Engineering wood floor installation

Model: | Date:2024-06-17

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Notes: Please read and review the entire installation instructions before proceeding with the actual installation.

Every installer has a style of his own. Guidelines for installing NEW SIHE WOOD, Oak, Bamboo, Exotic range and Pine are the same as those recommended for installing hardwood flooring in general.Those guidelines have been developed over several years by The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) and The Hardwood Council.For those considering installing over concrete or radiant heat, the subjects receive excellent coverage in The Hardwood Manufacturers Association’s site: Hardwood Flooring Over Concrete Slabs and Radiant Heat and Hardwood Floors.

 

OWNER / INSTALLER’S RESPONSIBILITY

Hardwood flooring is a beautiful and unique product of nature, which is characterized by distinctive variations in grain and color. These natural variations in color and grain are not flaws, but are a part of the natural beauty and uniqueness of hardwood flooring. (These inherent variations should be expected and serve to enhance the natural beauty and enduring charm.) SIHE Hardwood Flooring is manufactured in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. The defects may be a manufacturing or natural type. x The installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality. This inspection of all flooring should be done before installation. Carefully examine the flooring for color, finish and quality before installing it. Use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with glaring defects whatever the cause. If material is not acceptable, contact SIHE Sales Team immediately.x Before beginning the installation of any hardwood flooring product, the installer must determine that the environment of the job site and the condition and type of the subfloor involved is acceptable, insuring that it meets or exceeds all requirements which are stipulated in the NEW SIHE WOOD installation instructions which follow. NEW SIHE WOOD Flooring declines any responsibility for job failure resulting from or associated with inappropriate or improperly prepared subfloors or job site environment deficiencies.

x The use of stain, filler or putty stick for the correction of defects during installation should be accepted as normal procedure.x When SIHE Hardwood Flooring is ordered, a 5 - 10% allowance factor, depending on layout, must be added to the actual square footage amount needed, (Diagonal Installations may require more.) to complete the installation.

 

JOB SITE INSPECTION & ACCLIMATION

x In new construction, hardwood flooring should be one of the last items installed. All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, acoustical ceilings, dry wall taping, etc.) should be completed prior to wood flooring being installed. Heating and air systems should be fully operating maintaining a consistent room temperature at 15.5-16.6oC and a constant relative humidity of 30-50%.

x Flooring should not be delivered until the building has been closed in and cement work, plastering, painting and other materials are completely dry. Concrete and plaster should be cured and at least 60 to 90 days old. Check basements and underfloor crawl space to be sure that they are dry and well ventilated to avoid damage caused by moisture.

x Flooring should be at the job site at least 72 hours prior to installation. Do not open until ready to install.

x Handle with care. Do not stand on ends. Store hardwood flooring in a dry place being sure to provide at least a four-inch air space under and around cartons.

x Do not store directly upon on grade concrete or next to outside walls. Cartons should be placed in the installation areax The installation site should have consistent room temperature of 15.5-16.6oC and a constant relative humidity level of 30-50% for a minimum of 5 days prior to installation of any hardwood-flooring product.IMPORTANT: ?Solid Flooring is for on or above grade installation only!!?nbsp;

Solid Flooring can not be installed over radiant heat

 

SUBFLOOR PREPARATION

Approved Subfloor Types:

1. 5/8?minimum thickness, preferred 3/4?or thicker exterior plywood

NOTE: When installing approved plywood, refer to specific structural panel manufacturer’s instructions.

2. 3/4?(23/32? OSB on 16?center floor joists properly nailed.

3. Concrete slab with additional approved wood sleepers and screed system. (See NWFA for guidelines)

4. Existing wood floors (installed at right angle only).

5. Resilient tile and sheet vinyl only over an above mentioned and approved subfloor.

Sub-floors must be:

x CLEAN - Scraped or sanded, swept, free of wax, grease, paint, oil and other debris

x SMOOTH/FLAT - Within 1/8?on 6? Sand high areas or joints and fill low areas (no more than 1/8? with a cement type filler no less than 3000 p.s.i.

x STRUCTURALLY SOUND - Nail or screw any loose areas that squeak. Replace any damaged subflooring or underlayments.

x DRY - Moisture content of subfloor must not exceed 14% prior to installation of wood flooring.
Remember: All moisture testing must be before wood has been acclimated 72 hours and job site requirements met.

 

JOB SITE PREPARATION

x Acclimate product for 72 hours prior to installation.

x Verify floor is level and structurally sound. Repair as needed.

x Undercut door casings

x Remove any existing wall base, shoe molding, quarter round or doorway thresholds

x Cover the clean surface, wall to wall, with 15 lb. asphalt saturated felt paper. Butting the edges together. Use of felt paper is optional and will not prevent squeaks or any other noise reduction.

Important: SIHE Solid Parquet Flooring is for on or above grade installation only!

Important: SIHE Solid Parquet Flooring cannot be installed over radiant heat floors.

Step 1: ESTABLISH A STARTING POINT

x Before beginning the actual installation, provide proper layout of flooring by distributing short and long lengths equally over the areas where the flooring is to be installed only in case of random length. Remember: Flooring is to be installed at right angles to the floor joists and if possible, in the longest dimension of the room.

x Work out of several cartons at a time to insure proper color and shade mixture.

x Align the first row of planks to be sure you have a good straight line from one side of the room to the other. Snap a chalk line at the desired distance from the wall to help align the planks. The end joints of plank or strip flooring should be staggered to achieve the best appearance in the finished floor. (Minimum 6?

Important: Leave at least 12.7MM-19.05MM for expansion at all vertical surface, or leave at least what will be covered by the baseboard or quarter round trim.