Installation Guide

Avoid small pieces in border areas and adjust the center lines to achieve the proper pattern.
ii. Tiles should be balanced in the room with equal size cuts to the walls. The width of cut tiles should not be
less than 6” inches wide by a full length of tile for either the 18” x 18” and 12” x 24” tiles.
iii. Adjust the layout on the centerlines in the room if necessary to meet the
3. Installing STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product flooring
STAINMASTER
®
luxury vinyl Clic FD product planks and tiles are best installed with a No.2 white rubber mallet or a rounded-end
smooth steel seam roller. While not required, these tools will help ensure the tongue and groove are properly mated and clicked
together.
a. Accurately measure the room to determine the centerline, adjust this established line to accommodate a balanced
layout and then transpose this line to a comfortable width away from the starting wall (approximately 2’ to 3’ wide.)
Determine if the starter row will need to cut. It will be necessary to cut off the unsupported tongue so that a clean,
solid edge is toward the wall.
b. Starting in the farthest left, upper corner of the room position the first plank / tile so that both the head and side
seam groove is exposed. This requires installing the product from left to right in the room.
c. Install the second plank / tile in the first row by laying the short-end tongue onto the previously installed plank / tile
short-end groove. Fasten the planks / tiles together by firmly pressing down with your thumb along the seam to line
up edges the planks together. Use of a soft, white No. 2 rubber mallet is recommended to fasten the tongue & groove
together. You will feel the planks lock together.
d. Maintain an expansion gap of approximately 5/16” from the wall. Then cut a plank / tile in half of the length to start
the second row; stagger the end seam at least 6” from the first plank. Install the first plank / tile in the second row by
inserting the long side tongue into the groove of the plank / tile in the first row. This is best done with a low angle
(20° to 30°) of the plank / tile.
e. Continue the first row by laying the short-edge tongues onto the previous plank short-end groove and firmly pressing
the seam down with the mallet until the planks click together. Measure and cut the last plank in the row while maintaining
the 5/16” spacing at the right side wall.
f. To install the remaining planks in the second row, first align the long edge tongue into the groove of the previous row
while making sure the short-edge tongue is laying on the short-edge groove of the previous plank.
g. Angle the long edge tongue into the plank/tile in the row above and lock it together.
h. Firmly tap or press the short-edge tongue into the short-edge groove of the previous plank/tile.
i. Work across the length of the room installing planks/tiles along the wall in the first row and then aligning the planks/tiles
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 for squareness and straightness often. Use of several 5/16” spacer blocks along the first wall will ensure
the proper spacing is achieved and that floor does not ‘walk’ back towards the wall during installation.
j. Cut the last plank/tile in the first row to fit approximately 5/16” short of the end wall. Use the cutoff of this plank to
start the third row.
k. Continue installing plank/tiles, being certain to maintain a random appearance (planks) or the pattern (tiles) and offset
end seams by at least 6”. Maintain a 5/16” expansion gap at all fixed vertical surfaces. Check to be certain all planks are
fully engaged; if slight gapping is noticed, simply disengage the long/top side joint and then carefully slide the short/end
MARCH 2017 8
Clic FD Flooring
Installation Instructions