plank. Very little force is required
to seat the tongue into the groove. You should feel the tongue lock into the
groove.
7. Work across the length of the room installing planks along the wall in the
rst row and then aligning the planks in the second row. It is critical to keep
these two rows straight and square, as they are the “foundation” for the rest of
the installation. Check squareness and straightness often.
8. Cut the last plank in the rst row and leave an expansion gap of around 5/16"
- 8mm. Planks may be cut with a utility knife using the “score and snap”
technique. The leftover of this plank may be used to start the third row if it’s a
minimum 6" - 15cm long.
9. Continue installing planks and make sure to achieve a random appearance
with end pieces of minimum 6" - 15cm. Check that all planks are fully
engaged; if a slight gapping is found, the gap can be tapped together by using
a tapping block and a scrap of ooring to cover the tapping block in order to
avoid damages on the planks.
10. When tting under door casings, etc., the exibility and convenient
connection of VersaLock becomes evident. If necessary, a at pull bar may be
used to assist in locking the planks.
11. When tting around obstacles or into irregular spaces, planks can be cut easily
and cleanly using a utility knife with a sharp blade. It is often benecial to
make a cardboard template of the area and transfer this pattern to the plank.
12. Protect all exposed edges of the ooring by installing wall moulding and/or
transition strips. Make sure that no plank will be secured in any way to the
sub oor.
13. Protect the nished ooring from exposure to direct sunlight.
IV. REPAIRS
1. VersaLock plank ooring is tough and durable;
however, if a plank becomes damaged, it can
be replaced. If the damaged plank is along the
perimeter of the room, the easiest technique is to
disconnect the planks until the damaged plank
is removed. Replace the plank and reassemble
the planks. If it is impractical to disconnect and
reassemble the ooring, the following procedure
should be followed:
2. It’s recommended to use painters tape along the
sides of the board to be replaced to prevent damage
to the adjoining boards.
3. Using a Utility Knife, cut through the center of the
damaged plank, running the length of the plank.
4. Carefully remove cut pieces from the insert. You can use a utility knife to
remove the pieces from the oor. Clean up any debris from opening area.
5. To prepare replacement plank. Cut and remove tongue from the long side and
the short end of the plank. This can be accomplished by using a Utility knife.
6. Using a Utility Knife, remove approximately 1.5 inches of the groove on the
long side of the plank from the tongue end.
7. Apply a small bead of Shaw 4062 seam sealer or use a Ethyl Cyanoacrylate
adhesive (super glue) to the groove of the boards in the oor.
8. Insert replacement plank, locking the long side joint (groove side) into the
existing oor. NOTE: The tongue end of the replacement plank will overlap
the existing oor prior to be fully inserted.
9. Using a scrap piece of plank as a tapping device, tap the groove end into
place. Insert the blade of a Utility knife on the opposite side to lift and adjust
the end as it is being tapped into place.
10. Place a weight on the plank until the adhesive sets. (Shaw recommends
minimum 6-8 hours).
© 072214, 5th revision, Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Company