Installation Instructions

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES 12 MM ENGINEERED CLICK FLOORING
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FloorLoc Hardwood Flooring
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Buyers and owners are responsible for thoroughly reading all materials provided
by the retailer at the time of purchase, prior to the installation of flooring,
including the installation guidelines and maintenance instructions. The following
instructions apply only to FloorLoc’s 12 mm engineered click floors. This product
is installed through a fall down installation method.
FloorLoc is not responsible for the installer’s application of the product and
requires the product to be inspected prior to installation. The installer should
contact the supplier immediately for replacement, if the product (whether an
individual plank or more) appears doubtful in appearance, such as grade, color,
finish, or quality. The supplier is responsible for replacing flooring materials in a
timely fashion if the product is determined to be defective. However, FloorLoc is
not responsible for flooring that has been previously installed or damaged on the
surface (or tongue) of the plank by the installer. For flooring that is determined to
be defective post-installation, FloorLoc will be responsible to reimburse the buyer
for the materials only, labor costs or any other related expenses will not be
reimbursed.
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Laying the floor should be the last step of your project.
• Engineered click floors can be installed on, above or below grade levels.
• Check with your building inspector before installing engineered click floors on
stairways. In many areas, engineered click stairs fail to meet code.
• Maintain relative humidity at ± 40% [between 35% and 45%].
• Engineered click floors expand and contract with changes in relative humidity,
making it necessary to leave 3/8” (10 mm) expansion space around the perimeter
of the room and all other vertical obstructions.
• Use a hygrometer [relative humidity indicator] to check moisture content in the
air to ensure that relative humidity is within the recommended range.
• The heating system must be functional and the building must be heated up to
15-20° C (70° F) for a minimum of 7 days.
• The floor floats and is installed without glue. It is safe to walk on the floor during
and immediately after installation.
• It is recommended to install flooring parallel to the longest wall in the room or
parallel to the main window in the room.
• To calculate the flooring material requirements, measure the length and width of
the room where you will be installing the engineered click floor and multiply them
together to determine its area. Add 10% to the room’s area to determine square
footage of engineered click flooring, underlayment, and vapor barrier that you will
require. We recommend you purchase a few extra cartons of flooring to be used
in case you have some damaged pieces, miscalculate the size of the room or
miss cut some pieces.
• Document Each Test: To ensure that the flooring product is being installed
according to the outlined guidelines, FloorLoc requires that the buyer or installer
documents each step of the preparation process prior to installing the flooring.
This involves taking a photograph of the test reading that displays the humidity
level, the temperature of the jobsite, the subfloor, etc., along with the date and
time that the photograph was taken. This can be completed quickly using a basic
camera on your cell phone and helps protect the buyer or installer in the case
that a claim needs to be filed.
MATERIALS & TOOLS
Materials
• Engineered click floor
• Foam Pad Underlayment
• Pad Underlayment with Vapor Barrier required over concrete
• Transitional moldings (if needed)
Tools
• Tape Measure
• Carpenter’s square
• 2” (51 mm) wide moisture resistant adhesive tape
• Utility knife & Pry Bar
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask
• Pencil/marker
• 3/8” (10 mm) thick spacers
• Power saw (any of the following):
o Table saw / Miter saw / Circular saw / Jigsaw
• Handsaw or doorjamb saw & prybar
FloorLoc recommends purchasing underlayment and membrane, which is used
as an acoustic underlayment, heat reflector, and vapor barrier. Or we
recommend purchasing underlayment and membrane, used as a heat protector
and vapor barrier. For more information regarding click floor membranes, check
with your retailer.
SUBFLOOR PREPARATION
A. General Subfloor Preparation & Precautions
• Subfloors must be clean, smooth and free of dirt and debris prior to installation.
• Subfloors must be structurally sound and flat prior to installation.
• Subfloor moisture must be tested prior to installation and should not exceed 12%
throughout the installation area.
• Carpet is not a suitable underlayment for engineered click floors. All carpet,
carpet pad and carpet tack should be removed prior to installation.
• Variations in the subfloor flatness should not exceed 1/16” per 3 ft. (2 mm/m).
Floors must be leveled to meet this specification prior to installation. Level by
filling depressed areas with floor leveling compound and sanding or grinding
down any raised areas. Subfloor thickness must be a minimum of 15 mm (5/8”).
B. Concrete
• Concrete subfloors must be properly cured and allowed to dry for at least 30
days prior to installation. Test concrete subfloor for moisture prior to installation.
o Tape 3’ x 3’ (91 cm x 91 cm) pieces of polyethylene vapor barrier to subfloor.
o If condensation appears on the film after 24 hours or concrete appears dark in
color, moisture is likely present and a Calcium Chloride test must be performed.
o The maximum allowable moisture emission is 5 lbs./1000 ft.2 per 24 hours
(2.26 kg/101.6 m2 per 24 hours).
A 0.12” (3 mm) thick underlay and 8 mil. (0.2 mm) polyethylene vapor barrier
must be used when installing over concrete.
Overlap polyethylene vapor barrier edges by 8” (20 cm) and seal with moisture
resistant adhesive tape.
Run vapor barrier 3/4” (2 cm) up wall and trim before wall base is installed.
Underlayment edges should not be overlapped. Butt end edges together and
seal with adhesive tape. (combination Pad Underlayment with attached Vapor
Barrier can also be used)
C. Wood
• Wood subfloors must be structurally sound and screwed or nailed to supporting
beams.
• Do not install engineered click floors over wood subfloors applied directly to
concrete.
• If installing floors over a crawl space it is recommended that an 8 mil. (0.2 mm)
vapor barrier be installed.
o Overlap vapor barrier edges by 8” (20cm) and seal with moisture resistant
adhesive tape.
o Run vapor barrier 3⁄4” (2 cm) up wall and trim before wall base is installed.
• A 3 mm thick Underlay must be installed prior to installation of engineered click
floors.
D. Vinyl (sheet/tile), Linoleum, Ceramic Tile
• If vinyl, linoleum, or ceramic tile is installed over concrete, an 8 mil (0.2 mm)
vapor barrier must be installed over it.
o Overlap vapor barrier edges by 8” (20 cm) and seal with moisture resistant
adhesive tape.
o Run vapor barrier 3/4” (2 cm) up wall and trim before wall base is installed.
• A 0.12” (3 mm) thick underlayment must be installed prior to installation of
engineered click floors.
E. Radiant heat
IMPORTANT: Due to the speed of sudden temperature changes, which has the
potential to negatively affect engineered click flooring construction, it is not
recommended to install over any electrical radiant heating system. Installation
over electrical radiant heating systems will not be covered by the manufacturer’s
warranty. Buyer must obtain written authorization from the manufacturer in order
to install flooring over radiant heat.
Owner and installer are solely and jointly responsible for pre-installation subfloor
moisture level check and must ensure that all conditions and/or specifications
listed in this guide have been thoroughly met prior to installation of the floor.
ROOM PREPARATION
A. Wall Base/Trim
• Removal of existing wall base/trim is optional.
• Wall base or trim will need to be installed once the flooring installation is
complete to cover the expansion space around the perimeter of the room.
• Always nail/adhere wall base and trim to the wall. Never nail/adhere it to the
engineered click flooring.
B. Doors/Door Jambs
Engineered click floors should be installed under door jambs so your door jambs
will need to be undercut
• Use a engineered click flooring off-cut and a small piece of underlay to support
your saw blade at the correct height for undercutting.
• Check door clearances and make any necessary height adjustments before
installing engineered click floors.
• Make sure to leave the correct expansion spacing.
C. Wall Irregularities
Walls are not always perfectly straight. FloorLoc engineered click floors will need
to be cut so as to fit within irregularities of your walls. To do so:
1. Install a complete, first row of the engineered click floor and ensure that all
long edges of the engineered click flooring are aligned flush with one other.
2. Slide the whole row against the wall; you will now notice any of these
irregularities (i.e. areas where the wall is not straight.)
3. Trace the contour of the wall onto the row of engineered click flooring with a
pencil or marker.
4. Once traced, uninstall the planks carefully so as to not damage the locking
system and cut along the traced line.
5. Re-install the planks leaving the necessary 3/8” (10 mm) expansion space.