Installation Guide

Jobsite Conditions:
•  Structure must be completely enclosed (including exterior
windowsanddoors).Gutters,downspouts,andexteriorgrading
should direct drainage away from the structures foundation.
Basementsandcrawlspacesmustbedryandwellventilated.Crawl
spacesmustbecoveredatgroundlevelwitha6-milpolyethylene
lmwithseamsoverlappedandtappedcompletely.
• Heatingandcoolingsystemsmustbeoperatingforaminimum
of14days,maintainingaroomtemperatureof65Fand35-65%RH.
Flooring ACClimAtion And storAge:
• Flooringrequires 48 hours jobsite acclimation.  Leaveooring
in packaging, and remove plastic wrapping only when ready to
install.Transportandstorecorkooringinalayingposition.Ifthe
ooringneedstobestored,leaveinpackaging,layingdownraised
offofsuboor(fullysupportedtopreventsagging).Storeonlyina
climatecontrolledarea,minimum65Froomtemperature,between
35-65%RelativeHumidity.
Approved instAllAtion method:
• This ooring features a glueless locking system for oating
installationonly.Thisooringisfactorynishedandrequiresno
additionalsealing.Note:Thisooringdoesnotrequireacushioned
underlaymentasthebottomcorklayerservesthispurpose.All
installationsdorequireapolyethylenelmmoisturevaporbarrier
asnotedinthe“InstallingTheFloor”section.
instAllAtion loCAtions:
• Indoors only, in year round climate controlled rooms
(temperature60-80F,  RelativeHumidity 35-65%). Cork ooring
productsarebasedonnaturalmaterialsandwillexpandandcontact
throughheatingandnon-heatingseasonsthusexperiencingsome
separationbetweentheplanksatdifferenttimesduringtheyear.
Suchseparationsarenotconsideredaproductdefect.
• CanbeinstalledON,ABOVE,ANDBELOWGRADEovermost
any dry, at, clean, and structurally sound solid surface such as
ooring grade plywood & OSB board, particle board, concrete,
lightweightconcrete,andsoundlysecuredexistingoors(linoleum,
vinyl,tile,etc.).Donotinstalloversoftsurfacessuchascarpet.
Not approvedor warrantedfor installation in a full bath. Cork
ooringplanksandstairnosemoldingsalsoarenotapprovedfor
useonstairtreads.
• Canbeinstalledoverin-oorradiantheatsystems(maximum
82F,maximum5Ftemperaturechangeplusorminusina24hour
period).  Followinstallation instructions of the suboor heating
systemmanufacturer,contractor,orcontactthesystemsupplier.
CheCking subFloor FlAtness:
• Use a straightedge to check suboor atness. The suboor
shouldbeattowithin.12”(1/8”)ina6-1/2’area.Checkvarious
areasthroughoutthesuboor.Highareasneedtobesandedand
lowareaslled.Highorlowareascouldcausetheoatedoor
toexcausingsqueaking,popping,orothernoises.Overtimethis
exingcouldcausethelockingsystemtoweakenresultingingaps
orlooseboardsintheoor.Neversandanyareaorexistingoor
or cured adhesive suspected to contain asbestos or crystalline
silica(suchasresilientvinylorlinoleum,ortheadhesivesusedto
bondthem).
CheCking moisture Content oF subFloor:
• All suboors must be dry. Wooden and concrete suboors
require insulation against moisture. See “Installing the Floor”
sectionforaddeddetails.
Wooden subFloors:
•  Using a reputable manufacturers moisture meter  for wood
suboors,thesuboorsmoisturecontentshouldnotexceed14%.
Also,themoisturecontentreadingsbetweenthesuboorandthe
newooringshouldnotexceed4%.
ConCrete subFloors:
Oneofthefollowingmoisturetestsisrecommended:
(A)CalciumChlorideTest/maximum3.0pounds
(B)TramexMoistureMeter/maximumreadingof4.5
(C)DelmhorstBD2100MoistureMeter/readingofgreen/dry.
lightWeight ConCrete Floors:
Testasfollows:
(A)Forconcretescreeds/<2,0%CMInstrument
(B)Foranhydritescreeds/<0,5%CMInstrument
• Keepdocumentationofallmoisturereadings.Ifresultsindicate
amoistureproblemexists,DONOTINSTALLTHEFLOOR.Most
moistureproblemscanbecorrectedeasily(sealing,etc..).When
corrected,retestthesuboor..
suggested tools / mAteriAls:
PolyethyleneFilm(2or6mil),Adhesivetape,TappingBlock,3/8”
WoodorPlasticSpacers,MeasuringTape,SafetyGlasses,Dust
Mask,ChalkLine,Square,Pencil,WoodChisel,CircularorRip
Saw,JambSaw
pre-plAnning tips:
• Inspectooringinadequatelightbeforeinstalling.Removeany
boardswithvisibledefectsordamage.Defectiveooringthatis
returnedunusedwillbereplaced.Contactyoursupplier.
• Slightly bowed (curved) boards can be installed and are not
consideredtobedefective.
• When installing ooring, always work from several cartons
blending lighter and darker boards to achieve a more uniform
appearance.
• When cutting or sanding Engineered Cork Flooring it is
recommendedthatyouwearadustmasktoavoidinhalingwood
dust,andsafetyglassesforeyeprotection.
• A oating oor expands and contracts with the seasons and
shouldneverberestrictedinanyway.Thisoatingoorrequires
a3/8” expansion space aroundthe perimeter of the room, and
aroundanyverticalobject(cabinets,columns,etc.).Becarefulnot
toputfasteners(nails,screws,etc.)throughtheooror“pinch”
the oor under doorways, cabinets, etc.. This could cause the
oor to pull apart or buckle if it is not allowed to oat freely.
Beespeciallycarefulwheninstallingmoldingsandtrimnottonail
throughtheoatingoor.
• Decidethedirectiontheooringwillbeinstalledintheroom.
Ifpossible,itisbesttoinstallperpendiculartothedirectionofthe
ooringjoists.Flooringwillbeaccentedbestifinstalledparallelto
thelargestwindowsintheroom.
• Largerareasrequireadditionalexpansionspace.Inareaslarger
than24ft.lengthineitherdirection,allowanadditional¼”space
forevery12ft.inlengthabove24ft.(Example:Fora36’x36’size
room,allow5/8”expansion(normal3/8”plus¼”spaceforthe12’
above24’)aroundtheperimeteroftheroom.
• Pre-plan the number of rows (base off of board face width).
InstallationInstructions:5.5”Cork