Installation Sheet

A419
IMPORTANT: T-molds must be used to separate heating zones (so the flooring over each zone can expand and
contract without pulling or pushing on an adjacent zone).
The radiant heating system should be set to run at 2/3 of maximum output for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to
installation of flooring to further allow moisture from concrete to dissipate. This must be done in both heating AND
non-heating seasons. Reduce heat to a temperature of 65° 4 days prior to installation. Set-back style thermostats
are NOT recommended. Use of a separate thermostat for each individual room is required. An outdoor
temperature sensor is highly recommended to adjust temperature according to anticipated heat loss. Subfloor
surface temperature for radiant heat installations shall not exceed 85°. T-mold accessories must be used to
separate heating zones. Expect some seasonal expansion and contraction.
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR NOTES: Trinity Bamboo Engineered Flooring can be floated over concrete subfloors above
grade, on grade or below grade, or glued-down onto concrete subfloors which are on or above grade. Concrete
substrates are required to be dry (year-round), sound, smooth and level. Tolerance of level must be within 3/16
”
in
10'. An uneven subfloor will make the floor feel unstable and may cause noise or premature damage to the floor
itself or to the Uniclic® locking system. Your concrete slab should be at least 60 days old and MUST be tested for
moisture in more than one place one place to ensure accurate readings. Trinity Bamboo recommends using the
Calcium Chloride Test Method to quantify the volume of moisture vapor radiating from a concrete slab and / or a
Relative Humidity Probe test to quantify the amount of relative humidity within the slab as follows:
Acceptable industry standards ASTM for concrete moisture testing:
Probe Method: (ASTM F2170): The Relative Humidity levels should not exceed 75%.
Calcium Chloride Test (ASTM F1869): The maximum vapor emissions cannot exceed 3lbs/1000SF in 24 hours
Fill any low spots with a leveling compound (or layers of underlayment) and scrape any high spots.
For Floating Installations over concrete, cover the concrete subfloor with a true moisture barrier such as 10 mil or
thicker polyethylene sheeting. Run the polyethylene sheets up the wall 3", overlap seams 8", and tape the sheets
together (joints lapped 6” using moisture resistant tape). Install underlayment over this moisture barrier.
Underlayment should be non-compressible and be no thicker than 1/8”.
For Glue-Down Installations over concrete, seal the concrete subfloor with a true moisture barrier such as Franklin
531 Moisture Barrier.
WOODEN SUBFLOOR NOTES: Subfloor must be dry, clean, and level. Fill any low spots with appropriate filler and
sand any high spots. Tolerance of level must be within 3/16” in 10'. An uneven subfloor will make the floor feel
unstable and may cause noise or premature damage to the floor itself or to the Uniclic® locking system. Subfloor
must not exceed 11% moisture content. Check basements and under floor crawl spaces to be sure they are dry
and well ventilated to avoid damage to planks caused by moisture. For buildings with crawl spaces, 10 mil
polyethylene sheeting should be used as ground cover over the earth in the crawl space. Cover wooden subfloor
with a vapor retarder with a perm rating between .7 and 1 such as Aquabar “B” (sold as Tile Underlayment).
UNDERLAYMENT: Underlayment up to 1/8” thick must be installed over your moisture barrier (if installed over a
concrete subfloor) or your vapor retarder (if installed over a wooden subfloor). Unroll underlayment and install per
manufacturer’s instructions.
SHUFFLE FLOORING PLANKS FOR BEST VISUAL MIX. Mix planks from various cartons to maintain natural color and
pattern variation and to enhance the beauty of your natural floor.
INSTALLATION:
An expansion joint (T-Mold) is required to break continuous runs exceeding 30’ in width and 30’ in length. T-
molding transitions are used to filled in the gap required for expansion breaks. Ensure that you leave a 1/2”
expansion and contraction space around the floor’s perimeter allowing the floor to move, expand, or contract up
to this amount without the floor hitting the walls or without revealing the edge of the installed flooring planks.