Installation Bamboo Engineered Flooring Instructions

Installation Guidelines Prefinished

Engineered Bamboo Flooring

Installation Instructions

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE INSTALLER FOLLOW ALL INSTALLATION GUIDELINES AS SET FORTH BY THE NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION.

PRE-INSTALLATION JOBSITE REQUIREMENTS

The manufacture and retailer cannot be held responsible for site conditions. Carefully examine the flooring prior to installation for grade, color, finish and quality. Ensure adequate lighting for proper inspection.

If flooring is not acceptable, contact your supplier immediately and arrange for replacement. The manufacture and retailer cannot accept responsibility for flooring installed with visible defects. Prior to installation of any flooring, the installer must ensure that the jobsite and subfloor meet the requirements of these instructions. The manufacture and retailer is not responsible for flooring failure resulting from unsatisfactory jobsite and/or subfloor conditions. Flooring should be one of the last items installed in any new construction or remodel project. All work involving water or moisture should be completed before flooring installation.

Water and wood do not mix. Installing flooring onto a wet subfloor will most likely cause cupping, tip & edge raising, telegraphing of core and subsequent gapping. Room temperature and humidity of installation area should be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least one week before installation of flooring. Room temperature of 65-75o F and a humidity range of 30-50% is recommended. Humidity levels below 30% will most likely cause movement in the flooring, including gapping between pieces and possible cupping and checking in the face.

Store the flooring in the UNOPENED boxes at installation area for 24 72 hours before installation to allow flooring to adjust to room temperature. Do not store the boxes of flooring directly on concrete. These engineered Bamboo floors DO NOT need any moisture equalization prior to installation and should be installed from just opened boxes. DO NOT OPEN more than a few boxes in advance of installation and only the number of boxes that will be installed within the next few hours. Only open enough boxes to ensure a good mix of lengths and color.

PRE-INSTALLATION SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS

All Subfloors must be:

Dry and will remain dry: Subfloor must remain dry year-round.

Moisture content of wood sub floors must not exceed 11%. Concrete must not exceed 3 lbs. per Calcium Chloride Test.

Structurally sound

Clean: Thoroughly swept and free of all debris (If being glued down, subfloor must be free of wax, grease, paint, sealers, & old adhesives etc., which can be removed by sanding)

Level: Flat to 3/16 per 10-foot radius Wood subfloors 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 subfloors must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, and should have minimum 6-mil polyfilm between concrete and ground. Subfloor should be flat and level within 3/16 per 10 radius. If necessary grind high spots down and level low spots with Ardex K-15 Portland Leveling Compound.

All concrete should be tested for moisture using a Calcium Chloride Test, and the result must not exceed 3 lbs. Ceramic Tile, resilient tile and sheet vinyl must be wellbonded to subfloor, in good condition, clean and level. Do not sand existing vinyl floors, as they may contain asbestos.

If gluing down on concrete which is on or below grade, it is highly recommended to use a moisture cure urethane adhesive. A moisture test must be performed to ensure that the slab is dry. 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.

The manufacture and retailer is not responsible for site related moisture issues.

For additional protection, you may want to consider applying the Bostik or Franklin Moisture Barrier Systems, which are warranted by their manufacturers.

INSTALLATION TOOLS

For all installation methods:

Tape measure

Tapping block (trimmed piece of flooring)

Pencil

Pry bar or pull bar

Chalk line

Wood or plastic spacers (3/8)

Crosscut power saw

3M Blue Tape

For glue-down installation method (recommended), youll also need:

Flooring adhesive: Natural Cork 30GU Urethane Adhesive or Bostik Best

(Note: Use only urethane adhesives DO NOT USE WATER BASED MASTICS as they will cause this floor to fail)

Trowel per flooring adhesive manufacturers recommendations.

For nail-down installation, you will also need:

Bostich MIIIFS - Industrial Flooring Stapler air stapler/nailer with 9/16

Naildown adapter, Bostich x 1 staples for the Floor Runner stapler

Air compressor

For floating installation, youll also need:

Natural Cork CorkShield or equivalent underlayment

6-mil polyfilm (if installing on or below grade and not using Natural Cork

CorkShield)

Eurobond D3 T&G Adhesive or Franklin Titebond 2 PVAC glue

Duct tape

Acceptable subfloor types:

Plywood (at least thick)

Underlayment grade particleboard floating/glue-down only)

OSB (at least thick)

Concrete slab (floating/glue-down only)

Existing wood floor

Ceramic tile (floating/glue-down only)

Resilient tile & sheet vinyl (floating/glue-down only)

STARTING YOUR INSTALLATION

Make sure subfloor is tested for moisture first and is properly prepared.

Since wood and Bamboo expand with any increase in moisture content, always leave at least a 3/8 expansion space between flooring and all walls and any other permanent vertical objects, (such as pipes and cabinets).

This space will be covered up once you reapply base moldings around the room.

Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain this 3/8 expansion space. No area of connected flooring can span greater than 40 feet in width or 120 feet in length. For larger spans, install T-moldings or other transition pieces that allow the flooring to expand and contract.

Work from several open boxes of flooring and dry lay the floor before permanently laying the floor, but never open more than a few boxes in advance. This will allow you to select the varying grains & colors and to arrange them in a harmonious pattern. It also allows you the opportunity to select out very dark/light pieces for use in hidden areas in order to create a more uniform floor. Remember, it is the installers responsibility to determine the expectations of what the finished floor will look like with the end user first and then to cull out pieces that do not meet those expectations.

Begin installation next to an outside wall. This is usually the straightest and best reference for establishing a straight working line.

Establish this line by measuring an equal distance from the wall at both ends and snapping a chalk line. The distance, you measure from the wall should be the width of a plank plus about 3/8 for, Pre-Finished Engineered Bamboo and Hardwood Installation Instructions Page 4 of 6,expansion space. You may need to scribe cut the first row of planks to match the, wall in order to make a straight working line if the wall is out of straight.

You may want to dry lay a few rows, (no glue or nails), before starting installation to, confirm your layout decision and working line. When laying flooring, stagger end, joints from row to row by at least 8. When cutting the last plank in a row to fit, you can use the cut-off end to begin the next row. If cut-off end is 8 in length or less, discard it and instead cut a new plank at a random length and use it to start the next row. Always begin each row from the same side of the room.

To draw planks together, always use a tapping block (a short piece of flooring), as tapping the flooring itself will result in edge damage.

For best results, flip the tapping block upside down and use the groove edge to tap the tongue edge of the plank being installed. Fit end joints tightly together before tapping long edges together. When near a wall, you can use a pry bar to pry close the side and end joints. Take care not to damage edge of flooring. For glue down & floating applications, use 3M Blue Tape to hold any pieces which might have side bow and need to be held straight & tight until the adhesive sets up.

GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION RECOMMENDED

Make sure subfloor is tested for moisture content first and is properly prepared.

On concrete subfloors, which are on or below grade (ground level), always assume the worst and even if they measure dry, we now recommend taking one of the following two installation steps to ensure a trouble-free installation. The cost of the precaution is little when compared to the cost of ripping out and replacing a floor that has failed due to high moisture from the subfloor.

Follow adhesive manufacturers instructions for proper trowel size, minimum temperature, adhesive set time and open times before beginning installation of flooring.

Once the spread adhesive has setup sufficiently per adhesive manufacturers instructions, lay the first row of flooring with groove facing the wall, and continue

laying flooring. Always check your working lines to be sure the floor is still aligned.

Use tapping block to fit planks together, but be careful not to let installed floor move on the wet adhesive while you are working. Always leave at least a 3/8 expansion space between flooring and all walls and vertical objects (such as pipes and cabinets). Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain this expansion space. Remember to stagger end joints from row to row at least 8 apart.

When first section is finished, continue to spread adhesive and lay flooring section by section until installation is complete. Use a damp cloth to IMMEDIATELY REMOVE ANY ADHESIVE that gets on the flooring surface. If adhesive cannot be completely removed with a damp cloth, use the manufacturers recommended adhesive remover. Never let flooring adhesive dry completely on the finished surface.

Walk each section of flooring in order to make sure it is well bonded to the subfloor with the adhesive working time. Flooring planks on the perimeter of the room may require weight on them until adhesive cures enough to hold them down.

STAPLE/NAIL DOWN INSTALLATION

Make sure subfloor is tested for moisture content first and is properly prepared. Use Bostich MIIIFS Industrial Flooring Stapler which is an air stapler/nailer with 9/16 nail-down adapter or a stapler/nailer of your choice after testing to make sure that stapling/nailing will not cause dimpling (localized raised edges) in the finished floor.

(Note: be sure to look at the face of the installed flooring at a low angle from a distance to see if dimpling is occurring as it is hard to see when directly above the floor.) If dimpling does occur, STOP and adjust the stapler/nailer shoe and angle/place of staple entry in order to avoid it. The manufacture and retailer is not responsible for dimpling.

For the first and second starting rows: lay first plank inside chalk line with grooved edge toward wall. Install entire first row in the same manner. Always leave at least a 3/8 expansion space between flooring and all walls and vertical objects (such as pipes and cabinets). Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain this expansion space. In order to affix the first rows, as it is difficult to get the nail gun in place next to the wall, you may wish to set these rows in mastic and glue them down rather than face nailing them and leaving unsightly nail holes which must be filled with putty to match the wood floor.

After gluing down these starting rows with a urethane adhesive, (or Liquid Nails LN-901 adhesive), set weight on top of these rows and allow them to set before commencing stapling/nailing the additional rows, as nailing the adjacent rows may cause the starting rows to subsequently move. Make sure the starting rows are straight and drawn tight.

Subsequent rows: Lay by using floor nailer/stapler to blind-nail top inside edge of tongue at a 45 degree angle. Nail each board every 8 and within 2 of each end.

Remember to stagger end joints from row to row at least 8 apart and use a tapping block to fit boards together. It may be necessary to face-nail in doorways or tight areas where the nailer/stapler cant fit, (or glue down in these areas and weight them while the mastic sets). The last two rows will need to be face-nailed, (or glued down), in the same manner as the first two rows.

Always make sure to visually check the installed floor as you go to ensure that the stapling/nailing is not causing dimpling on the face. (Note: be sure to look at the face of the installed flooring at a low angle from a distance to see if dimpling is occurring as it is hard to see when directly above the floor.) If dimpling does occur,

STOP and adjust the stapler/nailer shoe and angle/place of staple entry in order to avoid it. Natural Cork is not responsible for dimpling.

FLOATING INSTALLATION

Make sure subfloor is tested for moisture content first and is properly prepared.

When usingCorkShield underlayment, no additional moisture barrier is necessary. If using an alternative 1/8 thick pad and installing below or on grade, polyfilm is required.

Laying polyfilm: lay 6-mil polyfilm with seams overlapped 8.

Fasten seams every 18-24 with duct tape. Run the outside edges of film up perimeter of each wall 4. Trim after flooring installation is complete.

Laying pad: lay CorkShield or equivalent underlayment by butting edges, not overlapping.

Tape full length of the seam with duct tape. Leave space between pad and all walls and permanent vertical fixtures.

Installing the floor: start first row with groove toward wall.

Glue end joints of first row by applying a small but continuous bead of Eurobond D3 T&G Adhesive or

Franklin Titebond 2 PVAC glue to bottom side of the groove.

Always leave at least a 3/8 expansion space between flooring and all walls and vertical objects such as pipes and cabinets. Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain this expansion space. Lay subsequent rows of flooring by applying glue to side and end joints and fitting planks together with a tapping block. Remember to stagger end joints from row to row at least 8 apart.

Clean up any adhesive that is on the face of the floor by using a damp rag DO NOT allow adhesive to dry on the flooring face as it is difficult to remove without damaging the finish.

AFTER INSTALLATION

Flooring should be one of the last items installed in a project. In order to protect the floors while other trades are finishing their work prior to final cleanup and turnover to the owner, use rosin paper and only use 3M Blue Tape to hold the rosin paper to the floor (other blue tapes may damage the finish). Clean the floor thoroughly before laying the rosin paper to ensure that no debris is trapped underneath. DO NOT USE plastic film or other nonbreathing coverings as this can cause the floor to become damaged from humidity buildups.

Remove expansion spacers and reinstall base and/or quarter round moldings to cover moldings to cover the expansion space.

Dust mop or vacuum your floor to remove any dirt or debris.

It is suggested that you buff the floor with lambs wool pads in order to remove any loose splinters, residues, foot prints, etc.

Install any transition pieces that may be needed (reducers, T-moldings, nosing. etc.).

If using glue-down or floating installation methods, do not allow foot traffic or heavy furniture on floor for 24 hours.