Installation Guide

 

Fitting Guidelines Engineered Oak Flooring

 

 

Pre Fitting Instructions

 

It is necessary that the flooring to be laid is left to acclimatise in the packaging (at room temperature) for at least 36 hours, preferably one week. Lie horizontal and flat at the ideal relative humidity level of 45%.

 

The room should be dry, if the building is a new building with a concrete floor, wait until the floor is completely dry.  The flooring should be laid at a minimum room temperature of 15c and a maximum of 22c.

 

The greatest possible care is taken to produce your floor.  However, we advise you to check the boards for visible defects. Where appropriate cut out any unsightly defects as part of wastage allowance. Use any cut boards for starting or finishing a row.

 

PROCEED WITH A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FLOORING BEFORE INSTALLATION. The installer or user assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality. This inspection of the whole flooring should be done before installation or use. Carefully examine the flooring for colour, finish and quality before installing or using it. ONCE INSTALLED OR USED, THE FLOORING IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTED BY THE INSTALLER AND THE OWNER. Make sure you have good lighting while laying the floor.

 

Preparation

 

The Engineered 20mm thick flooring can be laid over a variety of surfaces (concrete, plywood, joists) and even over existing level wooden floorboards.  Sub floor must be dry, level and with good load-bearing properties.  Moisture content of floorboard subfloor should be 9% (with a tolerance of 2%).  You should first check that there are no loose pieces, should any be found, these need to be screwed down. 18mm and 14mm thick multiply boards can be laid over either concrete or plywood and existing floorboards. 14mm 3 layer construction boards over concrete or plywood only. 14mm 3 layer construction board is not suitable over underfloor heating. The floor level must be +/- 3mm in any 2metre direction.

 

If the base is concrete or screed, its moisture content should be 3% or less and the mortar should be evenly set.  If the floor is to be laid in a new building, the rooms should be enclosed with the windows closed.  All wet trades should be finished and the relative humidity in the premises should be between 40% and 64% - the humidity of the plasterworks and paintwork should be less than 5%.

 

The Engineered flooring is generally compatible with the most common water based under floor heating systems (check with your supplier for further details). Not to be used over electric mat under floor heating systems.  The temperature of the finished surface must never exceed 26 degrees centigrade at all times.

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Floor Installation

 

 

  1. Start with a clean, level floor which has the appropriate humidity for installation.  To improve sound insulation and enhance walking comfort, a foam underlay should be laid at right angles to the direction of the floor being laid.

 

  1. If laying over a concrete base, a polythene membrane must be laid first and the moisture content of the concrete must measure no more than 8-10%.  only applicable to floated floor installations

 

  1. For best effect, boards should be laid lengthwise pointing towards the incoming light (eg. From a window). Plan to lay the first two rows of boards from left to right, grooved edge to the wall, with spacers between boards and the wall as well as both ends of each row.  Allow for a minimum of 10mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the room between the walls and flooring. Widths more than 10 metres require another expansion gap.

 

  1. If the wall is not straight or is uneven, scribe and cut the boards to the contour of the wall.  To complete the first row, measure the length of the last board (including the spacer) and saw to size.

 

  1. If the off cut from this board is 40cm or more it should be used to begin the next row.  If you do not have an off cut, begin the next row by cutting a new board into two uneven lengths and use one to start the second row to ensure sufficiently staggered end joins.

 

  1. Use a plumb or lazer line to ensure that both rows are straight and when satisfied proceed to glue.

 

  1. Apply PVA adhesive. It is important to use adequate adhesive applying a continuous bead along the upper side of the groove including end joins.  Using the tapping block and/or pull iron press the joints together and allow the first two rows to settle and adhesive to dry before proceeding further.

 

  1. The rest of the floor can now be glued and laid.

 

  1. Ensure that the boards are all laid straight and even, leaving spacers at all edges and around any pipework (these will later be removed and the space created covered by skirting and/or beading).

 

  1. It is usual for there not to be space to fit a full width board at the last row so it will be necessary to make a longitudinal cut and the cutting of this last board may be helped by simply using another board as a scribe and cutting guide.

 

  1. Press the last board into place with the pull iron remembering to put a spacer between the board and the wall.

 

  1. Allow 12 hours for the glue to set.  Remove all spacers to leave the expansion free.

 

  1. The skirting board which covers the expansion space and gives the finishing touch to the installation, can now be fixed in place (to the wall only and not to the floor).

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative Installation Method – Fully bonded to sub floor

 

Engineered 20mm, 18mm and 14mm multiply thick flooring can be glued directly to the chosen substrate.  Preparation of the subfloor should be the same as above.  A suitable flooring adhesive must be used and advice taken from your supplier.

When choosing to fully bond down onto the sub floor there is no need to glue the tongues of the boards with PVA.  It is recommended that a flexible adhesive is used as this will reduce the stresses transferred to the subfloor by the natural movement of the timber floor.

 

Alternative Installation Methods – Secret Nailing

 

Where the subfloor is of wooden construction (joists, battens,  plywood, floorboards) the engineered 20mm multiply thick flooring can be nailed directly to the subfloor.  A suitable length flooring nail must be used in conjunction with a manual flooring nail gun i.e. Porta-Nailer. The end joins must meet over a batten or joist and nailed accordingly. The relevant BS EN atandards stipulate nail centres of 350mm.

Please refer to the operating instructions of the chosen nailing apparatus for advice.

 

It is advisable that pre- natural oiled flooring has a coat of oil applied to the boards either before or after installation for further protection and the potential prevention of dry spots.

 

Seek advice from a pofessional wood floor fitter before proceeding.

 

Where to find us:

James Deane Partnership Ltd 


Phone: 07773 009702

E-mail: james@jamesdeane

partnership.co.uk

 

 

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