Installation Guidelines
We strongly advocate professional flooring contractors to lay solid floors as it is a specialized process. If you need instructions, you need a qualified professional floor installer.
A note of caution while installing:
•Hardwood is a natural material with naturally varying characteristics. i.e. Color, Texture, and Grain pattern.
•These variations are what give hardwood floors its aesthetic appeal. They do, however, mean that it is entirely possible that up to 5% of the product may not be useable for its intended purpose.
•It is the sole responsibility of the installer not to install any material thought to be defective.
•No claim shall be entertained for any materials installed, which have visible defects or damage prior to installation of the boards. We will also not be responsible for damages due to installation, transportation or storage.
Site Conditions and Sub-Floor
Site conditions:
Luckeep Flooring is kiln dried at 8-12%.
•The building must be weather proof- warm and dry. i.e. normal living conditions.
•New buildings or renovations must be thoroughly dried out and heated before installation.
•All masonry, plaster and concrete floor slabs must be thoroughly dry, the Sub-floor 2% moisture content maximum.
•Relative humidity of the air to be 30% – 50%.
•Temperature to be 15 – 25̌̇C or 59 – 77̌̇F.
•Once the above site conditions are correct and can be maintained the flooring can be delivered to the site of installation.
•The packs of flooring should then be laid horizontally on the floor in the center of the room with the packaging intact for a minimum of 48 hours.
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONDITIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED. ALL WALLS AND SUB-FLOORS MUST BE CHECKED FOR HUMIDITY. IF THEY FALL BELOW THE REQUIRED CRITERIA, YOU MUST NOT INSTALL THE FLOORING. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CLAIMS DUE TO MOVEMENT IF THE CORRECT MOISTURE READING HAS NOT BEEN RECORDED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.
Sub-Floors:
•Concrete- The concrete sub-floor must be extremely dry as previously mentioned it should not exceed 2%, which equates to a maximum relative humidity in the concrete of 30% to 35%.
•A concrete slab must contain an effective damp proof membrane. In reality, it is difficult to achieve 30% RH in the slab and a D.P.M. must be used over the slab.
•The sub-floor must also be extremely level, to within 3mm on a 3M straight edge according to British Standards. Any variation greater must be re-addressed and re-leveled, by screeding/self-leveling compound.
Methods of Installation
•Luckeep solid hardwood floors should either be nailed or glued directly to the sub-floor.
•Do not float a solid hardwood floor.
•If secret nailing to battens the timber should be kiln dried and they should be placed at intervals of no more than 300mm intervals.
•Secret nail with a portanailer at 45% through the tongue.
•It is important no adjacent end or butt joints are within 450mm of each other when laying on battens or joists. There are several methods of laying, however, always leave at least a 15mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the room.
WE ADVISE NOT TO INSTALL LUCKEEP SOLID FLOORING WHERE UNDER-FLOOR HEATING IS USED.
Levels Below Grade
WE ADVISE NOT TO INSTALL LUCKEEP SOLID FLOORING ON LEVELS BELOW GRADE. SEE BELOW:
A room that is exposed to excessive moisture would be prone to trouble if solid wood flooring were installed in it. Basement floors are particularly tricky installations. “Below-grade” is defined as any part of the slab having four inches or more of earth above it. Additionally, walk-out basements are considered a below-grade application, even if a portion is above ground.
