Installation Guide

IMPORTANT: Basic rules before installation!

Is is imperative that the fitting instructions are carefully read before commencing installation. Check each and every panel for obvious defects prior to installation! Claims cannot be accepted for obvious panel defects which are easily noticeable before fitting.

Please read through the complete laying instructions first! Precisely follow these isntructions, in order to retain full waranty and guarantee claims. Please check the panels in good lighting conditions for defects. Once you have used the panels you can no longer make any claims due to defects. Please note that this laminate flooring is not suitable for wet rooms, e.g. bathrooms and saunas.

Notes before laying

An important prerequisite for the installation and long preservation of the laminate is a relative air humidity of 50-70%.

.  The sub-floor must be absolutely level, dry, clean and firm.

·  When laying on mineral surfaces, e.g. concrete, cement screed, anhydrite screed and stone tiles, etc., the moisture must be measured first.

·  The screed’s residual moisture must not exceed the following values before laying:

   Cement screed; with underfloor heating < 1.8% CM; without underfloor heating < 2.0% CM

   Anhydrite screed; with underfloor heating < 0.3% CM; without underfloor heating < 0.5% CM

·  Laminate flooring is laid "floating" and must not be glued, nailed or fixed to the sub-floor in any other way (e.g. by means of door stoppers)!

·  We recommend you sort the panels before laying according to the required grain direction and any colour nuances.

·  Use the contents of opened packages immediately!  You will need the following to lay the flooring:  Impact sound insulation, PE foil, spacing wedges, chock, fitting aid, saw, pencil and folding rule.  If required, laminate floor joint sealant, White (PVA) glue D3, jointing compound.  Depending on the area of use, there are three laying possibilities open to you:

A.  Fast, glue-free laying.

B.  Laying with Laminate flooring joint sealant.  Laminate flooring sealant permanently protects the floor from moisture effects acting from above.  Laminate flooring        sealant does not glue panels down or together.

C.  Laying with glue also provides lasting protection against moisture, however the work is more complicated and time consuming and the flooring cannot be dismantled for possible relaying.

Preparation

1.  Store unopened packs in the room to be laid for 48hrs to acclimatise.

2.  Prepare all tools and accessories for laying.

3.  Any unevenness in the sub floor of more than 2mm over 1m must be evened out.

4.  Check for visual damage to the panels, as once laid no claims can be made.

5.  The floor must be installed floating, do not glue, nail or screw the floor down. 

6.  Do not lay on carpet, remove before fitting.

7.  Laminate is not suitable for humid or wet areas.

8.  If laying over a stone/mineral sub floor, lay a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM), and at least enhanced noise reduction use a special absorption product or underlay.

9.  Under floor heating can be used, at a maximum of 27°C.

Laying

10.  For best results lay floor in the direction of the light source.

11.  Begin laying in a corner with the tongue against the wall using spacers to maintain the 12-15mm expansion gaps.

12.  Lay the next panel using a 45° angle folding action on the short edge.  Continue this manner to complete the first row.  It is essential that the panels are perfectly in line, as any misalignment will be exaggerated over subsequent rows.

13.  For ease of measuring, rotate the last panel 180°, offer up to space (don’t forget the expansion gap) and mark and cut.

14.  Rotate the cut piece and lay as before at a 45° angle.

15.  Begin the next row using the off-cut from the end of the previous row.  At this stage offer the long edge profile up to the previous row, so it just rests on top.

16.  Continue to lay as before, folding the short edges together, using the long edge of the previous row as a straight edge guide to ensure alignment.

17&18  Once row is complete offer up in its entirety to previous row and fold in the long edge profile using a similar 45° angle and gently push down (take care not to use excessive force which may damage the profile).  Use a zipper type action to move down the row until panels are level and flush.

19.  Continue this process to lay the entire room.

20.  If the floor exceeds 8m x 8m expansion breaks in the floor are required, using relevant profiles.

Tips & Tricks

21.  When cutting around heating pipes, place the panel in line both in front and along side to ascertain accurate marks.  Include an additional 30mm on top of the pipe diameter for expansion.

22.  Use a hole saw for accurate cutting then cut the panel across the short edge through the centre of the hole.

23.  Fit the large piece as normal, and then insert the smaller piece gluing contact areas to hold in place.  If space is at a premium, and you are unable to fold down, trim the profile flush using a wood chisel and glue in place.

24.  To fit floor neatly around door frames and architraves, turn over a panel, offer up to the frame to use as a thickness guide.  Using a hand saw flush with the underside of the panel, cut the frame/architrave, and, remove the cut piece.

25.  Slide the panel under the frame, not forgetting to leave room for expansion.

26.  When measuring the width for the final row, rotate the panel 180° so the tongue faces the forgetting space for expansion gaps.

27.  Once the panel is cut lay as normal.  The space left for expansion will also allow space to fold the panels down.

Care & Cleaning

28.  Use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner to remove any surface dust.  Do not use abrasive cleaners, steel wool or scouring pads, as they will damage your floor.

29.  For regular cleaning use a cloth, ensuring it is well wrung, it is important not to apply excess moisture to the floor.

30.  We recommend to protect your floor, you use felt pads under furniture.  Moveable furniture/chairs should be on soft castors or placed on a plastic mat.             Furthermore, any single piece of furniture placed on the floor should not exceed 115kg in weight.  Doormats should be used inside and outside of all external doorways to prevent grit from being carried across the floor, protecting the surfaces from excessive wear and tear.

Stain Guide

TYPE OF STAIN	TREATMENT
Fruit, Berries, Juice, Milk, Cream, Soft Drink, Beer, Wine, Tea, Coffee, Urine	Mild cleaning agent
Rubber, Tar, Ink, Asphalt, Lipstick	White spirit or acetone (wipe with a damp cloth)
Chocolate, Shoe Polish, Oil, Grease	Methylated spirits (wipe with a damp cloth)
Blood	Cold Water

Important Note

Laminate flooring is hygroscopic, meaning that it is susceptible to reaction to moisture levels in the atmosphere.  It is necessary therefore to ensure that flooring is installed in a stable environment.  We recommend the boards are stored and laid in a relative humidity of between 45%-65% and a room temperature of between 18°C and 20°C.

Guarantee

As required.