Installation Guide
GENERAL INFORMATION
ATTENTION INSTALLERS
WARNING: Installation of wood product may create wood dust, which is
known to the state of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust
or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection.
Sawing, sanding and machining wood products can produce wood dust.
Airborne wood dust can cause respiratory, eye and skin irritation. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classied
wood dust as a nasal carcinogen in humans.
Precautionary Measures: If power tools are used, they should be equipped
with a dust collector. If high dust levels are encountered, use an appropriate
NIOSH-designated dust mask. Avoid dust contact with eye and skin.
First Aid Measures in Case of Irritation: In case of irritation, ush eyes or
skin with water for at least 15 minutes.
Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which include
NIOSH or OSHA approved dust masks, safety goggles and work gloves.
WARNING: EXISTING IN-PLACE RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING AND
ASPHALTIC ADHESIVES. DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL,
SAW, BEADBLAST, OR MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING
RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK”
ADHESIVE, OR OTHER ADHESIVE.
SOLID WOOD INSTALLATION
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS COMPLETELY BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION.
These existing in-place products may contain asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica.
Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard.
Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious
bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the existing in-place product is a non-
asbestos-containing material, you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may
require that the material be tested to determine asbestos content and may govern
removal and disposal of material. See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering
Institute (RFCI) publication Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient
Floor Coverings for instructions on removing all resilient oor covering structures.
If you have technical or installation questions please call 1-800-258-5758
IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE FOR RESIDENTS OF MINNESOTA ONLY:
THESE BUILDING MATERIALS EMIT FORMALDEHYDE. EYE, NOSE, AND
THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHE, NAUSEA AND A VARIETY OF ASTHMA-
LIKE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HAVE BEEN
REPORTED AS A RESULT OF FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE. ELDERLY
PERSONS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, AS WELL AS ANYONE WITH A HISTORY
OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, OR LUNG PROBLEMS, MAY BE AT GREATER RISK.
RESEARCH IS CONTINUING ON THE POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF
EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE.
REDUCED VENTILATION MAY ALLOW FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER
CONTAMINANTS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE INDOOR AIR. HIGH INDOOR
TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY RAISE FORMALDEHYDE LEVELS. WHEN
A HOME IS TO BE LOCATED IN AREAS SUBJECT TO EXTREME SUMMER
TEMPERATURES, AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAN BE USED
TO CONTROL INDOOR TEMPERATURE LEVELS. OTHER MEANS OF
CONTROLLED MECHANICAL VENTILATION CAN BE USED TO REDUCE
LEVELS OF FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF
FORMALDEHYDE, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IMPORTANT NOTES PRIOR TO INSTALLATION
• Prior to installation of solid ooring, the jobsite should be fully enclosed and the
heating and/or air conditioning system fully operational. The thermostat should be
adjusted to the expected living conditions of the owner. Flooring cartons should
be opened and the ooring acclimated for 3-5 days prior to the actual installation.
• INSTALLATIONS FOR WIDE WIDTH FLOORS: Floors in widths wider
than 3” are subject to greater dimensional change due to variations in
moisture content, and may require longer acclimination times. Additionally,
installers should check moisture content in multiple boards and packages to
conrm equal acclimation prior to installation.
• Color uniformity of all grades will be governed by the inherent variations
characteristic of the wood species.
• All crawl spaces must have 6 or 8 mil polyethylene covering entire surface of
crawl space.
• Do not install over radiant heated oors.
• Do not install any product with visible defects
• Wood oors are not recommended in full bath or shower rooms.
• Marks made with permanent or ball point ink may permanently stain this oor.
HANDLING AND STORAGE
• Flooring must be protected from adverse moisture conditions during its
transportation and must be stored 4” or more off the ground in dry warehouses
under conditions which will prevent a significant change in its moisture content.
Flooring should be delivered to job site 3 to 5 days before installation. Open cartons
and allow ooring to acclimate.
SUBFLOOR
• Installer should ensure suboor is nailed properly.
CONSTRUCTION:
a. 5/8” minimum thickness, preferred 3/4” or thicker exterior plywood installed with
long edges at right angle to oor joists and staggered so that end joints in adjacent
panels break over different joists. Nail at each bearing with 6d threaded or 8d
common nails spaced 6” on-center along all outer bearing edges and 10” on-center
along intermediate joists.
b. 1” x 4” to 6” wide, square-edged, 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 joist for solid bearing. Face nail each board solidly at every bearing on
the joists with two nails (7d threaded or 8d common).
c. 3/4 inch min. O.S.B. on 19.2 inch center or less oor joists system properly nailed.
d. Baseboards should be installed so that their lower edge is slightly above the
level of the finished oor, but not nailed into the oor.
• Check basement and crawl spaces: these must be dry and ventilated when strip
ooring is to be installed over them. In crawl spaces a vapor barrier should be provided.
Vapor barrier must be provided below suboor on ground (6 or 8 mil. poly).
• 3/4” solid ooring is not recommended to be installed below grade. New wood
type suboors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture meter. In
general wood or plywood suboors should not exceed 14% moisture content, with
a maximum moisture variance not to exceed 4% difference between wood ooring
and suboor.
• Check with your local distributor for your geographical variances.
• NOTE: A concrete slab is considered below grade when any part of the slab is
below ground level—for example, walkout basements are below grade.
• Particle board is not recommended.
SUBFLOOR FLATNESS
• Suboors should be at to 3/16” per 8’ radius. If suboor prep work is required,
“hills” should be sanded down and “valleys” filled with an underlayment patch,
developed by a reputable manufacturer for use with hardwood ooring. Do not sand
sub-surfaces such as vinyl or synthetic tiles that may contain asbestos.
GENERAL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Time at which to install 3/4” solid ooring: All wet trades must be complete
and dry well in advance before delivery and installation of wood ooring may begin.
The building interior shall have been dried and seasoned and a comfortable working
temperature (at least 60°F.) should exist during the ooring installation. New wood
type suboors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture meter. In
general wood or plywood suboors should not exceed 14% moisture content, with
a maximum moisture variance not to exceed 4% difference between wood ooring
and suboor. Check with your local distributor for your geographical variances.
PREPARATION OF SUBFLOOR :
a. Adequate and proper nailing as well as soundness of the suboor should be
ascertained. Foreign material shall be removed from the suboor surface and
swept clean.
b. The clean suboor surface shall be covered, wall-to-wall, with 15-lb. asphalt
saturated felt. Lap the edges of this felt 4” when positioning it. Double the felt
around heat ducts in the oor.
NOTE: RED ROSIN PAPER IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THIS APPLICATION
S2718-11111
WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products can
expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California
to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or
other safeguards for personal protection. For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/wood-dust.