Installation Guidelines
When you can no longer use the fastening device, you can install the last few boards by placing
carpenters glue in the groove (being careful not to over glue). Then engage the tongue and groove
until the side and end-joints are fully engaged. The final step is to fasten the board to the sub-floor by
use a brad nailer in 18-gage. Place the brad approximately ½” from the side joint you just glued. The
brads should be placed approximately 1 to 2” from the board ends and 6 to 8” thereafter. Note: Brad
nails should be at least 1 ½” long.
FLOATING ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING
Backer Board/Install: (Follow the above-stated directions for making and installing a backer board). Begin by
placing boards along the length of the backer board leaving ½” to ¾” expansion space along the walls. Note:
Only the end joints (for this row) will be glued. All rows following the initial row will require gluing of the tongue
and groove (Use glue that is specifically designed for this purpose. Note: Tongue and groove glue can be
purchased at your local flooring dealer or at your local big box store). CAUTION: do not use standard
carpenters glue as the floor (when walked upon) may produce a crackling noise. Follow the glue
manufacturer’s directions for the proper amount and placement of the glue. To keep the planks from
moving and the seams from opening resulting in gaps and/or shifting, use 3M Scotch Blue tape # 2080EL
applying the tape perpendicular to the direction of the grain, while making sure to overlap the side joints of the
planks.
INSTALLING OVER RADIANT HEAT SYSTEMS
Disclaimer of Non-Responsibility:
WARNING: DO NOT INSTALL MOLDINGS/TRIMS IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION TO THERE
ACCEPTABILITY. INSTALLATION CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF THE MATERIAL BEING INSTALLED!
NOTE: We do not recommend floating a 3/8” product because of its inherent lightness and inability
to lie as flat as a thicker floor.
Starting Line & Expansion Space: Snap a working line parallel to the starting wall, in multiples of the planks
width, plus an expansion space of 3/4” preferable to 1/2” minimum to set up the base baseline for installation. Be
careful to assure you do NOT end up with a width of less than 2 inches at the final opposing wall. .If you determine
your rip piece will be less than 2” adjust by ripping down the width of the first row. Note: For questions on how to
square out a room, contact our technical department.
NOTE: WE REQUIRE THAT OUR RADIANT HEAT QUALIFICATION FORM BE FILLED OUT PRIOR TO
INSTALLING OVER A RADIANT HEATED SUB FLOOR SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO SO CAN/WILL
RESULT IN LOSS OF ANY/ALL APPLICABLE WARRANTIES OFFERED BY US. NOTE: PLEASE VISIT
OUR WEB SITE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION PERTAINING TO INSTALLATIONS OVER IN FLOOR
HEATING SYSTEMS.
Precautionary Statement: BEFORE MIXING MATERIALS, I.E. WOOD FLOORING FROM DIFFERENT
RUNS/LOTS, MAKE SURE THE COLOR TONE IS ACCEPTABLE BEFORE STARTING THE INSTALLATION.
NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DESIGNER, ARCHITECT, BUILDER, HOME OWNER,
FLOORING CONTRACTOR, ETC., TO DISCUSS WITH THE FLOORING INSTALLER(S) THE ACCEPTABLE
COLOR TONE RANGE OF THE FLOORING BEING INSTALLED. THE APPROVED FLOORING SAMPLE
MUST BE SHOWN TO THE INSTALLER(S) BEFORE COMMENCING WITH THE INSTALLATION.
MOREOVER, THE APPROVED COLOR TONE SAMPLE MUST BE USED/VIEWED AS A GO-NO-GO TOOL.
ONCE INSTALLED, THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO THE FLOORS ACCEPTABILITY. INSTALLATION
CONSTITUTES ACEPTANCE OF THE MATERIAL BEING INSTALLED. WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY/ALL COSTS I.E. MATERIALS AND OR LABOR ASSOCIATED WITH CLAIMS INVOLVING COLOR
TONE OR GLOSS RELATED ISSUES.
IMPORTANT: We require the use of a manufacturer approved vapor retarding system be applied over
the surface of the wood sub-floor or concrete slab prior to installing the floor when using the floating
floor system. NOTE: most 2 in one and 3 in one underlayment’s ONLY protect against 4 lbs. of
moisture emission over 1,000 sq. ft. in 24 hours. Therefore, it is MANDATORY that the slabs surface be
covered with a layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting prior to installing a 2-in-one or 3-in-one
padding/vapor retarder.
Wood Sub-Floors:
For installations over wood sub floors, place a layer of 30-30-30 single layer asphalt laminated paper meeting
UU-B-790a, Grade B, Type I, Style la or a single layer of 15 lb. tar saturated felt paper over the surface of the
sub floor overlapping the seams 4 to 6 inches and staple in place followed by a high quality 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 foam
padding.
Disclaimer: Upon completion of the installation of a random length engineered wood floor, the floors
surface may not appear as continuously flat as compared to a traditional long strip floating floor. Hollow
sound and squeaking should be expected since the flooring is not secured to the sub-floor by means of
chemical fastening (i.e. gluing) or by mechanical fastening (i.e. staples, cleats or nails). Hollow sound
and/or squeaks is NOT a defect caused by manufacturing, but rather the result of the way in which the
floor is assembled. Caution: it is considered acceptable when floating our premium engineered
flooring to expect an over-wood/under-wood condition in accordance to acceptable industry standards.
Some vertical movement between planks could also occur over time.
Statement/disclaimer of non-responsibility (voids any/all applicable warranties offered by us) pertaining
to labor/material costs and or damages caused to any/all cabinets, furniture, counter tops, built-in
ranges/stoves, moldings/trims, fixed furniture/wall units, wall paper, painting, specialized plaster coatings,
drywall, the structure itself, as a result of removal of the flooring, cupping, buckling, twisting, bowing, shrinking,
lifting, moving etc. We reserve the right to void any/all warranties if and when any of the above mentioned or
non-mentioned items (i.e., cabinets, built-in wall units) are installed over the surface of a floor where the floor
experiences a manufacturer or non-manufacturer related failure, which requires the removal of the flooring in
part, or in its entirety. Our Wood and wood flooring products MUST NOT be installed prior to the installation of
cabinetry and or any other fixed furniture etc., as outlined above. The
general contractor/flooring contractor/designer/homeowner/renter etc., assume ALL responsibility for any/all
damages/costs incurred if flooring is laid prior to the installation of the above mentioned or non-mentioned
items. Said parties absolve us from any/all liability/responsibility of any claims now or in the future.
We WILL NOT be responsible/liable for any/all costs i.e. LABOR associated with any/all claims involving
color difference issues within/the wood floor and any/all supporting trim components e.g. stair treads, stair
nosing’s, reducers, T-moldings, end caps etc., after the molding/trims have been installed. It is the
responsibility of the flooring contractor/installer/dealer to make certain that the moldings/trims color match to
the flooring is acceptable before moving forward with the installation. NOTE: The dealers
display sample must be used as a GO-NO-GO tool in determining the acceptability of the floors color tone.
NOTE: T-MOLD BRAKES ARE REQUIRED AT ALL DOORWAY TRANSITIONS AND
FLOORING INSTALLATIONS THAT EXCEED 25 FEET IN WIDTH AND/OR LENGTH.
Concrete Slab:
Place a layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting over the slabs surface overlapping the seams by 10” to 12”. Make
sure that the entire length of the overlapped seams are completely and thoroughly tapped together using 3” wide
clear packing tape, and that the sheeting is flat and wrinkle free. Then place a high quality 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 foam
padding (not to exceed 1/8” 2 mm in thickness) over the surface of the poly sheeting