Woodstock Hybrid Flooring Installation Instructions

Foreword:

The installer has a responsibility to properly inspect the following conditions before installing. If your flooring has issues with any of the following inspection points, they must be reported to the seller immediately. Failure to do so before installing may affect the warranty.

Quality – Ensure that the quality of the material is as you have requested.
Quantity – ensure that you have ordered and received the proper amount of flooring to complete your job.
Colour/Finish – Ensure that the material has the correct colour, finish, texture and gloss level you were expecting.

Tools and Materials Needed:

Tape Measure
Stringline
Triangle or Ruler
Utility Knife
Pencil
Spacers
Gloves
Rubber Mallet

Planning:

Before commencing laying, take time to plan the installation will be seen from the most. Consider the following:-

Place full planks in the areas of greatest traffic flow, and cuts in the least seen areas
Where possible, install planks parallel to the direction of light.
Consider the placement of expansion joints should spans exceed 20m in any direction.
Using string lines, square up a corner along the length and width of your room as a starting point.
Measure the area you plan to cover, and adjust your starting point or cut the first plank so you do end up requiring lengths less than 30cm or planks less than 5cm wide.

Acclimatisation:

There is no need to acclimatize your KREM SPC flooring, although many installers still like to leave the unopened boxes into the room into which they will be installed 24hours before laying. Boxes should be kept flat and not stored on their sides. KREM SPC is meant to be installed using a floating method only - Adhesive is not to be used.

Subfloor:

Make sure the installation area is flat and free of any form of debris, flat to within 4.8 mm in 3m and 0.8mm in 300mm. The sub-floor surface must be smooth, dry, clean and solid. If floor levelling compounds are used, they should be allowed to completely dry before installing the KREM SPC floor. If you are installing subfloor heating, it should be done at this stage as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Spacers:

Be sure to leave an expansion gap around all perimeters of the floor. Carefully remove all skirting's prior to laying floor. As a rule of thumb, allow a minimum of 1mm per 1 lineal metre for product expansion. This can be halved and placed either side of the project. Use a “spacer” to maintain the expansion gap between the planks and the walls.

Understanding the “Click” Mechanism:

The long side profile is primarily a positioning device, whereas the short side is a mechanical device. The long sides should be joined by inserting the “male” (short) edge into the “female” (longer edge) at a 15–20 degree angle and then lowering the board to the floor. The short edges are then brought together by sliding the board along the long edge until the short edges overlap, then the short edges are gently tapped into place until they click into position. DO NOT angle the short ends into each other as this may break the locking mechanism.

Laying the First Row:

Open a 5 – 10 cartons and mix and install product from several different cartons to achieve desirable plank variation. Place a spacer against the plank and the wall on both sides, and position the plank against the spacer. Installation should begin with a corner and proceed from the wall with the “female” tongue facing away from the wall. When laying the first row in a straight line interlock the short ends by placing short end of second plank over the short end of the preceding plank, making sure it is square to the preceding plank. Gently tap this down until you feel the locking mechanism “bite” (if you try to pull it apart you will feel it has locked up). Hot tip – lay first two rows at the same time. This keeps the joins of the first row totally square, and cast an eagle-eye over it to make sure it is in.

There should be no visible gap between planks. If seams do not appear tight between short ends, pull the planks apart by sliding immediately and try again. Employ the following steps to complete the first row:

Measure and mark the last plank the required distance to meet the end of the wall.
Click in place as per the rest of the planks.
Remember to allow for a spacer on the end of the row too.

Cutting:

Using the measuring tool and utility knife, score the face several passes using a speed square as a guide and snap off the end. Turn the plank over and score through the attached underlay. If you need to cut around a contoured edge (e.g. around plumbing),or around a doorway (L-shaped cut), create a template using a contour gauge. When cutting with a jig saw, turn decorative face turned down to eliminate / reduce damage to the face panel. If cutting using a hand saw, chop saw or guillotine cutter, cut it with the decorative face turned up.

Laying Subsequent Rows:

When installing our SPC, you have to stagger the rows so that the short edge seams are not in a straight uniform line. Starting the Second row, the first plank should be a min length of 30cm. Put a spacer against the wall, then lay down the first piece of the second row. Insert the long end of the plank at a 15-20 degree angle into the previous row and slowly return it flat to the floor, checking carefully that there is no gap between planks. Align the short ends so the short end of the new plank sits over the locking mechanism of the previous plank, then lightly tap it into place with a rubber mallet until the board clicks. Start the third row with the last plank remaining from the previous row.

Expansion Joints:

KREM SPC can be installed in runs in any direction of 20m before a transition joint is required. Should there be a run greater than 20m in any one direction, a 6.4mm transition piece should be installed as close to the middle of the project as an expansion joint in addition to the expansion gap around the perimeter of the project. Expansion joints should always be installed at all perimeters, against any vertical abutment, and against any change in flooring. Expansion joints must always be in a straight line – not stepped or staggered. If the flooring is installed in areas with sustained direct sunlight, then always ensure to leave a 12mm expansion gap between walls and fixtures, such as pipes and pillars, stairs, etc.

Finishing Up – Last Row:

The minimum width of the last plank should be NOT LESS than 50mm wide. Should the last row require you to cut “length” ways of the plank – use a measuring tool/ruler and utility knife to cut straight down the long end of the plank, taking into account the width of the spacer required up against the wall. Always undercut wood doorjambs. If you have metal door jambs, leave a gap for expansion and fill with siliconized caulk or similar flexible material. Spacers should be removed from the perimeter of the installation before reinstalling the skirtings or wall covering. Ensure the gap between the last plank and the wall is kept free from debris. Perimeters of the installation abutting tubs, toilet bowls, etc should be filled with siliconized caulk or similar compressible material.