COREtec wood Installation

When properly installed in accordance with USFloors Installation Instructions, this product will not swell, cup, or crack due to exposure to water from topical spills or moisture from the sub-floor when exposed to such conditions. This product is not designed to withstand submersion from standing water or flooding.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION. If the following instructions leave any unanswered questions or if additional information is required, please call USFloors toll free at 800-441-7429. This flooring is a natural wood product on a mineral core, which has natural variations in color, texture, and sheen/gloss. For best visual effect, install planks working from several cartons.

Installer/Owner Responsibility

We urge you, as the final inspector to inspect for proper color, finish, style, and quality PRIOR to installation. Verify that the flooring is the correct material. Care should be taken at this time to remove or repair particular characteristics you do not desire. Manufacturer declines responsibility for any costs incurred when plank(s) with visible defects have been installed.

The use of stain, filler, or putty stick for the correction of minor defects during installation should be accepted as normal procedure. 5% cutting allowance, depending on layout, must be added to the actual square footage amount needed.

PRE-INSTALLATION JOBSITE REQUIREMENTS

• It is the installer/ owners’ responsibility to ensure that the jobsite conditions and jobsite subfloor are environmentally and structurally acceptable prior to the installation of any hardwood flooring. The manufacturer declines any responsibility for failures or deficiencies of hardwood flooring resulting from or related to sub-floor, sub-surface, or job-site environmental conditions.

• All substrates must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound.

• Flooring should be one of the last items installed in any new construction or remodel project.

• Install flooring after cabinets have been installed to prevent damage to the flooring.

• Room temperature and humidity of installation areas should be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least one week before installation of flooring. Maintaining an optimum yearly room temperature of 70° F and a humidity range of 35-55% is recommended. ​

• ​Fully functional HVAC systems are the best way to ensure temperature and humidity control. The permanent HVAC system must be operational and functional and set to a minimum of 65°F (20°C) or a maximum of 85°F, for a minimum of 48 hours prior to, during, and after installation. Once the installation is complete the temperature should not exceed 85°F. 

PRE-INSTALLATION SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS

Note: All subfloors must be flat to within 3/16” in 10’ or 1/8” in 6’.

Wood Subfloors

• Do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete. Refer to ASTM F1482 for panel underlayment recommendations.

• Do not apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.

• Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth. Crawl space clearance from ground to underside of joist is to be no less than 18” and perimeter vent spacing should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space area to provide cross ventilation. Where necessary, local regulations prevail.

• All other subfloors - Plywood, OSB, chipboard, wafer board, etc. must be structurally sound and must be installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations. Local building codes may only establish minimum requirements of the flooring system and may not provide adequate rigidity and support for proper installation and performance. If needed add an additional layer of APA rated underlayment, fasten and secure according to the underlayment manufacturer’s recommendations.

• COREtec wood flooring is not recommended directly over fire-retardant treated plywood or preservative treated plywood. An additional layer of APA rated 1/4" thick underlayment should be installed.

• Install cabinets prior to flooring to prevent damage to the flooring. Shaw is not responsible for removal of cabinets in the event of a claim.

Concrete Subfloors

• Floors shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from powder or flaking.

• If the adhesive residue is asphalt‐based (cut‐back), or any other type of adhesive is present, it must be removed by industry accepted methods such as mechanical removal or wet scraping. 

• ​If a chemical abatement has been performed, use Shaw Surface Prep EXT to remove any residual chemicals present.  Once Shaw Surface Prep EXT has been properly cleaned and removed, apply one coat of Shaw MRP for additional protection.

• Adhesive removal through the use of  solvents or citrus adhesive removers is not recommended. Solvent residue left in or on the subfloor may affect the new adhesive and floor covering.   

WARNING! DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEAD BLAST ORMECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERISE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING FELT , ASPHALTIC “ CUT BACK” ADHESIVES OR OTHER ADHESIVES.
 
These products may contain either asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica. Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard. Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm. Unless positively certain that the product is a non‐asbestos‐containing material, you must presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be tested to determine asbestos content and may govern the removal and disposal of material. See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covering structures. For current information go to www.rfci.com. 

• Grind high spots. Use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed Shaw’s maximum moisture level and pH requirements. Use of gypsum-based patching and/or leveling compounds which contain Portland or high alumina cement and meet or exceed the compressive strength of 3,000 psi are acceptable. Follow the leveling compound manufacturer’s instruction. Leveling compounds must be allowed to thoroughly cure and dry prior to installation of wood flooring.

• New concrete slabs must be dry. Maximum moisture level per CaCl test method is 5 lbs. per 1000 in 24 hr. Maximum level for ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative humidity test method - 85%.

• Do not install over concrete with a history of high moisture or hydrostatic conditions.

• pH level of concrete should be between 7-10.

• The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor covering installer.

Existing Floor Coverings

• COREtec Wood Flooring can be installed over most existing hard–surface floor coverings (including ceramic tile) provided that the existing floor surface is clean, flat dry and structurally sound.

• Existing sheet vinyl floors should not be heavily cushioned and not exceed more than one layer in thickness.

• Installation is NOT allowed over any type of carpet.

• Do NOT install over wood floors/wood subfloors that are adhered directly to concrete.

Radiant Heat: Radiant heat components must be embedded and maintain a minimum of 1/2" separation from the product. Radiant heat system must be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation to reduce residual moisture within the concrete. Three days prior to installation lower the temperature to 65 degrees, after installation gradually increase the temperature in increments of 5° F to avoid overheating. Maximum operating temperature should never exceed 85°F. Use of an in-floor temperature sensor is recommended to avoid overheating.

Recommended Adhesive(s) with Radiant Heating: 

• Shaw 35MC ( V-notch with life spacers - 3/8“ x 3/16” x 3/8“ x 1/16” / 30 sq.ft./gal )
• Shaw 3-1 (3/16" x 1/4" x 1/2" flat V notch / 60-70 sq.ft./gal)

GLUE DOWN INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

Tools: Tape Measure, Utility Knife, Saw (masonary blades are recommended), Guillotine style flooring cutter, Tapping Block or Rubber Mallet, Pull Bar, ¼” Spacers, T-Square, Safety Glasses, Broom or Vacuum and, if necessary, tools for subfloor repair. 

Recommended Adhesive(s):

• Shaw 1500 (3/16" x 1/4" x 1/2" V-notched trowel / 60-70 sq.ft./gal)
• Shaw 70 (3/16" x 1/4" x 1/2" V-notched trowel / 60-70 sq.ft./gal)

NOTE: IF ALTERNATIVE ADHESIVES ARE USED, A BOND TEST SHOULD BE PERFORMED TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY. REFER TO THE ADHESIVE LABEL FOR PROPER TROWEL REQUIRED, SPREAD RATES AND INSTALLATION APPLICATION INFORMATION!

Before you begin using the following instructions, please refer to the Pre-Installation Job Prep information above.

• USFloors recommends leaving 1/4” perimeter spacing between the perimeter walls, fixed structures or adjacent surfaces. 

• Work from several open boxes of flooring and “dry lay” the floor before permanently laying the floor. This will allow you to select varying textures, colors, and sheens, and to arrange them in a harmonious pattern. Remember, it is the installer’s responsibility to determine the expectations of what the finished floor will look like with the end user first and then to cull out pieces that do not meet those expectations.

• Cut outside whenever possible to minimize airborne contaminants that may become embedded in the grain. 

• When cutting inside, dust collection bags should be clean and in place. 

• Always wear adequate eye protection and safety masks. 

Getting Started

1. Select a starter wall. An outside wall is best: it's most likely to be straight and square with the room. Measure out from this wall, at each end, the width of two planks including the tongue plus the space needed (1/4”) for expansion.

2. Snap a chalk line from these points, parallel to that wall.

3. Prior to installing the flooring, secure a straight edge inside the chalk line to act as a guide and to prevent the row of planks from shifting during installation. The straightedge could be a straight piece of lumber or piece of flooring. Alternatively, the first row can be face-nailed with finishing nails into the wood subfloor or sprig nailed into a concrete subfloor.

Spreading the Adhesive

Using the proper trowel, hold the trowel at a 45° angle to ensure proper spread rate of adhesive. Apply pressure to allow the trowel to leave ridges of adhesive on the substrate with little adhesive left between the ridges. This will help to achieve the proper spread rate of the adhesive. Temperature and air flow across the adhesive can have an effect on the open time of the adhesive. 3X (or urethanes) will have a longer open time in areas of low humidity and will have a shorter open time in areas of high humidity. (See Adhesive label for further information).

Installing the Floor

4. Spread adhesive from the chalk line/straightedge out to approximately the width of two planks. Install the first row of starter planks along the chalk line/straightedge and secure into position with the tongue facing the starter wall. NOTE: Proper alignment is critical. Misaligned starter rows can cause side and end gaps to appear in proceeding rows of flooring. When you have the starter rows complete, you can begin the next row.