LOWE S 4664171 Innsbruck Valley Oak Instruction Manual

LOWE S 4664171 Innsbruck Valley Oak

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please read all the instructions before you begin the installation. Improper installation will void warranty.

CAUTION:

• Use safety glasses and gloves when cutting laminate floors. Laminate floors will create wood dust; always use a protective dust mask and cut the product in a well-ventilated area.
• Never tap long edges; tap only as instructed in this guide.
• Never use tools designed for other laminate flooring installation systems.
• Never wax, polish, or use abrasive cleaners on laminate floors.
• This laminate flooring product is not suitable for use in areas where the floor is prone to continuous moisture, such as but not limited to, steam rooms and saunas. Do not install in rooms that have floor drains or sump pumps.
• Do not install cabinets or affix any objects (eg. kitchen islands) to or through the laminate floor. Cabinets should be installed before the laminate floor or affixed to the wall to prevent pinning the laminate floor.
• Inspect every plank for defects or damage before installing it.
• Do not tap laminate planks directly. Always tap against a scrap piece to protect the installed planks. Tap lightly and evenly as tapping with excessive force can result in damage.

INTENDED USE

These laminate floors are designed to be used in interior, climate-controlled areas. Installation temperatures should be at a minimum of 64°F (18°C) and relative humidity should be between 50% and 60%. These laminate floors can be installed on grade, above grade or below grade. Laminate floors are designed as a floating floor system and are not to be nailed, screwed, glued or attached in any way to the subfloor.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

• Saw (power saw, hand saw or guillotine-type cutter)
• Measuring tape
• Carpenter’s square
• Utility knife
• Pencil/marker
• Pull bar
• Tap block
• Hammer/mallet
• 3/8” (10mm) spacers
• 6 mil (0.15mm) thick vapor barrier (concrete installation requirement)
• 2” (51mm) wide moisture-resistant adhesive tape
• Flexible 100% silicone caulking (wet area installation requirement)
•  1/2” (12mm) and 3/8” (10mm) compressible PE foam backer rod (wet area installation requirement)
• Safety glasses
• Dust mask (NIOSH-designated)
• Gloves

KEY INSTALLATION CRITERIA

• Store unopened cartons in the installation area for 48 hours (96 hours in especially dry or humid conditions). Cross-stack cartons and store away from outside walls, heat sources and air conditioning vents.
• Acclimation temperature should be greater than 64°F (18°C) and relative humidity should be between 50-60%. Leave a 3/8” (10mm) expansion space between the edge of the flooring and walls or other vertical objects (eg. plumbing, cabinets, etc.). This space will be covered by base boards or finishing trims once your installation is complete.
• Installation length and width should not exceed 36’ (11m). Use T-moldings if installation is over the allowable length/ width. Installations through multiple rooms should be separated by T-moldings.

INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS
Best practices are to install laminate floors parallel to the room’s main light source or parallel to the room’s longest wall.

GENERAL SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS

• Subfloors must be clean, free of debris and structurally sound
• Subfloors must be level to 2mm per 1m (5/64” per 3’)
• Carpet, carpet pad and carpet tack must be removed
• Under-floor heating systems are acceptable provided that the temperature does not exceed 80°F (27°C) and under-floor heating system must be operating for a minimum of 3 weeks prior to installation.
• Heating system must be embedded in slab and have a minimum 1/2” (12 mm) separation from laminate flooring.
• Heating elements must be embedded in concrete and cannot be directly below laminate floor or underlay.
• Follow concrete subfloor installation guidelines as found in this document.

WOOD SUBFLOORS

• Moisture content should not exceed 12%
• Subfloor panels must be screwed/nailed to supporting beams
• Subfloor squeaks and creaks should be remedied prior to installing the laminate floor
• Crawl spaces must be dry and meet all building codes

CONCRETE SUBFLOORS

• Subfloor must be cured and allow to dry for 60 days prior to installing laminate floors
• A moisture test must be performed prior to installing laminate floors
• Concrete or cement screed moisture content cannot exceed 1.8%. Calcium sulphate screed moisture content cannot exceed 0.5%
• Moisture vapor emissions should not exceed 5 lbs / 1,000 ft2 per 24 hours
• Always install a 6 mil (0.15mm) polyethylene vapor barrier over concrete subfloors

EXISTING FINISHED FLOORS AS SUBFLOORS (EG. VINYL SHEET, PLANK, TILE)

• Existing floor covering must be well bonded to subfloor and in good condition with no tears, cracks or other damage
• Heavily cushioned surfaces (eg. cushion vinyl) are not acceptable and should be removed
• Existing finished floor covering should not exceed one layer in thickness
• Ceramic tile grout should be made smooth by applying self-leveling compound
• Follow instructions pertaining to the underlying subfloor (Wood Subfloors or Concrete Subfloors)

PRE-INSTALLATION PREPARATION

Undercut door jambs to fit laminate floors underneath them. Use a flooring off-cut and a piece of underlay as a height guide. Leave the required 3/8” (10mm) expansion spacing under door jambs.

1.  Sort planks from multiple boxes to avoid repetition
2.  Inspect every plank for defects and/or damage before installing it
3.  The first and last row of your installation must be wider than 3.5” (9cm)
4.  The first and last plank of each row must be a minimum of 12” (30cm) long
5.  Planks should be staggered from row to row by at least 12” (30cm)
6.  Use spacers to maintain the required 3/8” (10mm) expansion space
7.  Choose a corner to start from and work from left to right
8.  Lay vapor barrier (if applicable) in the following manner: Vapor barrier: overlap edges by 8” (20cm) and seal with moisture-resistant adhesive tape.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

1.  Lay full planks against the wall with long edge tongue facing the wall. These planks are not to be connected to each other as they will act as guides to assist in properly installing the first three rows and will be removed once these rows are connected.

2.  Cut a plank into three sections as follows: Cut Plank Section A: 8” (20 cm) to be used to tap against Cut Plank Section B: 16” (40 cm) to be used as a “bridge plank” when connecting short edges Cut Plank Section C: remainder of plank to be used as first plank of the first row.

3.  Connect the first plank (section C from the cut plank) to the guide plank by inserting its long edge tongue into the guide plank’s long edge groove at an angle of between 20°-30°, then slowly lower it to engage it.

4.  Install remaining planks of the first row by first inserting their long edge tongue to the guide plank’s long edge groove, but before lowering it ensure it is approximately 3/16” (5mm) away from the previous installed plank.
   To connect the planks, lightly tap the new plank’s short end groove until it is fully connected the previous plank.
   NOTE: Tap against the scrap piece of laminate that was cut in the previous instruction (Cut Plank Section A). Never tap installed planks directly as this will result in damage.
   Connect the “bridge plank” (Cut Plank Section B) to help align planks during tapping.
   Once connected, joints will be tight and there will not be a gap between planks.
   Ensure 3/8” (10mm) expansion space is left between first plank of each row and the wall.

5.  Continue in this manner until the row is complete. Cut the last plank to fit and ensure the 3/8” (10mm) expansion space is left between the end of the row and the wall. Use the remainder of the last plank of each row to start the next row provided it is at least 12” (30cm) long and short edges are staggered by a minimum of 12” (30cm) from row to row. If this is not possible use a new plank and cut it accordingly. Use a pull-bar instead of tap block on the last plank of each row.

6.  Once the first three rows are complete remove guide planks and slide installed rows towards wall, ensuring 3/8” (10mm) expansion space is maintained.

7.  A 3/8” (10mm) expansion space must also be maintained around plumbing, pipes and any vertical objects. If fitting planks around plumbing, cut holes approximately ¾” (20mm) larger than the diameter of the pipe. Cut through the center of the holes and use glue to hold pieces in place.

To complete the installation remove all spacers and cover the expansion space with wall base or quarter rounds. Ensure wall base or quarter rounds are fastened to the wall and not through the laminate floor or expansion space.

WET AREA INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
If installing laminate floors in moisture prone areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and entry ways, the expansion space must be sealed with 100% flexible silicone caulking. If desired, to reduce the amount of silicone caulking used, expansion spaces can be filled with 3/8” (10mm) Polyethylene backer rod and then covered with silicone caulking.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

• Dry mop or vacuum regularly with soft bristle attachments. If more thorough cleaning is required, use a wet mop and a non-abrasive laminate floor cleaner.
• Avoid using too much liquid when cleaning your floor. Best practice is to mist cleaner on the floor and wipe dry before it evaporates.
• If use of a residential steam mop is desired, use at lowest power setting with a suitable soft pad and do not hold the steam mop in one location for an extended period of time. Refer to the steam mop’s manufacturer instructions for proper usage.
• Never flood the floor with water.
• A 3/8” (10mm) expansion space must also be maintained around plumbing, pipes and any vertical objects. If fitting planks around plumbing, cut holes approximately ¾” (20mm) larger than the diameter of the pipe. Cut through the center of the holes and use glue to hold pieces in place.
• Remove all spills promptly.
• Do not wax, oil or polish laminate floors as they can leave a residue on the surface of the floor and cause irreparable damage.
• Do not use steel wool, scouring powder or other abrasive cleaners.
• Use walk-off mats at entrances to prevent dirt, sand and grit from being tracked into your home.
• Use protective felt pads under furniture.
• Use protective pads if using wheeled office chairs.

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