Instructions / Assembly

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Please follow the recommendations later in this document for proper equalization
instructions.
PRE-INSTALLATION SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
All Subfloors must be:
• Structurally sound
• Clean: Thoroughly swept and free of all debris (If being glued down, the subfloor must
be free from wax, grease, paint, sealers, & old adhesives etc., which can be removed by
sanding)
• Level: Flat to 3/16" per 10-foot radius
• Dry and will remain dry: Subfloor must remain dry year-round. Moisture content of
wood subfloors must not exceed 11%, concrete must not exceed 3.5 as measured with a
Concrete Moisture Meter.
Wood Sub floors 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 an underlayment patch.
Concrete Sub Floors must be fully cured, at least 60 days old and should have a minimum 6-
mil polyfilm between concrete and ground. Subfloor should be flat and level within 3/16" on
10'. If necessary grind high spots down and level low spots with Leveling Compound.
Do not install on concrete unless YOU ARE SURE it stays dry year-round. All concrete should be
tested for moisture and be below 3.5 moisture content as measured by a Concrete Moisture
Meter. Other concrete testing methods may be used including Calcium Chloride testing (3 lbs
or less/1000 sf) and in-situ RH probes (result must be 75% or less).
It is highly recommended, that if gluing down on concrete, (even if you believe it is dry), which
i
s on or below grade, to provide an effective permanent moisture barrier. Adhesive
manufacturers offer Moisture Barrier Systems and they provide warranties to you.
Remember, a concrete slab on /below grade that measures dry today may become moist in
the future due to rising groundwater. Installing a moisture barrier now may be viewed as an
insurance policy against concrete becoming wet in the future. This will lead to subsequent
floor failure. Failure due to moisture related issues is not product failure and most likely voids
all warranties. Ceramic tile, resilient tile and sheet vinyl covered Subfloors must be well-
bonded to subfloor, in good condition, clean and level. Do not sand existing vinyl floors, as
they may contain asbestos. OSB PS2 rated underlayment (Please note some OSB type
products will not hold the nail in place which can result in squeaky floors. This is not a flooring
defect.)
Radiant heat: Subfloor should never exceed 80°F. Check with radiant beat manufacturer's
suggested guidelines to limit the maximum water temperature inside heating pipes. Switch off
heating unit one or two days before flooring installation and bring heat up slowly after
installation.
Note: At this time NOT all engineered wood flooring is WARRANTED for use over radiant heat.