Handling & Installation Instructions
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Handling & Installation Instructions |
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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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| Plankfloor® Handling & Installation
Instructions Plankfloor can be glued directly to concrete or nailed/stapled to a wood subfloor. Hardwood floor installation instructions are available for each type (see links on the left side of this page). If you are unsure which method to use, contact your Owens Flooring specialist or Plankfloor distributor. Another resource is the National Wood Flooring Association (www.nwfa.org). INSPECT ALL MATERIALS Inspect all materials carefully before installation. Warranties do not cover materials with visible defects once they are installed. It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site sub floor and job site conditions are environmentally and structurally acceptable for wood flooring installation. Owens Flooring Company declines any responsibility for wood floor failure resulting from or connected with sub floor, subsurface, job site damage or deficiencies after hardwood flooring has been installed. Wood is hydroscopic. It will absorb and expel moisture based on its environment. Plankfloor is 100% hardwood and is not immune to these changes. With Plankfloor’s multi-ply construction, these changes are greatly reduced. However, for the best results we recommend that Plankfloor be acclimated in a controlled environment prior to installation. Owens Plankfloor® General Notes Wood is hydroscopic. It will absorb and expel moisture based on its environment. Plankfloor is 100% hardwood and is not immune to these changes. With Plankfloor’s multi-ply construction, these changes are greatly reduced. However, for the best results we recommend that Plankfloor be acclimated in a controlled environment prior to installation. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and tile work are thoroughly dried and all but the final woodwork and trim have been completed. The building interior should have been dried and seasoned and a comfortable working temperature should exist during installation. Preparation Remove paint, wax oil, plaster, "sheetrock mud" and other foreign materials, as well as surface irregularities. #3-1/2 grit open coat paper may need to be used to grind a concrete floor. This will loosen any dirt, loose concrete or contaminates. Sweep or vacuum thoroughly. All previously or existing glue or adhesives must be removed before installing new hardwood flooring. MAKE CERTAIN BUILDING INTERIOR AND SUBFLOOR ARE DRY Interior walls should be dry enough to be painted and a room temperature as required by adhesive manufacturer with a relative humidity of 30-50% should be provided before any installation begins. To determine if a concrete slab is suitable for hardwood flooring, please follow the NWFA guidelines to perform a Calcium Chloride test. If excessive moisture is present, do not lay flooring. Check floor in several locations. Concrete sub floors must be clean, flat and sound and of sufficient compression strength (3000lbs PSI) being sure that the surface is not slick. Sections not flat such as waviness, trowel marks, etc. are to be eliminated by grinding or the use of an acceptable leveling compound. Especially along the walls, the sub floor flatness must be checked and, if necessary, improved. Flat to 1/8” in an 8’ radius. In addition to concrete sub floors, these products can be installed over dry, flat wood sub floors, such as plywood. If plywood is used as an overlay over an existing sub floor, the thickness of the overlay material much be such as to yield a total ¾” sub floor thickness. New wood type sub floors should also be checked for moisture using a moisture meter. In general, wood or plywood sub floors should not exceed 12% moisture content or 4% moisture content difference between wood flooring and sub floor. Sub Floor Preparation Sub floor irregularities and undulation may cause any wood flooring installation to develop hollow spots between the flooring and the sub floor. These hollow spots are not the result of any wood flooring manufacturing defect and are not covered by the Owens Flooring warranty. As part of your sub floor preparation remove any existing base, shoe mold
or doorway thresholds. These items can be replaced after installation, but
should be replaced in such a way as to allow room for expansion around the
perimeter of the room. All door casings should be notched out or undercut to
allow for expansion and to avoid difficult scribe cuts. This is easily done
by placing a piece of the engineered product on the sub floor as a height
guide for your handsaw of jamb saw. Wet Lay Installation When using this method, flooring is placed into “wet” adhesive and workers do not walk on wood. Do not walk on fresh laid flooring. Proper humidity must be controlled between 30-50% for successful performance during and after installation. Adhesive Owens Flooring Company recommends the following or equivalent: Installing the Floor Flooring should be installed from several boxes at the same time to achieve a uniform look. Install tongue into groove. To ensure a random pattern, make sure butt joints are at least 6" from the butt joint of the prior row. Proceed until you have come to the final row to complete the room. When you have reached the final row, you will need to measure the width of the final planks. You may need to rip the planks to match the width of the space remaining. The tongue of the final row will need to be removed for a clean fit. Use a "Last Board Puller" to snug the last row of planks with the completed second row. Lift a plank periodically to check for adhesive transfer (approx 80% glue to flooring). It is recommended to roll and/or weight floor as required after installation to insure glue transfer and proper adhesion. Please refer to the NWFA Technical Manual or your Plankfloor® Distributor for installation support.
Owens Plankfloor® General Notes Wood is hydroscopic. It will absorb and expel moisture based on its
environment. Plankfloor is 100% hardwood and is not immune to these changes.
With Plankfloor’s multi-ply construction, these changes are greatly reduced.
However, for the best results we recommend that Plankfloor be acclimated in
a controlled environment prior to installation. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Preparation Evaluate the job site. Always check the job site for satisfactory conditions. The sub floor must be clean, dry, firm and flat. Refer to the NWFA Technical Manual for required conditions. When you are ready to begin, open Plankfloor cartons and inspect each plank for quality. Do not install planks that are not of the quality or grade purchased. Procedures Choose a wall to start on. Place expansion shims against the entire perimeter of the room. Lay the first with the groove against wall. Nail or staple tongue in the nail pocket of the first row. Nailing pattern should be every 6” or closer. You may want to face nail the first row close to the wall so the base molding will cover when finished. After the first row is secure, engage the planks, one at a time to start the second row. Nail/staple each plank in the tongue nail pocket as you go to secure into position. Proceed by sliding each individual board into place making sure both the tongue and groove are tight, along with the butt joints. To ensure a random pattern, make sure butt joints are at least 6” from the butt joint of the prior row. Proceed with this procedure until you have come to the final row to complete the room. When you have reached the final row, you will need to measure the width of the final planks. You may need to rip the planks to match the width of the space remaining. Make sure the expansion shims are in place and take the shim width into consideration when ripping the final row. The tongue for the final row will need to be removed for a clean fit. Use a “Last Board Puller” to snug the last row of planks with the completed second to last row. You again will need to face nail close to the wall to secure. Make sure you nail close enough to the wall so that the base molding will cover nails. Please refer to the NWFA Technical Manual or your Plankfloor® Distributor for installation support. Reference #030503 / 071404 Owens Plankfloor® To review the performance tests currently in progress, click here. Note: Plankfloor is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. However, warranty coverage may be lost due to failure to strictly follow all installation instructions and recommendations or the use of improper materials or tools. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. Note: Hickory and Maple expand and contract more than other species of wood. Thus, there is a greater risk of gaps appearing in the floor. This is NOT a manufacturing defect but should be taken into consideration when choosing these types of species for your radiant heat floor. As an installer, it is your responsibility to be aware of the grade and moisture-content of the room and subfloor. You should check that each plank is free of factory damage or manufacturing defects. Set planks that are unusable due to factory damage or manufacturing defects aside for replacement. Plankfloor can be nailed/stapled, glued or floated with the PlankLoc installation system. Subfloor Specifications
Job Site Evaluation Before installing Plankfloor over radiant heat subfloor, inspect the job
site thoroughly. Before installing Plankfloor over a Radiant Heat system, the following conditions must be met:
Preparation Concrete: To prepare a concrete subfloor for installation, scrape any high spots and fill low areas. Plywood: To prepare a plywood sub floor, re-nail any loose areas or areas with squeaks. Sand and/or plane any high spots; fill any low areas. Be careful not to damage the radiant heating system. Installation Plankfloor can be glued directly to concrete or nailed/stapled to a wood subfloor. These installation instructions can be found on the Owens Flooring Company web page: www.owensflooring.com. After Installation Approximately 2 days after installation is complete, gradually (over a period of 1 week) raise the temperature of the heating system to its desired operating level. Surface Temperature of flooring should never exceed 81 degrees F/27 degrees C. Exceeding this temperature will void any warranty by the flooring manufacturer. Updated as of July 15, 2004 Owens PlankLoc®
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