HOME DECORATORS COLLECTION 1001658118 Enchanted White Oak 14mm Thick Length Laminate Flooring Installation Guide

HOME DECORATORS COLLECTION 1001658118 Enchanted White Oak 14mm Thick

Length Laminate Flooring

Safety and Health Precautions

Power tools can be dangerous. Operate in strict accordance to the manufacturer’s operating instructions and safety precautions. Unsafe and improper
use can cause serious injuries. Avoid inhalation and exposure to wood dust by mechanical means and by wearing personal protective equipment.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes NIOSH or OSHA-approved dust masks, safety goggles and work gloves.

Warranty

This flooring product comes with a manufacturer’s Limited Wear Warranty. The warranty applies to the original purchaser of the flooring for the duration of the stated warranty from the date of purchase.
The manufacturer guarantees that:

• The decorative laminate surface will not wear through.
• The surface of the plank will resist staining.
• The surface of the plank will not fade or discolor, due to natural or artificial lightning.

Pre-Installation

OWNER/INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY
The owner is advised to be at home during the installation for consultation/direction. The owner and installer should discuss installation and layout to maximize satisfaction. If this is not possible, consultation should be done prior to installation. Installers should be familiar with installation guidelines. The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for the product quality of the completed installation.
Please inspect the flooring panels carefully for any possible damage or defects before installation. During installation, inspect the planks continuously. Defects that can be seen from a standing position should be cut off or held out. Installing defective planks implies acceptance. No complaints regarding visual defects will be accepted after the flooring is installed. If you discover apparent defects in the
flooring panels you should stop the installation immediately and call us at 1-800-986-3460.

It is recommended that kitchen cabinets be installed prior to installing laminate flooring. Install the plank up to the kick plate of the cabinets, leaving a minimum 1/2 in. expansion space. Cover the expansion space with a quarter-round molding. Purchase flooring to be installed in one large area at the same time. Products purchased at a later time than the first purchase may vary beyond vour expectations.
This product is manufactured according to strict quality standards. An additional 10% should be factored in for cutting wastage and grading allowances.
Squeaking and clicking noises are the result of interactions among flooring, joists and subfloors when they move. Limiting the movements of the flooring system usually eliminates most of these noises. Sometimes, it is impossible to eliminate them completely and minor squeaking or clicking noises are to be accepted as normal flooring phenomena.
Minor scratches can generally be repaired with the use of putty, stain or filler. It is an industry-standard practice of flooring installation
and it should be accepted as normal by the homeowner.
To assure the warranty is not inadvertently voided, before proceeding with any activity that is not covered in this manual, please contact our Customer Support Team at 1-800-986-3460.

ACCLIMATION AND IN-SERVICE CONDITIONS

Acclimation is the process of adjusting (conditioning) the moisture content of flooring to the environment in which it is expected to perform. The flooring is fully acclimated when its moisture content and dimensions (width and length) are stable. For example, the averaged dimensions and moisture content remain constant for 2 consecutive days. Flooring must acclimate for as long as necessary to reach fully acclimated stage. Acclimation time varies depending on geographical area, interior climate control and time of the year. Store unopened boxes flat in the room where the flooring is to be installed. Minimum acclimation time is 48 hours.

SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS

Subfloors must:

• Remove any existing damp/porous floor covering first (carpet, needle felt, etc.).

• Variance of the subfloor must not exeed 3 mm per 1 m (1/8 in. in a 3 ft. span). High spots can be removed by grinding; depressions can be filled with patching compound formulated for use in floor installation.

• Be clean; no construction debris, soil, mud and any other objects on or adhering to the subfloor; if necessary, scrape and sweep away before the installation; no protrusions of nails, debris, or metals should remain.

• Be free from moisture-related conditions which can damage the installed flooring.

• Wood subfloors must be structurally sound and screwed or nailed to supporting beams. No deflection of the subfloor is allowed. Subfloor must be in compliance with the local building code.

• Crawl space should be dry and vented as per local building code.
  Concrete Subfloors must:

• New concrete slab must cure for at least 60 days.

• It must have a minimum 10 mil polyethylene sheet between the ground and the concrete.

•  Have minimum rated strength of 3000 psi.

• A new concrete floor must dry at least 1 week per 1 cm (3/8 in.) thickness up to 4 cm (1.5 in.). Thicknesses over 4 cm (1.5 in.) require twice as much drying time. For example, a 6 cm (2.5 in.) concrete subfloor must dry for at least 8 weeks.

• Be free from moisture-related conditions which can damage the installed flooring.

CONCRETE MOISTURE

• HD Laminate flooring is designed to be installed floating. Under no circumstances should flooring panels be glued, nailed, screwed or otherwise adhered (e.g. door stopper, closet track) to the subfloor, or any fixed objects.

• HDC Laminate flooring needs room to expand. An expansion gap of 10-15 mm (3/8 in. to 5/8 in.) should always be left around the perimeter of the room (e.g. between the flooring panels and the walls or any other fixed elements, such as heating pipes or door jambs). This expansion gap can be covered up with baseboards, quarter rounds or the appropriate floor trim. T-moldings (at least 2 cm (1 in.) in width) must be used between adjoining rooms, hallways and doorways. T-moldings must be used in rooms measuring more than 8 m (26 ft.) in the direction of the panel length and more than 8 m (26 ft.) in the direction of the panel width.
  Installation should be carried out at a room temperature of at least 18°C (65°F) and a floor temperature of at least 15°C (59°F). The relative humidity in the room should be 50-60 %. The temperature difference between the flooring panels and the subfloor should not exceed ‡3 degrees.

• For installation below grade, on a concrete subfloor, or in any moisture-prone areas, a 6 mil vapour barrier must be used. The seams of the vapour barrier should overlap by at least 20 cm (8 in.) and must be taped with moisture-resistant tape along the length of this overlap. In addition, the vapour barrier should come up the walls 2-3 in. with corners taped with moisture-resistant tape. For more information regarding vapour emission from concrete, please call us at 1-800-986-3460.

• Flooring panels should preferably be installed longitudinally (lengthwise) to the main light source.
  Avoid narrow pieces at the finish wall. Measure the distance between the starting wall and the finish wall.
  Divide this number by the width of the laminate flooring plank. The remainder must be greater than 6.35 cm (2.5 in.).
  Before installing under-the-floor heating, please call 1-800-986-3460 for further information. Radiant heated subfloors should never exceed 26°C (79°F).
  Your HDC Laminate flooring can be walked on immediately following installation. As soon as part of the laminate flooring has been installed, the furniture can be moved onto the finished installation.

Floating Installation

1. INSTALLING THE FIRST ROW

   • a. When possible, begin installation from the straightest wall (Fig. 1A). If possible, install the floor perpendicular to the floor joists (Fig. 1B).

   • b. Use a carbide-tipped circular saw blade to remove both the short and long side tongues from the plank to allow room for spacers. Do not trim the groove sides (Fig. 1C).

   • c. Trim the long side tongue from each plank needed to complete the first row. Install the planks from left to right.
     Place 3/8 in. – 5/8 in. spacers between the wall and the cut edge of the planks to ensure a 3/8 in. – 5/8 in. space alona the perimeter (Fir 1D)

   • d. Adjoin the planks by using a tapping block as shown (Fig. 1E) and gently tap until the planks are joined. Continue this process until the final plank for the row is needed.

2. COMPLETING A ROW

   • a. When cutting a plank used for completing a row be sure to allow for the proper 3/8 in. – 5/8 in. gap once the plank is installed. (Fig. 2A)
   • b. Use a pull bar in place of a tapping block to close the gap between the two planks to complete the row (Fig. 2B). If the remainder of the cut plank is a minimum of 12 in. long it may be used to start the next row.

3. INSTALLING THE SECOND AND REMAINING ROWS

   • a. Begin installing the second row by angling the plank to allow the tongue to slip into the groove of the plank in row 1 (Plank C, Fig. 3A). Maintain inward pressure (towards the previous row) while gently moving the plank up and down as you slowly push the plank to the floor (Fig. 3B. Do not force the plank to the floor if the tongue is only partially inserted into the groove (Fig. 3C and 3D).
   • b. Install the next plank by placing it near the previous
   • b. Install the next plank by placing it near the previous plank in the row and laying it flat to the floor while leaving a small gap (2-3 mm) between the short ends of planks D and C (Fig. 3E).
   • c. Once the plank is lying flat, gently tap the plank as described at the end of step 2 to join planks C and D (Fig. 3F).
   • d. Placing the tapping block no closer than 8 in. from either end, tap lightly along the long side to ensure the joint is fully seated and no gaps exist. (Fig. 3F) Note: Uneven tapping or use of excessive force may damage the joint.
   • e. Continue laying the floor from left to right, as described in the previous steps (Fig. 3G). Remove the short side tongue from any full planks used in starting a new row.
   • f. Trim the planks to be used in the final row to the desired width while taking into consideration the necessary gap of 3/8 in. – 5/8 in. needed between the planks and the wall. Install the final row as described in the previous steps (Fig. 3H). 

4. INSTALLING THE LAST ROW

   • a. In cases where you are unable to angle panels (eg. under a doorframe or radiator), you must cut away the locking edge of the lip of the bottom groove using a wood chisel. Run a bead of glue on the now-modified tongue and groove. Then tighten the panels gently with the use of a pull bar (Fig. 4A).

Completing the Installation

• Clean the floor.
• Use matching putty where necessary.
• Install or reinstall all wall trim pieces. Nail them through the wall, but not to the subfloor to avoid restricting the expansion gap.
• Install transition trim pieces. Nail them to the subfloor, not the flooring.
• At doorways, transitions should be used to protect the edges of the floor and to provide a decorative transition from one floor type to another.
• If the floor is to be covered, use a breathable material such as cardboard. Do not cover with plastic.

Care and Maintenance

DAILY MAINTENANCE

• Sweep, dust, mop, or vacuum your floor regularly to remove any particles that could cause abrasion or scratch your floor.
  CAUTION: Vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head can damage a floor and should never be used.

• Use a damp mop to remove spots and soil. Apply the appropriate cleaning solution to the cleaning cloth/mop. Do NOT apply directly to the floor.

• For lightly soiled area, clean with distilled water.

• For moderately soiled areas, use a mild solution of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and distilled water. Dilute the mixture by mixing one part alcohol and 2 parts distilled water. For tougher spots, use a higher concentration of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water. For extreme cases, a solution of nail polish remover (organic pure acetone) and distilled water can be used.

• HINT: For best results, clean the floor in the same direction of the planks. When the cleaning cloth/mop becomes soiled, rinse or
  replace it with a clean one. Following up with a clean, dry cloth may remove residual streak marks and spots.

• Do NOT leave any amount of liquids (water, juice, soft drinks, spills, etc.) on the floor. Clean any wet spots immediately.

• Do NOT use a steam cleaner.

• Do NOT use a wet mop or douse the floor with water or liquid cleaners. Liquid can seep between the cracks and cause moisture damage.

• Do NOT use any cleaning agents containing wax, oil gloss refresher or polish. Leftover residue will form a dull film.

• Do NOT use steel wool or scouring powder which will scratch the floor.
  BRANDED OR OFF-THE-SHELF FLOOR CARE PRODUCTS
  If none of the above are effective and you choose to use a store-bought product, test the product in a non-conspicuous area (i.e., closet, corner. or scrap pieces) for potential adverse side effects.

CLIMATE MAINTENANCE

NOTE: It is the owners responsibility to maintain their home as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.

• Care should be taken to control humidity levels within the 60% range. Flooring, especially Laminate Flooring, dimensions will be affected by
  varying levels of humidity. If the relative humidity is ≥ 50%, it is unlikely that people walking on the Laminate will cause static electricity.

• Dry Climates: A humidifier is recommended to maintain humidity levels. Wood stoves and electric heat tend to create very dry
  conditions during the winter months. This also will cause shrinkage and cracking in flooring.

• Humid, Wet Climates: Use of an air conditioner, heater, or dehumidifier may be required in order to maintain the proper manufacturer
  guidelines and to prevent excessive expansion due to high moisture content.

FLOOR REPAIR
Very light and small surface scratches can be repaired with a staining “touch up” pen of the appropriate color.
Slightly deeper scratches can be repaired by means of colored putty. Fill the scratches with the putty. Level with a putty knife. Wipe off the excess putty.

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