Use and Care Guide

Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank
50 Year Residential Warranty
6 Rev.1RH-16HC
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. 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.
● 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 groove side facing the wall. Use 3/8” or 1/2” expansion spacers (depending on the thickness of the flooring)
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.
Note: Larger rooms require additional expansion space. Add 1/16” to the width of the spacers for every 3’ the room
extends beyond 25’. Dimensions exceeding 40’ require the use of a t-molding for expansion.
Note: When using the Floating install method, every doorway less than 6’ wide must be transitioned using a “T”
molding.
● If the starting wall is out of square, it will be necessary to scribe the first row to match the wall, allowing the
opposite side of the row to present a true square base for the rest of the floor. When the first row is complete, you
must have a straight, even base established.
Step 2: GLUING THE BOARDS TOGETHER
● When installing the products which have been approved for the floating installation method, the boards must be
side and end glued using tongue & groove Adhesive.
● Always apply the adhesive into the bottom of the groove on each board. Do not fill the groove
. Apply a
continuous bead, filling the bottom of the groove no more than halfway full. Start & stop adhesive 2” from the
ends on the long side of the board and 1” from the ends on the butt end.
Note: If any excess adhesive squeezes up to the finished surface, wipe it off immediately using a water dampened
cloth or adhesive remover. Then dry the surface and buff with a dry cloth. If the adhesive has dried, use a soft
white cloth moistened with adhesive remover. Do not abrade the wood surface.
Step 3: INSTALLING THE REST OF THE FLOOR
Note: Always stagger 12” to 18” between end joints of adjacent board rows. The end joints should not repeat
visually across the installed floor.
● After installing the first row of boards, apply the adhesive to the first board on the second row using the above
gluing instructions.
● Connect that board to the first row making sure that there is at least a 6” stagger between the end joint of the
board on the first row.
 Distribute lengths, avoiding “H” patterns and other discernible patters in adjacent runs. Stagger end joints of
boards row to row a minimum of 6” for strip flooring, 8-10” for 3-5” plank, and 10” for plank wider than 5”,
 Work out of several cartons at a time to insure proper color and shade mixture.