Use and Care Manual

Waterproof wood installation guide lines
With 2G Technology
Life Time Finish residential warranty / 5 year commercial
4 WPW 04.19HC
Follow the below-grade instructions (above) for underlayment requirements and installation instructions. Most radiant heat installations
call for the requirements below when installing over radiant heat systems. Always refer to the manufacturer of the radiant heating
system for detailed instructions.
● Use floating floor installation only. Do not use the glue down or staple installation method on radiant heat flooring.
● Oak, Maple or Birch are approved for use on radiant heat applications. Do not use American Cherry, Hickory or any Exotic Species.
● Warranty will be voided if anything other than approved species or installation method is used.
● The end consumer should be aware that there might be minor gapping between wood planks during the heating season is a normal
occurrence with hardwood flooring installed over radiant heated systems.
● Newly installed water-heated-radiant- heat systems should be operational for a minimum of 4 weeks with the temperature set
between 64
o
-68
o
F to ensure a dry subfloor with the proper moisture content.
● Existing water- heated-radiant- heat systems must be operated a temperature of 64
o
F for a minimum of 4 days before installation
of hardwood flooring.
● A pressure test must be performed and documented before installation.
● At the time of installation, sub-floor must be 64
o
-68
o
F.
● Use floating floor installation only. Do not use the glue down installation method on radiant heat flooring.
● Use an adhesive approved by the system manufacturer for edge and end joints
● After installation does not change the radiant heat settling for 48 hours.
● Gradually increase the heat 3 - 5
o
increments daily to adjust the heating system temperature up or down to allow the flooring to
adjust to the temperature changes.
● The maximum temperature of subfloor under normal use should not exceed 85
o
F. (Check with heat system manufacturer).
● For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with manufacturer’s suggested guidelines.
● Heating pipes must be covered with 1 1/4” of concrete or minimum 1/8” below the bottom side of plywood sub-floor. Also, for
plywood sub-floor, heat transfer plates or insulation boards must be under pipes.
● Room temperature should be maintained between 60-80
o
F and not vary more than 15
o
F from season to season.
● Relative Humidity must be maintained in the range of 35-55% humidity in the home for radiant heated rooms.
*Wood stability refers to predictable movement that can be expected in a given wood species after installation once in
service. Note that even when using an ideal species for radiant applications actual wood performance can still vary
due to the radiant system construction, its operation and installation techniques
IMPORTANT: DO NOT INSTALL CABINETS OR WALLS ON TOP OF THE FLOORING WHEN USING THE
FLOATING INSTALLATION METHOD.
Step 1: GETTING STARTED
Important: The flooring should be installed from several cartons at the same time to ensure proper color, grain, and shade mix.
● Before starting, first, measure the width of the room, and then divide the room’s width by the width of the plank. If this means that
the last row of planks will be narrower than 2”, then you will need to cut the first row of planks to make it narrower. Cut in such a
way that both rows of planks (the first and last to be installed in the room) will have the same approximate width for an overall
continuous look. See installing the last row.
Note: To cut the boards, always saw with the teeth cutting down into the face or top of the board. Cutting from the top down helps
protect the surface.
● The planks install easily without glue. Simply attach the tongue on one plank to the groove side on another plank, and the planks
will lock snugly together.
• Begin the installation of the planks in the left-hand corner of the room with the long direction parallel to the incoming sunlight source
or to the longest wall of the room (if this is possible). Be sure to install the first row of boards with the tongue side facing the wall.
Note: Slightly bowed boards can be installed and are not considered defective.
• Use 3/8” expansion spacers to provide a gap for the seasonal expansion of the flooring along the walls of the entire room. Always
place expansion spacers against the wall where the two boards meet. This will make maintaining a good square easier.