Bella Installation Instructions

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Careful and correct preparation of the subfloor is an important part of resilient floor covering
installation. Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor will telegraph through the new floor covering,
resulting in an unsightly surface and excessive uneven wear on high spots. All surfaces should be flat
within ¼” in 10 feet using appropriate materials to level the substrate.
A. Wood Subfloors
1. GENERAL
All wood floors must be suspended at least 18" above the ground. Adequate cross-ventilation must be
provided, and the ground surface of a crawl space must be covered with a suitable vapor barrier.
Wood subfloors directly on concrete or installed over sleeper construction are not satisfactory for the
installation of Bella Flooring Group LVT flooring products. Wood subfloors must be covered with a
minimum ¼" or heavier underlayment rated panel to assure a successful finished flooring installation.
2. UNDERLAYMENT
Many times, wood panel subfloors are damaged during the construction process or are not
of underlayment grade.
These panels must be covered with an approved underlayment. Underlayment panels are intended to
be used to provide a smooth surface on which to adhere the finished floor covering. It must be
understood that underlayment panels cannot correct structural deficiencies.
In all cases, the underlayment manufacturer or underlayment installer is responsible for all
underlayment warranties.
3. UNDERLAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Panels intended to be used as underlayment should be specifically designed for this purpose. These
panels should have a minimum thickness of ¼". Any panels selected as an underlayment must meet the
following criteria:
• Be dimensionally stable
• Have a smooth, fully sanded face so the graining or texturing will not show through
• Be resistant to both static and impact indentation
• Be free of any surface components that may cause staining such as plastic fillers, marking inks, sealers,
etc.
• Be of uniform density, porosity and thickness
• Have a written warranty for suitability and performance from the panel manufacturer or have a
history of proven performance
Any unevenness at joints between panels must be sanded to a level surface. Gaps between panels,
hammer indentations, and all other surface irregularities must be patched