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INSTALLER/OWNER RESPONSIBILITY
Beautiful hardwood floors are a product of
nature and therefore, not perfect. Our wood floors are manufactured in
accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit grading deficiencies
not to exceed 5%.These grading deficiencies may be of a manufacturing or
natural type.
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The installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection as to grade,
manufacture and factory finish. This inspection of all flooring must be done
before installation. Carefully examine flooring for color, finish and quality
before installing it. The installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold
out or cut off pieces with deficiencies, whatever the cause. If material is not
acceptable, do not install it and contact the seller immediately.
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Prior to installation of any hardwood-flooring product, the installer must
determine that the job-site environment and the sub-surfaces involved meet or
exceed all applicable standards. Recommendations of the construction and
materials industries as well as local codes must be followed. These
instructions recommend that the construction and subfloor be dry, stiff and
flat. The manufacturer declines any responsibility for job failure resulting
from or associated with sub-surface, sub flooring or job-site environmental
deficiencies.
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Prior to installation, the installer/owner has final inspection responsibility
as to grade, manufacture and factory finish. The installer must use reasonable
selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with deficiencies, whatever the
cause.
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Use of stain, filler or putty stick for touch-up during installation should be
accepted as normal procedure.
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When flooring is ordered, 5% must be added to the actual square footage needed
for cutting and grading allowance.
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Should an individual piece be doubtful as to grade, manufacture or factory
finish, the installer should not use the piece.
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Use of appropriate products for correcting subfloor voids
should be accepted as a normal industry practice.
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TOOLS & ACCESSORIES NEEDED
NOTE: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO USE THE PROPER
ADAPTERS AS WELL AS STAPLES OR CLEATS. IMPROPER FASTENERS, MACHINES AND AIR
PRESSURE CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS FLOORING PRODUCT IS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY USE OF IMPROPER TOOLS OR MISUSE.
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PRE-INSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR JOB SITE
INSPECTION
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The building should be closed in with all outside doors and
windows in place. All concrete, masonry, framing members, drywall, paint and
other "wet" work should be thoroughly dry. The wall coverings should be in
place and the painting completed except for the final coat on the base molding.
When possible, delay installation of base molding until flooring installation
is complete. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry and well ventilated.
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Exterior grading should be complete with surface drainage
offering a minimum drop of 3" in 10’to direct flow of water away from the
structure. All gutters and downspouts should be in place
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Solid wood flooring must be installed on or above grade level.
Do not install in full bathrooms.
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Crawl spaces must be a minimum of 24"(600 mm) from the ground
to underside of joists. A ground cover of 6-8 mil black polyethylene film is
essential as a vapor barrier with joints lapped six inches and taped. The crawl
space should have perimeter venting equal to a minimum of 1.5% of the crawl
space square of footage. These vents should be properly located to foster cross
ventilation (see figure #1). Where necessary, local regulations prevail.
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Subfloor must be checked for moisture content using the
appropriate testing method.
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Permanent air conditioning and heating
systems should be in place and operational. The installation site should have a
consistent room temperature of 60-75° F and humidity of 35-55% for 14 days
prior, during and until occupied, to allow for proper acclimation.
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STORAGE AND HANDLING
Solid wood flooring should be stored
in the environment in which it is expected to perform. Deliver the materials to
an environmentally controlled site. Materials should be allowed to acclimate
for 72 hours or as long as necessary to meet minimum installation requirements
for moisture content. Acclimation within a closed carton may not be adequate
due to lack of air movement. Handle and unload with care. Store in a dry place
being sure to provide at least a four-inch air space under cartons, which are
stored upon "on-grade" concrete floors. Flooring should not be delivered until
the building has been closed in with windows and doors in place and until
cement work, plastering and all other "wet" work is completed and dry. Concrete
should be at least 60 days old.
INSTALLATION APPLICATIONS
NOTE: MINOR OCCASIONAL NOISES IN
MECHANICALLY FASTENED FLOORS IS NOT ABNORMAL DUE TO STRUCTURAL MOVEMENT CAUSED
BY CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN
MINIMIZE THESE FACTORS BUT OFFER NO GUARANTEE THAT THE FLOOR WILL NOT CREATE
MINOR OCCASIONAL NOISES.
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General Information for Fastening Machines:
Avoid striking the edge of factory-finished products with the fastener’s
mallet. Edge crushing can occur causing unsightly cracks and splinters. Use a
block to hammer against if necessary (figure #2).
Faceplates should be covered with protective materials to prevent damage to the
surface of the flooring. Any water damaged, swollen or delaminated sub flooring
materials will not hold staples properly and must be repaired or replaced.
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General Information for Manual Fastening Machines:
Improper adapter plate selection can cause severe edge damage. Ascertain that
the proper adapter has been selected and properly installed for 3/4" flooring.
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General Information for Pneumatic Fastening Machines:
Improper pressure settings and failure to use proper adapters can cause severe
damage to the flooring. The correct adapter and air pressure setting will
properly set the fastener in the nail pocket (figure #3). Low air pressures may
fail to properly set the staple and damage adjoining boards. Air pressures set
too high may cause damage to the tongue, preventing installation of adjoining
boards and cause blisters on the face of the flooring. Make certain that the
compressor has a regulator in-line with the air hose for proper adjustment. Set
pressure at 70 PSI to begin with and adjust until proper staple setting occurs.
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SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS MUST BE:
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CLEAN - Scrape, broom clean, and smooth. Free of wax, paint,
oil, sealers, adhesives, curing agents and other debris.
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LEVEL/FLAT - Within 3/16" in 10’and/or 1/8" in 6’. Sand high
areas or joints. Flatten low spots with layers of 15# builders felt, plywood or
shims (not leveling compounds).
NOTE: Laminated rosin paper or 15# builders felt (tarpaper) acts as a moisture
retarder and may be used to reduce movement caused by changes in subfloor
moisture, thereby reducing cupping and warping. (This is especially helpful
over crawl spaces and basements) In addition, the use of these materials can
give the flooring a more solid feeling, reduce sound transfer, prevent noise
caused by minor irregularities and debris, and make it easier to slide the wood
together across the surface of the subfloor. Kraft paper may be used to make
installation easier but DOES NOT serve any other purpose.
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STRUCTURALLY SOUND - Nail or screw any loose areas that squeak.
Replace any water-damaged, swollen or delaminated sub flooring or
underlayments. Avoid subfloors with excessive vertical movement.
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DRY - Check moisture content of the subfloor with the
appropriate moisture meter.
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RECOMMENDED SUBFLOOR SURFACES
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PREFERRED: 3/4" (19 mm) CDX grade plywood 3/4"(23/32") OSB PS2
rated underlayment
MINIMUM: 5/8"CDX grade plywood
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Existing solid wood flooring
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Screeds
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T&G wood subflooring
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SUBFLOOR TYPES:
Note: Do not install solid wood plank or strip over radiant heated subfloors or
attempt to glue to a subfloor of any type.
Wood Subfloors and Wood Structural Panel
Subfloors
Plywood: Must be minimum APA grade rated sheathing or
CDX minimum. Oriented Strand Board (OSB):Must be PS2 rated installed sealed
side down.
Do Not install over particleboard, waferboard, pressed wood or fiberboard.
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Make sure existing floor or subfloor is dry and
well nailed or screwed down every 6" along each joist to avoid squeaking or
popping before the floor is installed. The wood subfloor must not exceed 13%
moisture content. Measure moisture content of both subfloor and wood flooring
to determine proper moisture content with a reliable wood moisture meter
(figure #4). The difference between the moisture content of the wood subfloor
and the wood flooring must not exceed 4%.
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Optimum performance of hardwood
floor covering products occurs when there is little horizontal or vertical
movement of the subfloor. The MINIMUM subfloor recommendations described above
are for 19.2" O/C joist spacing with minimum recommended spans. If the subfloor
has excessive vertical movement (deflection) before installation of the
flooring it is likely it will do so after installation of the flooring is
complete. Deflection may cause the floor to become loose creating a noisy floor
or cause premature finish wear. Avoid installations over sub floors that do not
meet this minimum criterion. As flooring manufacturers we are unable to
evaluate each engineered system. Other spacing and spans as well as their
engineering methods are the responsibility of the builder, engineer, architect
or consumer who is better able to evaluate the expected result based on site
related performance.
All underlayment panels should be
spaced 1/8" apart to insure adequate expansion space or have the space cut
around the perimeter using a circular saw. T&G panels normally have built
in expansion; DO NOT cut around their perimeter. When installing over existing
wood floors parallel with the flooring, it may be necessary to install an
additional layer of plywood to stabilize the flooring or install the wood floor
at right angles. Applicable standards and recommendations of the construction
and materials industries must be met or exceeded.
Concrete Slabs
Solid flooring can be installed over concrete once the appropriate nailing
surface has been installed. The concrete must be of high compressive strength.
All concrete subfloors should be tested for moisture content (Figure #5).
Visual checks are not reliable. NOTE: Test several areas, especially near
exterior walls and walls containing plumbing.
NOTE: Test several areas, especially near exterior walls and walls containing
plumbing.
A "DRY" SLAB, AS DEFINED BY THESE
TESTS CAN BE WET AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR. THESE TESTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A DRY
SLAB. ALL CONCRETE SLABS SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF 6 MIL POLY FILM MOISTURE
BARRIER BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE CONCRETE.
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Subfloor Systems
Bonded:
Install suitable moisture retardant followed by a plywood subfloor with a
minimum thickness of 3/4". Allow 1/2" expansion space around all vertical
objects and 1/8" between all flooring panels. The panel must be properly
attached to the subfloor using a minimum of one fastener per square foot and
more if necessary. Use pneumatic or powder actuated fasteners. Do not hand nail
the subfloor with concrete nails. Install a moisture retardant barrier with
joints lapped 6" and begin installation of flooring using 1 1/2" fasteners.
Floating:
Install a suitable moisture retardant followed by a plywood subfloor with a
minimum of 3/8". Allow 1/2" expansion space around all vertical objects and
1/8" between all flooring panels. Install a second layer of 3/8" plywood at a
right angle to the previous panels, offsetting the joints 2’. Staple together
with staples that will not penetrate the first layer of subfloor with a crown
width of 3/8" or more. Install a moisture retardant barrier with joints lapped
6" and begin installation of flooring.
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GENERAL INSTALLATION TIPS
Floor should be installed from
several cartons at the same time to ensure good color and shade mixture. Be
attentive to staggering the ends of boards at least 6", when possible, in
adjacent rows (figure #6). This will help ensure a more favorable overall
appearance of the floor. Large spans in areas of high humidity may require the
addition of internal or field expansion. This can be accomplished by using
spacers, such as small washers, every 10-20 rows inserted above the tongue and
removed after several adjoining rows have been fastened.
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STEP 1: DOORWAY AND WALL
PREPARATION
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Undercut door casings.
Remove any existing base, shoe mold or doorway thresholds. These items can be
replaced after installation. All door casings should be notched out (figure #7)
or undercut to avoid difficult scribe cuts.
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STEP 2: ESTABLISH A STARTING POINT -
WALL-TO-WALL INSTALLATION
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Installation parallel to the longest wall is recommended for
best visual effects, however, the floor should be installed perpendicular to
the flooring joists unless subfloor has been reinforced to reduce subfloor
sagging.
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Find appropriate subfloor from "Subfloor Type" section in this
instruction manual. If a moisture retardant material is to be used, such as
Laminated Rosin Paper (see NOTE, Subfloor Requirements), install this material
before proceeding, lapping joints 6" and stapling if necessary.
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Measure the width of the product being installed. For random
or alternate width products, use the widest plank for the first row.
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Add 1" to allow for 3/4" expansion and the width of the
tongue.
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Using this measurement, in at least two places, measure out
equal distance from the starting wall and 12" -18" from the corners (figure #8)
and snap a chalk line.
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STEP 3: INSTALLING FIRST ROWS - WALL-TO-WALL INSTALLATION
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NOTE: Always end glue wide width (4" or more) planks with a PVA wood glue.
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Use the longest, straightest boards available for the first two
rows.
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Align tongue of first row on chalk line. The groove should be
facing the starting wall.
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Pre-drill the nail holes 1" from back (groove) edge, 1"-2" from
each end, and at 6" intervals at a 45° angle down through the nailing "pocket"
on top of the tongue (figure#9).
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Face-nail the groove side where pre-drilled. When complete,
blind-nail at a 45° angle through the tongue of the first row. Fasten using 6
or 8d nails. Countersink nails to ensure flush engagement of groove. Avoid
bruising the wood by using a nail set to drive the nails the last 1/2" into the
tongue.
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Continue blind nailing using this method with following rows
until stapler or nailer can be used.
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End-joints of adjacent rows should be staggered a minimum of 6"
to ensure a more favorable overall appearance.
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Beginning rows may be blind-nailed
where clearance allows using a pneumatic finish nailer with 15 gauge, 1 1/2"
(minimum) nails in lieu of above.
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STEP 2 & 3: CENTER TO WALL INSTALLATION
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Snap a chalk line down the center of the room.
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Install a sacrificial row that extends the entire length of the
room on the centerline.
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Install three rows of flooring.
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Remove the sacrificial row and insert a slip tongue (spline) in
the open groove.
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Always glue and nail the slip tongue in place.
STEP 4: RACKING THE FLOOR
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"Dry" lay (rack) materials to cover approximately 2/3 of the
room. Begin dry laying (racking) approximately 6" from the edge of the
previously installed rows. Avoid pulling boards too tightly together on the
sides, as they must move freely when fastening begins.
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Mark the final board in each row and cut to proper length
allowing for expansion.
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Visually inspect flooring, setting aside boards that need to
have natural character flaws cut out.
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Use these boards for starting and finishing row after
objectionable characteristics have been removed.
STEP 5: INSTALLING THE FLOOR
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Fasten a sacrificial board to the floor. Check for surface
damage, air pressure setting, tongue damage, etc. before proceeding. Make all
adjustments and corrections before installation begins. Once proper adjustments
have been made, remove and destroy the board.
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Begin installation with several rows at a time, fastening each
board with at least two fasteners, 8-10" apart and 1-1 1/2" from the ends (to
avoid splitting). Tighten boards as necessary to reduce gaps before fastening.
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End-joints of adjacent rows should be staggered 6' when possible
to ensure a more favorable overall appearance.
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The last 1-2 rows will need to be face-nailed where clearance
does not permit blind nailing with stapler or brad nailer. Pre-drill and
face-nail on the tongue side following the nailing pattern used for the first
row.
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Rip final row to fit and face-nail. If the final row is less
than 1" in width, it should first be glued to the previous UNINSTALLED row and
the two joined units should be face nailed as one.
STEP 6: COMPLETE THE JOB
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Clean the floor with the recommended wood flooring cleaner.
(Dura-Luster No-Wax Cleaner)
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Re-install any transition pieces that may be needed, such as
Reducer Strips, T-moldings, or Thresholds. These products are available
pre-finished to blend with your flooring.
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Re-install all base and/or quarter round moldings. Nail moldings
into the wall, not the floor.
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Leave warranty and floor care information with the owner. Advise
them of the product name and code number of the flooring they purchased.
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To prevent surface damage avoid rolling heavy appliances or
furniture on the floor.
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Use plywood, hardboard or appliance lifts if necessary.
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MOLDINGS
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REDUCER STRIP: a teardrop shaped molding used around fireplaces, doorways, as a
room divider, or as a transition between wood flooring and adjacent floor
coverings that are less thick. Fasten down with adhesive, small nails or
double-faced tape. |
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THRESHOLD: a molding undercut for use against sliding door tracks, fireplaces,
carpet, ceramic tile, or existing thresholds to allow for expansion space and
to provide a smooth transition in height difference. Fasten to subfloor with
adhesive and/or nails through the heel. Predrill nail holes to prevent
splitting. |
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STAIR NOSING: a molding undercut for use as a stair landings trim, elevated
floor perimeters, and stair steps. Fasten down firmly with adhesive and nails
or screws. Predrill nail holes to prevent splitting. |
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QUARTER ROUND: a molding used to cover expansion space next to baseboards, case
goods, and stair steps. Predrill and nail to the vertical surface, not into the
floor. |
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COMBINATION BASE AND SHOE: a molding used when a base is desired. Used to cover
expansion space between the floor and the wall. Predrill and nail into the
wall, not the floor. |
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T-MOLDING: a molding used as a transition piece from one flooring to another of
equal height or to gain expansion spaces. Fasten at the heel in the center of
the molding. Additional support may need to be added to the heel of the molding
dependent upon the thickness of the goods covered. |
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