INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS – ANGLE / ANGLE CLICK PROFILE LAMINATE FLOATING INSTALLATION
For our click profile laminate ranges we provide important guidelines that must be followed to ensure a quality install. Please read the entire document as a number of important considerations are noted for a floating installation, we encourage you to use professional contractors to ensure the flooring is correctly installed. All floating installations require an Acoustic Underlay & Moisture Barrier (MB) system. Substrate flatness is critical; sub-floor should not exceed 3mm over a 3m radius in all directions. Any hollows or humps need to be assessed and rectified prior to installation. Please follow manufacturer’s guidelines for leveling compound application and drying times. Loose planks, particle board and plywood needs to be secure, additional fixings may be required. Do not install during temperature extremes. Whenever possible cover windows & door openings 24 hours prior to install to moderate the interior temperature, reduce excessive heat, and direct UV. Please note: our structural warranty covers the professional installation for use over, In-slab Hydronic under-floor heating only. The heating system must be installed and operated in compliance with the strict guidelines of the heating manufacturer’s recommendations. The system should not be operated with heat settings in excess of 27 degrees Celsius. No other type of heating system other than Hydronic inslab systems will be covered by our structural warranty. In-Screed hydronic heating or electric heat blanket systems are not covered by our warranty. Before proceeding with installation site conditions need to be inspected by the installer prior to commencing. Site specific circumstances such proximity to water, river systems and coastal regions along with other climatic extremes will require more complex installations methods and maintenance. Under floor inspections must be conducted before installation whenever possible. Ensure installers are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and that the site is well ventilated and protected from excessive heat, direct sunlight, or moisture ingress. Use temporary window coverings if the site is unoccupied or if nothing exists in a renovation project. PRE-INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS Importantly, the installation should be performed by a professional contractor. The installation process and method selected is solely the responsibility of the contractor and you must be satisfied that the contractor is qualified to conduct your site installation. Workmanship of installation is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Should you have any concerns contact the retailer or building contractor involved in your project. Atsite, please store the product in original cartons placed on a flat, dry area away from any extreme temperatures or moisture. 1. The planks must be carefully inspected prior to install to detect any imperfections, do not install planksthat contain defects. If certain planks are displaying slight bow set aside under load to assist with site acclimatisation, these planks can be reused later. 2. FAULTY PLANKS SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED and will not be covered by warranty. A waste factor of 8-10 % is required for length cutting, sorting and visual selection. If product faults are detected, immediately contact the point of purchase. 3. The site area must be clean and free of any contaminants, dust, or other construction / painting activity whilst the installation is in progress. Make sure you have the necessary floor covering protection material available if further construction is occurring after the installation. Do not use adhesive tape directly on the surface of the planks. 4. Our laminate click flooring ranges are designed to be installed without glue. The Angle/ Angle tap Click system allows the planks to be joined without adhesive to the sub-floor. In some situations, a cross-linked DIN certified PVA adhesive will make it easier to assemble planks under door thresholds and tight floor spaces. Refer diagram, Special Installations.
FLOATING INSTALLATION – Acoustic underlay with attached moisture barrier (PE) film or an acoustic underlay with 200uM builders’ plastic (BP) placed on the sub-floor to function as a moisture barrier is required. All floating installations require a moisture barrier and acoustic underlay on top of all substrates. Our 2mm Standard and Ultra Green Underlay are 2 in 1 products incorporating a PE moisture barrier film attached to an acoustic sound dampening foam. If the product you use does not include a moisture barrier PE film, you must install 200uM builders’ plastic (BP) )under the acoustic foam prior to installation. Perimeter and room to room expansion provisions must be followed to ensure warranty guidelines are compliant. 1. Concrete slab must be dry, maximum 2.5% and wood-based floors dry, maximum 14 %. Substrate flatness is critical; sub-floor should not exceed 3mm over a 3m radius in all directions. For concrete slabs, any hollows or humps must be levelled prior to installation. Please follow manufacturer’s guidelinesfor leveling compound application and drying times. Do not install flooring if levelling compound is not dry. Do not install the floor if the subfloor has a history of moisture related issues. 2. Place acoustic underlay with PE film & or 200uM BP with underlay on sub-floor & up wall skirt area approx. (>50mm), overlap and tape securely to avoid any moisture ingress from the subfloor and perimeter walls. 3. First and last plank length should not be less than 300 mm, short end joins on parallel planks should be at least 300 mm in distance from the adjoining plank, Figure 1. Plan the layout of plank lengths and for visual aspects prior to final fix. This will assist in providing a balanced blend of grade, colour, and joint alignment. For optimum visual impact planks should run in the direction of the longest wall area. It is always a smart idea to make sure the owner’s expectations are consistent with the installer’s layout plan. Heavily featured planks, lighter or deeper colours can always be used under cabinetry or similar less obvious locations. 4. The floor installation requires perimeter expansion of 12 – 15mm for all floating installations, this cannot be avoided. Width areas greater than > 6m and length runs greater than >11m will require expansion and transmission joins to assist with the natural movement of a floating installation. As a guideline allow an extra 1- 2 mm expansion gap for every extra 1m of width over the standard raft size, (6m x 8m). Adequate space around heating and service ducts must be created to allow the floor to expand and contract. Refer Figure 2 & 3. Note: caulking will hinder necessary floor movement, it should not be used. 5. If the client objects to trim inclusions, please keep a record that the client did not wish to include expansion trims. Perimeter expansion guidelines must be followed. Wherever possible, each room should be treated as a separate install, this will assist in reducing floor movement and floor tension for an optimum install. 6. Large objects such as Kitchen Island benches should not be placed on a floating floor. The floor planks need to be installed around the perimeter of the Island Bench or under the bench kick boards/fascia to allow for natural floor movement. 7. To better blend and balance the natural batch variation the installer should always work from several open cartons of product to create a balanced and natural visual for the installation. Planning the install areas is a critical part of the project.
LAMINATE FLOOR CARE & MAINTENANCE • Please cover flooring with adequate protection if construction or painting is still occurring at the site. Floor protection such as compressed cardboard, thin MDF panels or similar are worthwhile but cannot be left in place for an extended period. Do not use adhesive tape directly on the surface of the laminate planks, the coating surface may get damaged when removed. Incidental scratching, chipping and indentations from external sources are site related and therefore will not be covered by our warranty. • For floating installations requiring skirting-boards or scotia, these items should be installed by fixing them directly to the adjacent wall. Do not fix the skirting board or scotia trim directly into the laminate, this will stop the floor from moving freely and create floor tension leading to floor buckling (speed bumps). Undercutting existing skirting or door jambs is a common method to accommodate the necessary perimeter expansion if you intend to keep the original skirting. • The floor must be protected from intense direct sunlight. Screens, Blinds or Window Tinting must be used to inhibit direct sun. Large rugs and mats should not be introduced until the floor has acclimatised in its environment; this will take approx. 8 weeks. • Do not place office chairs or castor wheel chairs directly on the surface of the floor, a rigid plastic chair protector or similar must be placed on the surface to stop damage from chair movement and grit build up. • Place felt or similar floor protection pads under all kitchen or occasional furniture & chairs. This should assist in reducing general wear & tear in higher traffic areas. • Do not use a steam mop or wet mopping to clean the floor. Static or absorbent towelling mops should be used for all laminate floor surfaces. When incidental spills occur simply wipe dry with an absorbent cloth and use a light bristle broom for daily cleaning. Do not use generic supermarket floor cleaning solutions on the floor, we recommend professional floor care products such as Bona or Loba. Spray Mop Kits and refill floor cleaning products are readily available online or through popular retail outlets in Australia & New Zealand. • An expanded laminate floor care guide is available for easy reading or download from our website. Our laminate flooring products are manufactured from natural wood-based materialsthat will expand and contract in shape if moisture or humidity is elevated, they may also shrink if moisture or humidity becomes extremely low. As a natural product changes from these circumstances may lead to irreversible damage if the interior temperature and humidity is constantly exposed to extremes. Please review the floor care guide to familiarise yourself with the requirements on how best to live and maintain your laminate floor. By following our simple floor care and install guidelines a well-maintained laminate floor can last a lifetime. Disclaimer: Preference Floors has used its reasonable endeavours to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained herein and, to the extent permitted by law, will not be liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or errors in this information nor for any actions taken in reliance on thisinformation. Products must be installed in accordance with relevant installation recommendations and industry best practices
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