Installation Instructions
STAPLE DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
ATTENTION
Inspect ALL materials carefully BEFORE installation. Warranties DO NOT cover
materials that are installed with visible defects.
It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site
subfloor and job site conditions are environmentally and structurally
acceptable for wood floor installation. Great Lakes Wood Floor declines any
responsibility for wood floor failure resulting from or connected with
subfloor, subsurface, job site damage or deficiencies after hardwood
flooring has been installed.
STAPLE DOWN INSTALLATION
TOOLS: 3/8 and 1/2 thick products can use a 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch 18 gauge
staple, 7/32 or 1/4 inch crown or 1 1/4 inch 20 gauge cleat. 9/16 and 5/8 thick
products can use a 1 1/2 inch 18 gauge staple. Cleat should be 1 3/4 inch 18
products.
gauge cleat. DO NOT use staples or nails intended for 3/4 inch solid flooring
New wood type subfloors should also be checked for moisture using a
moisture meter. In general wood or plywood subfloors should not exceed
14% moisture content, or 4% moisture content difference between
hardwood flooring and subfloor. Check with your local distributor for your
geographical variances.
SUBFLOOR:
5/8” minimum thickness, preferred 3/4” or thicker plywood installed
with long edges at a right angle to the 16” on center floor joists and
staggered so that the end joints in adjacent panels break over different
joists. Nail at each bearing with 6d threaded or 8d common nails spaced
10” on center along intermediate joists.
1” x 4” to 6” wide, square edge, kiln dried coniferous lumber,
laid
diagonally over 16” on center wooden joists. The ends of all boards are
to be cut parallel to the center of the joists for solid bearing. Face nail
each board solidly at every bearing on the joists with two nails (7d
threaded or 8d common).
Baseboards should be installed so that their lower edge is slightly above
the level of the finished floor, but not nailed into the finished floor.
Basement and crawl spaces must be dry and ventilated when plank or
strip flooring is to be installed over them. In crawl spaces a vapor barrier
should be provided. Black vapor barrier must be provided below subfloor
on the ground. (6 mil. black)
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Particle board of any thickness is NOT ALLOWED!
Adequate and proper nailing as well as soundness of the subfloor should
be ascertained. Foreign material shall be removed from the
subfloor surface and swept
clean.
The clean subfloor shall be covered wall to wall with 15lb. asphalt
saturated felt, Aquabar
®
B.Double the
felt around heat ducts that may be
in the floor.
General Staple Down Installation Instruction:
Time at which to install hardwood flooring: Lay only after sheetrock and
tile work are thoroughly dried and all but the woodwork and trim
have been completed. The building interior should have been dried and
seasoned and a comfortable working temperature (at least 60°F) should
exist during installation.
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Preparation of subfloor: Subfloor irregularities and undulation may cause
any wood flooring installation to develop hollow spots between the flooring
and subfloor. These hollow spots are NOT the result of any wood floor
manufacturing defect and are NOT covered by the Great Lakes Wood Floor
warranty.
Adequate and proper stapling as well as soundness of the subfloor
should be ascertained. Foreign material shall be removed from the
subfloor surface and swept clean.
The clean subfloor surface shall be covered, wall to wall, with 15 lb
asphalt saturated felt, SVS underlayment paper, or Aquabar B (NO ROSIN
PAPER). Butt the edges of this felt when positioning it.
Laying direction for plank flooring: Flooring should be laid at right angles
The floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time
to the floor joists and, if possible, in the direction of the longest
dimension of the room.
Note:
Normally, expansion space around the room should be the same
distance as the thickness of the hardwood flooring.
End joints should never be closer than 4” from each other.
Staple Engineered Plank Hardwood Flooring: The first and last row of
flooring should be face nailed and filled, as well as staples placed at Tongue.
Staple or Nail (cleat) each board along the tongue every 4 to 6 inches
apart and within 2 inches of each end joint. This should be done to the entire
floor
Notes:
To avoid movement in hardwood
floor relative humidity should be
maintained year round at 35-55%.
Temperature should be kept
between 68ºF-78ºF year round.
The use of putty to cover small cracks
or face nail holes should be
considered normal in hardwood
flooring installation.
Radiant Heat Subfloors (OAK ONLY) - See instructions on reverse page (Glue Down
Installation) or go to: www.great-lakes-flooring.myshopify.com
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FLOATING INSTALLATION
Engineered Flooring
Staple Down Installation
Trim pieces available from your
Great Lakes Wood Floor Distributor.
Proper location for Staple
Staple Down
GREAT LAKES WOOD FLOORS
1/2”
12.7mm
5/8”
15mm
3/8”
10mm
9/16”
14mm
to ensure color and shade mix.
not all, installations. If necessary, call your supplier for details or go to:
www.great-lakes-flooring.myshopify.com
GL-E-24
11//8/2016