Tools Needed
- Utility Knife
- Straight Edge
- Saw
- Measuring Tape
- Shears for cutting around irregular shaped objects
- 1/8 inch spacers
- A face mask to be used during the installation and cutting of material to minimize inhaling dust
Planks Needed to Complete Your Project
Measure the length and width of your room. If the room has alcoves or offsets, measure these separately. This will give you the square footage of the rom. Purchase a minimum of 10% extra material to cover mistakes, trimming for future needs or replacements. Most installations require about 10% overage, however this can vary depending upon the room size and layout.
CAUTION: Do not install Seattle XL, Portland, Medford, Spokane, Vancouver XL, or Carissima Series products over carpet or any pad/foam. Only use approved underlays. This product is not suitable for any outside use, sunrooms, solariums or saunas. Exposure to long-term direct sunlight can cause damage to your floor.
Installing
CHECK THE PLANKS BEFORE INSTALL THEM TO BE SURE OF APPEARANCE
Minor color, shade, or texture variations between samples, print color photography and the actual material is not warranted. Mix & install planks from several different cartons to minimize shade variations.
Planks should always be inspected for any dye lot variations. Calcore will not warrant that different dye lots will match each other. Many newer styles of flooring have large color variations.
We maintain strict quality control at the factory but it is a good idea to check each plank for blemishes or flaws.
Acclimate Seattle XL, Portland, Medford, Spokane, Vancouver XL, and Carissima Series Floors BEFORE INSTALLATION
You must place Stone Composite Flooring horizontally in the room where it will be installed for 48 hours prior to installation. Be sure the room temperature is between 65° F to 85° F.
Do not remove the planks from the case during this acclimation period! Maintain the same temperature during installation as well.
Subfloor Preparation
The subfloor surface must be smooth, flat, dry, clean, and solid. Carpet staples or adhesive residue must be removed to ensure proper installations. Subfloors should be flat within a tolerance of 1/8″ (3mm) over a span of 4 feet (1.22 M). Any unevenness over 1/16″ (1.5mm) must be sanded down or filled with a floor leveler. Voids or humps in the subfloor will prevent flooring from locking properly. Subfloors must be carefully checked for moisture problems. Any moisture problems need to be addressed prior to installation. New concerete floors needed to cure for minimum of 60 days.
Step 1
Start in a corner by placing the first plan with the tongue side facing the wall. Use spacers along each wall to maintain an expansion space of 1/8″ to 1/4″ between the wall and the flooring.
NOTE: This spacing must also be maintained between the floor and all vertical surfaces including cabinets, posts, partitions, door jambs, and door tracks. You will also need to use transition strips in doorways and between rooms. Failure to do so may cause buckling or gapping. (40′ maximum span)
To attach your second plank, lower and lock the end tongue of the second plank into the end groove of the first plank. Line up edges carefully to ensure a close and tight fit. Using a rubber mallet lightly tap the top of the end joins where the first and second planks lock together. The planks should lay flag to the floor.
HELPFUL NOTICE: If laying Seattle XL, Portland, Medford, Spokane, Vancouver XL, or Carissima Series over existing ceramic tile, it will be necessary to skim coat the grout lines with a floor leveler. If you install Stone Composite flooring over an existing floor that has an embossing or grout line on it you must skim with a floor leveler if the embossing or grout line is greater than 1/16″ (1.5mm)
WARNING: FAILURE TO PROPERLY LINE UP THE END JOIN AND ATTEMPTING TO FORCE IT IN WHILE OUT OF ALIGNMENT COULD RESULT IN PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE END JOINT.
Step 2
Repeat this procedure for each subsequent plank in the first row. Continue connecting the first row until you reach the last full plank.
Fit the last plank by rotating the plank 180° with the pattern side upward and placing it beside the first row of planks with its end up against the far wall. Line a ruler up across the end of the last full plank and across this new plank. Draw a line across the new plank with a pencil and cut with a saw. Rotate the plank 180° so that it is back to its original orientation. Lower and lock its end tongue into the end groove of the last full plank. Lightly tap the top of the end joints with a rubber mallet until the planks are flat to the floor.
Step 3
You will begin the next row with the off-cut piece from the previous row to stagger the pattern. Pieces should be a minimum of 8″ long and join offset should be at least 16″. Cur pieces should be no less than 3″ in width. Adjust layout for a balanced look.
Step 4
To start your second row, tilt and push the new plank’s side tongue into the side groove of the very first plank. When lowered, the plank will click into place. using a tapping block and rubber mallet lightly tap the long side of the new plank to lock it with the planks of the first row.The planks should lay flat to the floor.
Step 5
Attach the second plank of the new row first on the long side. Tilt and push plank into place making sure edges are lined up. Lower plank to floor. using a tapping block and rubber mallet lightly tap the long side of the new plank to lock into place.
Next lightly tap down on the top of the end joints with a rubber mallet to lock them together. Continue laying remaining planks in this manner.
Step 6
To fit the last row, lay a plank on the top of the previous row with its tongue to the wall. Lay a ruler across the plank so that it is lined up with the side of the planks of the previous row and draw a line across the new plank with a pencil. Don’t forget to allow room for spacers. Cut the plank with a saw and attach into position.
Step 7
Fitting around irregular objects is not a problem. Simply make a patter out of heavy paper to fit around pipes or irregular objects. Place the patter upon the plank and trace. Cut along trace lines using a utility knife of heavy-duty scissors, and lay the planks. Be sure to leave minimum of 1/8″ (2-3mm) expansion space around all fixed objects, floor vents, and doorframes.
Remove the spacers once the floor is completely installed.
You may view video of installation guidelines on unilintechnologies.com or
view video on YouTube.
Moisture
It is the contractor’s as well as the installer’s responsibility to test all concrete substrates, both new and old, for moisture content to determine if it is sufficiently dry to install Stone Composite flooring. Moisture in a concrete substrate should be tested according to ASTM F 1869-98 (Calcium Chloride Moisture test using the Quantitative Method). Moisture levels should never exceed 5 lbs. per 1,000 square feet per 24-hour period or ASTM F 2170-2 (Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes). Relative humidity levels should never exceed 75%.
Calcore requires using a 6mm poly sheeting protective barrier on concrete or wood substrates that currently or potentially could have higher than allowed moisture readings for guaranteed installations. Poly sheeting should be installed under the entire floor without gapping or separate pieces, so it acts as a full solid barrier. Taping moisture barrier is allowed, but should be done with overlapping and sufficient tape. Masking tape is not approved.
NOTE: Calcore does not warranty or guarantee unsatisfactory installations due to the presence of excessive alkali, moisture, or hydrostatic pressure in subfloors.
Calcore Floors – Over Radiant Heat
Seattle XL, Portland, Medford, Spokane, Vancouver XL, or Carissima Series Flooring can be installed over radiant heat if the following guidelines are followed. Complete system must be operational for a minimum of one week. System should be turned off for 72 hours prior to installation of Stone Composite flooring and remain off for 72 hours after installation is complete.
Turn system back on to its normal room temperature setting. The subfloor surface must never exceed 90° F throughout the life of the floor. Flooring or adhesive should never come in direct contact with the heating system.
All other standard instructions apply.
