Detailed Installation Steps

Before starting installation, it is important you read all instructions and warranty information. By starting installation of this product, you are agreeing that you have read and understand all installer/owner's requirements and responsibilities and are aware that deviating from the instructions and recommendations in this installation guide may result in voiding the product warranty.

Verify colour and finish before installation. Once the floor is installed, it is deemed to have been inspected, approved and accepted.

It is the sole responsibility of the installer/owner, prior to installation, to ensure that the planned installation area is suitable for WPC flooring and meets local building regulations. Confirm that all sub-flooring is dry, sound, flat and meets or exceeds all industry standards/local building regulations as well as the recommendations listed herein. The manufacturer accepts no responsibility for product failure extending from or related to failure to meet job area/environment and sub-flooring requirements.

The installer/owner assumes full responsibility for the final inspection of this product. Inspection should be done prior to installation and should include print, colour, texture, factory finish and locking system. If the product is not acceptable DO NOT INSTALL IT. Contact your supplier immediately for assistance. Flooring that has been installed will be deemed to have been inspected and quality accepted.

If you wish to install over a radiant heating system consult with the manufacturer of your radiant heating system to ensure that it is compatible with WPC flooring. Floor temperature must never exceed 26°C (79° F) and changes in the temperature settings must be gradual. Rapid temperature changes and/or excessive heat may damage the flooring and/or the finish. It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to confirm the suitability of the radiant heating system for use with this product. Any damage to the floor caused by the radiant heating system will not be covered by the product warranty.

Installation in areas of potential rapid temperature change (solariums, sun rooms, saunas etc.) may exceed the temperature limitations of the product and void the product warranty. Verify the temperature fluctuations prior to installation to determine if the area is suitable for WPC flooring.

Product is rated for indoor use only within the required temperature range. DO NOT install outdoors.

Tools Required

Safety Glasses, mitre saw, straight edge, chalk-line, tape measure, pry-bar, saw, spacers.

Pre-Installation

When calculating flooring square meterage requirements, allow a minimum of an additional 10% for cuts, waste and defects. If installing a diagonal or other special pattern, allow for 10% additional materials.

Acclimatise WPC flooring for a minimum of 48 hours. We recommend you leave the product in its original packaging until time of installation at a temperature of 20° C to 26° C (68° F to 79° F) in the area in which the flooring will be installed. Protect flooring from excessive heat/cold during storage.

Subfloor Requirements

All sub-floors must be clean, flat (smooth) and dry prior to installation, regardless of installation method. Floors installed over non-flat sub-floors may squeak and/or deflect when walked on. Sweep or vacuum your sub-floor immediately prior to installation ensuring there is no debris or grit, as it may interfere with installation. Please note that uneven subfloors may cause the flooring to unclick if a void is left where two boards meet.

Wooden subfloors - Recommended ¾" CDX plywood, OSB or boards must be flat, high or low areas exceeding 3/16" per 10' (5mm per 3mm) or 1/8" per 6' (3mm per 2mm) must be corrected. Sand down high areas, fill low areas. Nail or screw down any loose areas and replace any damaged sheathing (damaged, swollen or delaminating).

Concrete Subfloors - Most concrete sub-floors (slabs) are not flat (smooth) and must be levelled before installation. In all cases, verify the subfloor using a 10' long straight edge to locate high and low areas. Low areas should be filled with a self-levelling compound. The moisture content of the concrete subfloor should not exceed 5%.

DO NOT INSTALL WPC FLOORING OVER SOFT, ROUGH, NON-FLAT OR UNEVEN SURFACES.

General Tips:

It is always recommended to draw panels from a minimum of 3 different boxes during installation to ensure an even distribution of any minor colour variations and slight differences in embossing levels.

Verify locking profile prior to installing, checking for debris or damage. Clean, trim or discard any affected sections.

Click Floating - General Installation Information

For a click floating installation, follow the directives noted above regarding sub-floor preparation.

Floating installations may be made over most sub-floors including Plywood or OSB, ceramic/porcelain tile, smooth stone, marble, granite and linoleum. Do NOT install over carpet or any other soft flooring materials.

Important Note: For floating installations the maximum run in either direction is 30'(9m). Installation areas exceeding this require the use of a transition bar or T-bar. Begin by measuring the width of the room and divide the total width of the room by the width of the panel. Adjust the first-row width so you finish with at least half a width of a panel on the far wall.

Set up starting line for the first row by measuring the width of the (adjusted) panel. Add ¼" (6mm) to this number and mark the floor at each end of your starting wall, approximately 6" (150mm) away from the corners.

If you are carrying out a floating installation in a room over 30' (9m) wide and/or 30' (9m) long, you will need to install a T moulding mid-room to allow the floor to potentially expand or contract with seasonal changes in temperature.

Using a chalk line, carefully snap a line between these 2 points. Check to make sure there will be approximately ¼" (6mm) between the edge of your first row of panels and the wall. This space allows for any slight expansion of the WPC flooring and will be covered by the baseboard/ quarter round.

Lay out the first row of panels, the short tongue should be facing the wall. First panel should start ¼" (6mm) from opposite wall. We recommend you use temporary shims to keep the floor away from the wall, as the floor will shift during installation due to it being a floating floor. Place the shims every 2-3' (60-90cm) along the starting wall, plus at the end of each of the starting rows so panels do not shift when set in to place.

Assemble the end joints by inserting the tongue on the short side of the panel at an angle of approximately 25 degrees and lower into place. Continue in this manner until the first row is complete.

To start the second row, use the remainder of the last panel of the first row if it is longer than 12" (30cm) long; otherwise, cut a new panel in half and proceed. To ensure structural integrity of your floor it is mandatory to ALWAYS STAGGER THE END JOINTS FROM ROW TO ROW BY AT LEAST 8" (20cm).

Install one panel at a time so that the end with the large lip is exposed to receive the next plank. Using sacrificial cut piece with the profile that locks into the large lip end of the panel, gently tap on the sacrificial cut piece until the ends of the panels lock together and repeat for rest of row. DO NOT use too much force when tapping the panels together, as this may damage the locking profile. For final board in row, use a pry-bar to pull it tight and lock the end profiles. DO NOT strike directly on the locking profile to tap the panels together, as this may damage the locking profile.

In the case where you are unable to angle panels (e.g. under a door frame or radiator) you can cut away the locking edge of the lip of the bottom groove by using a utility knife. Run a bead of sealant on the now modified tongue and groove. Tighten the panels gently with the use of a pull bar and hammer.

If a door frame must be undercut, lay a panel of flooring next to the door frame with the patterned side facing down. Undercut the doorjamb with a saw, slide the flooring panel under the doorjamb with the patterned side facing upwards. Please note that the floor must be allowed to expand under the doorjamb and recommended expansion gap must be respected. Ensure there is a minimum ¼" (6mm) gap around the entire floor perimeter and any obstacles. Measure and cut the last panels to fit so that there is a minimum of ¼" (6mm) gap along the last wall. Remove all temporary shims, sweep & vacuum immediately.

Note: You must use a 'T' moulding transition strip between rooms. Failure to do so may cause damage to the floor and will void the warranty.