Installation Guide

Doc. ID: 186 Rev: 2 Effective: 1/7/2015 Page | 2
Existing home should have a consistent room temperature of 60°F-75°F. Continual extreme deviation from this condition will affect the
dimensions of flooring.
New Construction or Remodel
All work involving water, such as pouring basement concrete floors, drywall and plasterwork, plumbing, etc. must be completed well in
advance of the floor delivery. Ensure that the building is enclosed. Where building codes allow, permanent heating and/or air conditioning
systems should be operating at least five days preceding installation to promote proper acclimation and should be maintained during and
after installation. If it is not possible for the permanent heating and/or air conditioning system to be operating before, during and after
installation, a temporary heating and/or dehumidification system that simulate normal living (occupied) conditions can enable the installation
to proceed until the permanent heating and/or air conditioning system is fully operational.
Your job site should have a consistent temperature of 60°F-75°F which should be maintained continuously thereafter.
Basements and Crawl Spaces
Concrete slab or ground must be dry. The ground in the crawl spaces must be completely covered using 6 mil black polyethylene. Crawl
space clearance between the earth and underside of joists should be no less than 18 inches and the perimeter vent area should be equal to
1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space or as mandated by code.
Concrete Subfloor Requirements
It must have minimum rated strength of 3000 psi.
It must be level to within 1/8” in a 6 foot span or 3/16” in a 10 foot span; no bumps or low spots. High spots can be removed by grinding;
Gaps greater than 5/32” wide or depression deeper than 1/16” should be filled with patching compound formulated for use in floor
installation.
It must be clean; no construction debris, soil, mud and any other objects on or adhering to the floor; if necessary, scrape and sweep away
before the installation; no protrusions of nails, debris, metals should remain.
New concrete slab must cure for at least 60 days. It must have a minimum 10 mil polyethylene sheet between the ground and the concrete.
It must meet concrete moisture requirement below.
It must be free from moisture related conditions which can damage the installed flooring.
Concrete Moisture
All concrete subfloors should be tested for moisture content and the results documented. Visual checks are not reliable. Perform tests at
locations around exterior doorways, near walls containing plumbing, near foundation walls and in the center of the room. Minimum sample
size is 3 samples per 1000 square feet of area and one test for every additional 1000 square feet thereafter.
Its moisture content should meet one of the following criteria below:
• 5% when tested using Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter
• Less than 3 pounds per 1000 square feet per 24 hours when using Calcium Chloride test (ASTM F 1869)
• 75% when using Relative Humidity Testing (ASTM F-2170).
Please note: Concrete moisture content may be acceptable the time of the test. These tests do not guarantee a perpetual “dry” concrete
slab. The concrete slab moisture content can vary at other times of the year. We are not responsible for moisture related damage to
installed flooring.
Wood Subfloor Requirements
It must be clean; no presence of construction debris, soil, mud and any other objects on or adhering to the floor; no protrusions of nails,
debris, metals should remain. If necessary, scrape and sweep the subfloor before the installation.
It must be structurally sound and stable; no movements or squeaks; no loose panels or loose nails; no signs of ply de-lamination or other
damages. Repair all shortcomings before installation.
It must be flat; no visible bumps or low spots; the subfloor should be flat to within 1/8” in 6 feet span or 3/16” in 10 feet.
It must be dry.
Plywood or Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Specifications
On truss/joist spacing of 16” (406mm) O/C or less, the industry standard for single-panel subflooring is minimum 5/8” (19/32”, 15.1 mm) CD
Exposure 1 plywood subfloor panels (CD Exposure 1) or 23/32” OSB Exposure 1 subfloor panels, 4’ x 8' sheets. Expansion gap between panels
should be 1/8” (3 mm). When subfloor panels spacing is inadequate, cut in the required spacing with a circular saw if the panels are not
tongued and grooved. Do not cut in expansion space on joined tongue and groove of panels.
Particle Board or Fiber Board
Only for floating installation.
Existing Floors
Ensure the existing floor is stable, sound and flat. Cracks and openings must be filled with fillers suitable for the existing flooring. Acceptable
floor coverings include: solid hardwood, linoleum, terrazzo, ceramic tile.
Unacceptable floor coverings include: carpet, needle punch felt, edge glued linoleum and “moisture absorbing flooring.”
Radiant Heated Subfloor
This product can be installed over radiant heated subfloor. Heating system must be in operation at least for 7 days prior to installation. .
Decrease temperature before installation. Increase temperature gradually after installation. Operating surface temperature must be less
than 84°F. Contact heater manufacturer for specific installation instruction.