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Columbia Solid Hardwood Flooring
Installation Information
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Columbia Flooring ¾" Solid Hardwood Flooring
Installation Information
PLEASE NOTE: The following are offered as instructions
for the installation on Columbia solid ¾" flooring. There may be
some regional variations used by your installer that may be correct,
yet vary slightly from those below, e.g. the use of felt.
The patterns and color variations created in a living
tree are, like all of nature, never repeated. Remember that your newly
installed floor will vary from samples or pictures in brochures. One
cannot expect uniformity from hardwood. Expect instead all of a tree's
beautiful natural variations.
This product is manufactured in accordance with industry
standards, which permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. The defects
may be of any type, whether manufactured or natural.
Prior to installation, the installer must determine that the job site
conditions meet or exceed standards set forth for a proper installation.
Columbia will decline responsibility for situations associated with improper
installation or poor site conditions.
- The installer and homeowner should work together as final inspectors
of grade, manufacture, and factory finish. Pieces considered imperfect
should be used in hidden areas, closets or should be cut off and held
out of the floor. Any doubtful piece should not be used. Please note
the Columbia warranty does not cover labor for defects visible prior
to installation.
The use of putty, stain or filler available from Columbia through
your retailer should be accepted as normal
PRE-INSTALLATION
STORING AND HANDLING:
- Material should be stored on the job site for a
minimum of 72 hours before being installed. Open the cartons but
do not remove the product from the cartons. Make sure the thermostat
is set at a normal room temperature. The flooring is acclimated
and ready for installation when it has reached a moisture level
consistent with the job site and normal living conditions.
GENERAL INSPECTION
- All work involving water, such as pouring basement
concrete floors, drywall and plaster work, plumbing, etc. must
be completed well in advance of the floor delivery.
- We recommend three types of subfloors - plywood,
solid wood planks (1" x 6" or larger), or sleepers (2" x
4"). Each subfloor has separate installation instructions
as follows:
- PLYWOOD - The plywood should be either
5/8" or 3/4" thick. If the plywood is being laid
on joists, place it at right angles to the joists and leave
at least an 1/8" to 1/4" gap between each sheet
to allow for expansion.
- SOLID WOOD SUBFLOOR - Solid planks should
be nailed diagonally across the joists with a ¼" gap between
the boards.
- CONCRETE - There are several methods of installing
solid flooring over concrete. One method is to use 5/8" or
3/4" plywood. Fasten the plywood to the concrete using the
appropriate fasteners. Another way of laying the plywood on concrete
is to cut the plywood in 4' x 4' squares and lay it in mastic.
It is recommended that a vapor barrier be used prior to installation
of the floor, preferably, a 4-6 mil. Polyethylene film with enough
excess to be placed under the baseboards. A moisture barrier must
also be used with this method.
Another alternative would be to use "sleepers".
This method uses treated 2" x 4" lumber laid flat in asphalt
mastic every 12 inches at right angles to the finished floor. Overlap
or stagger the sleepers by at least 4' and make sure each one is
securely imbedded into the mastic. A polyethylene moisture barrier
is then laid over the sleepers. Be certain not to puncture or bunch
up the poly, or it will not create an effective vapor barrier. Nail
the flooring through the plastic into the sleepers.
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