Installation Guide

PREPARATION/PRÉPARATION/PREPARACIÓN
Before beginning installation of product, make sure all parts are present. Compare parts with package contents list and
hardware contents list. If any part is missing or damaged, do not attempt to assemble, install or operate the product.
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT cover materials with visible defects once they are
installed. It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site suboor and job site conditions are
environmentally and structurally acceptable for wood oor installation. The ooring manufacturer declines any responsibility for
wood oor failure resulting from or connected with suboor, subsurface, job site damage or deciencies after hardwood
ooring has been installed.
Installation Checklist:
• Measure the area to be installed and dene the installation direction.
• It is recommended to install the length direction of the planks parallel to the main light direction.
• Store the packages in the future room climate and open several packages to pull material from during installation.
• Always keep a minimum 3/8 in. distance between ooring and all walls and vertical obstructions.
• Check suboor. It must be dry, clean, rm, and at.
• Measure the room. Decide installation direction. Note the limitations as per below – due to natural behavior of wood.
• Floor Heating (OAK Only) – see requirements on next page – follow the instructions from the system supplier.
• Check oor continuously during installation. Defective boards that are installed are not covered by warranty.
• Keep room climate 35-55% RH at 64-78ºF, before, during, and after install.
• Follow all care and maintenance rules to preserve quality of ooring.
Preparation of Suboor:
Suboor irregularities and undulation may cause any wood ooring installation to develop hollow spots between the ooring and
suboor. These hollow spots are NOT the result of any wood oor manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by the
warranty.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as the thickness of the hardwood ooring or a
minimum of 3/8 in.
Remove paint, wax, oil, plaster, sheetrock mud and other foreign materials, as well as obvious surface irregularities. #3-1/2 grit
open coat paper may used to grind a concrete suboor. This will loosen any dirt, loose concrete or contaminants. Sweep or
vacuum thoroughly. All previous or existing glues or adhesives must be removed before installing new hardwood oor.
Concrete suboors must be clean, dry, at, sound and sufcient compression strength (3,000 lbs. PSI).
Remove any existing base, shoe mold or doorway thresholds. These items can be replaced after installation, but should be
replaced in such a way as to allow at least 3/8 in. room for expansion around the perimeter of the room. All door casings should
be notched out or undercut to allow 3/8 in. room for expansion and to avoid difcult scribe cuts. This is easily done by placing a
piece of the engineered product on the suboor as a height guide for your handsaw or jamb saw.
Sections not at due to waviness, trowel marks, etc., are to be attened by grinding or the use of leveling compound. Especially
along the walls, the suboor atness must be checked and, if necessary, improved. Flatten to 3/16 in. in 10 ft. radius. In addition
to cement suboors, these wood ooring products can be installed over dry, at suboors such as plywood.
Concrete Suboor:
• If suboor is concrete, check for dryness. If moisture is present, do not install ooring. All concrete suboors on or below
grade need to be tested.
• Electrical Impedance Test and Electrical Resistance Test (Concrete Moisture Meters: Follow Moister Meter MFG
Guidelines). If meter shows possibility of excess moisture, further testing is required.
• Relative Humidity Test (Standard test method for determining relative humidity on concrete oor slabs using Situ Probes).
If test shows over 75%, vapor retarder must be used or wait for further curing.
• Calcium Chloride Test ASTM F-1869. Readings over 3 lbs. and up to 7 lbs. will require vapor retarder.
Wood Suboor:
• New wood type suboors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture meter. In general, wood or plywood
suboors should not exceed 14% moisture content and no more than 4% MC difference between wood ooring and
suboor. Check with local distributor for geographical variances.
• The use of ooring putty to cover small cracks or face nail holes should be considered normal in hardwood ooring
installation.
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