Installation Guide

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EarthWerks® ▪ 10850 Train Court Houston, Texas 77041-6208 USA ▪ www.earthwerks.com
Last Updated 2017 ▪ EarthWerks®Vinyl Flooring ▪ Installation Instructions
1. WPC Tile products can be installed over most existing hard–surface floor coverings provided the existing floor
surface is smooth, or can be made smooth.
2. When installing over ceramic tile it is best to smooth the grout lines and texture with a cement patch or leveling
compound. Smooth ceramic with narrow grout lines may be suitable without the need for a cementious overlay.
3. Heavily cushioned vinyl flooring or vinyl flooring consisting of multiple layers are NOT suitable subfloor for
installation.
TOOLS NEEDED: Carpenters Square or Straight Edge, Tape Measure, Pencil, Wall Spacers, White Rubber Mallet, Blue
Painters Tape, Circular Saw, Undercut Saw (if needed), Tile Cutter (if desired).
INSTALLATION
(TOOLS NEEDED: Carpenters Square or Straight Edge, Tape Measure, Pencil, Wall Spacers, White Rubber Mallet, Blue
Painters Tape, Circular Saw, Undercut Saw (if needed), Tile Cutter (if desired).)
A. Tile Layout
Do not secure individual tiles to the subfloor as it is designed to be a floating floor. All doorjambs should be undercut and
cabinets cannot be installed on top of WPC Tile. Wall moldings and transition strips should be installed at any exposed tile
edges but should not be fastened through the tiles or tight to the floor.
1. First, determine how you want the flooring to run. Typically, the flooring runs the length of the room. There
may be exceptions since it is all a matter of preference.
2. To avoid narrow tile widths or short lengths near the walls/doors, it is important to do some pre-planning.
Using the width of the room, calculate how many full tiles will fit into the area and how much space remains
that will need to be covered by partial tiles. Divide the remaining space by two to calculate the width of the
partial tiles. Do the same along the length.
3. Note that if the first row of tiles does not need to be trimmed in width, it will be necessary to cut off the
unsupported tongue so that a clean, solid edge is toward the wall.
4. 1/4” expansion gaps should be kept from the wall during the installation. This will allow space for the natural
expansion and contraction of the tiles.
5. The tiles should be installed from left to right. From the top left corner of the room, put the first tile in place
so that both the head and side seam grooves are exposed.
6. Install the second tile in the first row by angling the short side tongue into the short side groove of the first
tile. Continue installing additional tiles along the first row using the same angling method. WPC Tiles can be
installed in either a random stagger or traditional brick pattern.
7. To start the second row, cut a tile that is at least 6” shorter than the first tile in the first row (you may use the
left over from the last tile of the first row). Then install this first tile by inserting the long side tongue into the
groove of the tile in the first row.
8. Install the second tile in the second row by inserting the short side tongue into the previously installed first
tile short side groove.
9. Align the tile so the long side tongue tip is positioned just over the groove lip of the tile in the first row.