Installation Guide

2
STYLE SELECTIONS
TM
LOCKING ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING — FLOOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
2018_06_SS_LEWF_LOW_INST_WAR
Site Requirements
Locking engineered hardwood is a durable floor covering, not intended as structural material. Locking engineered
hardwood requires a clean, dry, secure subfloor that meets building codes. Locking engineered hardwood flooring can be
installed above, on or below grade.
The following requirements are not intended to supersede federal, state or local building codes, but as with many other
interior finish products, may require modifying existing structural components for successful installation. Owner assumes
responsibility for compliance with all building codes.
All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, masonry, painting, plastering) must be completed prior to flooring
installation. 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
craft 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.
Locking engineered hardwood flooring is suitable for use in climate controlled indoor installations only and should not be
installed in rooms with floor drains or sump pumps. Room temperature should be 60-80°F, with relative humidity between
35-55%. These environmental conditions are specified as pre-installation requirements and must be maintained for the life
of the product. Additionally, any HVAC system must be in operation for a minimum of 14 days prior to performing moisture
tests or installation.
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. 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.
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.
During the non-heating season proper humidity levels should be maintained by using an air conditioner or dehumidifier.
RADIANT FLOOR HEATING — This product can be used in combination with many types of in-floor heating. The heating
system can be cast in a concrete floor or in a thin layer of filler on the surface of a concrete subfloor. It can also be installed
under a wood subfloor or installed on the surface of the subfloor as an electrical matting as long as it meets the floor
flatness requirements.
A) Follow the instructions from the supplier of the floor heating system.
B) Concrete subfloors must be installed and cured with no heat transfer for a minimum of 60 days.
C) The heating system must be in operation for at least two weeks before installation. The system may be turned
off or set to a suitable installation temperature (65 to 72°F).
D) The flooring surface temperature, which is the surface of the subfloor or the heat radiating from electric heating
mats, should not exceed 84°F (29°C).
CAUTION — Excessive floor heating will damage flooring planks. Radiant heating systems create dry heat that lowers
interior humidity levels. It may be necessary to add supplemental humidity in order to maintain recommended RH levels
(35-55%) and prevent damage to the wood floor.
DO NOT install this product in full bathrooms.
A moisture test is strongly recommended to determine if high moisture exists in the subfloor. When using a calcium
chloride moisture test for concrete subfloors (ASTM 1869), values must be ≤ 3 lbs/1000ft
2
/24-hr or <75% RH with an in situ
probe (ASTM F2170). Moisture readings of wood subfloors must be ≤ 12%.
Acceptable job site conditions, including relative humidity and subfloor moisture conditions, must be maintained
throughout the lifetime of the flooring.
This product is installed as a floating floor only and requires the use of T-moldings in doorways 4 ft (1.22m) or less and
in rooms 40 feet (12.2 m) or larger in length or width. Floor movement must not be constrained by glue, nails, screws,
hardware or other fixed obstructions.
This product must be installed in accordance with these installation instructions.