Acclimate all materials in the area to be installed between the temperatures of 55°F to 100°F (12.78°C to 38°C) a minimum of 48 hours before, during, and after the installation. Protect flooring from excessive heat/cold during storage. If the product is stored in an environment different from the installation site and the temperature ranges are controlled within the 40°F to 100°F (4.44°C to 38°C), the offsite acclimation can be considered acceptable.

The subfloor must be level, clean, and free of wax, grease, oil or dust.Do not install your Luxury Vinyl Flooring over soft, rough, uneven surfaces, or floating floors.If necessary, patch or fill any cracks in the subfloor.Install over smooth, well-bonded resilient floors or over dry concrete and wood floors with a plywood overlay.All sub-floors and substrates must be clean, flat (smooth) and dry prior to installation. Sweep or vacuum your subfloor prior to installation ensuring nothing will interfere with the installation. All subfloors must be flat. High or low areas exceeding 3/16” per 10’ (4.8mm in 3 meter) or 1/8” per 6’ (3.2mm in 1.8 meter) must be corrected.

Wood Subfloors: Must be a minimum of 3/4” CDX Plywood, OSB, or APA approved plywood. All wood subfloors should be flat, structurally sound, and free from deflection (up and down movement). Sand high areas and fill low areas with a Portland based patching compound. To reduce squeaking of the subfloor, nail or screw the floor every 6”. Repair or replace any damaged sheathing. Wood subfloors should never exceed 12% moisture using a pin type moisture meter.

Concrete: Must be fully cured (at least 60 days old). The flatness of concrete subfloors must meet or exceed the requirements of ACI FF25. Most concrete subfloors are not flat/smooth and must be properly prepared before installation. In all cases, verify the substrate is flat (See above subfloor and substrate requirements). Fill all holes and cracks with a latex fortified Portland cement-based patching compound. We only recommends the use of latex fortified Portland cement-based products as a satisfactory patching or levelling compound. Grind down high areas and fill any low areas with a Portland-based patching compound. (Do not use solvents or chemical adhesive removers to remove paint residue or adhesives).

Existing Ceramic Tile, Quarry Tile, and Terrazzo Flooring: All existing tile must be well-bonded to the subfloor or substrate. Terrazzo flooring should be sound and stable. Any weak area should be filled in using a Portland based patching compound. The floor must be cleaned and contaminate free. It is recommended you skim coat any existing grout lines exceeding the specifications with a latex fortified Portland cement-based patching compound. Grind any irregular surfaces.

The flooring should only be installed after all the other trades have finished and the job site has been cleared of any/all debris that could damage a finished installation. Proper lighting is essential.

It is recommended to mix panels from a minimum of 3 different boxes during installation to assure an even distribution of any minor colour variations, slight variances in texture and gloss levels. Hint: Try dry racking (laying out) your panels prior to final assembly to confirm this is an acceptable layout.

A ¼” expansion gap is required around the entire perimeter of the installation, any transitions to adjacent flooring materials, door frames, and heating vents. 

It is recommended to undercut doorjambs, so the material slides easily under them. A ¼” (6.35mm) expansion space is necessary here as well. If the door casings are metal the ¼” (6.35mm) expansion space can be filled using a silicone or acrylic silicone caulk. Please note the expansion gap must be maintained past the edge of the doorjamb.

Do not install fixed objects, such as cabinets, islands, wall units etc. on top of the flooring or fasten trim/molding/transition pieces directly to the floor.

The Hydronic or Embedded radiant heating system needs to be operational and working for one week prior to install date to reduce any residual moisture. Should the Radiant heating system be in use at the time of installation it is necessary to lower the temperature to 65°F (18.3°C) for a minimum of three days prior to the installation date, during the entire installation, and for 24 hours following upon completion of the installation. The temperature can then be gradually increased in 5° increments. Temperature must never exceed 85°F (29°C). It is the responsibility of the purchaser to confirm the suitability of the radiant heating system for use with this product. Any damage to the floor caused by the radiant heating system will not be covered by the product warranty.

Safety glasses, utility knife, straight edge/square, chalk-line, tape measure, pull-bar, 1/4” spacers, saw or tile cutter, tapping block, and rubber mallet (for tapping on the scrap tapper).