Laying Instruction – Click System
PLEASE REMEMBER:
Carefully read these instructions before you start work. Check whether the floor panels are undamaged and fault-free, since the guarantee only applies to hidden defects.Important note: Place the material in the room in which the installation is to be done, without opening the packing, and allow it to acclimatise for at least 48 hours. The material should be placed flat on the floor in the horizontal position, at a distance of at least 50cm from the wall.
The floor panels have a groove and a tongue all round that enables the floor panels to be fitted into each other mechanically. The only tool that you need is a hammer, a fine-toothed saw, a folding ruler, a tensioning wire (cord) along the length of the room, a set square, and a click installation set that consists of a click stop block, a stop iron and spacer blocks.
STORAGE
The room in which you will be installing the floor panels should be dry. In case of new buildings, wait until the concrete floor if any is dry. The floor panels should be installed at a room temperature of at least 16oC and a maximum of 25oC. The relative air humidity in the room, to be measured using a hygrometer, should not be less than 40% and not exceed 65%. The humidity should also remain within these limits during and after the installation. If the floor panels are going to be stored (in packing) for long periods of time, such storage should always be at room temperature. The storage space should have an average relative humidity not exceeding 65%. The floor panels should not be stored in a room with a high level of humidity.
BEFORE STARING INSTALLATION
SUBFLOOR
CONCRETE SUBFLOORS
WOODEN SUBFLOOR
UNDER-FLOOR HEATING
REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO NOISE REDUCTION
LAYING INSTRUCTIONS: FLOATING OF CLICK ENGINEERED PLANK WOODFLOORING WITHOUT USING GLUE.
The click-fit profile has been developed so that it can e installed in 2 ways, namely: The tongue and groove maybe interlocked together by turning, or horizontally joined with a hammer and stop block. Both methods have been described separately in point A and B of the laying instructions.
The click floor panels have a ‘floating’ installation. Only the tongue and the groove are mechanically fixed with the click profile. If the humidity level and temperature change, the floor may shrink or expand to some extent. For this reason, a play of 15mm should be maintained with respect to all fixed boundaries such as: walls, thresholds, columns and central heating pipes.
Movement joints should be installed if floors are more than 12m long or more than 6m wide, as well as near door opening, between rooms, at turns in passages, etc. These movement joints may be finished using specially developed dilation joint profiles. There should be an offset of at least 40cm between the top ends of the floor panels in consecutive rows.
There should be an offset of at least 40cm between the top ends of the floor panels in consecutive rows.
- You may start installing the underlayment after levelling uneven areas in the floor if any. Soft underlay should not be more than 3mm thick.
- After fully installing the underlay you may start installing the floor panels in the left corner of the room, with the tooth of the floor panel against the wall. First calculate the number of tracks that you will be laying. You will obtain best results if the first and the last track are of approximately the same width.
- An expansion joint of around 15mm should be installed all around the floor. Place a spacer block at every 60cm. These blocks should be removed after the floor is installed. Now place the second floor panel, and so on, until the installation of the first row of floor panels is completed. Now check whether the first row is fully straight by tensioning a rope along the length.
- If the wall is not fully straight, you should transfer the unevenness to the floor panels. This may be done using a spacer with a lead pencil. After the floor panels have been marked out, saw the same as required so that the recesses, etc.., fit together. Keep in mind the expansion joint. Use a fine-toothed saw for the purpose.
A: HORIZONTALLY FIT THE SAME INTO EACH OTHER USING A HAMMER AND STOP BLOCK
- Install the first row of floor panels, starting with the tongue toward the wall. Always work from left to right. The floor panels will be placed headfirst in the groove of the installed floor panels. Using the click stop block.
- In the second row, start with the remaining part of the first row. This part however must be at least 40cm in length, so as to ensure that the floor has optimum stability and also to ensure minimum loss of material. Place the part with the tongue in the groove of the already installed floor panel in row 1, at an angle of 20-30o, by slightly turning it up and down while simultaneously pushing forwards. Now lightly press down the floor panel.
- The tongue on the long side of the next floor panel should first be passed into the groove of the previous row. Push the floor panels as tightly as possible against the head side of the installed floor panel and then horizontally press it down, and then join the head sides together horizontally using the click stop block and hammer. Continue in this manner to install all the floor panels.
- While sawing the longitudinal sides of the last row, keep in mind the expansion joint of 15mm.
B: INTERLOCKING OF THE TONGUE AND THE GROOVE BY TURNING
- Install the first row of floor panels, starting with the tongue toward the wall. Saw off the tongue of the parquet floor panel. Always work from left to right. The floor panels will be fixed to each other at the top by turning the tongue of the floor panel into the groove of the installed floor panel at an angle of 20-30o, gently pushing forwards at the same time. Then slowly push down the floor panel until the pieces are flat and firmly fixed in place.
- In the second row, start with the remaining part of the first row. This part must however by at least 40cm in length, so as to ensure that the floor has optimum stability and also causes the minimum loss of material. Place the part with the tongue in the groove of the already installed floor panel in row 1 at an angle of 20-300 by slightly turning it up and down while simultaneously pushing forwards. Then lightly press down the floor panel until is reasonably fixed in place in a diagonal position at an angle of around 200.\
- You may now install the next floor panel. Start with the head side at an angle of 200, and also place the part as closely as possible to the long side of the previous row. When the head side is fixed in place, press the tooth of the long side into the groove of the previous row until the floor panel is reasonable well fie diagonally, at an angle of around 20o, and complete the entire row in this manner.
- Now gently press down the entire row. While doing this, push forwards until the components click into each other, lie flat, and fixed firmly in place. Continue in this manner to install al the floor panels
- While fitting the last row of floor panels, lay the floor panels with the decorative side down with the groove against the wall. Now make the required markings and cut with the saw. Also keep in mind the prescribed expansion joint of 15mm, and that the floor should be free all round. If it is not possible to place the floor panels in the last row, place them as close as possible to the parts of the second-last row, one by one. Then push in the long side with a pulling tool and hammer. The head sides will be pushed into each other using the stop block or the pulling tool and hammer.
AFTER INSTALLATION
You may start using the “click” floor immediately after installation. You may now start finishing operations on the floor. The spacer block should be removed immediately. You may also start installing the skirting boards. In the case of pre-oiled floors, it is advisable to apply maintenance oil to the floor after installation.
MAINTENANCE
Good maintenance will increase the life of your floor. For proper maintenance, we refer you to your sales point. Protect your floor by placing a good floor mat near the door in order to prevent the entry of sand. We also advise you to protect your furniture and chair feet with felt pads.
GUARANTEE
This engineered floor has been manufactured with due care. If however, hidden material and/or manufacturing defects appear within 10 years of the date of purchase, you may contact you sales point on presentation of you payment receipt.
CANCELLATION OF GUARANTEE:
The guarantee will not apply in case of damage due to improper use, falling objects, entry of sand and/or processing with a sharp object. If the floor is installed in a damp room. In case of rough and/or improper use. The guarantee will also lapse in case of any other careless use of the product in question, if a defect in the product could have been detected even before processing.
Natural Choice
At TrueWood we understand that your floors should not only be beautiful and durable, but unique and affordable too. Have a look at our range to find the perfect floor for your home.
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Email: sales@truewood.co.za
Telephone: (021) 3000-002
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