Installation & Assembly

STAPLE DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
Notes:
Staple Down
Proper location for Staple
3/8" 1/2"
10mm 12.7mm
Engineered Flooring
Staple Down Installation
ATTENTION
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT
cover materials with visible defects once they are installed.
It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site
subfloor and job site conditions are environmentally and structurally
acceptable for wood floor installation. Flooring manufacturer declines any
responsibility for wood floor failure resulting from or connected with subfloor,
subsurface, job site damage or deficiencies after hardwood flooring has been
installed.
STAPLE DOWN INSTALLATION
Tools: Staple down using 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch long staples depending on the
flooring product. (1/2 inch thick flooring can use 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 long staple ,
9/16 thick flooring should use 1 1/2). 18 gauge 7/32 or 1/4 crown staples
depending of the brand of staple gun. Do not use staples or nails
intended for 3/4 inch solid flooring products.
Wood type subfloors should also be checked for moisture using a reliable
moisture meter. Wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed 14%
moisture content, the moisture content difference between hardwood flooring
and subfloor should not exceed 4%. Check with your local distributor for your
geographical variances.
SUBFLOOR:
• 5/8” minimum thickness, preferred 3/4” or thicker plywood installed
with long edges at a right angle to the 16” on center floor joists and
staggered so that the end joints in adjacent panels break over different
joists. Nail at each bearing with 6d threaded or 8d common nails
spaced 10” on center along intermediate joists.
• 1” x 4” to 6” wide, square edge, kiln dried coniferous lumber, laid
diagonally over 16” on center wooden joists. The ends of all boards are
to be cut parallel to the center of the joists for solid bearing. Face nail
each board solidly at every bearing on the joists with two nails (7d
threaded or 8d common).
• 23/32” minimum O.S.B. on 19.2-inch minimum center floor joists with
system properly nailed or minimum 7/8” subfloor with 24” on center floor
joists or trusses.
• Baseboards should be installed so that their lower edge is slightly
above the level of the finished floor, but not nailed into the finished floor.
• Basement and crawl spaces must be dry and ventilated when plank or
strip flooring is to be installed over them. In crawl spaces a vapor barrier
should be provided. Black vapor barrier must be provided below
subfloor on the ground. (6 mil. black)
• Subfloor should be flat or made to be flat to 3/16” in a 8’ ft. radius.
• Particle board of any thickness is NOT ALLOWED!
• Adequate and proper nailing as well as soundness of the subfloor
should be ascertained. Foreign material shall be removed from the
subfloor surface and swept clean.
• The clean subfloor shall be covered wall to wall with one of the
following: 15lb. asphalt saturated felt, or Aquabar
®
B (no rosin paper).
Butt the edges when positioning one or the above mentioned moisture
retarder. Double the felt around heat ducts that may be in the floor.
General Staple Down Installation Instruction:
• Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and
tile work are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim
have been completed. The building interior should have been dried and
seasoned and a comfortable working temperature (at least 60° F) and a
relative humidity of 35 – 55% should exist during installation.
• DO NOT open until ready to install.
Preparation of subfloor: Subfloor irregularities and undulation may
cause any wood flooring installation to develop hollow spots between
the flooring and subfloor. These hollow spots are NOT the result of any
wood floor manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by the flooring
manufacturer warranty.
• To avoid movement in
hardwood floor relative
humidity should be
maintained year round
at 35-55%
• The use of flooring putty
to cover small cracks or
face nail holes should
be considered normal in
hardwood flooring
installation.
Radiant Heat Subfloors – See instructions on reverse page (Glue
Down Installation)
FLOATING INSTALLATION
• 3/8” or ½” product 5” width or wider can be floated in some, not
all, installations. If necessary call your supplier for details.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
• Adequate and proper stapling as well as soundness of the
subfloor should be ascertained. Foreign material shall be
removed from the subfloor surface and swept clean.
• The clean subfloor surface shall be covered, wall to wall, with
15 lb. asphalt saturated felt, Aquabar
®
B, or moisture mat (no
rosin paper). Butt the edges of this felt when positioning it.
• Laying direction for plank flooring: Flooring should be laid at
right angles to the floor joists and, if possible, in the direction
of the longest dimension of the room.
Note: Normally, expansion space around the room should be the
same distance as the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
• The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same
time to ensure color and shade mix.
• End joints should never be closer than 4” from each other.
• Staple Engineered Plank Hardwood Flooring: The first and
last row of flooring should be face nailed and filled,as well as
staples placed at Tongue. Staple each board along the
tongue every 4 to 6 inches apart and within 2 inches of each
end joint. This should be done to the entire floor.
GEN-E-25
(11/7/16)
GEN-E-25 12/8/17
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
9/16”
14.2mm
5/8”
15.8mm
Engineered Flooring
Glue Down Installation
GLUE DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
ATTENTION
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT cover
materials that are installed with visible defects.
It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site Subfloor and
job site conditions are environmentally and structurally acceptable for wood floor
installation. Flooring manufacturer declines any responsibility for wood floor failure
resulting from or connected with subfloor, subsurface, job site damage or
deficiencies after hardwood flooring has been installed.
GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION
ADHESIVE: Using an appropriate, quality urethane adhesive is recommended.
TOOLS: The required tools for installation of these products include a hammer,
hand power saw, chalk line, wood floor adhesive and recommended trowel.
Recommended Trowel: General ½” thick wood floor should use 3/16” wide 5/32”
deep v-notch trowel to yield approximately 45 to 50 sq. ft. per gallon or ¼” x ¼” x
3/16”square notch. 5/16” thick wood flooring should use 3/16” x ¼” x ½” contour
v-notch to yield 60 sq. ft. per gallon. Follow adhesive manufacturer’s guidelines.
General Installation Instruction:
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and comfortable
working temperature (at least 60°F) should exist during installation.
Preparation of subfloor:
Subfloor irregularities and undulation may cause any wood floor installation to
develop hollow spots between the flooring and subfloor. These hollow spots are
NOT the result of any wood floor manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by
the flooring manufacturer warranty.
As part of your subfloor preparation remove any existing base, shoe mold or
doorway thresholds. These items can be replaced after installation, but should be
replaced in such a way as to allow at least ¼” room for expansion around the
perimeter of the room. All door casings should be notched out or undercut to allow
for ¼” room expansion and to avoid difficult scribe cuts. This is easily done by
placing a piece of the engineered product on the subfloor as a height guide for your
handsaw or jamb saw.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
Thoroughly clean subfloor:
Remove paint, wax, oil, plaster, “sheetrock mud” and other foreign materials, as
well as obvious surface irregularities. #3-1/2 grit open coat paper may need to be
used to grind a concrete subfloor. This will loosen any dirt, loose concrete or
contaminates. Sweep or vacuum thoroughly. All previous or existing glues or
adhesives must be removed before installing new hardwood floor. Concrete
subfloors must be clean, flat, sound and sufficient compression strength (3000 lbs.
P.S.I.) being sure that the surface is NOT slick.
Sections not flat due to waviness, trowel marks, etc. are to be flattened by grinding
or the use of leveling compound. Especially along the walls, the subfloor flatness
must be checked and if necessary improved. Flatten to 3/16” in 10’ radius. In
addition to cement subfloors, these wood flooring products can be installed over
dry, flat subfloors such as plywood. No Particle board.
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and a comfortable
working temperature (at least 60° F) and a relative humidity of 35 – 55% should
exist during installation. If subfloor is concrete, check for dryness see below. If
moisture is present, do not lay. All concrete subfloors on or below grade need to be
tested.
Concrete subfloor Moisture Testing:
Electrical Impedance Test and Electrical Resistance Test (Concrete Moisture
Meters) Follow Moisture Meter MFG Guidelines. If Meter shows possibility of
excess moisture further testing is required. Calcium Chloride Test. See below.
Relative Humidity Test (Standard test method for determining relative humidity on
concrete floor slabs using Situ Probes. If test shows over 75% vapor retarder must
be used or wait for further curing.
Calcium Chloride Test ASTM F-1869 Readings over 3 lbs and up to 7 lbs vapor
retarder needed.
See NWFA installation guidelines chapter 3 Moisture Testing for full information of
testing.
Check floor in several locations. Consult with your local flooring distributor for
graphical variances.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
• The use of flooring putty to cover small cracks or face nail holes should
be considered normal in hardwood flooring installation.
New wood type subfloors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture
meter. In general, wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed 14% moisture
content and no more than 4% MC difference between wood flooring and subfloor.
Check with your local distributor for your geographical variances. If the plywood is
used as an overlay over the existing subfloor, the thickness of the overlay material
must be such as to yield a total ¾” subfloor thickness.
Suggested Layout Working Line: EXAMPLE: For 3” Material, snap a chalk line
30 ¼” from the wall on the door side of the room. The small area will be your
working space and the last to be installed. Temporarily nail straight board on chalk
line.
Caution: Proper humidity must be controlled between 35 – 55% for successful
performance before, during and after installation.
Installing the floor:
• The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to
ensure color and shade mix.
• End joints should never be closer than 4 inches from each other.
• Install tongue into groove.
• Tongue and groove should be engaged by hand.
• Lift a plank periodically to check adhesive transfer.
• Remove nailed board and install remainder of flooring.
• Install base and mould after floor installation.
• Clean adhesive off surface of wood with cleaner and soft cloth. (see
adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations)
For Unfinished Products
• Do not start sanding product until adhesive has cured.
Radiant heat subfloors – See below.
Concrete or Plywood: Radiant Heat (Oak ONLY)
• Radiant Heat Subfloors on or above grade.
• The maximum temperature of subfloor under normal use should not
exceed 80°F (Check with heat system manufacturer.)
• For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with
manufacturer’s suggested guidelines.
• Heating pipes must be covered with 1 ¼” of concrete or minimum of
1/8” below bottom side of plywood subfloor.
• Before installation of hardwood flooring, heat system must be operated
at normal living temperature for a minimum of 14 days. One to two
days before the flooring is laid, switch off heating unit. (At time of
installation, subfloor should be 64°F to 68°F)
• Room temperature should not vary more than 15°F season to season.
Flooring manufacturer approved systems must not exceed 8 watts per
square foot heating.
3/8" 1/2"
10mm 12.7mm
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Gen-E-25
(11/7/16)
Engineered Flooring
Glue Down Installation
GLUE DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
ATTENTION
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT cover
materials that are installed with visible defects.
It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site Subfloor and
job site conditions are environmentally and structurally acceptable for wood floor
installation. Flooring manufacturer declines any responsibility for wood floor failure
resulting from or connected with subfloor, subsurface, job site damage or
deficiencies after hardwood flooring has been installed.
GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION
ADHESIVE: Using an appropriate, quality urethane adhesive is recommended.
TOOLS: The required tools for installation of these products include a hammer,
hand power saw, chalk line, wood floor adhesive and recommended trowel.
Recommended Trowel: General ½” thick wood floor should use 3/16” wide 5/32”
deep v-notch trowel to yield approximately 45 to 50 sq. ft. per gallon or ¼” x ¼” x
3/16”square notch. 5/16” thick wood flooring should use 3/16” x ¼” x ½” contour
v-notch to yield 60 sq. ft. per gallon. Follow adhesive manufacturer’s guidelines.
General Installation Instruction:
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and comfortable
working temperature (at least 60°F) should exist during installation.
Preparation of subfloor:
Subfloor irregularities and undulation may cause any wood floor installation to
develop hollow spots between the flooring and subfloor. These hollow spots are
NOT the result of any wood floor manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by
the flooring manufacturer warranty.
As part of your subfloor preparation remove any existing base, shoe mold or
doorway thresholds. These items can be replaced after installation, but should be
replaced in such a way as to allow at least ¼” room for expansion around the
perimeter of the room. All door casings should be notched out or undercut to allow
for ¼” room expansion and to avoid difficult scribe cuts. This is easily done by
placing a piece of the engineered product on the subfloor as a height guide for your
handsaw or jamb saw.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
Thoroughly clean subfloor:
Remove paint, wax, oil, plaster, “sheetrock mud” and other foreign materials, as
well as obvious surface irregularities. #3-1/2 grit open coat paper may need to be
used to grind a concrete subfloor. This will loosen any dirt, loose concrete or
contaminates. Sweep or vacuum thoroughly. All previous or existing glues or
adhesives must be removed before installing new hardwood floor. Concrete
subfloors must be clean, flat, sound and sufficient compression strength (3000 lbs.
P.S.I.) being sure that the surface is NOT slick.
Sections not flat due to waviness, trowel marks, etc. are to be flattened by grinding
or the use of leveling compound. Especially along the walls, the subfloor flatness
must be checked and if necessary improved. Flatten to 3/16” in 10’ radius. In
addition to cement subfloors, these wood flooring products can be installed over
dry, flat subfloors such as plywood. No Particle board.
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and a comfortable
working temperature (at least 60° F) and a relative humidity of 35 – 55% should
exist during installation. If subfloor is concrete, check for dryness see below. If
moisture is present, do not lay. All concrete subfloors on or below grade need to be
tested.
Concrete subfloor Moisture Testing:
Electrical Impedance Test and Electrical Resistance Test (Concrete Moisture
Meters) Follow Moisture Meter MFG Guidelines. If Meter shows possibility of
excess moisture further testing is required. Calcium Chloride Test. See below.
Relative Humidity Test (Standard test method for determining relative humidity on
concrete floor slabs using Situ Probes. If test shows over 75% vapor retarder must
be used or wait for further curing.
Calcium Chloride Test ASTM F-1869 Readings over 3 lbs and up to 7 lbs vapor
retarder needed.
See NWFA installation guidelines chapter 3 Moisture Testing for full information of
testing.
Check floor in several locations. Consult with your local flooring distributor for
graphical variances.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
• The use of flooring putty to cover small cracks or face nail holes should
be considered normal in hardwood flooring installation.
New wood type subfloors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture
meter. In general, wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed 14% moisture
content and no more than 4% MC difference between wood flooring and subfloor.
Check with your local distributor for your geographical variances. If the plywood is
used as an overlay over the existing subfloor, the thickness of the overlay material
must be such as to yield a total ¾” subfloor thickness.
Suggested Layout Working Line: EXAMPLE: For 3” Material, snap a chalk line
30 ¼” from the wall on the door side of the room. The small area will be your
working space and the last to be installed. Temporarily nail straight board on chalk
line.
Caution: Proper humidity must be controlled between 35 – 55% for successful
performance before, during and after installation.
Installing the floor:
• The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to
ensure color and shade mix.
• End joints should never be closer than 4 inches from each other.
• Install tongue into groove.
• Tongue and groove should be engaged by hand.
• Lift a plank periodically to check adhesive transfer.
• Remove nailed board and install remainder of flooring.
• Install base and mould after floor installation.
• Clean adhesive off surface of wood with cleaner and soft cloth. (see
adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations)
For Unfinished Products
• Do not start sanding product until adhesive has cured.
Radiant heat subfloors – See below.
Concrete or Plywood: Radiant Heat (Oak ONLY)
• Radiant Heat Subfloors on or above grade.
• The maximum temperature of subfloor under normal use should not
exceed 80°F (Check with heat system manufacturer.)
• For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with
manufacturer’s suggested guidelines.
• Heating pipes must be covered with 1 ¼” of concrete or minimum of
1/8” below bottom side of plywood subfloor.
• Before installation of hardwood flooring, heat system must be operated
at normal living temperature for a minimum of 14 days. One to two
days before the flooring is laid, switch off heating unit. (At time of
installation, subfloor should be 64°F to 68°F)
• Room temperature should not vary more than 15°F season to season.
Flooring manufacturer approved systems must not exceed 8 watts per
square foot heating.
3/8" 1/2"
10mm 12.7mm
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Gen-E-25
(11/7/16)
Engineered Flooring
Glue Down Installation
GLUE DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
ATTENTION
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT cover
materials that are installed with visible defects.
It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site Subfloor and
job site conditions are environmentally and structurally acceptable for wood floor
installation. Flooring manufacturer declines any responsibility for wood floor failure
resulting from or connected with subfloor, subsurface, job site damage or
deficiencies after hardwood flooring has been installed.
GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION
ADHESIVE: Using an appropriate, quality urethane adhesive is recommended.
TOOLS: The required tools for installation of these products include a hammer,
hand power saw, chalk line, wood floor adhesive and recommended trowel.
Recommended Trowel: General ½” thick wood floor should use 3/16” wide 5/32”
deep v-notch trowel to yield approximately 45 to 50 sq. ft. per gallon or ¼” x ¼” x
3/16”square notch. 5/16” thick wood flooring should use 3/16” x ¼” x ½” contour
v-notch to yield 60 sq. ft. per gallon. Follow adhesive manufacturer’s guidelines.
General Installation Instruction:
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and comfortable
working temperature (at least 60°F) should exist during installation.
Preparation of subfloor:
Subfloor irregularities and undulation may cause any wood floor installation to
develop hollow spots between the flooring and subfloor. These hollow spots are
NOT the result of any wood floor manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by
the flooring manufacturer warranty.
As part of your subfloor preparation remove any existing base, shoe mold or
doorway thresholds. These items can be replaced after installation, but should be
replaced in such a way as to allow at least ¼” room for expansion around the
perimeter of the room. All door casings should be notched out or undercut to allow
for ¼” room expansion and to avoid difficult scribe cuts. This is easily done by
placing a piece of the engineered product on the subfloor as a height guide for your
handsaw or jamb saw.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
Thoroughly clean subfloor:
Remove paint, wax, oil, plaster, “sheetrock mud” and other foreign materials, as
well as obvious surface irregularities. #3-1/2 grit open coat paper may need to be
used to grind a concrete subfloor. This will loosen any dirt, loose concrete or
contaminates. Sweep or vacuum thoroughly. All previous or existing glues or
adhesives must be removed before installing new hardwood floor. Concrete
subfloors must be clean, flat, sound and sufficient compression strength (3000 lbs.
P.S.I.) being sure that the surface is NOT slick.
Sections not flat due to waviness, trowel marks, etc. are to be flattened by grinding
or the use of leveling compound. Especially along the walls, the subfloor flatness
must be checked and if necessary improved. Flatten to 3/16” in 10’ radius. In
addition to cement subfloors, these wood flooring products can be installed over
dry, flat subfloors such as plywood. No Particle board.
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and a comfortable
working temperature (at least 60° F) and a relative humidity of 35 – 55% should
exist during installation. If subfloor is concrete, check for dryness see below. If
moisture is present, do not lay. All concrete subfloors on or below grade need to be
tested.
Concrete subfloor Moisture Testing:
Electrical Impedance Test and Electrical Resistance Test (Concrete Moisture
Meters) Follow Moisture Meter MFG Guidelines. If Meter shows possibility of
excess moisture further testing is required. Calcium Chloride Test. See below.
Relative Humidity Test (Standard test method for determining relative humidity on
concrete floor slabs using Situ Probes. If test shows over 75% vapor retarder must
be used or wait for further curing.
Calcium Chloride Test ASTM F-1869 Readings over 3 lbs and up to 7 lbs vapor
retarder needed.
See NWFA installation guidelines chapter 3 Moisture Testing for full information of
testing.
Check floor in several locations. Consult with your local flooring distributor for
graphical variances.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
• The use of flooring putty to cover small cracks or face nail holes should
be considered normal in hardwood flooring installation.
New wood type subfloors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture
meter. In general, wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed 14% moisture
content and no more than 4% MC difference between wood flooring and subfloor.
Check with your local distributor for your geographical variances. If the plywood is
used as an overlay over the existing subfloor, the thickness of the overlay material
must be such as to yield a total ¾” subfloor thickness.
Suggested Layout Working Line: EXAMPLE: For 3” Material, snap a chalk line
30 ¼” from the wall on the door side of the room. The small area will be your
working space and the last to be installed. Temporarily nail straight board on chalk
line.
Caution: Proper humidity must be controlled between 35 – 55% for successful
performance before, during and after installation.
Installing the floor:
• The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to
ensure color and shade mix.
• End joints should never be closer than 4 inches from each other.
• Install tongue into groove.
• Tongue and groove should be engaged by hand.
• Lift a plank periodically to check adhesive transfer.
• Remove nailed board and install remainder of flooring.
• Install base and mould after floor installation.
• Clean adhesive off surface of wood with cleaner and soft cloth. (see
adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations)
For Unfinished Products
• Do not start sanding product until adhesive has cured.
Radiant heat subfloors – See below.
Concrete or Plywood: Radiant Heat (Oak ONLY)
• Radiant Heat Subfloors on or above grade.
• The maximum temperature of subfloor under normal use should not
exceed 80°F (Check with heat system manufacturer.)
• For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with
manufacturer’s suggested guidelines.
• Heating pipes must be covered with 1 ¼” of concrete or minimum of
1/8” below bottom side of plywood subfloor.
• Before installation of hardwood flooring, heat system must be operated
at normal living temperature for a minimum of 14 days. One to two
days before the flooring is laid, switch off heating unit. (At time of
installation, subfloor should be 64°F to 68°F)
• Room temperature should not vary more than 15°F season to season.
Flooring manufacturer approved systems must not exceed 8 watts per
square foot heating.
3/8" 1/2"
10mm 12.7mm
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Gen-E-25
(11/7/16)
Engineered Flooring
Glue Down Installation
GLUE DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
ATTENTION
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT cover
materials that are installed with visible defects.
It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site Subfloor and
job site conditions are environmentally and structurally acceptable for wood floor
installation. Flooring manufacturer declines any responsibility for wood floor failure
resulting from or connected with subfloor, subsurface, job site damage or
deficiencies after hardwood flooring has been installed.
GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION
ADHESIVE: Using an appropriate, quality urethane adhesive is recommended.
TOOLS: The required tools for installation of these products include a hammer,
hand power saw, chalk line, wood floor adhesive and recommended trowel.
Recommended Trowel: General ½” thick wood floor should use 3/16” wide 5/32”
deep v-notch trowel to yield approximately 45 to 50 sq. ft. per gallon or ¼” x ¼” x
3/16”square notch. 5/16” thick wood flooring should use 3/16” x ¼” x ½” contour
v-notch to yield 60 sq. ft. per gallon. Follow adhesive manufacturer’s guidelines.
General Installation Instruction:
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and comfortable
working temperature (at least 60°F) should exist during installation.
Preparation of subfloor:
Subfloor irregularities and undulation may cause any wood floor installation to
develop hollow spots between the flooring and subfloor. These hollow spots are
NOT the result of any wood floor manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by
the flooring manufacturer warranty.
As part of your subfloor preparation remove any existing base, shoe mold or
doorway thresholds. These items can be replaced after installation, but should be
replaced in such a way as to allow at least ¼” room for expansion around the
perimeter of the room. All door casings should be notched out or undercut to allow
for ¼” room expansion and to avoid difficult scribe cuts. This is easily done by
placing a piece of the engineered product on the subfloor as a height guide for your
handsaw or jamb saw.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
Thoroughly clean subfloor:
Remove paint, wax, oil, plaster, “sheetrock mud” and other foreign materials, as
well as obvious surface irregularities. #3-1/2 grit open coat paper may need to be
used to grind a concrete subfloor. This will loosen any dirt, loose concrete or
contaminates. Sweep or vacuum thoroughly. All previous or existing glues or
adhesives must be removed before installing new hardwood floor. Concrete
subfloors must be clean, flat, sound and sufficient compression strength (3000 lbs.
P.S.I.) being sure that the surface is NOT slick.
Sections not flat due to waviness, trowel marks, etc. are to be flattened by grinding
or the use of leveling compound. Especially along the walls, the subfloor flatness
must be checked and if necessary improved. Flatten to 3/16” in 10’ radius. In
addition to cement subfloors, these wood flooring products can be installed over
dry, flat subfloors such as plywood. No Particle board.
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work
are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed.
The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and a comfortable
working temperature (at least 60° F) and a relative humidity of 35 – 55% should
exist during installation. If subfloor is concrete, check for dryness see below. If
moisture is present, do not lay. All concrete subfloors on or below grade need to be
tested.
Concrete subfloor Moisture Testing:
Electrical Impedance Test and Electrical Resistance Test (Concrete Moisture
Meters) Follow Moisture Meter MFG Guidelines. If Meter shows possibility of
excess moisture further testing is required. Calcium Chloride Test. See below.
Relative Humidity Test (Standard test method for determining relative humidity on
concrete floor slabs using Situ Probes. If test shows over 75% vapor retarder must
be used or wait for further curing.
Calcium Chloride Test ASTM F-1869 Readings over 3 lbs and up to 7 lbs vapor
retarder needed.
See NWFA installation guidelines chapter 3 Moisture Testing for full information of
testing.
Check floor in several locations. Consult with your local flooring distributor for
graphical variances.
Note: Normal expansion space around the room should be the same distance as
the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
• The use of flooring putty to cover small cracks or face nail holes should
be considered normal in hardwood flooring installation.
New wood type subfloors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture
meter. In general, wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed 14% moisture
content and no more than 4% MC difference between wood flooring and subfloor.
Check with your local distributor for your geographical variances. If the plywood is
used as an overlay over the existing subfloor, the thickness of the overlay material
must be such as to yield a total ¾” subfloor thickness.
Suggested Layout Working Line: EXAMPLE: For 3” Material, snap a chalk line
30 ¼” from the wall on the door side of the room. The small area will be your
working space and the last to be installed. Temporarily nail straight board on chalk
line.
Caution: Proper humidity must be controlled between 35 – 55% for successful
performance before, during and after installation.
Installing the floor:
• The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to
ensure color and shade mix.
• End joints should never be closer than 4 inches from each other.
• Install tongue into groove.
• Tongue and groove should be engaged by hand.
• Lift a plank periodically to check adhesive transfer.
• Remove nailed board and install remainder of flooring.
• Install base and mould after floor installation.
• Clean adhesive off surface of wood with cleaner and soft cloth. (see
adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations)
For Unfinished Products
• Do not start sanding product until adhesive has cured.
Radiant heat subfloors – See below.
Concrete or Plywood: Radiant Heat (Oak ONLY)
• Radiant Heat Subfloors on or above grade.
• The maximum temperature of subfloor under normal use should not
exceed 80°F (Check with heat system manufacturer.)
• For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with
manufacturer’s suggested guidelines.
• Heating pipes must be covered with 1 ¼” of concrete or minimum of
1/8” below bottom side of plywood subfloor.
• Before installation of hardwood flooring, heat system must be operated
at normal living temperature for a minimum of 14 days. One to two
days before the flooring is laid, switch off heating unit. (At time of
installation, subfloor should be 64°F to 68°F)
• Room temperature should not vary more than 15°F season to season.
Flooring manufacturer approved systems must not exceed 8 watts per
square foot heating.
3/8" 1/2"
10mm 12.7mm
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Gen-E-25
(11/7/16)
Adhesive
Concrete or plywood type subfloors
Install this area last
Adhesive
Nail straight board
on chalk line
remove board later
Staple Down
Proper location for Staple
Subfloor
This should show the foot like
other illustration - Don’t use
unless updated
Update Engineered Sheets with
this artwork
Notes:
Staple Down
Proper location for Staple
• To avoid movement in
hardwood floor relative
humidity should be
maintained year round
at 35-55%
• The use of flooring putty
to cover small cracks or
face nail holes should
be considered normal in
hardwood flooring
installation.
Radiant Heat Subfloors – See instructions on reverse page (Glue
Down Installation)
FLOATING INSTALLATION
• 3/8”, ½”, 9/16 or 5/8 product 3” width or wider can be floated in
some, not all, installations. If necessary call your supplier for details.
• Adequate and proper stapling as well as soundness of the
subfloor should be ascertained. Foreign material shall be
removed from the subfloor surface and swept clean.
• The clean subfloor surface shall be covered, wall to wall, with
15 lb. asphalt saturated felt, Aquabar
®
B, or moisture mat (no
rosin paper). Butt the edges of this felt when positioning it.
• Laying direction for plank flooring: Flooring should be laid at
right angles to the floor joists and, if possible, in the direction
of the longest dimension of the room.
Note: Normally, expansion space around the room should be the
same distance as the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
• The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same
time to ensure color and shade mix.
• End joints should never be closer than 4” from each other.
• Staple Engineered Plank Hardwood Flooring: The first and
last row of flooring should be face nailed and filled,as well as
staples placed at Tongue. Staple each board along the
tongue every 4 to 6 inches apart and within 2 inches of each
end joint. This should be done to the entire floor.
BR-E-50
(7/5/16)