If the following instructions leave any unanswered
questions or if additional information is required, please call
GreenFloors (703)691-1616. You must read and understand these instructions
completely before beginning installation.
Responsibility for the suitability of GreenFloors Floating Floors and
accompanying products for each individual installation cannot be assumed
by GreenFloors since GreenFloors, has no control over the installer's
proper application. Should an
individual plank be doubtful as to appearance or dimension the installer
should not use this piece. GreenFloors will send replacement in a
timely manner.
Cork is a natural product. Just like wood, cork
tile and plank will vary in shade or pattern definition. Also, while not
as prevalent as with wood, cork is subject to the normal behavior of minor
expansion during periods of high humidity and minor contraction during
periods of low humidity (usually the heating season). With cork, expansion
and contraction can be kept to unnoticeable levels by stabilizing the
building through temperature and humidity control, allowing for proper
acclimatization of the product prior to installation, and providing the
recommended expansion space mentioned below.
Installation of floating floor is not recommended in
bathrooms or any areas with high moisture concentration.
INSTALLATION ON CONCRETE
SUBSTRATE: GreenFloors Floating Floors can be installed over
concrete that is above grade, on grade or below grade. Concrete substrates
are required to be sound, smooth and level. Tolerance of level must be
within 1/8" in 10'. Check concrete slab for moisture with Calcium Chloride
moisture test. Moisture content cannot be more than 3 pounds per 1,000 sq.
ft. per 24 hours. Fill any low spots with Portland based leveler and
scrape any high spots. Before installing GreenFloors Floating Floors,
cover concrete floor with 6 mil polyethylene sheets, run up the wall 3”,
overlap seams 8", and tape the sheets together. Install plank over this
moisture barrier.
INSTALLATION ON
UNDERLAYMENT-GRADE PLYWOOD AND MAN-MADE BOARD SUBSTRATES: Subfloor
must be clean and level. Fill any low spots with appropriate filler and
sand any high spots. Tolerance of level must be within 1/8" in 10'.
Subfloor must not exceed 14% moisture content (electrical resistance
method). Check basements and under floor crawl spaces to be sure they are
dry and well ventilated to avoid damage to planks caused by moisture. For
buildings with crawl spaces, GreenFloors recommends use of 6 mil
polyethylene sheeting as ground cover over the earth.
IN-FLOOR RADIANT HEATING
SYSTEM: With radiant heat, heat source is directly beneath the
flooring, so flooring may gain moisture or dry out faster than in a home
with conventional heating system. For this installation, once slab has
cured, turn heat on, regardless of season, and leave it on for at least
5-6 days before installation. Maximum surface temperature should never be
more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).
GreenFloors FLOATING FLOOR
MUST BE ACCLIMATED: Store cork flooring out of the box at job site
for a minimum of 72 hours. During storage and installation, maintain
temperature and relative humidity to level consistent to the conditions
that will prevail when building is occupied. Heating or air conditioning
should be used for an appropriate length of time prior and during
installation. With improper acclimation, the floor could noticeably expand
or contract after installation. Ideal conditions are 68 temperature and
50-60% humidity.
NOTE: A run of
GreenFloors Floating Floor exceeding 30 feet in any direction will require
installation of an expansion joint. The same will be true when
transitioning from one room to another.
CLIC INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
CLIC is a revolutionary system for installing floating floors without
glue. CLIC uses an ingenious form of tongue & groove to “click” the planks
together. The CLIC system enables you to work 50% faster than similar
glued flooring, and because there is no glue, CLIC is much easier and
cleaner to work with.
Start installing the floor in one corner, preferably
parallel to the longest wall and following the direction the light falls.
It is equally possible to work from left to right or right to left.
Always insert the tongue into the groove, not the
other way around.
1. String Line: Choose
the longest wall that will be parallel to the plank floor. Tap a nail part
way into the old floor 1/2" from the wall at each end of the room. String
a line between the nails 3/4" above floor level. Use this string as a
guide-line for the first row of planks. The 1/2" space from the wall
allows room for expansion. Shuffle GreenFloors Floating Floor planks for
best visual mix. Mix planks from various cartons to maintain natural color
and pattern variation.
2. First Row: Facing
the guide-line, place the first plank at the left-hand end, tongue side
facing wall, starting ˝” off the wall. It is necessary to remove the
tongue from all planks lining the starting wall. Use ˝” spacers at the end
and along the wall (2 to a plank) while keeping the planks aligned with
the string. Spacers keep planks from shifting when subsequent rows are
added. Using GreenFloors tapping block and a hammer, place block FLAT on
floor, with the side up that is labeled: “This Side Up For Tapping On
Groove”, tap on block gently until the ends of the two planks are firmly
joined, with the joint completely closed up. Continue this process until
you reach the end wall. Cut the last plank to fit allowing for a 1/2"
perimeter expansion space on all sides. IMPORTANT! To do this, you will
need a hammer and the SPECIAL GreenFloors TAPPING BLOCK. DO NOT USE ANY
OTHER TAPPING BLOCK. Using any other tapping block may result in damage to
the cork wear layer. You should not attempt to knock the CLIC joint into
place with one hit. Once the two planks have “clicked” together, DO NOT
tap them again as this can cause the joint to be too tight and result in
peaking.
3. Next Rows: If the
cut-off piece from the previous row is more than 10” long it can be used
to start the next row so long as end-joints between adjacent rows are
always staggered by at least 10”. Firmly holding row 1 in place, (a weight
such as a full pack of planks may be helpful).
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a) |
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Position the long side of the plank
to be installed at an angle of 20-30° to the plank already installed.
Move the plank to be fitted slightly up and down at the same time as
exerting forward pressure. The planks will then click into place. |
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b) |
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Using GreenFloors’s tapping block, use a number
of smaller taps on the short edge, until the planks click together
completely. |
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c) |
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In some cases, the planks cannot be rotated
into one another, for example under a doorframe. In cases such as
this, the planks can be fitted horizontally. For the long edge, you
should tap them together gradually: begin tapping lightly at the
corner of a plank until the join is made, then repeat the process
every 12” until the entire long edge of the plank has clicked in with
the other. In order to cut around pipes, take a drill bit with a
diameter similar to the diameter of the pipe + 1/4” for expansion. |
4. Last Row: Usually
the last row will require all planks be cut lengthwise. Measure each plank
at several places along the length to ensure a proper fit. Remember to
allow a 1/2" expansion space along the wall side. Use floor pull bar and
mallet to click the long side of planks. The short edge can be joined
using the tapping block.
5. Finish: After
installing your floor, you can immediately walk on it. This is one of the
major benefits of the Uniclic system. Remove all spacer blocks. Fix the
skirting board over the extended polyethylene sheeting. Never attach
skirting board to the floor itself, but allow space for the floor to
expand and contract beneath the skirting board. In order to fill in the
expansion gap around pipes and any other areas not covered by trim, use a
flexible caulk.
Installation Material Checklist
Material to be provide by the Installer |
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Material
Recieved from Manufacturer |
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Table Saw and measuring tools
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Cork floating floor |
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Hammer |
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GreenFloors Tapping Block |
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Floor pull bar |
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1/2" Spacers |
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6 mil polyethylene sheeting |
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Flexible caulk |
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Cleaning supplies |
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Trim |
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We would like to thank the
installer for taking pride in this installation and striving to meet our
mutual client’s expectations. We could not be successful without you. |