Solid hardwood flooring installation and maintenance

PRE-INSTALLATION

Assessment, modification and maintenance of site conditions is the most important prerequisite to the successful installation and performance of wide solid-plank wood floor. Make sure the heating/cooling is set within the normal temperature range. The flooring is acclimated and ready for installation when it has reached a moisture level consistent with the job site and normal living conditions. Material should be on the job site at least 48 hours before being installed. Open the cartons, but do not remove the product from the cartons. The installation of solid wood flooring should be postponed until all moisture producing trades such as pouring basement concrete floors, drywall and plaster work, plumbing, etc. are complete and their work is thoroughly dry; the roof, windows and exterior doors are installed tight and dry.

We recommend two types of sub-floor; Plywood or concrete. Each sub-floor has separate installation instructions (below).

Plywood. Underlayment should be a minimum 15mm thick plywood glued and securely fastened to wood framing or glued or shot to a thoroughly dry concrete slab.If plywood is being laid on joists be certain to leave at least 3mm to 5mm gap between each sheet to allow for expansion.

Concrete. Cement Sub-floors should be level within 2mm in each 2m. High area should be sanded flat. Low areas should be filled with leveling compound. Concrete must be no more than 3% moisture content. Be sure to use free of water adhesives when gluing solid hardwood floor to a concrete.

INSTALLATION

Make sure to keep the appropriate temperature of 18-20C0 and 50-60% of humidity during all course of the installation process.

Gluing down. This is the only option to install wide-plank wood flooring directly over concrete slab. Also this method is optional for installing over plywood. Concrete must be prepared as mentioned above. Depending on adhesive specification basement priming may be required. Remember to use only free of water adhesive when gluing wood floor over concrete slab. Correct installation may vary depending on adhesive used. Please check the adhesive manual to avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Nailing down. Preparation

• Using a chalk line, draw a guide line parallel 1.5 - 2 cm plus plank width of the starting wall considering the ~1.3 cm minimum expansion space between the wall and the first strip, and another ~6mm for the tongue. This guide line must be at a 90 degree angle to the adjacent wall. It is very important to start straight and square.
• Select the planks, for the first 3 rows, and lay them out on the floor in the general pattern in which they will be installed. The straightest planks should be used for these first three rows of floor.
• Always select your planks with care. Those with flaws must be recut.

Laying

1. Lay the tongue edge of the plank on the guide line, leaving a 1.3cm minimum space for expansion between the groove edge and the starting wall. This expansion space will allow the wood to expand freely. The baseboard or molding, nailed to the wall, should cover the expansion space, once the job is done.
2. The first row must be secured to the floor using woodscrew. Drill holes at 45 degree of the plank at the tounge top edge deep through plywood at every 20-25 cm apart. These holes will make it easier to screw the nails and to avoid damaging the strip. Next, secure the plank in place using a drill.
3. Measure and cut the strip the required length to finish the first row. The remaining section should be used to start the second row, in order to minimize cutting waste. The plank selected for completing the first row must be long enough to yield a remaining section of adequate length. Leave 10 mm between the wall and the end of each strip in each row.
4. Start the second row with a plank of at least 15 cm shorter or longer than the plank used in the first row. This will avoid aligning or clustering the end joints. Set the plank in place, drill a hole on the tongue edge at a 45 degree angle at every 20 to 25 cm apart, then using drill, secure it in place.
5. Continue the laying process until the room is complete. Do not forget to carefully cut the last row to leave a 1,5-2 cm expansion gap between the wall and the last plank.
6. Leave planks for at least a 4-5 days before applying preferable finish. Protect unfinished planks from dust and dirt during this time.

 
Helpful tips:

1. Do not install this product below ground level.
2. Lay out several cartons to make sure of quality and grading.
3. lay flooring perpendicular to the direction of floor joists.
4. Using shorter pieces at undercut door jams will help when fitting flooring into place

MAINTENANCE

Unfinished or prefinished hardwood floors finished with Bona lacquer are very easily maintained. Simply use any floor cleaner and flooring mop. Sweep your floors to remove any particles that could scratch your floor. Apply the cleaner directly to mop, not the floor. Using back and forth motion sweep the floor.

Useful tips

1. Vacuum or sweep regularly
2. Use a felt protector inder heavy pieces of furniture
3. Do not wet or damp mop your wood floors, water can cause damage to your flooring
4. The sun's UV rays can change the colour of the flooring