Installation Guide

WARNING: CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: This product can create wood dust and emit formaldehyde of which are known to the State of California to cause cancer.
CAUTION: ASBESTOS IN EXISTING FLOOR: Home Decorators Collection product does not contain asbestos. Existing installed resilient flooring and asphaltic adhesive may contain asbestos fillers or crystalline silica. Do not
sand, dry sweep, dry scrape, drill, saw, bead-blast, or mechanically chip or pulverize existing resilient flooring, backing, lining felt, asphaltic “cutback” adhesive or other adhesive. See “Recommended Work Practices for Removal
of Resilient Floor Coverings” (rfci.com) for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.
CAUTION: WOOD DUST: Sawing, sanding and machining this product can produce wood dust. It can cause respiratory, skin and eye irritation. Avoid prolonged exposure to wood dust. Power tools should be equipped with a dust
collector. If possible, perform wood dust generating activities outdoors. If high dust levels are encountered, use an appropriate NIOSH-designated dust mask.
SAFETY AND HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
Power tools can be dangerous. Operate in strict accordance to manufacturer’s operating instructions and safety precautions. Unsafe and improper use can cause serious injuries. Avoid inhalation and exposure to wood dust by
mechanical means and by wearing personal protective equipment. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes NIOSH or OSHA approved dust masks, safety goggles and work gloves.
WARRANTY
Our ooring products come with a Lifetime Structural (Residential) Warranty / Lifetime Residential Finish Manufacturer Warranty / Lifetime 10-Year Light Commercial Finish Warranty. The warranty applies to the original purchaser of
the ooring only and guarantees that the surface will not wear through or peel off for the duration of install. Installation of the product conrms your acceptance of the product. Failure to follow Pre-Installation and Installation
guidelines will void the manufacturer’s warranty. The warranty does not cover damage from improper use, care, maintenance or installation, including scratching, water-leak or ood damage, denting, telegraphing, fading, or
staining. Please review our warranty coverage information for specic terms and conditions.
PRE-INSTALLATION
OWNER/INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY
It is the Installer’s / Owner’s responsibility to ensure that the conditions are acceptable prior to the installation
of the ooring. The manufacturer declines any and all problems associated with the ooring that are related to
or attributed to improper jobsite conditions. Any splits, cracks, grain raising, checking, edge fracturing, splintering,
cupping, crowning/peaking, warping, twisting, expansion/contraction, telegraphing, buckling or chipping that
occurs during or after the oor has been installed and as a result of abuse, misuse, improper maintenance
or care, improper installation technique and improper environmental conditions are not covered under the
manufacturer’s warranty.
Prior to installation of any ooring, the installer must ensure that the jobsite and suboor meet the requirements
of these installation instructions. All necessary accessories, including trim, must be present at the jobsite prior
to beginning installation. The manufacturer is not responsible for ooring failure resulting from unsatisfactory
jobsite and/or suboor conditions.
When purchasing ooring, we recommend adding 5%-15% to actual square footage needed for cutting allowance
and to compensate for culled material. It is acceptable that up to 5% of the material be outside the range of
acceptance and not be considered defective.
It shall be the responsibility of the Installer to document installation date, product SKU and lot information, suboor
moisture content, site relative humidity and site temperature. This information must be documented by the
installer and a copy provided to the property owner to ensure product warranty coverage.
Failure to follow any and all of Home Decorators Collection recommended installation guidelines will void
warranty coverage.
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Concrete subfloors must:
□ Have minimum rated strength of 3000 psi.
□ Be level to within 1/8 in. in a 6 ft. span or 3/16 in. in a 10 ft. span; no bumps or low spots. High spots can be
removed by grinding; depressions can be filled with patching compound formulated for use in floor installation.
□ Be clean; no construction debris, soil, mud or any other objects should be on or adhering to the floor. If
necessary, scrape and sweep away before the installation. No protrusions of nails, debris or metals
should remain.
□ New concrete slab must cure for at least 60 days. It must have a minimum 10 mil polyethylene sheet
between the ground and the concrete.
□ Be free from moisture related conditions which can damage the installed flooring.
CONCRETE MOISTURE
Test all concrete subfloors for moisture content and document the results. Visual checks are not reliable.
Perform tests at locations around exterior doorways, near walls containing plumbing, near foundation walls
and in the center of the room. Minimum sample size is 3 samples per 1000 sq. ft. of area and one test for
every additional 1000 sq. ft. thereafter. Moisture content should meet one of the following criteria:
□ 4.5% when tested using Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter.
□ Less than 3 pounds per 1000 sq. ft. per 24 hours when using Calcium Chloride test (ASTM F1869).
□ 75% when using Relative Humidity Testing (ASTM F2170).
INSPECT THE FLOORING
Inspect material for color, nish, milling, texture and grade. Set aside pieces that may not be acceptable once
installed. A maximum of four boxes may be opened for inspection prior to installation. The oors have been
thoroughly inspected during the manufacturing process, but it is the responsibility of the installer/homeowner
to do nal inspection and cull out boards that are not acceptable before installation.
BLENDING OF CARTONS
To achieve a uniform appearance across the entire oor, we require that you open and work from a minimum
of four cartons at a time and lay out the ooring ahead of time. Be sure to mix the planks for the best aesthetic
appearance. Make certain the room is well lit to ensure color is consistent and that any visual defects can be
seen and removed prior to installation. “Racking the Floor” is essential to achieve a random appearance. Start
by cutting several boards in random lengths, differing the lengths by at least six inches. As you continue working
across the oor, remember to maintain a six-inch minimum space between the end joints. Randomly install
different lengths to avoid a patterned appearance. Never waste materials; the end cuts from starter rows should
be used at the opposite side of the room to complete rows or may be used to start the next row.
UNDERCUT DOOR CASINGS
Undercut all door casings 1/16” higher than the thickness of the ooring being installed. To do this, use a scrap
piece of ooring as a guide. Lay it on the substrate and cut the casing with a handsaw or use a power jamb saw
set at the correct height. Failure to undercut casings will result in automatic void in warranty coverage.
COORDINATING TRANSITION MOLDINGS
Always have all necessary transition moldings on site prior to beginning installation. Make sure all transitions
and moldings have been coordinated with planks that have similar color and graining. Set them aside for use
when a transitioning is necessary. The Vendor cannot be held liable for color variations that may exist between
ooring and coordinating trim accessories under any circumstances.
UNDERLAYMENT
Underlayment should be used in any oating installation and be no more than 3mm in thickness (cork products
up to ½”). We approve the use of 2-in-1 underlayments with attached poly-backings for moisture protection.
Foam, Cork, Rubber, EVA and similar underlayments are acceptable.
We require any installation of this oor that is installed in the oating method to use a T-Molding once the
installation has gone more than 35 feet in any single direction. Installations of the ooring beyond this distance
must use a T-Molding to release stress from the oor and allow the oating installation to properly expand and
contract. T-moldings are also required in narrow ooring areas 36” or less in width; oor areas interrupted by
wall sections extending out of the wall, including cabinets; oor areas which are not rectangular; and wall
openings with or without a door. L-shaped rooms or otherwise not rectangular rooms will require T-moldings
to split into rectangular sections. Failure to use appropriate T-moldings will void warranty coverage.
FLOOR PROTECTION DURING CONSTRUCTION
Always protect the surface of the installed ooring during construction. Cover the oor with quality rosin paper
or other paper that will allow the oor to breathe and secure it to the baseboards; never tape directly to ooring.
Do not use plastic or polyethylene sheeting to cover the oor. The ooring must be cleaned and completely free
of any and all debris to minimize damage.
If you have any questions regarding installation of ooring not addressed in our guidelines, please contact our
technical department.
STORAGE AND CONDITIONS
Do not store flooring in uncontrolled environmental conditions. For example, garages and exterior patios are not
acceptable areas to store flooring. Handle and unload flooring with care and store within the environmentally
controlled site in which it is expected to perform. Flooring stored on a concrete slab should be elevated at least
4 in. to allow air circulation under cartons.
EXISTING HOME
An existing home should have a consistent room temperature of 60°F-80°F and relative humidity (RH) of 35%-55%.
Continual deviation from these conditions will affect the dimensions of flooring. When using a heater during winter
months, humidity may be much lower than the acceptable range. A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess
shrinkage in flooring due to low humidity levels. During the warmer months, maintain humidity levels using an
air conditioner or dehumidifier, or by turning on your heating system periodically.
NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REMODEL
All work involving water, such as pouring basement concrete floors, drywall and plasterwork, plumbing, etc. must
be completed well in advance of the floor delivery. Ensure that the building is enclosed. Where building codes
allow, permanent heating and/or air conditioning systems should be operating at least five days preceding
installation and should be maintained during and after installation. If it is not possible for the permanent heating
and/or air conditioning system to be operating before, during and after installation, a temporary heating and/or
dehumidification system that simulates normal living (occupied) conditions can enable the installation to proceed
until the permanent heating and/or air conditioning system is fully operational. Your job site should have a
consistent temperature of 60°F-80°F and relative humidity (RH) of 35%-55%, which should be maintained
continuously thereafter.
BASEMENTS AND CRAWL SPACES
Concrete slab or ground must be dry. The ground in the crawl spaces must be completely covered using 6 mil
black polyethylene. Crawl space clearance between the earth and underside of joists should be no less than
18 in., and the perimeter vent area should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space or as
mandated by code.
MOISTURE BARRIER AND MOISTURE RETARDER
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
For floating installation, use 6 mil polyethylene film or other means with equivalent permeability. Overlap the edge
seams and tape them together. Extend moisture barrier up to the wall about 1 in. high.
WOOD SUBFLOOR
Use asphalt-saturated kraft paper or #15 or #30 felt that meets ASTM Standard D4869 or UU-B-790, Grade D.
Overlap along the edge seams 2 in.- 4 in. wide. This retards moisture movement from below. Extend the
moisture retarder to about 1 in. from the walls. Secure to the subfloor as necessary.
SOUND CONTROL UNDERLAYMENT
Check with the sound control manufacturer for application guidelines. Generally, the less compressive
underlayment is preferred.
EXPANSION GAP
An expansion space of ¼” must be left around the perimeter of the room and at all vertical obstructions. More or
less spacing may be needed depending on the geographical region, interior climate, and/or time of the year. Your
SPC ooring WILL move/shrink/expand. This is a normal occurrence of ooring products.
TRANSITION MOLDING
Floating installation, transition T-molding is required in the following cases: floor spanning greater than 35 ft. in
length or width; floor areas interrupted by wall sections extending out of the wall; floor areas which are not
rectangular; and wall openings with or without doors. L-shaped rooms or otherwise not rectangular rooms
require T-molding to split it into rectangular sections.
NOTE: Concrete moisture content may be acceptable the time of the test. These tests do not guarantee a
perpetual “dry” concrete slab. The concrete slab moisture content can vary at other times of the year.
We are not responsible for moisture-related damage to installed flooring.
LIGHT WEIGHT CONCRETE
Light weight concrete is concrete with a rated strength that is less than 3000 psi. Perform a quick check by
drawing a nail across the top; if it leaves an indentation, it is probably light concrete. For glue-down applications,
the concrete must possess shear strength greater than the glue. If concrete rated psi is unknown, contact the
adhesive manufacturer for guidance.
WOOD SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
The suboor should be clean. There should be no presence of construction debris, soil, mud, or any other objects
on or adhering to the oor. No protrusions of nails, debris, or metals should remain. If necessary, scrape and
sweep the subfloor before the installation. The subfloor must be structurally sound and stable. There should be
no movements or squeaks; no loose panels or loose nails; and no signs of ply de-lamination or other damages.
Repair all shortcomings before installation. The subfloor must be flat, with no visible bumps or low spots; the
subfloor should be flat to within 1/8 in. in 6 ft. span or 3/16 in. in 10 ft. Test for moisture using a reliable moisture
meter. Perform tests at locations around exterior doorways, near foundation walls, near walls containing plumbing
lines and in the center of the room. Measure 20 locations per 1000 sq. ft. Moisture content of the subfloor should
be less than 12%. Moisture content difference between the subfloor and flooring should be 2% or less.
PLYWOOD OR ORIENTED STRAND BOARD (OSB) SPECIFICATIONS
On truss / joist spacing of 16 in. (406 mm) O/C or less, the industry standard for single-panel subflooring is a
minimum 5/8 in. (19/32 in., 15.1 mm) CD Exposure 1 plywood subfloor panels (CD Exposure 1) or 23/32 in. OSB
Exposure 1 subfloor panels, 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheets. Expansion gap between panels should be 1/8 in. (3 mm). If panels
are not tongued and grooved and there is not sufficient spacing or spacing is inadequate, cut in the required
spacing with a circular saw. Do not cut in expansion space on tongue and groove panels.
PARTICLE BOARD OR FIBER BOARD
Only for floating installation.
EXISTING FLOORS
Installation over existing oor requires the installer to consider potential issues related to moisture damage,
adhesive failure and fastener failure. Contact the adhesive and fastener manufacturers respectively for their
specic instructions, recommendations and requirements.
Acceptable oor coverings include: Solid wood, linoleum (1 layer only), terrazzo, ceramic, and stone tile. Tiled
oors with grout lines will require a cementitious leveling compound to ll any grout lines, voids, or cracks.
Unacceptable oor coverings include: Carpet (any type), cushioned-back vinyl, laminates, and free-oating oors.
JOB SITE CONDITION
Prior to installation, the installer must ensure that at the time of installation, the job site conditions including
subfloor/substrate, ambient temperature and relative humidity, and all impacting variables will not negatively
affect the floor. The manufacturer will decline responsibility for damages associated with improper installation
or poor site conditions.
RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION AREA
This product is not suitable for any outside use, sunrooms/solariums, showers, saunas, seasonal porches, camping
trailers, boats, RVs or rooms that have a potential of ooding. Do not install in rooms or homes that are not
temperature controlled.
Exposure to long term direct sunlight can cause damage to your oor. Failure to properly shade or UV tint windows
can discolor, fade, or buckle vinyl planks. Use window treatments or UV tinting on windows. Vinyl planks are not
intended for use on stairs or vertical surfaces. Do not glue, nail, screw or fasten to substrate. Install cabinetry,
island and peninsula counters, vanities, tubs, and showers rst. Then install vinyl planks around them.
HOMEDEPOT.COM
Please contact 1-800-956-8538 for further assistance.
Installation Instructions
SPC Flooring
For Assistance, Call: 1-800-956-8538
www.HomeDepot.com
Product Description
Callahan Oak 5mm H x 7 3/16 in. W x 42 in. L
SPC Engineered Flooring (25.20 sq. ft.)
HD19007
Grade Levels
Above Grade / On Grade
Below Grade
Installation Method
Floating