Installation Guide

Homedepot.com/lifeproof
Please contact 1-844-872-6546 ext.102 for further assistance
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
exposures 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.
OWNER/INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY
The owner is advised to be at home during the installation for consultation/direction. The owner and
installer should discuss installation and layout to maximize satisfaction. If this is not possible,
consultation should be done prior to installation. Installers should be familiar with installation guidelines
from National Wood Flooring Association (woodfloors.org). The owner/installer assumes all responsibility
for product quality of completed installation.
PERFORM PRE-INSTALL INSPECTION. OPEN UP TO 4 BOXES PRIOR TO INSTALLATION AND
EXAMINE COLOR, FINISH AND QUALITY OF EACH PLANK CAREFULLY. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED
WITH THE MATERIAL, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE RETAILER PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.
INSTALLATION OF THE FLOOR INDICATES THE OWNER’S ACCEPTANCE OF THE QUALITY OF THE
PRODUCT. BAMBOO IS A NATURAL PRODUCT, WHICH MAY LEAD TO COLOR VARIATION FROM
PLANK TO PLANK.
Prior to installation, arrange planks from several boxes to ensure even distribution of colors, shades and
characteristics in the installed flooring.
Purchase flooring to be installed in one large area at the same time. Product purchased at a later time
than the first purchase may vary beyond your expectations.
Accessories, trims and moldings are manufactured to coordinate with the varied appearances of the floor
planks. Any exact matches are coincidental. Non-matching accessories are not defective products.
This product is manufactured according to strict quality standards. In the event that defects are
discovered in the field, the industry standards permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. Order an
additional 5% extra for cutting wastage and grading allowances (10% for diagonal installations).
During installation, inspect the planks continuously. Defects that can be seen from a standing position
should be cut off or held out. Installing defective planks implies acceptance.
Squeaking and clicking noises are the result of interactions among flooring, joists and subfloors when
they move. Limiting the movements of the flooring system usually eliminates most of these noises.
Sometimes, it is impossible to eliminate them completely and minor squeaking or clicking noises are to
be accepted as normal flooring phenomenon.
Minor scratches can generally be repaired with the use of putty, stain or filler. It is an industry standard
practice of flooring installation and it should be accepted as normal by the home owner.
To assure the warranty is not inadvertently voided, before proceeding with any activity that is not
covered in this manual, please contact our Customer Support Team at 1-844-872-6546 ext.102.
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
Concrete subfloors must:
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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 and any other objects on or adhering to the fl
oor;
if necessary,scrape and sweep away before the installation; no protrusions of nails, debris, 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.
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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:
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5% when tested using Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter.
Less than 3 pounds per 1000 sq. ft. per 24 hours when using Calcium Chloride test (ASTMF1869).
75% when using Relative Humidity Testing (ASTMF-2170).
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WOOD SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS
The subfloor must be clean; no presence of construction debris, soil, mud and any other objects on or
adhering to the floor; 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; no movements or squeaks; no loose panels or loose
nails; no signs of ply de-lamination or other damages. Repair all shortcomings before installation.
The subfloor must be flat; 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 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 floor 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 specific instructions, recommendations and requirements.
Acceptable floor coveri
ngs include: solid hardwood, linoleum, terrazzo, ceramic tile and
other “moisture sealing floors.”
Unacceptable floor coverings include: carpet, needle punch felt, edge glued linoleum and
other “moisture absorbing flooring.”
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.
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,
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.
CAUTION: ASBESTOS IN EXISTING FLOOR: Lifeproof 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 detailedinformation and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures.
Safety and Health Precautions
Warranty
Pre-Installation
GENERAL TIPS
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Make sure your work area is well lit. Good visibility ensures that color is consistent and that visually defective planks are detected and removed.
The remainder of the last plank can be used as a starter board on the following rows.The minimum length of the first and last plank needs to be longer then the width of the material being installed.
Using a shorter piece at under cut door jams will help when fitting flooring in place.
Never hit the flooring directly with the tapping block and be careful not
to fracture floor tongue and groove.
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often the entire length of the last row will need to be cut so that it is narrow enough to fit the remaining space.
the distance between the floor face edge (exclude the tongue) to the wall. Subtract 1/4 in. from this measurement for expansion gap. Draw a line. Cut through the line.
CUTTING THE LAST ROW TO WIDTH
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Most
Measure
Discard the excess piece. Proceed with the installation.
Helpful Pointers
WARNING: This product can expose you to formaldehyde gas which is known to the State of Califonia to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
MANUFACTURER’S REQUIRED MINNESOTA DISCLOSURE -IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE: SOME OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS USED IN THIS HOME (OR THESE BUILDING MATERIALS) EMIT
FORMALDEHYDE. EYE, NOSE, AND THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHE, NAUSEA AND A VARIETY OF ASTHMA-LIKE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HAVE BEEN REPORTED ASA RESULT OF
FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE. ELDERLY PERSONS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, AS WELL AS ANYONE WITH A HISTORY OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIES, OR LUNG PROBLEMS, MAY BE ATGREATER RISK. RESEARCH IS CONTINUING
ON THE POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE. REDUCED VENTILATION MAY ALLOW FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE INDOOR AIR. HIGH
INDOOR TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY RAISE FORMALDEHYDELEVELS. WHEN A HOME IS TO BE LOCATED IN AREAS SUBJECT TO EXTREME SUMMER TEMPERATURES, AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM CANBE USED
TO CONTROL INDOOR TEMPERATURE LEVELS. OTHER MEANS OF CONTROLLED MECHANICAL VENTILATION CAN BE USED TO REDUCE LEVELS OF FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS.IF YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF FORMALDEHYDE, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
LPBSPC001
This flooring comes with Limited Warranties. The warranties apply to the original purchaser of the flooring for residential or commercial use and is not transferrable. For the warranties to be effective, the
flooring must be installed, cared, maintained, and placed in service conditions according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Limited Manufacturing Defect Warranty
The Manufacturer warrants the flooring in their original manufactured condition to be free from defects in material and workmanship, including milling, assembly, dimension, and grading for a period of one
year from the date of purchase.
Limited Lifetime Residential Wear Warranty
The Manufacturer warrants that for the duration of the service life of the flooring and under normal residential conditions and uses, the finish layer will not wear-through from foot traffic to the point of exposing
the bare wood layer of the flooring.
Limited Lifetime Residential Waterproof Warranty
The Manufacturer warrants that for as long as the flooring is in service, top surface water exposure from normal residential activities and uses will not damage the structural integrity of the flooring.
Limited Lifetime Residential Structural Integrity Warranty
The Manufacturer warrants that for as long as the flooring is in service, under normal residential conditions and uses, the cohesion between the layers of the product will remain intact, and the flooring will
remain stable.
For more detailed warranty terms, coverage and exclusions, please visit homedepot.com.
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. The
flooring is waterproof, but moisture from the subfloor can create mold and mildew.
BASEMENTS AND CRAWL SPACES
Concrete slab or ground must be dry. Ensure that crawl spaces have open vents year-round
for proper air circulation and prevent moisture build up. 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 of the 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 UNDERLAYMENT PADDING
CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
When installing on concrete slab, it will be necessary to use a moisture barrier to prevent
moisture migration. A plastic film with a minimum thickness of 6 mil should
be placed with a 4–6 in. (101.6–152 mm) overlapped seam, and taped with a suitable tape.
SOUND CONTROL UNDERLAYMENT
Not necessary. The floor planks have attached foam padding for sound mitigation.
EXPANSION GAP
Required gap width range is 1/4 in. It is required around the perimeter of the floor
and between floor and all vertical obstructions. Do not place permanently mounted structures
such as kitchen counter/cabinet on the installed floor.
TRANSITION MOLDING
Floating installation, transition T-molding is required in the following cases: floor spanning
greater than 40 feet in length or width; doorways or passageways 5 ft. wide or less.
Note: Floor areas interrupted by wall openings greater than 5 ft. wide, or interrupted by
wall sections extending out of the wall, or floor areas which are not rectangular may
experience buckling or gapping if there is excessive floor expansion or shrinkage.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS BASICS
Tape measure • Moisture meter (wood,
concrete or both) • Chalk line & chalk • Non
metal hammer • Electric power saw •
Carbide tipped saw blade for fine cut •
NIOSH-designated dust mask
• Hand saw or
jamb saw • Eye protection • Straight edge or
Spacers • Pry Bar • Mallet • Broom • Color
matched woo
d putty • Tapping block • Pull
bar • Painters tape • 100% silicon • PE
Foam Backer Rod
RADIANT HEATED SUBFLOOR
INSTALLATION ON RADIANT HEATED SUBFLOORS:
PREFINISHED OAK, ELM, MAPLE, OR BIRCH ARE APPROVED FOR USE ON RADIANT
HEAT APPLICATIONS. DO NOT USE AMERICAN CHERRY, HICKORY, OR ANY EXOTIC
SPECIES. WARRANTY WILL BE VOIDED IF ANYTHING OTHER THAN APPROVED
SPECIES IS USED.
RADIANT HEATING SYSTEMS USED MUST BE DESIGNED AND CONTROLLED
SPECIFICALLY FOR HARDWOOD FLOORING BY THE SYSTEM MANUFACTURER AND
MUST INCLUDE AN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE PROBE AND SURFACE TEMPERATURE
CONTROLS.
IMPORTANT: FLOATING METHOD ONLY OVER RADIANT HEAT.
Follow the below-grade instructions for underlayment requirements and installation instructions.
Most radiant heat installations call for these requirements when installing over radiant heat
systems. Always refer to the manufacturer of the radiant heating system for detailed instructions:
Use floating floor installation only. Do not use the glue down or staple installation method on
radiant heat flooring.
Oak, Maple, or Birch are approved for use on radiant heat applications. Do not use American
Cherry, Hickory, or any Exotic Species.
Warranty will be voided if anything other than approved species or installation method is
used.
The end consumer should be aware that there might be minor gapping between wood planks
during the heating season. This is a normal occurrence with hardwood flooring installed over
radiant heated systems.
Newly installed water-heated-radiant- heat systems should be operational for a minimum of 4
weeks with the temperature set between 64°-68°F to ensure a dry subfloor with the proper
moisture content.
Existing water- heated-radiant- heat systems must be operated in a temperature of 64°F for a
minimum of 4 days before installation of hardwood flooring.
A pressure test must be performed and documented before installation.
At the time of installation, sub-floor must be 64°-68°F.
Use floating floor installation only. Do not use the glue down installation method on radiant
heat flooring.
Use an adhesive approved by the system manufacturer for edge and end joints.
After installation, do not change the radiant heat settling for 48 hours.
Gradually increase the heat in 3 - 5° increments daily to adjust the heating system
temperature up or down to allow the flooring to adjust to the temperature changes.
The maximum temperature of subfloor under normal use should not exceed 85°F. (Check
with heat system manufacturer).
For correct water temperature inside heating pipes, check with manufacturer’s suggested
guidelines.
Heating pipes must be covered with 1-1/4 in. of concrete or minimum 1/8 in. below the bottom
side of plywood sub-floor. Also, for plywood sub-floor, heat transfer plates or insulation boards
must be under pipes.
Room temperature should be maintained between 60-80°F and not vary more than 15°F from
season to season.
Relative Humidity must be maintained in the range of 35-55% humidity in the home for radiant
heated rooms.
*Wood stability refers to predictable movement that can be expected in a given wood species
after installation once in service. Note that even when using an ideal species for radiant
applications, actual wood performance can still vary due to the radiant system construction, its
operation and installation techniques.
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Grade Levels
Above Grade / On Grade
Below Grade
Installation Instructions
For Assistance,
Call: 1-844-872-6546 ext.102
Homedepot.com/lifeproof
Installation Method
Floating
Warranty
Limited Lifetime
Residential Warranty
Product Description
Click Waterproof
Wood Flooring