¾” sold wood flooring is intended for installation on or above grade only. For installation below grade, special precautions must be taken including an assessment of the humidity level, seasonal variations in humidity, and moisture testing of the sub-floor. Your hardwood flooring dealer can best offer you advice in this area. Also, do not install over radiant heat installed within concrete floors.

Your flooring should be delivered at least 72 hours prior to installation. Heating or air conditioning should be on so that the flooring can acclimate to the conditions under which it will remain after installation. Relative humidity should fall within a range of 40%-60% at 68 F.

Moisture content of the sub-floor and the hardwood flooring should be measured. If the difference in moisture content of the hardwood flooring and the sub-floor is more than 2%, installation should not proceed until the two are within 2% of each other.

Installer should have a defined method of installation based on the following.

a. Result of the testing of the sub-floor.

b. Result of the testing of the atmosphere for relative humidity.

c. The installer or an independent agent must document all site tests.

d. All site test records must be available if the homeowner files a claim.

Hardwood flooring requires ½” – ¾” expansion space around the perimeter of the floor and at all vertical obstructions within the room. This space is covered by baseboard and quarter round after installation

Hardwood flooring should be installed at right angles to the floor joists. If this is not possible, sub-floor should be built up to a thickness of 1” for proper support and nail holding.

High spots on sub-floor should be sanded down and re-nailing should be done to eliminate any squeaks or loose boards

Because of the natural variation in hardwood flooring, it is important to work out of 3 or 4 different boxes at a time to ensure a proper blend of shading. Close attention should be paid to date codes or “batches” as identified on the carton label, to ensure proper mixing or how it may affect layout of the floor.

Proper nail spacing is one nail every 8”-10” with at least 2 nails in every board. Every board should be nailed so that there is a nail within the last three inches of both ends of the board.

2” nails should be used for machine mailing of this product.

The following tools are needed: tape measure, broom, chalk line, hammer, nail set, pry bar, circular saw, miter saw or table saw, and power nailer and mallet.

Final inspection rests with the installer. No labour charges or collateral expenses will be covered if the product is not suitable to the consumer.

Installation:

Ensure sub-floor is clean with no high spots or loose boards.

From the starting wall, measure out a distance at each corner equal to the board width of the board plus ¾”. Snap a chalk line between the two points as a guide for the first row.

Lay the first row with the tongue pointing out into the room. Pre-drill and face nail this first row ¾” from the edge of the board closest to the wall, along the chalk line, maintaining the ¾” expansion space. Pre-drill along the tongue and edge nail the boards at a 45 degree angle through the tongue along this first row. Sink the nails with a nail punch. Fill holes not covered by mouldings with matching putty.

Subsequent rows can now be placed and nailed using the 45 degree nailing through the tongue only. The power nailer can be used as soon as space from the wall allows. Typically, the first few rows will need to be done by hand. Also, the last few rows will need to be hand nailed.

When fitting the last row, be sure to rip the boards if necessary to maintain the ½”- ¾” expansion space.