Installation Guide

4
Acclimation Process / Jobsite Conditions
Do not open boxes/bundles of Aspen Flooring hardwood flooring until the day of installation. Always
store boxes/bundles on a flat surface. Protect the boxes/bundles from moisture. The jobsite should have
a consistent room temperature between 60° and 80°F. The relative humidity should be maintained
between 35-55%, before, during and after installation. Do not open the boxes/bundles or take the
planks out until the wood floor is acclimated and ready to be installed. This process may take several
days. Room temperature and humidity level in the installation environment is a major part of the
acclimation process. The humidity level must stay within the required range during the life of the wood
floor.
Never have flooring material delivered to a jobsite that does not have doors and windows installed.
Also, all “wet work” i.e. painting, drywall, concrete, masonry, plumbing must be complete and dry
well in advance of delivery of hardwood flooring. Gutters and downspouts should be in place and the
exterior grade complete to allow for proper drainage of water away from the building’s exterior
perimeter. Flooring should not be exposed to extremes of humidity or moisture. Permanent HVAC
should be on and operational a minimum of 5 days prior to having the hardwood flooring delivered and
maintained between 60° and 80°F and a relative humidity of 35%- 55% prior to delivery, during, and
after installation of the flooring.
It is the installer/owner’s responsibility to ensure that the jobsite conditions and jobsite subfloor are
environmentally and structurally acceptable prior to the installation of any hardwood flooring. Aspen
Flooring declines any responsibility for failures or deficiencies of hardwood flooring resulting from or
related to sub-floor, subsurface, or job-site environmental conditions.
S ubfloors
Subfloors must be clean and free of dirt, curing compounds, sealers, drywall mud, paint, wax, grease,
urethane, or other materials that may affect the integrity of the flooring material or adhesives used to
install the flooring. All subfloors must be flat to a maximum height variation of 1/8” in a 6’ radius or
3/16” in a 10’ radius, dry, and structurally sound.
C oncrete Subfloors
Concrete slabs should be of high compressive strength and constructed to prevent groundwater from
permeating the concrete. All acceptable concrete slabs are those which have been cured for at least 30
days and have a minimum 6mil poly film moisture barrier between the ground and the concrete. 60
days cure time is preferred.
Acceptable moisture tests for concrete slabs include:
*Calcium Chloride test. A moisture transfer reading that exceeds 3lbs/1000 square feet with this test
requires the use of a warranted moisture barrier. Do not install Aspen Flooring hardwood flooring over
any slab that gives readings over 6lbs/1000 square feet.
*Tramex concrete moisture encounter meter. Moisture reading s hould not exceed 4.5 on the upper
scale.
*Relative Humidity probe test with a maximum reading of 75%.
*Perform at least three Calcium Chloride tests in different areas of the first 1000sf and one more
for each 1000sf after that.