ENGINEERED HARDWOOD INSTALLATION GUIDE

ENGINEERED HARDWOOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR TONGUE AND GROOVE FLOORING PRODUCTS

Reno Source

www.therenosource.com

IMPORTANT READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Failure to follow these instructions may result in installation problems and will void the product warranty. It is the responsibility of the owner, purchaser, and installer to read, understand, and follow all requirements before beginning installation.

 

1. OVERVIEW

   This guide covers all requirements for a successful engineered hardwood flooring installation including site preparation, subfloor requirements, installation procedures for glue down and floating methods, care and maintenance, and warranty information. Engineered hardwood is a dimensionally stable flooring option designed to perform across a wide range of environments when properly installed. Planning and preparation are critical to long term performance and appearance.

 

Health and Safety

Cutting, sawing, sanding, and machining engineered hardwood produces airborne dust that may cause eye, nasal, respiratory, and skin irritation. Use dust collectors on all power tools. Wear a NIOSH approved dust mask or respirator. Wear safety glasses and gloves. Avoid dust contact with eyes, nose, and skin.

Asbestos and Silica Hazard

Existing resilient flooring, backing, lining felt, or adhesives may contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica. Do not grind, chip, sand, drill, saw, or pulverize these materials. Inhalation is a known cancer and respiratory hazard. If the material composition is unknown, assume it contains asbestos and contact a qualified professional.

Acclimation and Storage

Acclimate flooring for a minimum of three days in the rooms where it will be installed. Keep boxes sealed in original packaging with straps intact. Store indoors on a flat elevated surface at temperatures between sixty and eighty five degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity between thirty five and fifty percent. Do not store outdoors or in unheated environments. Protect flooring from direct sunlight, excessive heat or cold, and high humidity.

Materials Allowance

Allow five to ten percent extra material for cuts, waste, grading, and defects. For diagonal or specialty patterns, allow an additional ten percent.

Pre Installation Checklist

Inspect every plank before installation and confirm color, finish, milling, and grade. Once installed, boards are considered accepted. Verify environmental conditions meet requirements. For new construction, all windows and doors must be installed and walls and subfloors completely dry. Flooring should be installed as the final stage. Verify subfloor is dry, sound, flat, and compliant. Read all product specific documents including warranty terms. If the product is not acceptable, do not install it. Contact Reno Source immediately. The warranty does not cover visible defects after installation. Engineered hardwood is manufactured with up to five percent allowable natural or manufacturing defects.

 

2. TOOLS AND MATERIALS

   Measuring and Layout

   Tape measure, chalk line, ten foot straightedge, moisture meter.

 

Cutting

Table saw, miter saw, jig saw, circular saw, or hand saw.

Installation

Rubber mallet, pull bar, tapping block, wooden shims three eighths inch.

Cleanup and Finish

Shop vacuum, broom, dustpan, soft cloths, adhesive cleaner.

Safety

NIOSH approved dust mask or respirator, safety glasses, gloves.

Materials

Wood putty, transition moldings, baseboards, quarter rounds.

 

3. STEP BY STEP INSTALLATION

 

Step 1 Subfloor Preparation

A properly prepared subfloor is critical. Follow NWFA subfloor guidelines in addition to these requirements. The subfloor must be flat within one quarter inch over ten feet. Sand high spots and fill low areas with self leveling compound. The surface must be clean, smooth, and free of debris, oil, grease, paint, and sealants. Countersink all fasteners and secure loose panels. Repair or replace damaged areas.

Concrete Subfloors

Concrete must have a minimum compressive strength of three thousand PSI. Do not install over sealed, painted, or burnished concrete without mechanical abrasion. A vapor barrier is required for all on grade and below grade installations. Basement installations are not recommended. If installed, a moisture barrier is mandatory and the basement must have an operational sump pump.

Wood Subfloors

Plywood is the preferred subfloor material and must be minimum CDX grade exposure one. Recommended thickness is three quarter inch with three eighth inch underlayment. Panels must be installed perpendicular to joists with staggered seams and one eighth inch expansion gaps. Joist spacing exceeding nineteen point two inches requires increased subfloor thickness.

Existing Flooring

Existing hardwood floors should be installed perpendicular when possible and abraded for glue down installations. Wide plank floors over six inches require underlayment. Tile, stone, and terrazzo surfaces must be cleaned, repaired, and abraded. Open grout joints and damaged areas must be filled and adhesive bond tested.

Moisture Testing

Concrete calcium chloride tests must not exceed three pounds per one thousand square feet per twenty four hours. Relative humidity probe readings must be below seventy five percent. Wood subfloor moisture content must be below thirteen percent. The moisture difference between subfloor and flooring must not exceed four percent.

Step 2 Installation Method Selection

Glue Down Installation

Glue down installation bonds flooring directly to the subfloor using approved adhesives and provides excellent stability. Only approved adhesives may be used or the warranty will be void. Follow adhesive manufacturer instructions at all times.

Floating Installation

Floating floors lock together over an underpad. Use appropriate acoustic padding for upper floors and combination pads with moisture barriers for slabs and basements. Confirm sound requirements with condominium associations when applicable.

Radiant Heat

Confirm system compatibility prior to installation. Surface temperatures must not exceed eighty five degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature changes must be gradual. Relative humidity must be maintained between forty and fifty five percent year round.

Step 3 Wall Door and Transition Preparation

Remove all trim, baseboards, and quarter rounds and label for reinstallation. Undercut door casings to allow flooring to slide underneath. Leave adequate expansion space for seasonal movement.

Step 4 Install the Floor

Establish a starting line by measuring plank width and adding three eighths inch. Mark the floor and snap a chalk line parallel to the starting wall. Maintain a three eighths inch expansion gap. Use the longest boards for the first rows. Install left to right ensuring tight joints. Use shims along the wall. Tape rows every four to five courses and remove after adhesive cures. Work in manageable sections and verify adhesive transfer frequently. Clean adhesive immediately if bleed through occurs.

Step 5 Finish Up

Remove all shims. Sweep and vacuum the floor. Inspect for adhesive residue and clean thoroughly. Restrict traffic for twenty four hours. Do not place furniture during this period. Lift furniture into place and apply felt pads to all legs.

 

4. TIPS AND WARNINGS

   Maintain required humidity levels year round. Expansion and contraction are normal characteristics. Failure to maintain humidity will void the warranty. For multi day installations, only spread adhesive where boards will be placed that day and clean thoroughly at the end of each day.

5. CARE AND MAINTENANCE

   Vacuum regularly using a hard floor setting. Clean with a manufacturer approved hardwood cleaner and microfiber mop. Never use wet mops, water, or steam cleaners. Wipe spills immediately. Avoid abrasive cleaners, ammonia, wax based products, acrylic finishes, acidic solutions, oil soaps, detergents, chlorine, bleach, or solvents. Protect floors with rugs, mats, and felt pads. Trim pet nails regularly. Avoid sliding or rolling furniture. Sunlight will naturally darken flooring over time. This is not a defect.

6. WARRANTY AND CONTACT INFORMATION

   This product carries a limited twenty five year residential warranty and five year light commercial warranty. Coverage applies to manufacturing defects when installed and maintained per this guide. Exclusions include gloss changes, noise, improper humidity control, color variation, light exposure changes, as is or clearance products, damage from misuse, and labor costs.

 

To file a claim, contact the original supplier. If unresolved, submit a written claim to Reno Source with proof of purchase, installation documentation, and requested information.

Reno Source

Finish Materials

Based in the USA

www.therenosource.com

help@therenosource.com