Installation Guide

Installation Instructions
lifeproof™ Waterproof Rigid Core
Luxury Vinyl Multi-Width Plank Flooring
For Assistance, Call: 1-866-843-8453
www.homedepot.com
Product Description
6.5 mm thick x 4.25 in., 5.59 in., 9.84 in.
(three plank widths) x 47.64 in. long
Rigid Core Vinyl Planks
Grade Levels
Above Grade / On Grade
Below Grade
Installation
Method
Floating - Drop
and Lock
1 HOMEDEPOT.COM/LIFEPROOF
8/29/2017 Please contact 1-866-843-8453 for further assistance.
CAUTION: ASBESTOS IN EXISTING FLOOR: lifeproof
TM
product does not contain asbestos. Existing/installed resilient flooring and asphaltic adhesive may
contain asbestos fillers or crystalline silica. Do not sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, bead-blast, or mechanically chip or pulverize existing resilient flooring,
backing, lining felt, asphaltic “cutback” adhesive or other adhesive. See “Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings” (rfci.com) for
detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.
CAUTION: DO NOT INSTALL IN any outside areas, sunrooms/solariums, saunas, seasonal porches, camping trailers, boats, RVs, 3-season rooms, lanais, rooms
that have a potential of flooding or in rooms or homes that are not temperature controlled.
Safety and Health Precautions
Power tools can be dangerous. Operate in strict accordance to manufacturer’s operating instructions and safety precautions. Unsafe and improper use can cause
serious injuries. Avoid inhalation and exposures to airborne particles by wearing personal protective equipment, which includes NIOSH or OSHA approved dust
masks, safety goggles and work gloves.
Pre-Installation
OWNER/INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY
The owner is advised to be at home during the installation for consultation/
direction. The owner and installer should discuss installation and layout to
maximize satisfaction. If this is not possible, consultation should be done
prior to installation. The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for product
quality of completed installation.
PERFORM PRE-INSTALL INSPECTION. FOR CLAIMS PURPOSES, YOU ARE
ALLOWED TO OPEN UP TO 4 BOXES FOR PRODUCT INSPECTION. DO NOT OPEN
ALL THE BOXES. OPENING ALL THE BOXES CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE
OF THE PRODUCT. CAREFULLY INSPECT ALL THE PLANKS IN THESE 4 BOXES.
EXAMINE FLOORING FOR COLOR, FINISH AND QUALITY. IF YOU DISCOVER THAT
PRODUCTS ARE DEFECTIVE, OR IF MATERIAL IS QUESTIONABLE, YOU SHOULD
CONTACT THE RETAILER. IF YOU ARE SATISFIED, PROCEED WITH INSTALLATION.
Prior to installation, rack up planks from several boxes to ensure uniform
distribution of colors, shades and characters in the installed flooring.
The installation of lifeproof
TM
does not require acclimation. However, we
recommend installation in rooms with temperature between 50°F & 100°F
(10°C & 38°C). The HVAC system must be on and functional before, during,
and after installation. Product should be the same temperature as the room in
which it is being installed.
Purchase flooring to be installed in one large area at the same time. Product
purchased at a later time than the original purchase may vary beyond your
expectations.
Accessories, trims and moldings are manufactured to coordinate with the
varied appearances of the floor planks. Any exact matches are coincidental.
Non-matching accessories are not defective products.
This product is manufactured according to strict quality standards. In the event
that defects are discovered in the field, the industry standards permit a defect
tolerance not to exceed 5%. Order an additional 10% extra for cutting wastage
and grading allowances.
Continuously inspect planks during installation. Defects that can be seen from
a standing position should be cut off or held out. Installing defective planks
implies acceptance.
"Clicking" noises are the result of interactions among flooring, joists and
subfloors when they move. It is not always possible to eliminate such minor
"clicking" noises, which are to be accepted as normal flooring phenomena.
Please contact our Customer Service Department at [phone] if you
have any questions or concerns regarding the installation and/or care &
maintenance of lifeproof
TM
flooring, so as to ensure that you do not engage in
any actions that might void the lifeproof
TM
Limited Warranty.
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Concrete subfloors must:
□ Have minimum rated strength of 3000 psi.
□ Be level to within 1/4 in. in a 10 ft. span; no bumps or low spots. High
spots can be removed by grinding; depressions can be filled with patching
compound formulated for use in floor installation. Subfloors should not
slope more than 1 in. per 6 ft.
□ Be clean; no construction debris, soil, mud or any other objects on or
adhering to the floor; if necessary, scrape and sweep away before the
installation; no protrusions of nails, debris, or metals should remain.
□ New concrete slab must cure for at least 90 days. It must have a minimum
10 mil polyethylene sheet between the ground and the concrete.
□ Be free from moisture-related conditions that can damage the installed
flooring.
CONCRETE MOISTURE
Test all concrete subfloors for moisture content and document the results.
Visual checks are not reliable.
Perform tests at locations around exterior doorways, near walls containing
plumbing, near foundation walls and in the center of the room. Minimum
sample size is 3 samples per 1000 sq. ft. of area and one test for every
additional 1000 sq. ft. thereafter.
Moisture content should meet one of the following criteria:
□ 4% max. when tested using Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter.
□ Less than 8 pounds per 1000 sq. ft. per 24 hours MVER (Moisture Vapor
Emission Rating) when using Calcium Chloride test (ASTM F1869).
□ 85% max. when performing Relative Humidity Testing (ASTM F2170).
NOTE: Concrete moisture content may be acceptable at the time of the
original tests. These tests do not guarantee a perpetually “dry” concrete
slab. The concrete slab moisture content can vary at different times of
the year. We are not responsible for moisture-related damage to installed
flooring.
WOOD SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
The subfloor must be clean; no presence of construction debris, soil, mud or
any other objects on or adhering to the floor; no protrusions of nails, debris, or
metals should remain. If necessary, scrape and sweep the subfloor before the
installation.
The subfloor must be structurally sound and stable; no movements or squeaks;
no loose panels or loose nails; no signs of ply de-lamination or other damages.
Repair all shortcomings before installation.
The subfloor must be flat; no visible bumps or low spots; the subfloor should
be flat to within 1/4 in. in 10 ft. span. Test for moisture using a reliable
moisture meter. Perform tests at locations around exterior doorways, near
foundation walls, near walls containing plumbing lines and in the center of the
room. Measure 20 locations per 1000 sq. ft.. Moisture content of the subfloor
should be less than 13%.
PLYWOOD OR ORIENTED STRAND BOARD (OSB) SPECIFICATIONS
On truss/joist spacing of 16 in. (406 mm) on center (O/C) or less, the industry
standard for single-panel subflooring is a minimum 5/8 in. (19/32 in., 15.1 mm)
CD Exposure 1 graded plywood subfloor panels (CD Exposure 1 graded) or
23/32 in. OSB Exposure 1 graded subfloor panels, 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheets. Expansion
gap between panels should be 1/8 in. (3 mm). If panels are not tongued and
grooved and there is not sufficient spacing, cut in the required spacing with a
circular saw. Do not cut in expansion space on tongue and groove panels.