Installation Guide

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NATURAL FLOORS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR TONGUE & GROOVE

HARDWOOD AND BAMBOO FLOORING

Enclosed you will find installation instructions for the following products:

• Solid and Engineered Tongue & Groove (T&G) Hardwood & Traditional Bamboo

• Solid and Engineered Tongue & Groove (T&G) Strand Woven Bamboo

USE THE GRID BELOW TO DETERMINE WHICH INSTALLATION METHOD IS ACCEPTABLE FOR EACH TYPE OF

PRODUCT

Type of Floor

Glue

Down

Nail

Staple

Float

Over

In-floor

Radiant

Heat

Special Instructions

Tongue & Groove

Engineered Hardwood and

Traditional Bamboo

Yes

Yes, if at

least 5”

wide

Yes

Oil finished floors require a coat of Woca

Refresher immediately after installation to

maintain warranty.

Tongue & Groove

Engineered Strand Woven

Bamboo

Yes

Yes, if at

least 5”

wide

Yes

Tongue & Groove Solid

Strand Woven Bamboo

Yes

For nail down installation, use only 18

gauge cleat nailer and cleat nails 1-1/4" to

1-1/2" with nailers tested by USFloors.

Tongue & Groove Solid

Hardwood & Traditional

Bamboo

Yes -

Bamboo

Only

Yes

Glue down installation is not recommended

for solid hardwood floors.

ATTENTION! READ BEFORE INSTALLING!

COLOR VARIATION

This flooring is a natural product and color variations are to be

expected. For best visual effect, shuffle planks from several

cartons and do not install boards varying greatly in color next to

one another.

ACCLIMATION

As relative humidity varies in different parts of the country,

acclimation of the flooring prior to installation is the most

important precaution to take in order to insure a successful

installation. Proper acclimation is necessary to adapt the

moisture content of the flooring to the conditions of your

environment. Improper acclimation can cause the floor to buckle

and/or the boards to shrink or cup after installation.

SUBFLOOR PREPARATION

Subfloor must be level, dry and free of imperfections. An uneven

subfloor will make the floor feel unstable and cause premature

damage.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE

BEGINNING INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION TO THESE

INSTRUCTIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE INSTALLER

FOLLOWS ALL INSTALLATION GUIDELINES AS SET FORTH BY

THE NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION.

FLOORING MATERIAL SHOULD BE INSPECTED PRIOR TO

INSTALLATION

Responsibility for the suitability of NATURAL FLOORS flooring

and accompanying products for each individual installation

cannot be assumed by NATURAL FLOORS, since NATURAL

FLOORS has no control over the installer's proper application.

Should an individual plank be doubtful as to appearance or

dimension the installer should not use this piece. NATURAL

FLOORS will send replacement in a timely fashion.

PRE-INSTALLATION JOBSITE REQUIREMENTS

NATURAL FLOORS cannot be held responsible for site conditions.

Carefully examine the flooring prior to installation for grade, color,

finish and quality. Ensure adequate lighting for proper inspection.

If flooring is not acceptable, contact your supplier immediately

and arrange for replacement.

NATURAL FLOORS cannot accept responsibility for flooring installed

with visible defects. Prior to installation of any flooring, the installer

must ensure that the jobsite and subfloor meet the requirements of

these instructions. NATURAL FLOORS is not responsible for flooring

failure resulting from unsatisfactory jobsite and/or subfloor conditions.

Flooring should be one of the last items installed in any new

construction or remodel project. All work involving water or moisture

should be completed before flooring installation. Water and wood do

not mix. Installing flooring onto a wet subfloor will most likely cause

cupping, tip & edge raising, telegraphing of core and subsequent

gapping.

Room temperature and humidity of installation area should be

consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least one

week before installation of flooring. Optimum room temperature of 70

F and a humidity range of 30-50% is recommended during installation.

Humidity levels below 30% will most likely cause movement in the

flooring, including gapping between pieces and possible cupping and

checking in the face.

Store the flooring in the installation area for 72 hours before installation

to allow flooring to adjust to room temperature. Do not store the boxes

of flooring directly on concrete. These floors need adequate

acclimation for moisture equalization prior to installation and should not

be installed from just-opened boxes. Shuffle the boards for best visual

mix of lengths and color.

PRE-INSTALLATION SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS

All Subfloors must be:

• Dry and will remain dry: Subfloor must remain dry year-

round. Moisture content of wood sub floors must not exceed

11%. Concrete must be tested for moisture content using

the Andydrous Calcium Chloride test method, a non-invasive

moisture meter, or a pin/probe moisture meter.

• Structurally sound

• Clean: Thoroughly swept and free of all debris (If being

glued down, subfloor must be free of wax, grease, paint,

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
NATURAL FLOORS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR TONGUE & GROOVE HARDWOOD AND BAMBOO FLOORING Enclosed you will find installation instructions for the following products: • • Solid and Engineered Tongue & Groove (T&G) Hardwood & Traditional Bamboo Solid and Engineered Tongue & Groove (T&G) Strand Woven Bamboo USE THE GRID BELOW TO DETERMINE WHICH INSTALLATION METHOD IS ACCEPTABLE FOR EACH TYPE OF PRODUCT Glue Down Nail Staple Float Over In-floor Radiant Heat Tongue & Groove Engineered Hardwood and Tradit
PAGE 2
sealers, & old adhesives etc., which can be removed by sanding) • Level: Flat to 3/16” per 10-foot radius Wood subfloors must be dry and well secured. Nail or screw every 6” along joists to avoid squeaking. If not level, sand down high spots and fill low spots with a Portland Based leveling patch. Concrete subfloors must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, and should have minimum 6-mil polyfilm between concrete and ground. Subfloor should be flat and level within 3/16” per 10’ radius.
PAGE 3
NAIL DOWN INSTALLATION FOR SOLID STRAND WOVEN BAMBOO Make sure subfloor is tested for moisture content first and is properly prepared. IMPORTANT: Due the extreme hardness of solid strand woven bamboo, particular care must be taken by the installer to ensure that the appropriate nailer, proper cleats nails, and the correct PSI settings are used to create a successful installation without damaging the floor.
PAGE 4
In-floor Radiant Heat: Use only recommended flooring adhesive over manufacturer’s recommended plywood substrate. • Turn the heat off for 24 hours before, during and 24 hours after installation when installing over radiant heated subfloors • Failure to turn the heat off may result in shortened working time of the adhesive. • Floor temperature must not exceed 85°F (30°C). • Failure to strictly follow adhesive manufacturer’s guidelines may result in failure and void warranty.