owner/installer responsibilty
Contents
1. To determine the suitable moisture content for installation please use the equilibrium moisture chart provided below Grayed area represents the ideal moisture content for the wood to perform normally Moisture tests should be completed before and after the flooring has been installed Please refer to the National Wood Flooring Association s Installation Guidelines for additional information and instructions on the required moisture content for your specific region This information can be found in the National Wood Flooring Association s Technical Publication No A100 Water and Wood How Moisture Affects Wood You can reach the National Wood Flooring Association at 1 800 422 4556 Equilibrium Moisture Content Chart Temp F Relative Humidity Percent 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 8 90 95 98 30 4 26 3 7 46 55 63 71 79 87 95 104 11 3 124 135 149 165 185 21 0 243 26 9 40 4 26 3 7 46 55 63 71 79 87 95 104 11 3 124 135 149 165 185 21 0 243 26 9 50 4 26 3 7 46 55 63 71 79 87 95 104 11 3 124 13 5 149 165 184 21 0 243 26 9 60 3 25 36 46 54 62 70 78 86 94 10 2 11 1 12 1 133 146 16 2 182 20 7 24 1 26 8 70 3 25 35 45 54 62 69 77 85 92 10 1 11 0 120 13 1 144 160 17 9 20 5 23 9 26 6 80 3 24 35 44 53 61 68 76 83 91 99 10 8 11 7 12 9 14 2 15 7 177 20 2 23 6 26 3 90 2 23 34 43 51 59 67 74 81 89 97 105 11 5 12 6 13 9 154 17 3 19 8 23 3 26 0 100 12 23 33 42 50 58 65 72 79 87 95 10 3 11 2 12 3 13 6 25 1 17 0 19 5 22 92. 4 space between panel edges as well as laying the panels in a brick pattern perpendicular to the direction of the finished floor Ground level of the raised foundation sub floor is strongly recommended to be completely covered with an industry approved moisture vapor retarding system such as 1 layer of 15 Ib or 30 b tar saturated felt paper or an asphalt laminated paper meeting UU B 790a Grade B Type I Style la CDX plywood when properly installed over the surface of a concrete lightweight slab following manufacturer industry standards is to be covered with an additional layer of 15 lb or 30 lb tar saturated felt paper or an asphalt laminated paper meeting UU B 790a Grade B I Style la Prior to nailing cleating stapling the manufacture to the surface of the sub straight IMPORTANT All Solid Flooring can be installed on and above grade only Note If any part of the soil surrounding the structure is 3 above the floor of any level consider that level below grade solid flooring cannot be installed over radiant heated sub floor systems solid flooring is designed for nail cleat or staple down applications Note With some exotic species stables may split the tongue When installing the flooring it is recommended to work out of 3 to 5 boxes at a time in order to achieve a more uniform color tone and grain appearance Verify that the delivered wood flooring has 6 to 9 moisture content and is free of defects
3. If it is not possible for the permanent HVAC system to be operating before during and after installation a temporary heating and humidification dehumidification system using electric heating units humidification dehumidifiers and industrial fans can enable the installation to proceed until the permanent HVAC system is operating Upon delivery check wood flooring moisture content with a moisture meter to establish a baseline for required acclimation Acclimate to manufacturer s recommendations or as necessary according to geographical locations Acclimation can be facilitated by breaking the floor units into small lots and or opening the packaging A common practice is to stack and sticker the flooring with 4 inch to 1 inch sticks between each layer of flooring to allow air circulation on all side of all boards However this common practice is not recommended for exotic species due to the perceive color changes and possible striping perpendicular to the direction of the grain once the stickers are removed Note Some manufacturers do not require acclimation for certain products prior to installation For solid strip flooring 3 inches wide or less when an industry approved moisture vapor retarder with a proper perm rating is installed between the flooring and the sub floor there should be no more than 4 percent moisture content difference between properly acclimated wood flooring and sub flooring materials taking into consideration
4. 3 Board width 5 inches The following calculation would apply 00369 x 3 x 5 055 inches In other words for every 3 percentage point increase in moisture content a 5 inch board will grow by more than 1 20 of an inch Over 10 boards that will equal over 1 2 inch of expansion something the installer will need to take into account although in actual practice the installation and fastening process will tend to restrain board movement somewhat THE PROCESS OF ACCLIMATION If the manufacturer recommends that the wood flooring be acclimated before installation proceed as follows First ensure that the building is enclosed Second ensure that the building is maintained at normal living conditions for temperature and humidity It does no good to acclimate flooring to interior conditions that are too moist or too dry or in any way significantly outside the range of conditions likely to be found in the building after the flooring is installed In fact it is counterproductive Where building codes allow permanent HVAC systems should be operating at least five days preceding installation to promote proper acclimation Where building codes do not allow for operation of the permanent system acclimation of the flooring must be completed with the temperature and humidity maintained at or near normal living conditions which generally fall between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and at the average yearly relative humidity for the area
5. Note that equilibrium moisture contents in the recommended temperature humidity range shaded area coincide with the 6 9 percent range within which most hardwood flooring is manufactured Although some movement can be expected even between 6 and 9 percent wood can expand and shrink more dramatically outside that range The moisture content of wood below the fiber saturation point is a function of both relative humidity and temperature in the surrounding air When wood is neither gaining nor losing moisture equilibrium moisture content EMC has been reached PROPER INSTALLATIOIN BY CALCULATING COEFFICIENTS OF CHANGE Proper installation depends not only on the moisture content of the wood and the environmental conditions at the time of installation but also on expected seasonal changes in temperature and humidity at the location changes that may cause the wood flooring to gain or lose moisture content over time Such changes are likely to occur even if the building occupants maintain interior environmental conditions through use of an HVAC system For example if a wood flooring installation takes place at a time of year when relative humidity is high it s likely that the wood flooring will lose moisture content and therefore shrink during low humidity seasons In that case the knowledgeable installer will install the flooring as tightly as possible thereby minimizing the expected and normal separations that will occur between boards as the boa
6. type of paint oil greases dust sealers release agents and all other types of residues The sub floor should be level in general however it MUST be flat to with in 3 16 over a 10 foot radius in any direction for glue down applications and 1 4 flat over a 10 foot radius in any direction for nail down applications If plywood is used as a sub floor the moisture content difference should be NO MORE than 4 between the engineered wood floor and the plywood and there should be NO MORE than a 2 difference between the solid plank wood floor and the plywood sub floor All plywood MUST BE EXTERIOR GRADE CDX and plywood size for sub floor is suggested to be standard 4 4 x 8 panels with an expansion gap of 1 4 between panels and staggered full sheets by 2 Also cross kerf the back of the plywood every 1 x 3 8 deep Please note plywood sub floor should run at 45 degree angle preferred or perpendicular to the direction of the finished wood floor ATTENTION ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING CANNOT BE DIRECTLY INSTALLED OVER A 1 X 6 SUB FLOOR THE NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION REQUIRES AN ADDITONAL LAYER OF 1 2 CDX EXTERIOR GRADE PLYWOOD BE PLACED SECURED TO THE SURFACE OF THE 1 X 6 SUB FLOOR FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Please note The manufacture recognizes the following vapor retarding systems to be used with our products MVP by Bostik Finley or tar 15lb tar saturated felt paper tar followed by 15lb tar satur
7. 25 6 ceeseccccocesocssocccoccsoccoseccooossoeceoocsoocosoceoooeooeoeooesooeosoceoooeooeoeooeseoeoeeceeoeeooeceooesooeosecesoosooeceeoesoecosecesoeeseeseeoesseeosecesoosssecceocsseessecesoeesseceooesseeosecesoesssesssoesse Chart taken from Wood Handbook Wood as an Engineering Material Agriculture Handbook 72 Forest Product Laboratory U S Department of Agriculture Required Tools and Accessories for Nail and Glue down Installations Please refer to the National Wood Flooring Association s Technical Publication NO A300 Tools Of The Trade What Contractors Need For Hardwood Flooring Installation Please refer to the partial list of tools commonly used for wood flooring installations Eye Protection Band Saw Level Straight Edge Vapor Retarding System Knee Pads Reciprocating Saw Calculator Trowel Respirator Table Saw Scrapers Adhesive Ear Plugs Jamb Saw Pry Bar Yellow Glue Moisture Meter Skill Saw Drill and Bits Adhesive Removers Nailing Machines Miter Saw Router and Bits Rags Nails Cleats and Staples Chalk Line Hammers Utility Knife Air Compressor and Hoses Stapler Chisels Trammel Points Jig Saw Squares Nail Sets Slip tongue Spline Pliers Nail Puller Screwdriver 3 M Blue Tape Tape Measure Extension Cord Vacuum Broom Trash Bags IMPORTANT Prior to installing SOLID Flooring materials must be tested for recommended moisture content Jobsite moisture content level should also be carefully metered and recorded daily during th
8. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOLID PRODUCTS Sub Floor Preparations The concrete sub floor must be dry 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Per the NWFA s recommendations the maximum generally allowable amount of moisture emissions as expressed by the calcium chloride test is 3 0 to 5 0 pounds per 1 000 sq ft of concrete surface per 24 hours at the time of installation Please follow ASTM standard 1869 4 which is the specific preparation application instructions for calcium chloride testing Another method to determine the presence of moisture in the concrete slab is by means of R H testing or relative humidity testing following ASTM standard F 2170 2 as well as F 710 The manufacture recommends the Wagner Rapid RH moisture testing process and procedures Note The manufacture still recommends the use of vapor retarding system when installing floor over concrete or raised foundation sub floor The concrete slab will usually take from 90 to 150 days to thoroughly dry depending on the size and thickness of the slab and weather conditions Please note before moisture testing begins the concrete slab must be a minimum of 30 days old If moisture testing begins before the minimum 30 day drying period the test results will more than likely be inaccurate and unreliable Do not install wood flooring if moisture levels exceed recommended levels But contact the technical department for recommendations The sub floor MUST be free from any
9. ated felt paper and tar Or a skim coat of tar and 6 mil polyethylene sheeting for the application over the surface of lightweight concrete slabs Note apply a single layer of 151b or 301b tar saturated felt paper or single layer asphalt laminated paper over raised foundation installations e For more information please refer to the NWFA Technical Service Manual INSTALLING HARDWOOD FLOORING or visit www nwfa org or call 1 800 422 4556 SOLID PRODUCTS Nail Down Installation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pre inspect your flooring to verify the proper product and color is being installed per manufacture s standards Always plan for 5 defect and or waste Verify that the delivered wood flooring is between 6 9 moisture content and free of defects Do not deliver wood flooring to the jobsite or install wood flooring until appropriate temperature and humidity conditions have been achieved For more information regarding acclimation please refer to our acclimation section Concrete slab should be tested per the instructions in Sub Floor Preparation Instructions And document all test results Please note The manufacture recommends the use of a moisture vapor retarding system for both our Engineered Wood Flooring and our Solid Wood Flooring regardless of sub floor type or grade level Crawl space should have a minimum clearance of 18 from top of soil to bottom of joist and the soil should be covered with 6 mil black polyethyle
10. crete slab that would result in perforating the moisture vapor retarding system the maximum allowable moisture emission rate cannot exceed 5 pounds per 1 000 sq ft per 24 hours As recommended by the NWFA the installation site should have a consistent room temperature of 60 to 80 degree Fahrenheit and a constant relative humidity level of 35 to 50 percent The structure should be fully enclosed with interior climate control operating for at least 5 days prior to installation Concrete slab will require a 90 to 150 day drying period depending on the size and depth of the slab and weather conditions In newly constructed buildings hardwood flooring should be one of the last items installed All work involving water or moisture should be completed prior to the delivering of wood flooring to the job site Also all doors and windows must be installed SUB FLOOR REQUIREMENTS The sub floor should be free from any type of paint oil greases dust sealers release agents and all other types of residues The flatness tolerance 1 4 over 10 foot radius must be maintained throughout the installation The moisture content between the plywood and the flooring solid flooring must not exceed 2 in difference between properly acclimated wood flooring and sub flooring The recommended plywood must be EXTERIOR grade CDX in 4 x 8 x panels and suggest cross kerfing the backs 3 8 deep every 1 foot when installing over a concrete slab and allowing 1
11. e installation process The homeowner must maintain the temperature and relative humidity level in the recommended ranges to ensure maximum performance ACCLIMATION Acclimation depends on geographic location interior climate control and time of the year The point of acclimating wood flooring before installation is to allow the moisture content of the wood to adjust to the installation site s normal living conditions that is the temperature and humidity conditions that will typically be experienced once the structure is occupied For site finished wood flooring it may also be more important to allow the flooring to acclimate to the controlled environment and to stabilize for a period of time one to three weeks after installation and before sanding and finishing The worst case scenario is one in which wood flooring is stored at the jobsite in an uncontrolled environment especially one that is subject to excessive moisture and humidity conditions It does no good at all in fact it is likely harmful to store wood flooring at the jobsite under conditions that don t reflect those normal environmental conditions Garage and exterior patios for example are not acceptable areas to store wood flooring Wood flooring is a hygroscopic material subject to dimensional change as a result of variations in moisture temperature and humidity in the surrounding environment That has led to increasing awareness of the need to acclimate wood f
12. late the expected dimensional change in wood flooring you will need to determine the current moisture content of the wood flooring using a moisture meter Then calculate the expected change in moisture content using the equilibrium moisture content chart above and the climate data for the location in which the flooring is to be installed Finally you will need to know the dimensional change coefficient of the species to be installed With that information in hand you will be able to perform a simple calculation that will tell how much the wood flooring is likely to expand or shrink That calculation multiples the change in moisture content by the change of coefficient multiplied by the width of the flooring boards Change coefficient x moisture content change x board width dimensional change For example let s say that the climate data for the location indicates that the maximum moisture content for the wood flooring will be 9 1 percent relative humidity of 50 percent and temperature of 80 degrees Let s also say that the wood flooring currently has a moisture content reading of 6 1 percent That means the wood is likely to experience a change in moisture content of 3 percent 9 7 6 1 from dry season to humid season In the example let s say that the wood flooring to be installed is 5 inch plank Red Oak Red Oak has a change coefficient of 00369 We now have the data we need Change coefficient 00369 Moisture content change
13. looring be careful to avoid H Patterns from developing ge 8 ix Important Allow at least 3 4 of expansion space at all wall and vertical obstructions Expansion space will be concealed using baseboard and quarter round trim Hardwood flooring will change in size according changes in temperature and relative humidity Insufficient expansion space can result in cupping buckling cracking and checking in the flooring The manufacture will not warrant any damages caused by improper installation
14. looring before installation Wood flooring simply needs to reach a moisture content level in equilibrium with the surrounding environment in which it will be installed at or near normal living conditions Always account for the time of year and geographic location COEFFICIENTS OF CHANGE HOW MOISTURE AFFECTS WOOD FLOORING Reference back to the EMC chart at 70 degrees Fahrenheit a relative humidity of 25 percent gives and EMC of 5 percent and a relative humidity of 75 percent gives and EMC of 14 percent A 50 percent variance in relative humidity produces an EMC change of 10 percent How that affects wood flooring depends on which species is being used However let s say the width variation is just 1 16 inch for a 2 4 inch board That s a full inch over 16 boards in a floor Over the width of a 10 foot wide floor that amounts to more than three inches of total expansion or contraction Protective coatings cannot prevent wood from gaining or losing moisture they merely slow the process Installers need to take those expected dimensional variations into account when installing the wood flooring WOOD S COMFORT ZONE As a general rule wood flooring will perform best when the interior environment is controlled to stay within a relative humidity range of 35 to 50 percent and a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit The chart above indicates the moisture content wood will likely have at any given combination of temperature and humidity
15. moisture tests with approved calibrated Moisture Meters All testing results must be carefully recorded and made available to the homeowner before any work begins Contractor installer should perform a pre installation job site evaluation The contractor installer should look for the following conditions Does the lot sit on alluvial plain If so is water run off directed away from the side of the building Does the roof gutter system direct water to a main drainage system that carries water away from the side of the building Is there adequate drainage around all landscape and hardscape to carry water away from the side of the building Check the surrounding concrete walkways and driveways for signs of efflorescence and or alga growth Check surrounding planters for over watering as well as make sure sprinklers are directing water spray away from the side of the building Per NWFA recommendations the maximum allowable amount of moisture emissions as expressed by the Calcium Chloride test is 3 0 to 5 0 pounds per 1 000 sq ft per 24 hours at the time of installation Please note It is generally recognized that when installing engineered wood flooring directly to the surface of a concrete slab without the use of an industry manufacture approved vapor retarding system the maximum allowable moisture emission rate cannot exceed 3 pounds per 1 000 sq ft per 24 hours And when installing an industry manufacturer approved sub floor CDX over the surface of a con
16. ne sheeting according to NWFA guidelines Also the ventilation should equal 1 5 of open venting per 1 000 sq ft of floor area strategically located to foster proper cross ventilation Snap a working line parallel to the starting wall in multiples of our solid plank width PLUS an expansion space of 3 4 to set up the baseline of installation Be careful to assure you do NOT end up with a width of less than 2 inches at the final opposing wall If so adjust by ripping down the width of the first row PREFINISHED 3 4 SOLID PLANK Please carefully review and understand this information completely prior to starting since improper installation will void the warranties OWNER INSTALLER RESPONSIBILTY Hardwood flooring is a beautiful product of nature which is characterized by distinctive variations in grain and color These variations in color and grain should not be seen as flaws but embraced as nature showcases its beauty and uniqueness The manufacture is manufactured according to accepted industry standards which permit a defect tolerance of 5 The installer contractor assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality The flooring should be inspected before installation Carefully examine the flooring for color grade finish quality or any damage caused during transit before installing it The installer should use reasonable selectivity to cull out or cut off unacceptable pieces If the product is considered unacce
17. normal living conditions and equilibrium moisture content EMC For wide width 3 4 or wider solid flooring when an industry approved moisture vapor retarder with proper perm rating is installed between the flooring and the sub floor many industry professionals suggest a moisture content difference of no more than 2 percent between properly acclimated wood flooring and sub flooring materials with a 2 percent difference being the maximum For wide width flooring many industry professionals also suggest using an adhesive as an assist to mechanical fastening However the adhesive may not provide sufficient moisture protection to substitute for an industry approved moisture vapor retarder Also when an adhesive is applied over a moisture vapor retarder care should be taken to ensure that the adhesive and moisture vapor retarder are compatible with one another INSTALLING THE FLOOR Meter the moisture content level of the flooring again and make sure it has stabilized with the surrounding controlled environment based on 35 to 50 percent relative humidity and 60 to 80 Fahrenheit Please note an uncontrolled environment can lead to the following conditions Shrinkage gapping cupping buckling checking or splitting The manufacture will not warrant any damages caused by moisture related issues Before beginning the actual installation provide proper layout of flooring by working out of multiple boxes of material 3 to 5 is recommended in orde
18. ptable STOP DO NOT INSTALL THE FLOORING but contact the dealer immediately Prior to installation the installer must determine that the environment of the job site and the conditions are suitable to the material that s being installed The installer is responsible for determining the moisture emission rate of the concrete slab and or the moisture content of the CDX plywood sub floor as per the NWFA installation guidelines SECTION V Appendix AA Moisture Testing Procedures for Concrete Slabs specifically the Calcium Chloride test and Appendix AB Moisture Testing for Wood All test results must be carefully documented and made available to the home owner The manufacture declines any responsibility for job failure from or associated with inappropriately or improperly prepared sub floors or job site environment deficiencies Homeowner should be aware of color variations graining ranges the effect of moisture on wood flooring the proper way in which to maintain wood floors and the effect of UV light on wood flooring especially exotic woods All products from the manufacture will change color over time The degree of change depends on the species and the amount of UV exposure Although wood usually darkens some planks might turn lighter in color JOB SITE INSPECTION AND PRE INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS Job site must be dry with no visible moisture To ensure the job site is ready for hardwood flooring installer must conduct necessary
19. r to achieve a more uniform color tone grain appearance and end joint distribution through out the installation Snap a working line approximately 1 foot away from the starting wall in multiples of the wood flooring width with an expansion space of minimum to set up the baseline of installation e Do not end up with a width of less than 2 inches at the final opposing wall If so adjust by ripping down the width of the first row For nail down installations the tongue should be facing the field and the grove facing the wall Next secure the first row by top nailing the board to the sub floor using small finish nails at their appropriate lengths This will depend upon if the flooring installation is on raised foundation or is on a wood sub floor secured to the surface of a concrete slab e When installing Solid Wood Flooring use adjustable pneumatic power nailer with 1 1 2 power cleats in 16 gauge or 4 x 1 1 2 crown staples when installing over a 3 4 minimum thickness CDX plywood sub floor over a concrete slab and 2 fasteners over raised foundations e Nailing schedule should be no less than 1 to 3 from the end and every 8 10 apart Each row must be nailed Note failure to follow the required nailing schedule can result in squeaky board floor syndrome When installing hardwood flooring off set end joints a minimum of 6 or greater apart to prevent repetition in pattern Also when installing adjacent rows of f
20. rds shrink during heating or other dry seasons Conversely if a wood flooring installation takes place during a time of year when humidity conditions are low it s likely that the wood flooring will gain moisture and therefore expand during more humid seasons In those cases a knowledgeable installer will incorporate additional expansion space throughout the floor through use of spacers How much expansion space to leave will depend on the expected changes in moisture content of the wood flooring and that will depend on the dimensional change coefficient of the species being installed and the width of the flooring as well as on the expected variations in temperature and humidity at the location Predicting temperature and humidity changes Installers may have a climate history for the areas in which they typically install wood flooring or climate data is also available from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service www weather gove and Weather Underground www wunderground com Calculating dimensional changes Different species of wood flooring exhibit different coefficients of change and therefore have different rates of dimensional stability That is some woods are more prone to expansion and shrinkage than other The National Wood Flooring Association s Technical Publication No A200 Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring lists dimensional change coefficients for several common wood species used in wood flooring To calcu
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