INSTALLATION
GUIDELINES
Our
instructions are in line with those of the National Wood Flooring
Association (NWFA) Installation methods. Please refer to the NWFA website
for additional information. www.nwfa.org.
Installation using the methods shown here and on the NWFA website protect
your Elegance Warranty.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NATURE OF WOOD FLOORING:
Hardwood flooring is a crafted of natural woods, which are uniquely
characterized by variations in grain and color. These variations are not
flaws, but part of the beauty of real wood floors. Real wood will also
experience change in color over a period of time. The degree of change
depends on the species and the amount of UV exposure.
Again, this is not a flaw; It is a distinctive characteristic of
real wood floors.
1
Responsibilities of the Installer:
·
Inspect the
product to ensure (a) Grade. (b) Species. (c) Quantity. (d) Size (e) Color
as ordered.
·
Inspect
packages for any damage in transit. (Call your carrier and Elegance if a
claim must be filed.)
·
Installer
should have a defined method of installation based on the following.
a)
Result of
testing of the slab or sub floor for moisture.
b)
Result of the
testing of the atmosphere for relative humidity.
c)
The installer
or an independent agent must document all site tests.
d)
All
site test records must be documents and available if a claim is filed.
·
Installer
must be aware of the buyer's expectations and inform the home owner of
wood related issues such as the following: (a) Color variations. (b)
Graining ranges. (c) Changes to be expected. (d) The effect of moisture on
wood flooring. (e) The effect of UV light on exotic wood flooring.
·
It
is the installer's responsibility to establish that the site is suitable
and ready for the chosen method of installation, and to correct all
defects prior to installation.
·
The
homeowner must be advised that any existing potential problems that cause
product failure will not be covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
·
Following
the installation instruction, the installer will do the following:
a)
Use
an approved moisture barrier or underlayment.
b)
Use
the appropriate nails, staples, cleats, mastic, and glue.
c)
Match
planks for a uniform color/grain installation.
d)
Get
the homeowner's approval before proceeding with any odd matches.
e)
Remove
debris and extra glue or mastic from the finish floor before the drying
time indicated on the container.
f)
Floor
must be protected from construction traffic during and after installation.
g)
In
new construction, wood flooring should be one of the last items installed.
All work involving water (plumbing, acoustical ceilings, dry wall tapings,
etc.) should be completed prior to the flooring installation.
·
Installer
will immediately stop the installation and call Elegance Exotic Wood
Flooring to report any abnormalities that are found in the delivered
products. (Installer will be responsible for sections installed despite
obvious defects.)
·
The
homeowner must be informed and instructed in proper floor maintenance as
well as the need to maintain adequate relative humidity levels in the home
at all times. (The home may require a mechanical humidity control device)
·
Jobsite
checklist can be obtained from Elegance Exotic Wood Flooring or can be
found in the NWFA's technical manual #A400.
Failure
to follow these instructions will immediately invalidate our warranty.
2.
SUB-FLOOR
PREPARATION : The Sub floor must be completely dry.
 | Per
the NWFA's recommendations, the maximum generally allowable amount of
moisture emissions as expressed by the calcium chloride test is 3.0
pounds per 1,000 sq ft. per 24 hours at the time of installation.
|
| Another
method to determine the presence of moisture in the slab is the use of
an 18" x 18" 6 mil poly film taped securely to the concrete
for a period of no less than 48 hours. No change should occur in the
color of the concrete. Finally, the use of a heavy rubber mat laying
flat to the concrete will accomplish the same results. However these 2 methods
are not accurate, and may not properly measure the moisture
emissions.
|
| The
concrete slab will usually take from 90 to 150 days to dry thoroughly
depending on the size of the slab and weather conditions.
|
| Do
not install wood flooring if moisture levels exceed recommended
levels.
|
| The
sub floor must be free from any type of paint, oil, greases, dust, and
all other types of residues.
|
| The
sub floor should be level in general; however, it MUST be level
with-in 1/4" over a 10 foot radius, any direction.
|
| If
plywood is used as a sub floor, the moisture content difference should
be NO MORE than a 3% between the engineered wood floor and the
plywood, and there should be NO MORE than a 2% difference between the
solid wood and the plywood. All plywood must be EXTERIOR grade CDX,
and plywood size for sub floor is suggested to be no larger than
3/4" by 48" x 48" and an expansion gap of no less than
1/4" between sheets, and installed in an alternate pattern. (Not
straight rows). Subfloors are required for all solid floor
installations.
|
| A
suggested moisture barrier is a layer of floor tar adhesive, 15# felt,
another layer of floor tar adhesive, and then the plywood. IF the
plywood is being installed over a concrete sub floor, then nail the
plywood to the sub floor every 1- foot along the outside edge, and the
same throughout the interior.
|
| For
more information, please refer to the NWFA Technical Service manual.
"INSTALLING HARDWOOD FLOORING" or visit www.nwfa.org
or call 1-800-422-4556
|
| Pre-inspect
your flooring to verify it is the proper product and color. Always
plan for 5% defect and or waste.
|
| Elegance
recommends 2-3 days of acclimation. However, proper moisture testing
is the key to determining readiness for installation
|
| Verify
that the delivered wood flooring is between 8%-10% moisture content
and is free of defects.
|
| Concrete
slab should be tested per the instructions in "Sub Floor
preparation instructions".
|
| A
moisture retarder system is required to seal the concrete when
installing engineered flooring. Recommended
moisture retarder system are Elegance’s Moisture Block 900 or Bostik
Moisture Vapor Protection
|
| If
the sub floor is raised (i.e.: wood sub floor), A moisture barrier may
not be required. (Check for moisture)
|
| Elegance
Wood Flooring
products should be installed with urethane-based adhesives such as
Elegance’s Smooth Spread 950 or Bostik's Best, Bostik's BST, or
equal.
|
| Read
the glue manufacturer’s instructions, which are printed in detail on
the glue container along with the proper trowel recommendations.
|
| Snap
a working line parallel to the starting wall, in multiples of our
engineered plank width, PLUS an expansion space of
3/4", to set up the baseline of installation. (Be careful to
assure you do NOT end up with a width of less than 2 inches at the
final opposing wall. If so, adjust by ripping down the length of the
first row).
|
| Following
the spread rate, and the curing time, spread the glue evenly on the
sub floor to cover the area the installer can lay the planks in proper
time for best results of the glue.
|
| Lay
one row along the entire length of the work line. Add each additional
row of flooring, watching the pattern repeat and offsetting or
staggering the joints at least 6 inches.
|
| Roll
the floor with a 150# roller after installation.
|
| Engineered
Products can also be nailed (barbed or ring nail), or stapled with
minimum of: (1/4" crown x 1-1/2" length) coated. Simply
adjust gun to compensate for thickness.
|
| For
more information, please refer to the NWFA Technical Service manual.
"INSTALLING HARDWOOD FLOORING" or visit www.nwfa.org
or call 1-800-422-4556
|
| Solid
wood floors must be properly acclimated to the environment they are
going to live in. Please refer to Exhibit
"A"
for proper acclimation method. Acclimation is established by proper
testing, rather than an exact time frame.
|
| Per
the NWFA. Installation instruction, the structure should be fully
enclosed and interior climate control operating for at least 48 hours
to stabilize the moisture conditions of the interior.
|
| Wood
delivered to the jobsite should be removed from the packaging, set in
the room and spread over the sub floor before installation. Moisture
content of both the flooring and sub floor should be checked
and recorded before any work begins.
|
| Wood
flooring performs best with a relative humidity range of between 30 to
50 percent and a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees. (Humidity and
Temperature control systems are needed.)
|
| A
near occupied environment should be established for at least five days
before any moisture tests are performed.
|
| These
environmental conditions associated with occupancy must be maintained
throughout testing, installation of flooring, and post installation
until actual occupancy.
|
| Snap
a working line parallel to the starting wall, in multiples of our
solid wood flooring width, PLUS an expansion space of
3/4" minimum, to set up the baseline of installation. (Be careful
to assure you do NOT end up with a width of less than 2 inches at the
final opposing wall. If so, adjust by ripping down the length of the
first row). Install the first row with the groove side towards the
wall using top nails as necessary to hold the first row firm and in
place. Adjust as necessary. If any nails are visible, counter sink,
and fill accordingly.
|
| Use
adjustable pneumatic power hammer or nailing machine with
1-1/2"or 2" nails as required by the tool. Nailing pattern
should be no less than 1" from the end, and every
8"-10" thereafter. Each row MUST be nailed. Staples with a
minimum of 3/4" crown and 1-1/2" in length, or more, and
coated or are authorized.
|
| Add
and adjust each additional row of wood planks, to offset or stagger
the end joints at least 6" to prevent repeating the pattern.
|
| A
separation of no less than 6" is required for end joints in
adjoining rows.
|
| A
minimum 3/4" expansion space is required at all vertical
obstructions.
|
| For
more information, please refer to the NWFA Technical Service manual.
"INSTALLING HARDWOOD FLOORING" or visit www.nwfa.org
or call 1-800-422-4556
|
Glue-Down
Installation
Nail
Down Installation is our recommended installation method for Elegance
Solid Wood Flooring. However, adhesive
application is optional in recognition of the fact that many adhesive
manufacturers now offer adhesives supported by warranties
for glue-down installation of solid wood flooring. For glue-down
installations, Elegance stipulates these installations must be in
strict accordance with the adhesive manufacturer's installation
instructions as listed on products expressly approved for solid
hardwood flooring. The primary challenge with bonding solid wood
flooring is dealing with the natural character of wood. Some planks will
have slight bows and dips which may be difficult to compensate for
when using adhesives alone. Resulting gaps are not a manufacturer's a
defect. Flooring straps may be required to keep planks reasonably tight
and weights may be required to ensure adequate contact with the subfloor prior
to adhesive setup. As always, moisture vapor emissions from
concrete must be measured and accounted for. Further, the following
recommendations are outlined by the wood flooring manufacturer’s
association, NOFMA (www.nofma.org)
The
traditional nail down application is successful for all flooring pieces,
including those pieces with significant bow, crook, and twist. Even the
exceptional piece can be used if modified by cutting. Further, moisture
changes that affect flooring after manufacture can result in pieces that
are not straight or pieces that had been slightly crooked at manufacture
to become more crooked. These pieces may make up a significant percentage
of the product at the jobsite and are not considered defective pieces. However, the nature of an
adhesive application is that “wet” adhesive will not hold or position
boards with bow, crook, or twist in the same manner that mechanical
fasteners will. For this reason, pieces that are not sufficiently straight
or flat may not be suitable for the direct glue-down method of
installation. The installing contractor should expect some solid wood
flooring pieces to be unusable in a glue-down application. Those pieces
should be retained for later use in a traditional nail down installation
Exhibit
A – ACCLIMATION INFORMATION
Wood
flooring needs to reach a moisture content level in equilibrium with the
surrounding environment in which it will be installed, at or near normal
living conditions. Always account for time of year and geographic
location. NOTE: Not properly acclimating wood flooring may cause excessive
expansion, shrinkage, dimensional distortion or structural damage The
point of acclimating wood flooring before installation is to allow the
moisture content of the wood to adjust to the installation site’s
“normal living conditions” — that is, the temperature, humidity
conditions and moisture content that will typically be experienced once
the structure is occupied.
For
proper acclimation, all materials need to be removed from the box and
stacked in a crisscross pattern, with space between each board, to allow
airflow. In addition, it is recommended that the plywood to be acclimated,
if it is used as a subfloor. The
materials should be acclimated at the specific location where it will be
installed. Hardwood flooring must acclimate for as long as necessary to
meet minimum installation requirement for moisture content. To
determine the proper moisture content for installation, please use the
equilibrium moisture chart provided below. Please refer to the National
Wood Flooring Association's guideline for additional instructions on the
required moisture content for your specific region.
MOISTURE
EQUILIBRIUM CHART
For
wood to be properly acclimated, the moisture reading of the wood should
read as shown in this chart, taking into account the temperature (F) and
humidity of the normal environment in which it will be installed. Flooring
installation works best with a relative humidity of 30-50% and in
temperatures of 60-80 degrees. The actual moisture content of the wood
should be between 6 – 9%. For example, if wood is being installed in an
environment of 70°
and
a relative humidity of 45, the moisture content of the wood should be
8.5%.
