Use and Care Guide

ManualsBrandsUnbranded ManualsHardwood Flooring15ACB3764H

Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank

50 Year Residential Warranty

1 Rev.1RH-16HC

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE ACTUAL

INSTALLATION

OWNER / INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY

● Hardwood flooring is a product of nature, which is characterized by distinctive natural variations in grain and color

and is not considered flaws. Hardwood flooring will also experience a change in color over a period of time. The

degree of change depends upon the specie and the amount of UV exposure. This hardwood flooring is

manufactured in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit a grading defect tolerance not to

exceed 5%. The defects may be of a manufacturing or natural type.

● The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality. This inspection of all flooring

should be done before installation. Carefully examine the flooring for color, factory finish, grade, and quality

before installing it. Do not install (or cut off) pieces with glaring defects whatever the cause. If material is not

acceptable, contact your distributor or dealer immediately before installation. Installation implies acceptance. No

warranty will be offered for material with visible defects once the product is installed.

● Before beginning the installation of any hardwood flooring product, the installer must determine that the

environment of the job site and the condition and type of the sub floor involved is acceptable, insuring that it

meets or exceeds all requirements, which are, stipulated in the installation instructions which follow. The

manufacturer declines any responsibility for job failure resulting from or associated with inappropriate or

improperly prepared sub floors or job site environment deficiencies. For best results, we suggest using a National

Wood Flooring Association Certified Professional for your flooring installation.

● The installer must document all site tests and the records must be available if a claim is filed.

● The use of stain, filler, or putty stick for the correction of defects, small cracks, or face nail holes during

installation should be accepted as normal procedure.

● When ordering, 5-10% must be added to the actual square footage amount needed for grading and cutting

allowances.

● We strongly recommend that you visit the NWFA website at www.woodfloors.org for installation help and

maintenance tips.

JOB SITE INSPECTION & ACCLIMATION

● In new construction, hardwood flooring should be one of the last items installed. All work involving water or

potential ground debris (plumbing, dry wall, etc.) should be completed prior to wood flooring being installed.

Heating and air systems should be fully operating, maintaining a consistent room temperature at 60-80

F and a

constant relative humidity of 35-55%.

● Flooring should not be delivered until the building has been closed in and cement work, plastering, painting, and

other materials are completely dry. New concrete and plaster should be cured and at least 30 days prior to doing

moisture testing.

● Check basements and under floor crawl space to be sure that they are dry and well ventilated to avoid damage

caused by moisture. Crawl spaces must have a mimimum 6 mil black polyurethane film as a vapor reterder on

the ground surface if the crawl space is not finished with cement.

● Moisture content of both the sub-floor and the flooring should be checked and recorded before any work

begins.

● Flooring should be at the job site a minumum of 72 hours prior to installation for acclimation.The engineered

flooring must be properly acclimated to temperature and humidity conditions prior to proceeding with

installation. Do not open cartons until ready to install. Follow the NWFA guidelines for acclimation

(www.nwfa.org ) on the job site and moisture equalibrium.

● Handle with care. Do not stand on ends. Store flooring in a dry place, being sure to provide at least a four-inch air

spce on or around cartons.

● Do not store directly upon on grade concrete or next to outside walls. Cartons should be placed in the installation

area.

● The installation site should have consistent room temperature of 60

-80

F and a constant relative humidity level

of 35-55% for a minimum of 5 days prior to installation of any flooring product.

● Engineered flooring is for below grade, on grade or above grade installation only and cannot

be installed in full

bathrooms or other high moisture areas.

● Some Engineered Flooring can be installed over Radiant Heat using the floating floor method on or above grade.

See approved species below or check with your distributor.

Summary of content (16 pages)

PAGE 1
Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE ACTUAL INSTALLATION 66 OWNER / INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Hardwood flooring is a product of nature, which is characterized by distinctive natural variations in grain and color and is not considered flaws. Hardwood flooring will also experience a change in color over a period of time.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty SUB FLOOR PREPARATION APPROVED SUB FLOOR TYPES: 1) Agency approved 5/8"(19/32”) minimum thickness or 3/4” (23/32”) CDX Exposure 1 plywood 16” on center floor joists properly nailed. 2) Agency approved 3/4” (23/32”) underlayment grade OSB Exposure 1 16” center floor joists properly nailed.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty  ● ● Perform a Relative Humidity test according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The maximum reading is 75%. Three test for the first 1,000 square feet and one test for every 1,000 square feet thereafter. Perform a pH alkalinity test according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A pH reading of 6-9 on a pH number scale of 1-14 is acceptable.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty Terrazzo, marble, tile and any other hard surfaces that are well bonded to sub floor, dry, structurally sound and level, as described above, are suitable as a sub floor for this engineered hardwood flooring installation. As above, the surface must be sound, tight, and free of paint, oil, existing adhesives, sealers, wax, grease, and dirt. Terrazzo, marble, and ceramic tile must be scuffed to assure adhesion.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty          Gradually increase the heat in 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 sub floor under normal use should not exceed 85o F. (Check with heat system manufacturer). For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with manufacturer’s suggested guidelines.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty IMPORTANT: DO NOT INSTALL CABINETS OR WALLS ON TOP OF THE FLOORING WHEN USING THE FLOATING INSTALLTION METHOD. Step 1: POSITION THE FIRST ROW Important: The flooring should be installed from several cartons at the same time to insure 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.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty ● ● Tap the boards together with a a hammer and a tapping block. Be sure that the tapping block is against the tongue only and use only a gentle tapping motion to tap the boards together. Excessive force will damage the board making it difficult to install additional boards. Do not tap on the groove side of the boards as this will cause damage to the boards.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty * Hardwood Flooring Cleaner NOTE: Improper adapter plates and/ or staples/cleats can cause severe damage. Contact your Fastener Manufacturer for the proper adapter as well as recommended staples, cleats and air pressure. NOTE: Planks wider than 5” Glue down method is preferd. Do not use staples or nails intended for 3/4” solid flooring.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty ● Leave at least 3/8” to 1/2” for expansion at all vertical surface to be covered by the baseboard or quarter round trim. Normally the expansion space around the rooms should be the same distance as the thickness of the hardwood flooring. Step 2: INSTALLING THE FLOOR  Install 15 lb. Asphalt Saturated Felt (not rosin paper) on plywood surface where the flooring is to be installed.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty * * * * * * * * * * * * Mallet (light colored) Circular or Hand Saw Miter or Table Saw Pry Bar Drill with 1/16” bit 6 - 8 d screw shank nails Chalk Line and Chalk Hammer Safety Equipment (Goggles & Mask) Utility Knife Nail Punch Hardwood Flooring Cleaner Step 1: ● GETTING STARTED Install the flooring parallel to the longest outside (exterior) wall in the room.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty Step 4: INSTALLING THE LAST ROW Most often the entire length of the last row will need to be cut so that it is narrow enough to fit the remaining space. When this occurs,follow this simple procedure: ● ● ● ● Lay a row of boards, unglued, with the tongue toward the wall, directly on top of the last row installed.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty CARE GUIDE CLEANING YOUR FLOOR ● Use a damp cloth to blot up spills and spots as soon as they happen. For tough spots such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, tar or cigarette marks, use acetone/nail polish remover then wipe with a damp cloth. Always avoid allowing liquids to stand on your floor.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty REPAIRING YOUR FLOOR ● Minor damage can be easily repaired with finishing putty available in blending colors. ● Retain several planks for future repairs. ● Major damage will require board replacement . If using the floating installation only , your floor can easily be disassembled to allow for replacement .
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty LIMITED LIFETIME STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY WARRANTY Manufacturer warrants its products in their original manufactured condition to be free from manufacturing and workmanship defects including delamination (separation between plies), milling, and grading. (Up to 5% of industry standard).
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty ● ● ●   ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Only approved products for use over Radiant Heat. The flooring must be installed below grade, on grade or above grade according to the recommended installation instructions and adhesives. Material and relative humidity in the area of use must be within a normal range of 35%-55%. If this is not mantained it might compermise the integerty of the flooring.
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Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank 50 Year Residential Warranty ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Stains as a result of negligence, chemical or industrial products, wax, or oil soaps for cleaning, or standing liquid for a prolonged period of time. This warranty does not cover removal or replacement of cabinets, appliances, furniture, or other fixtures.