INSTALLATION bamboo click
4-sided click system flooring
The standard operation for installation
- Before installation, make sure that the area to cover is dry, level, and clean, free from dirt, old adhesives, oil or grease.
- Open the packages, and lay out the flooring in the area in which it will be installed for at least 72 hours, to allow the floor to acclimatize to the surrounding environment and humidity. Avoid racking (opening) boxes of flooring on wet or rainy days, or if a high humidity condition exists. The heating and/or air conditioning systems should be functioning and on for at least 72 hours prior.
- Our hardwood flooring is designed with a 4-sided click system and can be installed on a wood sub flooring (plywood) or directly on concrete. Never use nails or glue when installing the flooring.
- An anti-moisture barrier is required before installation to protect the flooring from any underlying moisture. For an installation over concrete, we recommend a surface cover polyethylene film (6 ml) combined with a polypropylene foam underlayment, "Golden Select™". For an installation over wood sub flooring, use only the polypropylene foam "Golden Select™".
- Hardwood flooring can be installed successfully over a concrete slab, which is on-grade, or above grade. You must not proceed with the installation on a below grade concrete. The slab must be constructed properly (dry and flat with a trowel finish). New concrete is heavy with moisture, an inherent enemy of wood. Verify dryness, even if the slab has been in place over two years. Slabs should have less than 15% moisture.
- To start your first row, snap a chalk line parallel to your starting wall (usually the longest run). If the wall is not parallel, adjust the chalk-line to compensate at this time. Layout your first row of flooring along this line. (See picture #1-2) The tongue on the first row should be cut off to allow an expansion gap. 3/4" or even 1" spacing is required on the perimeter of the room when this room is larger than 15' wide. Base board and quarter round can be installed to fill out the gap. Between 2 separate rooms, or in a case of a sill doorstep, a molding is required as well. In extremely dry environments, the gap should be decreased to allow for shrinkage. The opposite should be done for very wet environments.
- After installing the first row, starting from the left hand side lay out the second row, tongue facing the groove of the first row, making sure that all seams are at least 6 inches apart. To install the second row, lift the board at a 45° angle to row one. Be sure tongue and groove is secured tightly against one another. (See picture #3) Tongue side against groove side, use a hammer with a wood tapping block and punch it lightly until the flooring closes tightly. To click the ends of the planks, use a hammer and tapping block as indicated on (See picture #4). In this order put together one row after another (See picture #5).
- The long grooved part of the floor, which is the last row next to the wall, should also be cut off to keep a space at the edge of the wall, as recommended above (See picture #7). The threshold between two adjacent rooms should be kept spaced as well, or with an expansion joint.
- When met with obstacles such as a post, wall or counter, keep at least 1" spacing between the flooring and the object. Make sure to follow this instruction carefully.
- Finish off your floor by installing baseboard moldings and quarter round that covers the gap left along the walls. It is very important to nail the quarter round on the baseboard and not on the floor, as this will stop the normal movement of the floor.
- The floor will float as it is connected together by the 4 -sided click system.
Usage and protection
Keep your flooring dry and clean, avoid using large quantities of water to clean your floor. Do not clean flooring with acid or any other caustic solvents, or ammonia. This will cause damage to the floor's coating. Clean the flooring with a soft cotton mop or cloth that contains a small amount of water and cleaner. Use a slightly dampened cloth/mop to remove any dirt or debris, never a fully wet cloth/mop. If water is spilled on the flooring, dry the flooring with a soft cloth as soon as possible.
