Installation Guide

ManualsBrandsShaw ManualsEngineered HardwoodWestern Hickory Espresso 3/8 in. Thick x 5 in. Wide x Random Length Engineered Hardwood Flooring (23.66 sq. ft. /case)

ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

Important Information Before You Begin

It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you read and understand

this information completely prior to starting, since improper

installation can void the warranties.

Installer/Owner Responsibility

Carefully inspect ALL material prior to installation for defects.

Materials installed with visible defects are not covered under

warranty. Remember – Wood is a natural product that can vary in

color, grain, and contains natural characteristics that varies from

plank to plank and is to be expected. We do not warrant against these

natural variations from plank to plank or variations from sample to

plank. Remember – If you are not satisfied with the flooring prior to

installation, contact your dealer – DO NOT INSTALL the flooring.

Accepting or rejecting the material must be done on full shipment of

quantities only, not carton by carton or plank by plank. Material is

manufactured to exceed industry standards (ANSI/HPVA EF 2009).

 We urge you, as the final inspector to inspect for proper

color, finish, style, and quality PRIOR to installation. Verify

that the flooring is the correct material. Care should be

taken at this time to remove or repair particular

characteristics you do not desire. Manufacturer declines

responsibility for any costs incurred when plank(s) with

visible defects have been installed.

 The use of stain, filler, or putty stick for the correction of

minor defects during installation should be accepted as

normal procedure.

 5% cutting allowance, depending on layout, must be added

to the actual square footage amount needed. (Diagonal,

herringbone, or bordered installations will require a higher

percentage)

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

CAUTION: WOOD DUST

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified

wood dust as a nasal carcinogen. The sawing, sanding, and/ or

machining of wood products can produce wood dust that can

cause respiratory, eye, and skin irritations. Equipment should be

equipped with a dust collector to reduce airborne wood dust. Wear an

appropriate NIOSH designated dust mask to reduce exposure to

airborne wood dust. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. In case of

irritation, flush eyes or skin with water for at least 15 minutes. In

cases of severe irritation; seek immediate medical attention. For

further technical or installation questions or to request a Product

Specification Data Sheet contact the manufacturer. 1-800-441-7429

ttention California Installers & Consumers

WARNING

Installation of this product and wood product may create wood

dust, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer.

PRE INSTALLATION & JOBSITE CONDITIONS

It is the installer/ owners’ responsibility to ensure that the jobsite

conditions and jobsite subfloor are environmentally and structurally

acceptable prior to the installation of any hardwood flooring. The

manufacturer declines any responsibility for failures or deficiencies

of hardwood flooring resulting from or related to sub-floor, sub-

surface, or job-site environmental conditions. All substrates must be

clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound.

 Subfloors must be clean and free of dirt, curing compounds,

sealers, drywall mud, paint, wax, grease, urethane, or other

materials that may affect the integrity of the flooring material or

adhesives used to install the flooring.

 All subfloors and subfloor systems must be structurally sound

and must be installed following their manufacturer's

recommendations. Local building codes may only establish

minimum requirements of the flooring system and may not

provide adequate rigidity and support for proper installation and

performance of a hardwood floor. Whenever possible install the

planks perpendicular to the floor joists for maximum stability.

Our warranties DO NOT cover any problems caused by

inadequate substructures or improper installation of said

substructures.

 Test wood sub floors and wood flooring for moisture content

using a pin-type moisture meter. Take readings of the subfloor –

minimum of 20 readings per 1000 sq. ft. and average the results.

In most regions, a “dry” subfloor that is ready to work on has a

moisture content of 12% or less and the wood should be within

4% of the subfloor moisture content.

 The moisture content for concrete subfloors registered after a

calcium chloride test should not be greater than 3 pounds per

1000 square feet of area. If it exceeds these limits, DO NOT

install the flooring. Before moisture testing begins, the slab

must be cured for a minimum of 30 days.

 Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black

polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth.

Crawl space clearance from

ground to underside of joist

to be no less than 18” and

perimeter vent spacing

should be equal to 1.5% of

the total square footage of

the crawl space area to provide cross ventilation. Where

necessary, local regulations prevail.

 The subfloor must be flat, meeting a minimum of 3/16” within

10’ or 1/8” in 6’.

Concrete subfloors - Grind high spots or use a Portland-cement-

based leveling material (minimum compressive strength 3000 psi) to

fill all low spots. Follow the leveling compound manufacturer’s

instruction. Leveling compounds must be allowed to thoroughly cure

and dry prior to installation of wood flooring.

Wood subfloors - For staple down application use layers of 15lb.

felt or wooden shims to fill low spots. Staples must be able to

penetrate for holding power.

 All “wet” work – i.e. – paint, drywall, concrete, masonry,

plumbing must be complete and dry well in advance of delivery

of hardwood flooring

 Gutters and downspouts should be in place and the exterior

grade complete to allow for proper drainage of water away from

the building’s exterior perimeter.

 Flooring should not be exposed to extremes of humidity or

moisture.

 Permanent HVAC should be on and operational a minimum of 5

days and maintained between 65 – 75 degrees and a relative

humidity of 35%- 55% prior to delivery, during, and after

installation of the flooring.

 If HVAC is not possible at time of installation the environmental

conditions must be at or near normal living conditions between

60 – 80 degrees and at the average yearly relative humidity for

the area.

Broom or

vacuum

Moisture Meter Safety Glasses

Tape Measure Hand Saw Color Wood Filler

Chalk Line &

Chalk

Electric Miter

Saw/Table Saw

Clean Green™ Hardwood

Floor Cleaner/ Shaw R2X

Hammer Pry Bar NIOSH designated Dust Mask

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING INSTALLATION GUIDELINES Important Information Before You Begin It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you read and understand this information completely prior to starting, since improper installation can void the warranties. Installer/Owner Responsibility Carefully inspect ALL material prior to installation for defects. Materials installed with visible defects are not covered under warranty.
PAGE 2
It is the Installer/Owner responsibility to ensure that the conditions are acceptable prior to the installation of the hardwood floors. The manufacturer declines any and all problems with the hardwood flooring that are related to or attributed to improper jobsite conditions. Recommended Subfloor Surfaces Concrete Subfloor Guidelines Concrete slabs should be of high compressive strength and constructed to prevent groundwater from permeating the concrete.
PAGE 3
GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION GUIDELINES Additional tools & material needed: Anderson Green Grab™ or 3X Triple Option™ Adhesives Shaw Ecomade™ Hardwood Adhesive or Shaw Urethane Hardwood Adhesive Clean White Rags Mineral Spirits/ Urethane Adhesive Remover Adhesive Trowel Straight Edge NOTE: REFER TO THE ADHESIVE LABEL FOR PROPER TROWEL REQUIRED, SPREAD RATES AND INSTALLATION APPLICATION INFORMATION! For Ensurance 3X Moisture/Sound Application – Use the Gundlach Injecta Blade Trowel.
PAGE 4
properly, not damaging the planks, and that you are using the correct nailing schedule. When used improperly, staples or cleats can damage wood flooring. If the tool is not adjusted properly the staples/ cleats may not be positioned at the proper angle and cause blistering, peaking, squeaking, or crackling of the floor. Some models may require the use of an adapter to adjust for proper thickness.
PAGE 5
planks from shifting during installation. The straightedge could be a straight piece of lumber or piece of flooring. This is temporary and will be replaced as the floor is completed. Installing the Floor 7. Insert spacers at walls to maintain the expansion space between the flooring and the wall. 8. Before starting to glue planks, dry lay the first two rows of flooring. Working from right to left, install planks so that the groove faces the straight edge (starter board).
PAGE 6
Floor Protection During Construction After installation, if you choose to protectively cover the floor, cover the floor completely, since some species are light-sensitive and uncovered areas may change color. Use a covering material with a vapor permeance (perm rating) of 1 perm or more (tested I accordance with ASTM E-96) to avoid trapping moisture/vapor on or within the floor. Any covering should be taped, using a low-adhesion tape, to base or shoe moldings. Avoid taping to finished flooring.