1. CAUTION
- Do not install in wet areas like patios and showers, or in exterior areas
- Do not install over radiant heat.
- Do not install under permanent kitchen cabinets when floating
- Do not install on concrete unless proper moisture testing is conducted and documented.
- Do not install flooring with obvious visual defects.
2. STORAGE & ACCLIMATION
- Temperature can affect PVC products. For best product performance, ensure the temperature in the home is between 50º and 100º before, during, and after installation, and for the life of the flooring.
- Acclimation time is not required when the product and worksite are within the above temperatures. Products must acclimate for 24 hours, however, when temperatures exceed these recommendations.
- Product installed in homes with unregulated temperatures (summer or vacation homes, etc.) may experience gapping between planks or edge curling over time.
- Stack boxes flat, and no more than eight cartons high. Keep away from direct sunlight.
3. RECOMMENDED USE
- This product is recommended for residential or light commercial interior use only. See the product’s warranty for details. This floor can be installed below, on, or above grade level.
- This flooring installs like laminate flooring. It may be floated with or without underlayment.
4. IMPORTANT PLANNING
- Always install in good lighting so visual defects can clearly be seen and discarded prior to installation.
- All other construction work should be completed prior to the installation of this product.
- It is recommended to have an additional box left over after installation, to be used for repairs if needed.
- For the best overall appearance, select planks from several boxes at a time when installing.
- A waste factor of at least 5% for cutting is recommended per order. Diagonal installations may require 15% to 20%.
- Provide a 3/8-inch expansion gap between the walls and floor, all around the perimeter of the floor and around any fixed objects. For areas 50 feet wide or more, a gap of 3/4-inch must be allowed.
- Areas greater than 50 feet in any one direction must be broken by expansion breaks between planks in the floor, typically at doorways or hallway entrances. These gaps are commonly covered with T-molding.
- Expansion breaks for 50-foot areas are not required when gluing the flooring planks to the subfloor.
- The flooring should be glued down in areas with direct sunlight exposure to the floor. In floating applications, windows and sliding glass doors should have proper cover to prevent direct sunlight to the flooring.
- Recommended adhesives are: Bostik LVT LockTM, GreenGrip and Duragrip, Mapei Ultrabond Eco 962®, and Eco Quicklay spray adhesive.
- Do not move furniture back onto the flooring until the adhesive has cured.
- When moving furniture and heavy equipment on the flooring, use luan board, plywood, or other similar covering to protect the floor.
- Moldings are needed to cover the expansion gaps along the walls, and when the floor edges transition to other floor coverings (carpet, tile, etc.)
- CoreLuxe is waterproof. However, in the event of a flood or significant water leaks, the planks should be removed to allow the subfloor to thoroughly dry before reinstalling
5. CRAWLSPACES
- If installing over a crawlspace you must have a minimum of 18 inches of air space between the ground and floor joist. Crawlspaces should have adequate cross ventilation. The ground of the crawl space must be completely covered with a minimum 6mil or thicker polyethylene moisture barrier.
6. WOOD SUBFLOOR
- Wood subfloors should be flat within 1/8″ over a 6´ span, and 3/16″ over a 10´ span. Sand down high spots, and fill in low spots with a Portland-based floor patch.
- Plywood subfloors should be a minimum 5/8″ thick, OSB subfloors should be a minimum ¾” thick, and floor joists should be 16″ apart.
- Wood subfloors must be dry and not exceed 12% moisture content. Test the subfloor moisture in several locations. Readings above 12% on average indicate elevated moisture from water leaks or dampness that needs to be corrected before installation can begin.
- Screw down loose or squeaky sections of plywood and replace areas that are damaged.
- The subfloor should be clean and free of protruding fasteners and debris.
- This flooring can be floated over any wood subfloor that meets the above requirements.
- This flooring can be glued to plywood and OSB subfloors only. Do not glue over particle board subfloors. Instead, install plywood (3/8″) over the particle board prior to a glue down installation of this product.
7. CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
- Concrete should be flat within 1/8″ over a 6´ span, or 3/16″ over a 10´ span. Grind down high spots, and fill in low spots with a Portland-based floor patch.
- Caution: This floor is waterproof; however, moisture intrusions from concrete hydrostatic pressure, flooding, or plumbing leaks, along with high levels of alkalinity, can affect floor coverings over time. Moisture can also be trapped below the flooring and create mildew or mold. The installer – not the manufacturer – is responsible for making sure that site conditions, concrete moisture, and alkalinity are at suitable levels prior to installation of this floor.
- DO NOT INSTALL OVER WET OR DAMP CONCRETE. Ensure the concrete is dry. Concrete slabs must be at least 90 days old. High moisture in a concrete slab can cause water to condense or pool under the flooring. Moisture itself will not harm this product, but can cause mold growth under the floor, or may cause a highly alkaline condition to develop that can damage the flooring or weaken the glue over time.
- A MOISTURE TEST IS ALWAYS REQUIRED WHEN INSTALLING OVER CONCRETE. Moisture testing ensures the product is being installed over dry concrete. Acceptable tests are ASTM F1869 Calcium Chloride test, or ASTM F2170 relative humidity (RH) test. Slabs with moisture levels exceeding 3lbs per 1000sqft using the Calcium Chloride test, or over 75% when using the RH test, must have an appropriate moisture barrier installed between the concrete and flooring.
- Moisture protection for floating floor installations: 6-8 mil polysheeting with all seams completely taped.
- Moisture protection when gluing over concrete slabs: Bostik GreenGrip, a moisture protecting adhesive, or roller-applied Bostik D250 epoxy with Bostik LVT Lock or DuraGrip.
8. EXISTING FLOORS
- This flooring can be floated over existing clean, flat, dry, and well bonded/secured tile flooring, vinyl flooring, and hardwood flooring.
- This flooring can only be glued down to existing properly prepped flooring that has been approved by the adhesive manufacturer.
- Do not install this flooring over existing carpet flooring, cushioned vinyl flooring, or existing floating wood and vinyl floors.
9. INSTALLATION TOOLS
- Tape measure
- Jig saw
- Wall spacers
- Moisture meter
- Pencil
- Safety glasses
- Hammer
- Dust mask
- Chalk line
- Pull bar
- Table saw
- Miter saw
10. UNDERLAYMENT PAD FOR FLOATING INSTALLATIONS
- Underlayment padding is not required for the installation of this product. However underlayment pads can help smooth out minor subfloor imperfections, add extra moisture protection, insulation, and sound control properties. The Bellawood Premium, Bellawood Platinum, Quiet Walk, Eco Silent Sound, and Tranquility underlayment can all be used in conjunction with the floating installation of this product. It is recommended to install 6 mil polyethylene over all concrete floors prior to floating the floor.
