SPC Flooring Installation Guide

Recommended Use

• Residential and light commercial applications
• Interior use in enclosed, climate controlled areas
• Wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms

General Information

• Always store and transport cartons flat
• Acclimate flooring and room at a constant temperature between 65°F and 85°F for 48 hours prior to, during and 48 hours after installation. Thereafter, maintain temperatures between 65°F and 85°F
• Mix planks from several different cartons to ensure a random appearance
• Inspect every plank for damage before installing it
• Always allow a 1/4” expansion gap around the entire perimeter of the room and at all fixtures and pipes. Cover the exposed edges with trim or fill the gap with a high quality silicone caulking
• SPC floors can be installed in rooms up to 40’ long x 40’ wide. Use T-moldings to reduce length or width if installing in areas larger than the 40’ continuously
• If installing SPC floors in multiple rooms it is highly recommended that T-moldings be used to separaterooms

Room Preparation

• Remove all furniture and appliances from the room(s)
• Remove wall and doorway trim unless you plan to use a base shoe molding (eg. quarter round)
• Undercut door jambs

Subfloor Recommendations

• Planks can be installed over a variety of subfloors including concrete on all grade levels, wood and many existing hard surface floors
• Subfloors must be clean, smooth, flat, solid and dry
• Do not install planks over floors that are sloped for drainage
• Any uneven areas greater than 3/16” in 10’ should be leveled with a Portland cement-based patching compound.
• SPC floors are resistant to water damage but they do not prevent the transmission of moisture. Care should be taken to keep moisture from collecting on either side of the floor to prevent the growth of mold and mildew
• Our warranties DO NOT cover any problems caused by inadequate substructures or improper installation of said substructures

Wood Subfloors

SPC planks are suitable for installation over double layer wood subfloors that are a minimum of 1” thick,or single layer subfloors constructed with APA rated Sturd-I-Floor panels, 23/32” or heavier. Joist spacingshould not exceed 19.2”. Set fasteners 1/32” below the subfloor surface, sand joints smooth and fill holes and gaps wider than 1/8” wide. Install suitable wood underlayment when necessary to achieve a flat orsolid surface. Wooden subfloors installed over a crawl space should have a moisture barrier installed in thecrawlspace with at least 18” of ground clearance. Crawl spaces should be dry and vented and meet local building codes.

Concrete Subfloors

New Construction

• A new concrete floor must dry at least 1 week per 1 cm (3/8”) thickness up to 4 cm (1-1/2”). Thicknesses over 4 cm(1-1/2”) require twice as much drying time. For example, a 6 cm (2-1/2”) concrete subfloor must dry for at least 8 weeks. The moisture content must be less than 2.5% (CM method) or less than 5 lbs/24 hour per 1000sqft (Calcium chloride method ASTM 1869)

Renovation

• Remove any damp-porous floor covering (carpet, needle felt, etc.) first
• Damp-sealed floor covering (PVC, linoleum, VCT, etc.) does not have to be removed

Existing Flooring

SPC planks can be installed over a variety of finished floor coverings including sheet vinyl, ceramic, marble and terrazzo. The surface of the existing floor must be in good condition and show no signs of excessive moisture. Level deep or wide grout lines with embossing leveler so it is flush with the tile surface. Do not install flooring over heavily cushioned floors.

Stair Cases

SPC floors should be installed on a staircase by adhering the planks directly to the subfloor. An appropriate strength adhesive should be used to glue the product and nails may be used to hold the planks in place during the glue set time. Underlay is not used on staircases and so the pre-attached underlay should be removed prior to installing the product on the stairs so that the adhesive bonds directly to the SPC core.

Radiant Heated Systems

SPC planks can be installed over in-floor radiant heating systems provided the subfloor surface does not exceed 85°F at any point. The initial floor temperature should not exceed 70°F for 24 hours prior to and 48 hours after installation. Thereafter the temperature should be gradually increased to the desired setting up to 85°F. Radiant heat systems must be operating for a minimum of 3 weeks prior to installationof the SPC floor.

Angle/angle Installation

Hold the new board at an angle of 20 to 30° to the previously installed board, and engage the tongue and groove joint at the butt-end of the boards. Move the new board gently up and down while exerting gentle pressure along the long side of the board. The long side joint will click into place, locking the joint. This is the easiest method for installation and should be used for most boards.

Angle/tap Installation

The new board is laid flat on the floor aligned to the previously installed board and, using a specially designed Unilin tapping block (available from your dealer) the boards are tapped together gently until the joint locks. Do not try to close the joint with a single hit on the block; use a series of light taps until the joint closes completely. It is important to avoid damaging the locking system. Broken locking systems are not covered under warranty. This method should only be used in situations where the Angle-In method is not feasible, or for tapping closed joints that have not locked completely.

Multi-Width products are designed to give a more random wood appearance. Each row must be completed with the same width board. There are no pattern restrictions how a multi-width product assembled. Typical install pattern is 3”-5”-7”; but you can also install 3”-3”-5”-5”-7”-7” or 7”-3” 5”-3”-7”-5”. Your imagination is the only restriction, but always make sure to properly engage the locking systems complete each row with the same width board. Open 1 or 2 packages of flooring and inspect boards to ensure there are no manufacturing defects. Remember, boards that have been installed will be deemed to have been inspected and accepted by the customer. Select your starting wall and check for straightness as described above. Decide in which direction you want to install (Floormonk can be installed left to right, or right to left). This manual will describe a left-to-right installation. Begin at the left hand end of the starting wall. Have a quantity of 3/8” (8mm) spacers handy. Begin with a full board. Saw off the tongue on both the long and short sides of the board, and place the board with the sawn butt end against the wall on the left, and the sawn long side facing the starting wall, but set out about two feet from the starting wall. Insert a spacer at the left end of the board and nudge the board against the wall.

Take a shorter board to begin the second row, and angle in to position against board 1, fitting together the long side joint. Place a spacer at the left hand end of the second board. Note: Lay a heavy object like a full box of Floormonk flooring on the end of the first two boards to help keep them in position while you continue the installation.Install board 3. Hold it at angle and fit the butt end joint into the end of board 2. Drop board 3 slightly to engage the butt joint, then lift board 2 & 3 together and move gently up and down while pressing forward until the long side joint of board 3 locks into board 1.

Take board 4 and saw off the tongue joint on the long side only. Hold it at angle and fit the butt end joint into the end of board 1. Drop board 4 slightly to engage the butt joint with board 1, then lift board 1 & 4 together and move gently up and down while pressing forward until the long side joint of board 4 locks into board 3. (Kneeling on board 3 while you do this will help hold everything in place.) Install board 5 in the same fashion as board 3. Install board 6 in the same fashion as board 4. Continue until you have completed two full rows. At the end of the row, cut boards to fit, but remember to leave expansion space at the end of the row as well.

To begin the third row, hold the first board at a 30° angle and insert the long side tongue into the long side groove of the previous row, then lower into place. Ensure the left hand edge is aligned with the previous row and put an expansion spacer between the left hand end of the board and the wall. Use the Angle-In installation method described above to install the rest of the boards to complete the row. Continue installing in this manner until you have completed three or four full rows. Insert a series of expansion spacers along the starting wall and slide the assembled flooring against the starting wall.

If a board cannot be angled into place – if it is under a door jamb or other obstacle, for example – use the flatinstallation method. Lay the board flat on the floor and, using a special Unilin tapping block and hammer, gently tapalong the edge until the joint is closed. Tap gently and repeatedly; do not use excessive force. To close a butt joint,use a series of light taps. To close a long side joint, tap gently and repeatedly along the entire length of the joint.

Continue with the installation throughout the rest of the room. When you get to the final row, measure the distance to the far wall and ‘rip’ a row of boards to fit the gap – remember to leave 3/8” (8mm) expansion space against the far wall.

That’s it! Your new Floormonk floor is installed! To finish the job, remove the expansion spacers. Install moldings, trim and transitions. Moldings and transitions must be affixed either to the subfloor or to the wall – never to the flooring itself.

Before you move furniture onto the floor, take a moment to protect your new floor by putting felt pads on all furniture and accessories. To learn more about care and maintenance of your Floormonk floor, please see the Product Warranty.

If the flooring was installed over a radiant heating system, when you turn the system back on bring the temperature of the system up gradually, in 5° increments. Never allow the surface temperature of the floor to exceed 82°F (28°C).