Lowe s Flooring Style Selections Slate Oak Installation Guide

June 22, 2024
Lowe s

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW


FLOOR PREP – Cleaning, leveling, and verifying your subfloor is very important. Defects in the subfloor can lead to product failure.
MEASURING – PLANNING FLOOR LAYOUT – Draw the layout line with chalk to avoid the plank width against the wall is less than half of the width.

1. INSTALLING THE FIRST ROW

a. Begin in the le corner of your starting wall, lay your first plank into place along your chalk line, adding wedge spacers against the wall to maintain the expansion gap of 1/4-in to 3/8-in.
b. When installing the first row, insert the short edge of one plank into the short edge of another plank at a slight 25-degree angle and lay it down flat. Continue to complete the starter row maintaining a straight edge for the following row.
c. Use a tapping block and so faced dead blow hammer to close any gaps between the planks.
d. Once you reach the end of the first row, measure and cut the final plank so that it completes the row while also leaving the necessary 1/4-in to 3/8-in. expansion gap. The last planks of rows must be at least 8-in. long.
e. For the plank at the end of this row, use a pull bar and so faced dead blow hammer to close any gaps between the planks.
NOTE: Use a spare plank to create a straight edge at the cut line. Use a utility knife to score the top of the pattern and snap the panel. It will be necessary to cut the foam underlayment after snapping the panel.

2. INSTALLING THE SECOND AND REMAINING ROWS

a. Start the second row of flooring by using the trimmed planks from the previous row. The first piece must be at least 8-in. long. End joints should be staggered to a minimum of 6-in.
b. At a slight 25-degree angle, insert the long edge tongue of the first plank in row 2 into the long edge groove of the plank in row 1 until the plank edges meet, and then lay it down flat until the joints lock.
c. When joining the next plank to the first plank in the row, join the short side edges first. Insert the short edge of one plank into the short edge of another plank at a slight 25-degree angle and lay it down flat. Continue to complete the row maintaining a straight edge for the following row.
d. Use a tapping block and so faced dead blow hammer to close any gaps between the planks.
e. After tapping the long side joint closed, close the short edge joints using a pull bar and so faced dead blow hammer for the plank at the end of this row.
f. Repeat these steps to complete the installation.
NOTE: After each row is complete, ensure there will be 1/4-in to 3/8-in gap (after the joints are closed) to the wall for expansion.

3.INSTALLING THE LAST ROW

a. For the last row, align the plank to be used on top of the 2nd to last row. Using a full width plank as a spacer, trace the wall contour. Use a full plank as a straight edge to cut the plank.
b. After cutting the plank length wide, insert the long edge tongue into the long edge groove and use a pull bar and so faced dead blow hammer to close the gap.
c. After tapping the long side joint closed, close the short edge joints using a pull bar and so faced dead blow hammer.

A. Remove all spacers. Skirting boards or fitting edge trim is not included.

B. When replacing skirting boards or fitting edge trim and any other items, for example furniture of shelving, these should never be fixed (such as fastened, screwed, or nailed) to the planks, or through the planks to the base ­ the floor must remain as a floating installation.

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)  >>

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>

Related Manuals