Installation Guide

INSTALLATION

Begin at the starting wall. Roll underlayment out parallel to the starting wall and allow the poly lm to run 2 inches up the wall.
After the ooring has been installed trim back the poly lm from the wall.
Roll the next course of poly lm parallel to the rst run and overalap a minimum of 4 inches. Smooth out any wrinkles or creases in the poly lm.
Use clear tape to tape the seams together when installed over concrete substrates.
Continue to install the ooring over top of the poly lm taking care not to damage the poly lm.

Note: Do not cover the entire area of the substrate to prevent damage or present a slip hazard. Roll the poly lm out one row
at a time.
Floating Installation
SPC plank ooring is designed to be installed utilizing the oating method. Proper expansion space 1/4” (6.35 mm) is required.
Undercut all doorjambs. Do not fasten wall moldings and or transition strips to the planks.
Tile patterns must be installed in a staggered (offset) brick pattern. Minimum 1/3 offset 1/2 offset is preferred.
1. Before you start with the installation, it is important to determine the layout of the ooring. Proper planning and layout will prevent having narrow
plank widths at wall junctures or very short length pieces at the end of rows.
2. As with all plank products, install the planks parallel to the longest exterior wall.
3. Determine if the starter row will need to be cut. If the rst row of planks does not need to be trimmed in width, it will be necessary to cut off the
unsupported tongue so that a clean, solid edge shows towards the wall.
4. Installation of the product must start from the left side of the room, working to the right when working in front of the planks or facing the starting wall.
5. Install the second plank in the row by angling the end tongue into the end groove of the rst plank. Maintain an expansion gap of approximately 1/4" –
6.35 mm from the wall. Start the second row by cutting a plank to the desired length. Keep in mind that the plank must not be shorter than 6" (15cm) to
achieve the best appearance.
6. Install the rst plank in the second row by inserting the long side tongue into the groove of the plank in the rst row. This is best done with a low angle of
the plank. Maintain pressure into the side seam as you rotate the plank to the suboor. Install the second plank in the second row by inserting the short
end tongue into the previously installed plank groove. Align the plank so that the long side tongue tip is positioned just over the groove lip of the plank
in the rst row. Working from the end seam, at a low angle, insert the long tongue into the groove of the adjoining plank. Very little force is required to
seat the tongue into the groove. You should feel the tongue lock into the groove.
7. Work across the length of the room installing planks along the wall in the rst row and then aligning the planks in the second row. It is critical to keep
these two rows straight and square, as they are the “foundation” for the rest of the installation. Check squareness and straightness often.
8. Cut the last plank in the rst row and leave an expansion gap of around 1/4" – 6.35mm. Planks may be cut with a utility knife using the “score and snap”
technique. The leftover of this plank may be used to start the third row if it’s a minimum 6" - 15cm long.
9. Continue installing planks and make sure to achieve a random appearance with end joint spacing minimum of 6" - 15cm. Note: For a more suitable
visual on wider and longer planks, increase end joint spacing to 8-10” or 20-25cm. Check that all planks are fully engaged; if a slight gapping is found, the
gap can be tapped together by using a tapping block and a scrap of ooring to cover the tapping block in order to avoid damages on the planks.
10. When tting under door casings, etc.,If necessary, a at pull bar may be used to assist in locking the planks.
11. When tting around obstacles or into irregular spaces, planks can be cut easily and cleanly using a utility knife with a sharp blade. It is often benecial
to make a cardboard template of the area and transfer this pattern to the plank.
12. Protect all exposed edges of the ooring by installing wall moulding and/or transition strips. Make sure that no plank will be secured in any way to the
sub oor.
13. For wet areas such as bathrooms caulk the perimeter of the oor with a silicone caulk.
14. Protect the nished ooring from exposure to direct sunlight to reduce fading and thermal expansion.
15. Cutting resilient product into a ne point may lead to delamination. Use an ethyl cyanoacrylate based glue to help fuse the resilient point together. Be
sure to clean all glue from the top surface immediately. Alcohol based glues may cause resilient products to swell.
16. Adhering tape to the surface of your resilient ooring could damage the surface.
Do notuse tape to secure oor protection directly to the oor during construction or renovation. Instead, adhere tape to the material used to protect
the oor and secure it to the base molding along the wall. A material such as ram board can also be used to protect yourooring.
4
shawoors.com
For reference purposes only if printed or downloaded.