2G CorkLoc® Glueless Floating Floor Installation Instructions

ATTENTION! READ BEFORE INSTALLING!

COLOR VARIATION

This flooring is a natural product and color variations are to be expected. For best visual effect, shuffle planks from several cartons and do not install boards varying greatly in color next to one another.

ACCLIMATION

As relative humidity varies in different parts of the country, acclimation of the flooring prior to installation is the most important precaution to take in order to insure a successful installation. Proper acclimation is necessary to adapt the moisture content of the flooring to the conditions of your environment. Improper acclimation can cause the floor to buckle and/or the boards to shrink or cup after installation.

SUBFLOOR PREPARATION

Subfloor must be level, dry and free of imperfections. An uneven subfloor will make the floor feel unstable and cause premature damage.

2G CorkLoc® Glueless Floating Floor

Installation Instructions

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE INSTALLER FOLLOW ALL INSTALLATION GUIDELINES AS SET FORTH BY THE NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION. If the following instructions leave any unanswered questions or if additional information is required, please call USFloors toll free at 800-404-2675 (706-733-6120).

PRE-INSTALLATION JOBSITE REQUIREMENTS

Installer/Owner Responsibility
We urge you, as the final inspector to inspect for proper color, finish, style, and quality PRIOR to installation. Verify that the flooring is the correct material. Care should be taken at this time to remove or repair particular characteristics you do not desire. Manufacturer declines responsibility for any costs incurred when plank(s) with visible defects have been installed.

The use of stain, filler, or putty stick for the correction of minor defects during installation should be accepted as normal procedure. 5% cutting allowance, depending on layout, must be added to the actual square footage amount needed.

It is the installer/ owners’ responsibility to ensure that the jobsite conditions and jobsite subfloor are environmentally and structurally acceptable prior to the installation of any hardwood flooring. The manufacturer declines any responsibility for failures or deficiencies of hardwood flooring resulting from or related to sub-floor, sub-surface, or job-site environmental conditions.

• All substrates must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound.
• Flooring should be one of the last items installed in any new construction or remodel project.
• Install flooring after cabinets have been installed to prevent damage to the flooring.
• Room  temperature and  humidity  of installation  areas should  be  consistent with  normal,  year-round living conditions for at least one  week before installation  of flooring. Maintaining an optimum yearly room temperature of 70° F and a humidity range of 35-55% is recommended.

Store the flooring in the installation area for 72 hours before installation to allow flooring to adjust to room temperature. Do not store the boxes of flooring directly on concrete. These floors need adequate acclimation for moisture equalization prior to installation and should not be installed from just-opened boxes. Shuffle the boards for best visual mix of lengths and color.

PRE-INSTALLATION SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Note: All subfloors must be flat to within 3/16” in 10’ or 1/8” in 6’

Wood Subfloors

• Do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete. Refer to ASTM F1482 for panel underlayment recommendations.
• Do not apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.
• Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth. Crawl space clearance from ground to underside of joist is to be no less than 18” and perimeter vent spacing should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space area to provide cross ventilation. Where necessary, local regulations prevail.
• All other subfloors - Plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard, wafer board, etc. must be structurally sound and must be installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations. Local building codes may only establish minimum requirements of the flooring system and may not provide adequate rigidity and support for proper installation and performance. If needed add an additional layer of APA rated underlayment, fasten and secure according to the underlayment manufacturer’s recommendations.   
• Resilient flooring is not recommended directly over fire-retardant treated plywood or preservative treated plywood. An additional layer of APA rated 1/4" thick underlayment should be installed.
• Install cabinets prior to flooring to prevent damage to the flooring. Shaw is not responsible for removal of cabinets in the event of a claim.

 
Concrete Subfloors

• Floors shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from powder or flaking.
• Grind high spots. Use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed Shaw’s maximum moisture level and pH requirements. Use of gypsum-based patching and/or leveling compounds which contain Portland or high alumina cement and meet or exceed the compressive strength of 3,000 psi are acceptable.   Follow the leveling compound manufacturer’s instruction. Leveling compounds must be allowed to thoroughly cure and dry prior to installation of wood flooring.
• New concrete slabs must be dry. Maximum moisture level per CaCl test method is 5 lbs. per 1000 in 24 hr. Maximum level for ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative humidity test method - 85%.
• Do no install over concrete with a history of high moisture or hydrostatic conditions. 
• pH level of concrete should be between 7-10
• The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor covering installer.
• If a chemical abatement has been performed, use Shaw Surface Prep EXT; to remove any residual chemicals present. Once Shaw Surface Prep EXT has been properly cleaned and removed, apply one coat of Shaw MRP for additional protection. Adhesive removal through the use of solvents or citrus adhesive removers is not recommended. Solvent residue left in or on the subfloor may affect the new adhesive and floor covering.
  WARNING! DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEAD BLAST OR MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERISE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING,LINING FELT,ASPHALTIC CUT BACK ADHESIVES OR OTHER ADHESIVES. 
   
  These products may contain either asbestos fibers and/or crystallie silica. Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the product is a non‐asbestos‐containing material, you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be tested to determine asbestos content and may govern the removal and disposal of material. See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures. For current information go to www.rfci.com


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WARNINGDrilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. For more information go to
 
https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/products/wood-dust

Existing Floor Coverings

• Flooring can be installed over most existing hard–surface floor coverings (including ceramic tile) provided that the existing floor surface is clean, flat dry and structurally sound.
• Existing sheet vinyl floors should not be heavily cushioned and not exceed more than one layer in thickness.
• Installation is NOT allowed over any type of carpet.
• Do NOT install over wood subfloors or wood floors adhered to concrete.
• Never use solvents or citrus adhesive removers to remove old adhesive residue. Solvent residue left in and on the subfloor may affect the new floor covering.
• Crumb rubber underlayments are not an acceptable option for use with vinyl floor coverings due to performance issues resulting from chemical incompatibilities.

INSTALLATION TOOLS

For all installation methods:

• Tape measure
• Tapping block (trimmed piece of flooring)
• Pencil
• Pry bar or pull bar
• Chalk line
• Wood or plastic spacers (3/8")
• Crosscut power saw
• 3M® Blue Tape

STARTING YOUR INSTALLATION

Make sure subfloor is tested for moisture first and is properly prepared.

Since natural flooring expands with any increase in moisture content, always leave at least a 3/8" expansion space between flooring and all walls and any other permanent vertical obstructions, (such as pipes and cabinets). This space will be covered up once you reapply base moldings around the room. Use wood or plastic spacers during installation to maintain this 3/8" expansion space. No area of connected flooring can span greater than 30 feet in either direction. For larger spans, install T-moldings or other transition pieces that allow the flooring to expand and contract.

Work from several open boxes of flooring and “dry lay” before permanently laying the floor. This will allow you to select the varying grains & colors and to arrange them in a harmonious pattern. It also allows you the opportunity to select out very dark/light pieces for use in hidden areas in order to create a more uniform floor. Remember, it is the installers’ responsibility to determine the expectations of what the finished floor will look like with the end user first and then to cull out pieces that do not meet those expectations.

Begin installation next to an outside wall. This is usually the straightest and best reference for establishing a straight working line. Establish this line by measuring an equal distance from the wall at both ends and snapping a chalk line. The distance you measure from the wall should be the width of a plank plus about 3/8" for expansion space. You may need to scribe cut the first row of planks to match the wall in order to make a straight working line if the wall is out of straight.

You may want to dry lay a few rows, (no glue or nails), before starting installation to confirm your layout decision and working line. When laying flooring, stagger end joints from row to row by at least 8". When cutting the last plank in a row to fit, you can use the cut-off end to begin the next row. If cut-off end is 8" in length or less, discard it and instead cut a new plank at a random length and use it to start the next row. Always begin each row from the same side of the room.

To draw planks together, always use a tapping block (a short piece of flooring), as tapping the flooring itself will result in edge damage. For best results, flip the tapping block upside down and use the groove edge to tap the tongue edge of the plank being installed. Fit end joints tightly together before tapping long edges together. When near a wall, you can use a pry bar to pry close the side and end joints. Take care not to damage edge of flooring. Use 3M® Blue Tape to hold any pieces which might have side bow and need to be held straight & tight until the adhesive sets up.

2G CorkLoc® INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Inspection: Prior to installation, inspect planks in daylight for visible faults/damage. Check if subfloor/site conditions comply with the specifications described in these instructions. If you are not satisfied do not install, and contact your supplier.

Moisture Protection: Lay the PE film, allowing for at least 20 cm (8") overlapping and tape. Turn the film upward 5 cm (2") along the walls. Trim after the skirting boards are fixed.

Before Laying: Measure the room at right angle to the direction of the planks. Planks in the final row should be at least 5 cm wide. For this purpose, planks in the first row can be cut to smaller size. Shuffle planks in order to obtain a pleasant blend of shades. Lay planks preferably following the direction of the main source of light. We recommend laying on wooden floors crossways to the existing floorboard. Planks must not be nailed or screwed to the subfloor. Base boards and molding must not be fixed in a way which restricts the movement of the floor.

Expansion Gaps: provide 10 mm (3/8") expansion gaps to the walls and other fixed objects. Areas greater than 100 m² (900 sq. ft) or 10 m (30 feet) in either direction, transitions between rooms and asymmetrical areas require extra expansion gaps.

Start laying:

1. Start in the corner. Turn the tongue side of the plank to the wall. Maintain a gap of 10 mm (3/8") on the short side.
2. Hold the next plank at an angle against the first one and lay it flat on the floor. Complete first row in the same way. Cut final plank of the first row to correct length. Start next row with the piece leftover [must be at least 300mm (12") long]. Ensure that end joints are staggered at least 300mm.
3. Place first plank of the new row with the tongue side at an angle against the groove side of the plank in the previous row. Press forward and lay it flat at the same time.
4. Place short end of the plank at an angle against the previous installed plank and fold down. Ensure that the plank is positioned on the integral locking strip of the plank in the previous row.
5. Lift planks (together with the previous laid in the same row) lightly up [about 30 mm (1-1/8")], push it against the row in front and then put it down. Adjust the distance to the wall to 10mm (3/8") when three rows are completed. Proceed installation as described above until reaching the opposite wall.

Radiant Heat: Hydronic only - Radiant heat components must have a minimum of 1/2" separation from the product. This is the only type of radiant heat system that is approved. Radiant heat system must be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation to reduce residual moisture within the concrete. Three days prior to installation lower the temperature to 65 degrees, after installation gradually increase the temperature in increments of 5° F to avoid overheating. Maximum operating temperature should never exceed 85°F. Use of an in-floor temperature sensor is recommended to avoid overheating.

AFTER INSTALLATION

• Flooring should be one of the last items installed in a project. In order to protect the floors while other trades are finishing their work prior to final cleanup and turnover to the owner, use rosin paper and only use 3M® Blue Tape to hold the rosin paper to the floor (other blue tapes may damage the finish). Clean the floor thoroughly before laying the rosin paper to ensure that no debris is trapped underneath. DO NOT USE plastic film or other non-breathing coverings as this can cause the floor to become damaged from humidity buildups.
• Remove expansion spacers and reinstall base and/or quarter round moldings to cover moldings to cover the expansion space.
• Dust mop or vacuum your floor to remove any dirt or debris.
• Install any transition pieces that may be needed (reducers, T-moldings, nosing. etc.).

Protection and Maintenance of Your Floor

Lasting beauty can be achieved through purchasing a quality floor covering and providing proper on-going maintenance.

Fading: Natural floors contain organic pigments and are subject to fading when exposed to direct sunlight. Where possible, use drapes or other systems to protect your floor from excessive light.

Joints: Natural flooring reacts to the conditions in the environment. Natural flooring plank systems expand and contract in response to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Controlling the environment, maintaining an adequate temperature and relative humidity, will minimize the visible effects of normal contraction and expansion. Optimum recommended temperature is 70°F and relative humidity is 35%-55%. In very dry climates, the use of a humidifier might be necessary.

For complete maintenance guidelines for your floor visit www.usfloorsllc.com.