INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF HARDWOOD
STRIP FLOORING
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HARDWOOD FLOORING HANDLING
Hardwood is a living substance which reacts to changes in relative
humidity. Wood gains and loses moisture before and after
installation, as surrounding conditions fluctuate. Wood expands
in summer when the humidity level is high and contracts in
winter when the humidity level is much lower. To minimize the
expansion or contraction of your hardwood floor, it is recommended
that the building be well ventilated and relative humidity
level maintained between 37% and 45% all year long. |
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Before you begin, plastering, painting and cement work must be
completely dry. Ensure the flooring is delivered to the job site
only after all construction work is completely dry and relative humidity
is 45%. It is strongly recommended that the wood be left
to acclimatize at a normal house temperature for a period of at
least 48 hours at the ideal relative humidity level which is 45%.
Before you begin, it is important to verify the working condition of the hardwood nailer to prevent damage to the planks. The compressor should be set to 75 P.S.I.
PREPARATION
For new construction or renovations:
• Be sure to maintain occupancy-level temperature and humidity
for at least five days. The house must be heated to 680 F (220 C).
• The recommended subfloor is 3/4” plywood.
• Using a moisture meter, verify the subfloor (plywood) and the
flooring moisture content (M.C.). For 2 1/4” width flooring the
maximum difference between subfloor and flooring is 4% M.C.
for 3 1/4” and wider flooring the maximum difference is 2% M.C.
If the moisture content difference is too high, turn up the heat
and open basement windows 1/2” (1,25 cm).
• Installers must measure, record and retain moisture readings
of the room (RH%), flooring (M.C.%) and subfloor (M.C.%)
at the time of installation. Failure to do so may void the warranty.
• Remove baseboards and door sills.
• Screw the subfloor securely and install a double layer of 15 lb
(6.8 kg) or a single layer of 30 lb (13.6 kg) asphalt felt or
building paper.
• Using a handsaw, slit the bottom of the door frames 3/4” (2cm)
in order to slide a hardwood plank beneath the door frame.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
• Hardwood floor nailer (with rubber mallet)
• 2” (5cm) 7d or 8d flooring nails
• Electric drill and bits
• Tenon-saw, circular saw or handsaw
• Claw hammer and nail punch
• Measuring tape
• Chalk line
STEP BY STEP INSTALLATION
• Install only on or above grade. A basement installation will void
the warranty.
• Using the chalk line, draw a parallel line, 3/4” (19mm) larger
than the plank width, from the wall. Example: 2 1/4 + 3/4” = 3”.
This chalk line should be at 900 from the adjacent wall. It is very
important to start the planks square.
• Inspect the flooring for defects/flaws. Those with defects/flaws
must be recut or discarded. Once the boards have been nailed
down, they are deemed to have been accepted by the installer
and/or the owner.
• Lay the planks out on the floor in the general pattern in which
they will be installed. The straightest planks should be used
for the first and second rows. Pull flooring planks alternating
from at least 2-3 different boxes. This will help in providing a
more even distribution of color and character.
• Lay the tongue edge of the plank on the guide line, leaving a
3/4” (19mm) expansion space between the groove edge and
the starting wall for movement.
• The first two rows must be secured to the floor using screw
shank flooring nails, minimum two nails per strip/plank. For the
first row, drill 2 holes on the top surface of the planks at 1”
(2.5cm) from the edges, then continue at approximately 10”
(25.4cm) to 12” (30.4cm) apart. Next, secure using a claw
hammer and a punch.
• Lay out 7 or 8 rows of flooring end to end in a staggered pattern with end joints at least 6” (15cm) apart. Find or cut
pieces to fit within 1/2” (12.5mm) of the end wall. Watch
your pattern for even distribution of long and short pieces
and avoid clusters of short boards.
• Start the second row with a plank at least 6” (15.2cm) shorter
or longer than the plank used in the first row; this will avoid
aligning the joints. For the second row, drill a hole on the
tongue edge at a 450 angle, repeat every 8” (20.3cm) to 10”
(25.4cm). Secure using screw shank flooring nails.
• The subsequent rows must be installed in the same manner,
but using a hardwood floor nailer. Try a few hammering tests
on a piece of scrap wood to determine the pressure needed
to properly drive a nail. Never nail closer than 3” (7.5 cm)
from the end of the board/plank. Nail every 8” - 10” (20-25 cm)
for 2 1/4” width flooring and every 6”- 8” (15-20 cm) for 3 1/4”
and wider flooring. A minimum of 2 nails per plank is required
regardless of flooring width.
• For best appearance, leave enough distance between joints
by alternating with planks of different lengths to avoid aligning
joints.
• The last four or five rows must be installed in the same manner
as the first two rows. The use of the hardwood nailer is
impossble since the last rows are too close to the wall.
• Leave 3/4” (19mm) expansion space between the last row
and the adjacent wall.
• Conceal the nail holes using a special wax.
• Finish trim is nailed only to the wall and never to the planks.
MAINTENANCE (PREVENTION TIPS)
Although your prefinished hardwood floor offers high durability and
easy maintenance, it is not indestructible. In order to maintain
and preserve the beauty of your floor, the following are tips which
should save you time and worry:
• Regularly sweep or vacuum the floor to prevent sand or
abrasive dust from accumulating and scratching the finish.
• Use manufacturer’s specialized maintenance products for safe,
quick and easy maintenance of your hardwood flooring.
• Place doormats outside and rugs inside at every entrance to
prevent sand or abrasive dust from accumulating.
• Place a rug in front of the dishwasher and the kitchen sink to
protect the floor from water, oily detergent spills and fallen
objects.
• Use protectors under all narrow casters or replace them with
wider rubber casters. Avoid plastic casters.
• Protect the floor when moving heavy pieces of furniture. Carry
them or place them on a rug, wrong side up, and slide the rug.
Refrigerators should never be moved without adequate floor
protection.
• The relative humidity level in your home must be maintained
between 37%-45% throughout the year. Problems related to
humidity level variation can be minimized by proper ventilation,
dehumidifying or heating.
THINGS TO AVOID
• Do not pour any floor cleaner directly on the floor.
• Never allow any liquid to remain on the floor.
• Avoid dripping mops which leave excess water on the floor. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning hardwood floors with a mop rinsed in a water and vinegar solution. This is acceptable so long as the mop is squeezed dry beforehand.
• Never use wax, oil-based detergent or any household cleaners. These may dull or damage the finish, leaving a greasy film, making the floor slippery and more difficult to clean.
Download our PDF on how to install Hardwood Flooring
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