Installation Guide
Tools & Materials
• Laminate installation kit (including spacers, tapping
block, and pull bar)
• Hammer
• Table or hand saw
• Carbide-tipped circular saw blades
• Vacuum
• Tape measure
• Duct tape
• WoodGlue(wheremodifyingtheproleisnecessary)
• Sandpaper
• Level
• Age-resistant, non-permeable polyethylene vapor barrier
(0.006 inch) - for installations over concrete
• Moisture Meter
• Felt Furniture Pads
• 100% Silicone Sealant
• Caulking Gun
• 3/8” Foam Backer Rod
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Dust Mask or Respirator
Caution: use safety glasses, gloves, and a dust mask or
respirator when cutting this product. During the cutting
process, laminate may create wood dust; install in a well-
ventilated area.
General Requirements for all Subflooring
Substrates should be structurally sound and immobile.
Beforeinstallingooring,ensurethesuboorisleveled
within3/16inchin10feet.Irregularitiesinthesuboor
should be smoothed using a leveling compound.
Wood
• Suspendedwoodsuboorsshouldhaveaminimumof
18 inches of well-ventilated air space above the ground.
• Themoisturecontentofthewoodsuboorshouldnot
exceed 12%.
Concrete
• Newconcretesubooringshouldbecuredforatleast90
days prior to installation.
• Amoisturetestshouldbeperformedonthesuboor.
Using a calcium chloride test, values for moisture vapor
shallbe<5lbs./1,000sq.ft./24hoursperASTM1869.
• You must install a 0.006 inch age-resistant, non-
permeable polyethylene vapor barrier over the concrete
suboor.Tapeseamswithanadhesivetape.Thevapor
barrier should be installed up the wall by 1 inch.
Carpeting
• Remove all carpeting and padding prior to installation.
Vinyl / Sheet Vinyl
• Ifexistingooringhasunderlaymentitmustberemoved.
• Vinyl must be well secured, level, and in good condition.
• Ifsuboorunderthevinylisconcreteyoumustinstall
a 0.006 inch age-resistant, non-permeable polyethylene
vaporbarrierovertheoor.Tapeseamswithan
adhesive tape. The vapor barrier should be installed up
the wall by 1 inch.
Radiant Heating Systems
• Laminateooringcanbeinstalledonunder-oorradiant
heating systems if the heating element is installed into
woodorconcretesuboors.
• Lower heating system to 60ºF for 1 week before
installation.
• After installation, slowly increase the temperature in
increments of 10ºF per day.
• Surface temperature must not exceed 85ºF.
• Follow installation instructions for wood or concrete as
outlined above.
Room & Material Preparation
• Remove all existing moulding.
• The product does not need to be acclimated for
most applications. If the product has been stored
in an environment outside of the required relative
humidity and temperature range, then re-acclimating it
for 24-48 hours to those conditions is neccessary prior
to installation.
• Flooring should be installed and maintained in a climate
controlled environment with ambient temperature
between 60ºF - 80ºF and a relative humidity of
35% - 70%.
• Check door clearances and make necessary
adjustmentsbeforelayingtheooring.Doormouldings
(jambs) should be undercut to accommodate
thethicknessoftheooringaswellastheunderlayment
(whether pre-attached or installed separately). [2]
• Do not install more than one layer of underlayment.
Doing so will void the warranty.
Important Information Before Starting
• If room has electric baseboard heaters, leave a
minimumof1/2inchbetweenthesurfaceoftheooring
and the bottom of the heaters, allowing heat to circulate.
• Use T-mouldings for rooms wider or longer than 40 feet
and openings less than 4 feet.
Waterproof Laminate Flooring
Installation Guide
1