Premium Hardwood Floor Installation Instructions

Moisture and Humidity – PLEASE READ BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION

Room temperature and humidity of installation area should be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least a week before installation of wood flooring. Maintain a room temperature of 65 – 75°F and a humidity range of 35% – 65% during acclimatization, installation, and at all times afterward.

Warning: humidity levels below these recommended levels will likely cause movement in the flooring, including gapping between pieces and possible cupping and checking in the face.

James Hardwood Flooring cannot be held responsible for site conditions. Flooring formats, such as plywood based engineered wood flooring, are particularly susceptible to showing movement such as edge/end shrinking and face checking from relative humidity below the stated minimums on site and/or tip raising and subsequent shrinking if installed over a wet subfloor.

Subfloor Preparation:

• The subfloor must be completely dry. A new concrete slab will usually take 90 to 150 days to dry thoroughly depending on the size of slab and weather conditions. The moisture content difference should be no more than 4% between the engineered wood floor and concrete subfloor.
• If plywood is used as a subfloor, the moisture content difference should be no more than 4% between engineered wood floor and plywood subfloor. Plywood size for subfloor is suggested to be ¾” x 48” x 48” and leave ¼” between sheets for expansion.
• The subfloor must be free from any type of paint, oil, grease, dust, and all other types of residues.
• The subfloor should be level. The level drop must be no more than ¼” over a 10 foot distance.

Glue-down installation guidelines for PREMIUM ENGINEERED James Hardwood Flooring: (Recommended method of installation for both concrete and plywood subfloor)

• We recommend an acclimation period of 3 days for all of our engineered hardwood flooring products.
• Test subfloor before every installation (Please follow Subfloor Preparation instructions listed above).
• Apply a moisture barrier to slab. Bostik’s MVP is recommended.
• A Urethane based adhesive should be used exclusively. Bostik’s BEST® glue is recommended.
• Use Bostik’s Ultra-Set® SingleStep™ to protect against moisture and install in one application. Read the glue manufacturer’s instructions, which are always printed in detail on the glue container, to choose the correct size trowel
• Create a working line parallel to the starting wall in multiples of our engineered plank width to set up a baseline of installation.
• Following the spread rate and curing time, spread the glue evenly on the subfloor to cover the area so the installer can lay the planks in time to get the best results from the glue.
• Lay one row of plank along the entire length of work line. Add each additional row of flooring, watching the pattern repeat and offsetting or staggering the joints at least 6 inches.
• Leave a ½” expansion space around the perimeter
• Roll whole floor with a 150 lb. roller within 3-6 hours after installation
• Immediately cover finished areas with protective paper to prevent damage from the installation process

Nail-Down installation guidelines for PREMIUM ENGINEERED James Hardwood Flooring: (ONLY FOR PLYWOOD SUBFLOOR)

• We recommend an acclimation period of 3 days for all of our engineered hardwood flooring products.
• Apply a 15 lb. felt paper moisture barrier to the plywood subfloor with 6” overlaps before installing the new wood floor.
• Create a working line to the starting wall in multiples of our solid plank width.
• Install the first row of wood with the groove side towards the wall using top nails as necessary to hold the first row firm and in place. Adjust as necessary.
• Use adjustable pneumatic power hammer or nailing machine with 1 ½” – 2” nails as is required and make sure nailing foot is appropriate to the nails/staples used. To avoid damage to the tongue, be sure to adjust for proper pressure on the compressor.
• Add and adjust each additional row of wood planks, offset or stagger the end joints at least 6” to prevent repeating the pattern.
• Leave a ½” expansion space around the perimeter.
• Immediately cover finished areas with protective paper to prevent damage from the installation process

Floating installation guidelines for PREMIUM ENGINEERED James Hardwood Flooring: (Only James Hardwood Engineered floors may be floated)

• We recommend an acclimation period of 3 days for all of our engineered hardwood flooring products.
• Test subfloor before every installation (Please follow Subfloor Preparation instructions listed above)
• Apply a moisture barrier to the slab. SLC EP21 moisture barrier is recommended.
• After the moisture barrier has cured and dried, apply a floating floor poly-foam underlayment. Please follow manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Floating floors are probably one of the hardest installations to start as the boards want to move around you in the starting area. It is imperative that the first few rows be straight and gap free. Create a working line parallel to the starting wall, in multiples of our engineered plank width, to set up the baseline of installation.
• Apply a bead of adhesive all along the groove of each plank. Cal-Flor’s EuroBrond D3 Floating Floor Glue is recommended.
• Lay one row of plank along the entire length of work line. Add each additional row of flooring, watching the pattern repeat, and offsetting or staggering the joints at least 6 inches.
• Leave a ½” expansion space around the perimeter
• Immediately cover finished areas with protective paper to prevent damage from the installation process

NOTE: A floating floor installation method requires more cleanup as glue squeezes out of the tongue and groove when the boards are tapped into place. Measure the application along the groove carefully to avoid excess glue spillage. Excessive glue spillage will void the warranty of your James Hardwood floors. Immediate cleanup is required; any glue not cleaned within minutes will leave stain marks.

James Hardwood Flooring Installation Guidelines are intended to offer general guidance as it relates to James Hardwood Flooring and are NOT a replacement for a professional, certified installer. James Hardwood Flooring MUST be installed according to the National Wood Flooring Associations’s (NWFA) installation guidelines. The most current publication of the NWFA guidelines are available to NWFA members, and can be found at www.nwfa.org.

We implore you to always research products that you are using and adhere to their OWN recommended guidelines.