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SOLID
FLOORING INSTALLATION
Installer / Owner Responsibility (VERY IMPORTANT)
INSTALLATION CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE of hardwood flooring,
subfloor, substrate, the jobsite itself (including the
ambient temperature and relative humidity at the time
of installation), and all impacting variables that may
affect a wood floor.
Somerset manufactures flooring, not finished floors;
the flooring installer must complete the finished product.
Many critical decisions must be made at the installation
site, and therefore are the sole responsibility of the
installer/owner. These include, but are not limited
to; proper storage and handling, complete evaluation
of site conditions including moisture testing of the
site and flooring, acclimation of flooring to proper
conditions, site preparation, flooring layout, milling,
grade and color, proper installation methods, and cleanup.
DO NOT INSTALL if there is any question as to acceptability
of site conditions or flooring.
Site Conditions, Handling, and Storage (NWFA Installation
Guidelines, Sec. I):
Somerset solid hardwood flooring may be installed above
or on grade, not below grade. Somerset floors should
be installed after all other construction that may affect
them is completed. All concrete, drywall, plumbing and
any other “wet work” should be thoroughly
cured. Factory finished flooring is finished woodwork,
handle carefully to avoid damage.
Keep flooring dry at all times. (6-9% m.c.). Record
flooring moisture content upon delivery and at time
of installation, and retain these records. Provide good
air circulation around pallets, and/or cartons. Do not
stack flooring cartons more than three layers high,
and maintain a flat stack. Acclimate Somerset Flooring
to normal living conditions; refer to NWFA Installation
Guidelines, Sec. I, Ch. 2 for further information..
HVAC must be in operation before, during, and after
installation (refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines,
Sec I, Ch. 1). A temperature of 70 degrees F +/- 10
degrees and a relative humidity between 35-55% is recommended.
Heating units and/or ductwork close to the flooring
or subfloor may cause “hot spots” which
must be eliminated prior to installation.
Radiant Heat: Wood flooring can be installed over radiant
heat as long as you understand radiant heat and how
it can impact wood flooring, what precautions to take,
and what type of wood flooring to use. As these precautions
and installation methods are very detailed, please consult
NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec. IV, Appendix H for
details. Problems typically associated with radiant
heat systems are excluded from coverage under the Somerset
warranty. In general, only 2-1/4" solid hardwood
of very dimensionally stable species should be considered
for use over radiant heat.
Moisture conditions are the most important factor in
the success or failure of any flooring installation.
Confirm proper drainage exists around the structure.
In crawl spaces, exposed earth must be fully covered
with minimum 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Crawl space
vents must be open at all times, and must equal at least
1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space.
Basements must be dry and remain dry.
Subfloor Types And Conditions (NWFA Installation Guidelines,
Sec II):
General:
Subfloors must be clean, dry, flat (within 3/16” in
10’), and structurally sound. Correct any joints
or areas that are not flat. Securely fasten any loose
boards or panels.
Wood: (refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec.
II, Ch. 4)
CD Exposure 1 plywood and OSB Exposure 1 subfloor panels
are appropriate subfloor materials (grade stamped US
PS1-95). Solid board subfloors should be 1" x 6" nominal,
Group 1 dense softwoods, #2 Common, KD. Minimum single
layer subfloor thickness is 5/8” on 16” o.c.
joists or 3/4" on 19.2” o.c. joists. The
flooring must run perpendicular to the floor joists,
or additional subfloor thickness is required.
Hardwood flooring should be between 6 and 9% moisture
content, and the subfloor should be within 4% of flooring
m.c. (2% on 3" or wider flooring). In no case should
any wood moisture reading exceed 12%.
Concrete: (refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec.II,
Ch. 5 & 6)
Somerset solid hardwood flooring may be installed over
concrete subfloors; refer to NWFA for details on alternate
installation methods. Concrete must be tested for moisture.
NWFA Installation Guidelines, Section I, Ch. 3, Part
3 should be consulted carefully. Moisture barrier and
adhesive systems must be used correctly and must be
compatible with each other (check with the moisture
barrier/adhesive manufacturer for details). The stresses
inherent in solid hardwood flooring make it impossible
to guarantee perfectly straight pieces; this is not
considered a defect. Installation with adhesives therefore
may require a higher waste factor and/or alternative
methods of achieving tight joints.
Installation (NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec. III,
Ch. 9)
Preparation
Allow 3/4” expansion space between the wood flooring
and any walls or other obstructions. Undercut door jambs,
casings, drywall, etc. Over the subfloor, install a
layer of #15 building felt (or equivalent perm rating),
overlapped 4” at the seams. See NWFA, Sec. I,
Ch. 3, Part 2-A for more detail on acceptable moisture
barriers.
Layout
The best appearance is usually achieved by installing
parallel to the length of the room, but always install
perpendicular to the floor joists unless special subfloor
conditions are met (see wood subfloors). While each
job is unique, it is critical to establish a primary
working line for the entire job (usually through the
longest continuous area to be installed) and reference
all flooring layout from that line. Always rack out
the flooring before installing to avoid clustered end
joints and repeating patterns. Work simultaneously from
several cartons to achieve good color distribution.
Fastening
Use caution to avoid edge and face damage during installation.
Special footer plates are available for flooring tools
to protect factory finished flooring faces and edges.
Use backer boards of 1/2” plywood ripped to an
appropriate width to establish straight lines. Backer
boards should be secured to the subfloor and carefully
aligned with starter lines.
Use flooring fasteners (cleat or staple) minimum 1-1/2” (avoid
conflict with concrete under subfloors and radiant heat
systems). Air pressure should be regulated so the fastener
seats properly, but does not split the tongue or wood
below it. Nailing schedule is standard NOFMA, for strip
8-10”, 1-3” from end joints, for plank 8”.
Refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec IV, Appendix
F.
Face nail only as required with 7d or 8d finish nails
or cleats, 1/2” from the groove, pre-drilling
the nail holes to prevent splitting. Nailing schedule
is the same as with blind fasteners (above). Face nails
should be countersunk and covered by molding or properly
filled.
Adhesive/fastener Installation:
On wider width planks (4” and wider), combining
adhesives and fasteners is an option to minimize flooring
movement after installation. Underlayment paper must
be omitted when using adhesives. Use a quality hardwood
flooring adhesive recommended by the adhesive manufacturer
for solid hardwood installations.
Follow all practices recommended by the adhesive manufacturer
including vapor barrier systems, adhesive temperature,
room temperature and humidity, proper ventilation, spread
rate, open time, safety procedures and equipment, cleanup
and cure time. Avoid allowing adhesive residue to dry
on the face of the flooring. Special cleaners are available
(from the adhesive manufacturer) to remove any residue.
Finishing Touches
Somerset offers five standard molding profiles factory
finished to blend with your Somerset wood floor. These
moldings will address most trim and transition situations
quickly and cost effectively, and should be ordered
with the flooring to avoid needless delays in closing.
Fill any nail holes or small cracks with the proper
filler (Somerset Touch-Up Kits are available). Leave
the touch up kit with your customer for their use as
needed.
Clean the floor thoroughly and remove all scraps and
debris. Some solvents may attack the finish, so test
any cleaner for finish compatibility before using it
on installed flooring. Leave care and maintenance information
for the consumer. A Somerset floor care kit makes a
good closing gift, and starts them on the right maintenance
program.
Applying additional finish over the factory finish
may cause problems and does not improve durability or
seal the joints. Any finish materials used that are
not recommended by Somerset Hardwood Flooring will void
your warranty.
If you have installation questions, contact Somerset,
your Somerset distributor, or the National Wood Flooring
Association (www.nwfa.org).
SOMERSET HARDWOOD FLOORING
P.O. BOX 1355
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY 42502
NO WARRANTIES APPLY TO ANY PRODUCTS NOT
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN SOMERSET’S WRITTEN
WARRANTY DOCUMENT.
THE FULL WARRANTY DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE
AT www.somersetfloors.com
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