Installation Guide

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Odyssey Flooring Installation Guide
Installation
Floating T&G Installation Method
Recommended Floating T&G Floor Tools
• Titebond® Tongue & Groove Flooring Glue • Undercut or jamb saw
• Underlayment (see “Moisture Barrier Requirements”) • Hammer
• Tapping block (trimmed piece of flooring) • Tape Measure
• Wood or plastic spacers (1/2-inch) • Pencil
• Flat bar or pull bar • Chalk line
• Miter saw (chop-saw) • Earplugs & safety glasses
• 3M blue painter’s tape #2080 • Tablesaw
CALI highly recommends using Titebond Tongue & Groove Flooring Glue for floating applications. For best results, use a moisture
barrier that is suitable for the subfloor type (see Moisture Barrier Requirements section for examples of acceptable moisture
barrier systems). Leave at least 1/2-inch expansion space between flooring and all walls and vertical objects to allow for natural
fluctuations. If the installation flows into other rooms and continuous runs in excess of 30 feet, a greater expansion or transition
piece is required; approximately 1/16-inch for every ten (10) feet.
Floating T&G Installation Steps
1. Use Titebond Tongue & Groove Flooring glue or similiar tongue and groove adhesive
for floating applications.
2. Before you start, ensure that the job site, subfloor and environmental conditions are
acceptable for installation of CALI engineered hardwood flooring. All requirements
specified in CALI’s Installation Guidelines must be met.
3. When installing on concrete be sure to use an appropriate moisture barrier based
off of moisture readings. CALI recommends the use of Titebond 531+ Moisture
Control System prior to installation.
4. Allow at least a 1/2-inch space for expansion around the perimeter of the room and
all vertical objects using spacers. Also see section: “Expansion Space is Required”.
5. It is recommended to install the planks parallel to the longest wall.
6. Dry lay (do not glue) a few rows before installation to confirm your layout plan.
7. Starter row may need to be rip cut depending on measurements of room. It is a
best practice to measure your room and divide by the plank size to ensure your last
piece does not end up less than 2-inch. The ideal outcome is your first row and last
row have the same width size.
8. Begin by laying the first plank in a corner with the long grooved side toward the long
wall.
9. Apply a small continuous consistent bead (approximately 1/8-inch thick) of Titebond
T&G flooring glue along the bottom side of the flooring groove.
10. Connect short side of second plank together with mating side of the first plank.
11. Cut the last plank and complete the row. Use the remaining plank to start the
second row.
12. Make sure to offset the end joints of consecutive rows by a minimum of 6 inches for
best appearance.
13. Continue second row by connecting short edges of planks first with long edges.
14. The last row may require rip cutting the planks to size, be sure to cut enough to
maintain proper expansion space.
15. As with the other rows, complete the last row by connecting the short edges first
and using a pull bar to tap the long edges together.
16. CALI recommends using 3M blue painter’s tape #2080 to help keep planks together
while Tongue & Groove adhesive dries. Do not leave tape on for more than 4 to 6
hours.
After Installation
• Always remove any adhesive from the surface of the flooring (smudges, fingerprints,
etc.) before it dries. Use Bostik’s Ultimate Adhesive Remover Towels or Titebond
Adhesive Wipes to immediately remove any adhesive on flooring surface as you go.
• Allow the newly installed floor to fully cure based on adhesive recommendations
before walking or moving furniture onto the floor.
Wood or plastic
spacers (1/2”)
Stagger End Joints Avoid “H” Joints
Glue Groove
Note: Although H joints do not void
a warranty, they can decrease the
overall structural strength of the
|flooring therefore Cali never
recommends H joint installation.