Afresh Hybrid Installation Guideline
INSTALLATION and MAINTENANCE GUIDES |
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READ THOROUGHLY BEOFRE STARTING INSTALLATION
All installed boards will be considered as accepted by the installer and/or homeowner. Any defects should be reported to the wholesaler or retailer immediately for inspection and/or replacement. We cannot accept responsibility for flooring installed with visible defects.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
These installation guidelines apply to the WPC (Wood Polymer Composite) products only. Materials shall be installed in accordance with AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS 1884: 2012 Floor Coverings – Resilient Sheet and Tiles – Installation Practices.
*Acclimation of material prior to installation is not required however the floor covering should be installed in a climate controlled environment and/or temperature between 13°-29°C or average temp. of 21.1°
*Post installation temperature range is between 0°- 37°C
*Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, doing so may result in discoloration. During peak sunlight hours, the use of the drapes or blinds is recommended. Excess temperature due to direct sunlight can result in thermal expansion and UV fading.
*Install product after all other trades have completed work that could damage the flooring.
*If cabinets are to be installed on top of the flooring (including islands), that area of material must be fully adhered to the subfloor (including an additional 2-6cm beyond the cabinets and islands).
*To minimize shade variation, mix and install planks from several cartons.
*Inspect all planks for damage before installing. If you have any concerns about the product fit it before installation.
*Use cementitious patching and leveling compounds that meet or exceed maximum moisture level and pH requirements. Use of gypsum-based patching and/or leveling compounds which contain Portland or high alumina cement and meet or exceed the compressive strength of 3,000 psi are acceptable.
*Installation Methods: Floating (on, above or below grade)
*Raft Sizes and Expansion Gaps:
• While Afresh Hybrid have been proven to be very stable relative to other hard flooring types, they can still expand and contract in extreme environmental conditions.
• As the floor is not fixed (i.e. glued) to the substrate, it must be able to move as a raft when encountering directional pressure, requiring the installation of expansion gaps.
• The bigger the raft size, the greater the floor can move, and the requirement for larger expansion gaps.
• If the raft doesn’t have enough expansion allowance, the boards can move against each other, causing issues such as end peaking.
• In the case of Afresh WPC, expansion should always be cut in doorways, with a matching TMoulding installed, to cover the gap.
Maximum Raft Size Allowances: Afresh WPC 10mX10m / Afresh SPC 10X10m
*Expansion Gap Requirements
Floating Applications
• An 8-10mm expansion gap should be left around the perimeter and internal objects such as kitchen benches
• As a general rule, the larger the raft size the larger the expansion gap should be.
• Doorways and adjoining rooms are ideal places to install internal T-Mouldings to separate the floor into smaller rafts.
• Door frames and architraves need to be undercut to allow movement of the raft.
• Skirt board, beading and skirts will adequately cover the expansion gaps.
• Sealant or caulking cannot be used around the perimeter of the floor. This pins the floor in place and does not allow for expansion and contraction. Short runs around internal cabinetry may be used, provided a foam back rod is inserted into the expansion gap and a fillet of sealant is applied over the top of the rod.
* Hybrid flooring is waterproof and reliably secures the flooring panels on all four sides. However, excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mold,mildew, and other moisture related issues like the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment.
*Additional layer of 6 mil poly film or equal vapor retarder with a perm rating of 1 or less may be used as an additional layer of protection.
*A second underlayment is allowed under any currently sold WPC/SPC product with attached underlayment in a residential application. If installed over a second underlayment, this underlayment cannot be greater than 3 mm thick.
II. SUBFLOOR INFORMATION
All subfloors must be clean, flat, dry, smooth,level and structurally sound. The correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a successful installation. Subfloor must be within Australian Standards which allow for height differences of +/-3mm over 1m.
Floor Levels
• Relevant Industry Standards - require that subfloors must have no more than 3mm deviation over 1m.
• Squeaky Floors - Poorly levelled subfloors can cause squeaking in engineered timber, bamboo and laminate floors. Therefore all efforts must be made to ensure your subfloor is within industry standards in order to satisfy warranty conditions.
• Levelling Checks - Using a straight edge tool, levelling checks must be performed, with results recorded in case of future warranty claims.
• Floor Prep - Where levelling is required, detailed logs should be recorded, including post levelling.
Subfloor Preparation
Floor Levelling - Concrete Slabs
• Subfloor must be within Australian Standards which allow for height differences of +/-3mm over 1m.
• Grind high spots and fill low spots with a levelling compound to ensure the subfloor is level.
• Master@Flooring recommends Bostik UL-200 levelling compound.
• Carpet staples or glue residue must be removed and subfloor must be clean to ensure proper installation.
Floor Levelling - Yellowtongue & Chipboard
Correct any changes in height difference by planing, sanding humps (high spots) or by filling depressions (low spots) with timber filler.
Floor Levelling - Existing Floorboards
• When direct sticking, previously coated timber surfaces should be sanded and be free of dust, oil or contaminants to ensure adequate adhesion between old and new flooring can be achieved.
• Height differences of more than 3mm +/- over 3 meters must be levelled.
• Boards will be more stable if laid at a 90 degree angle to the existing floorboards.
Moisture Barriers & Underlays
• Paint on Moisture barriers. Master@Flooring recommends Bostik Moisture Seal. Correctly applied, this is one of the most effective moisture barriers. .
• Builders Plastic. Correctly installed, thick black builders plastic with a minimum 200 micron thickness is suitable for installation over concrete slabs to act as an effective moisture barrier.
Best Practise Tips
• Pre-select boards that blend best with matching scotia, skirts and trims.
• Stagger boards to ensure a more favourable overall appearance of the floor. Boards in adjacent rows should be staggered at mid point when the boards are equal length. When installing boards of random length, ensure that the staggered length is at least 200mm. End boards must be greater than 300mm in length to prevent gapping.
• Check door and door frame clearances to ensure that doors will move freely without contacting the floor surface.
• Although floating floors can be installed in any direction, as a rule, they are usually installed perpendicular to a window. Installing the floor parallel to the longest wall tends to make a room appear larger.
• You will get better results by laying two or three rows in advance to get an eye pleasing distribution of the plank.
NOTE: If the wall is uneven, the floorboards must be adapted to its contours. Mark the floorboards with the contour of the wall. Do not forget to leave a 8-10mm space to the wall.
A. Wood Sub floors
Do not install material over wood subfloors that lay directly on concrete or over dimensional lumber or plywood used over concrete.
1. Do not apply sheet plastic over wood subfloors.
2. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth. Crawl space clearance from ground to underside of joist is to be no less than 45cm and perimeter vent spacing should be equal to 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space area to provide cross ventilation. Where necessary, local regulations prevail.
3. All other subfloors - Plywood, OSB, particleboard, chipboard, wafer board, etc. must be structurally sound and must be installed following their manufacturer’s recommendations. Local building codes may only establish minimum requirements of the flooring system and may not provide adequate rigidity and support for proper installation and performance. If needed add an additional layer of APA rated underlayment, fasten and secure according to the underlayment manufacturer’s recommendations.
4. Resilient flooring is not recommended directly over fire-retardant treated plywood or preservative treated plywood. An additional layer of APA rated 0.65cm thick underlayment should be installed.
B. Concrete Sub floors
1. Floors shall be smooth, permanently dry, clean, and free all foreign material such as dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils, and old adhesive residue. The surface must be hard and dense, and free from powder.
2. New concrete slabs must be dry. Maximum moisture level per CaCl test method is 8 lbs. per 1000 in 24 hr. Maximum level for ASTM 2170 In-situ Relative humidity test method - 90%.
3. Do not install over concrete with a history of high moisture or hydrostatic conditions. Excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mould, mildew, and other moisture related issues like the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment. Afresh WPC /Afresh SPC does not warrant nor is responsible for damage to floor covering due to moisture related issues.
4. pH level of concrete should be between 7-10.
5. The final responsibility for determining if the concrete is dry enough for installation of the flooring lies with the floor covering installer.
NOTE: IT MAY NOT BE THE FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THESE TESTS. IT IS, HOWEVER, THE FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THESE TESTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED, AND THAT THE RESULTS ARE ACCEPTABLE PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE FLOOR COVERING. WHEN MOISTURE TESTS ARE CONDUCTED, IT INDICATES THE CONDITIONS ONLY AT THE TIME OF THE TEST.
C. Existing Floor Coverings
Flooring can be installed over most existing hard–surface floor coverings, provided that the existing floor surface is fully adhered, clean, flat dry structurally sound and free of deflection.
Existing sheet vinyl floors should not be heavily cushioned and not exceed more than one layer in thickness. Soft underlayment and soft substrates will compromise the product's locking ability as well as diminish its indentation resistance.
Installation is NOT allowed over any type of carpet.
Do NOT install over wood floors adhered to concrete.
Never use solvents or citrus adhesive removers to remove old adhesive residue. Solvent residue left in and on the subfloor may affect the new floor covering.
RAISED ACCESS PANEL SUBFLOORS
Raised access panels must be stable, level, flat, free and clean of existing adhesives 60cm x 60cm panels are recommended.
Lippage (variation of height) between of panels must not exceed 0.75 mm.
Gaps between panels must not exceed 1mm.
There should be no deflection of the individual panels – Concave less than 0.75 mm.
Flatness 3mm in 3m.
Stagger the flooring tiles/planks to overlap the access panels.
Telegraphing of access panel seams may be visible and is not considered a product defect nor warranted by the flooring manufacturer.
If needed overlay the panels with a 6 mm plywood and properly fasten to the access panels prior to the installation of the floorcovering. Prior to underlayment installation, repair any loose or unstable panels. Use the appropriate installation methods for the product.
D Radiant Heat:
Hydronic only - Radiant heat components must have a minimum of 1.3cm separation from the product. This is the only type of radiant heat system that is approved. Radiant heat system must be on and operational for at least 2 weeks prior to installation to reduce residual moisture within the concrete. Three days prior to installation lower the temperature to 18° C , after installation gradually increase the temperature in increments of 1° C to avoid overheating. Maximum operating temperature should never exceed 27°C. Use of an in-floor temperature sensor is recommended to avoid overheating.I
II. INSTALLATION
Tools: Tape Measure, Utility Knife, Jigsaw, Tapping Block or Rubber Mallet, Pull Bar, 10cmSpacers, T-Square, Safety Glasses, Broom or Vacuum and, if necessary, tools for sub floor repair.
Floating Installation
Afresh WPC/Afresh SPC flooring is designed to be installed utilising the floating method. Proper expansion space 8-10mm is required. Undercut all doorjambs. Do not fasten wall mouldings and or transition strips to the planks.
Tile patterns must be installed in a staggered (offset) brick pattern. Minimum 1/3 offset ½ offset is preferred.
1. Before you start with the installation, it is important to determine the layout of the flooring. Proper planning and layout will prevent having narrow plank widths at wall junctures or very short length pieces at the end of rows.
2. As with all plank products, install the planks parallel to the longest exterior wall.
3. Determine if the starter row will need to be cut. If the first row of planks does not need to be trimmed in width, it will be necessary to cut off the unsupported tongue so that a clean, solid edge shows towards the wall.
4. Installation of the product must start from the left side of the room, working to the right when working in front of the planks or facing the starting wall. Use spacers along the walls to maintain proper expansion space 8mm and align the first plank.
5. In stall the second plank in the row by aligning and dropping the end tongue over the end groove of the first plank. Apply light pressure to join the two planks together.
6. If needed use a rubber mallet to fully engage the short side of the plank by lightly tapping the plank to engage and sit flush with the adjacent plank. Maintain an expansion gap of approximately 8mm from the wall. Repeat this process to complete the first row.
7. Start the second row by cutting a plank to the desired length. Keep in mind that the plank must not be shorter than 15cm to achieve the best appearance.
8. Install the first plank in the second row by inserting the long side tongue into the groove of the plank in the first row. This is best done with a low angle of the plank. Maintain light pressure into the side seam as you rotate the plank to the subfloor. Repeat the process with additional planks to complete each row. Very little force is required to seat the tongue into the groove. You should feel the tongue lock into the groove.
9. It is critical to keep the first two rows straight and square, as they are the “foundation” for the rest of the installation. Check for squareness and straightness often.
10. Continue installing planks and make sure to achieve a random appearance with end pieces of minimum 25cm. Check that all planks are fully engaged; if a slight gapping is found, the gap can be tapped together by using a tapping block and a scrap of flooring to cover the tapping block in order to avoid damages on the planks.
11. To fully engage the short end, apply light pressure and press down to engage the end joint. If the end is raised use a nonmarking rubber mallet to lightly tap the end (tongue side) about 2.5cm from the seam. Do NOT tap directly on the seam.
12. When fitting under door casings, if necessary, a flat pull bar may be used to assist in locking the planks.
13. When fitting around obstacles or into irregular spaces, planks can be cut easily and cleanly using a utility knife with a sharp blade. It is often beneficial to make a cardboard template of the area and transfer this pattern to the plank.
14. Protect all exposed edges of the flooring by installing wall moulding and/or transition strips. Make sure that no plank will be secured in any way to the sub floor.
15. For wet areas such as bathrooms caulk the perimeter of the floor with a silicone caulk.
16. Protect the finished flooring from exposure to direct sunlight to reduce fading and thermal expansion.
IV. FLOOR MAINTENANCE
Your Afresh WPC/ Afresh SPC floor is designed with low maintenance in mind. Follow these simple steps to achieve many years of enjoyment from your floor.
Preventative Care TipsPreventative measures are very important in maintaining timber floors.
Clean the floor regularly using dry cleaning methods. Suitable methods include using a microfibre spray & mop system, soft broom or vacuum with a soft brush attachment only. Regular removal of surface dirt and grit will prevent the surface from being scratched. To remove water soluble dirt, clean using a PH neutral Wood Floor Cleaner. First dry clean the floor to remove surface dirt, etc. Spray the surface sparingly with Wood Floor Cleaner and clean using a microfibre cleaning pad. Rinse cleaning pads regularly in clean water during use and replace when dirty. Most cleaning pads can be washed in a washing machine after use, check the manufacturers recommendations.
• In areas of excessive traffic and wear, please make use of runners or area rugs.
• Use felt protectors under heavy pieces of furniture and chairs.
• Use protective mats at all exterior entrances. Do not use rubber-based furniture or mats as the rubber may leach into the floor.
• Spiked heels or shoes in need of repair can severely damage your floor.
• Keep animal nails trimmed to prevent excess scratching.
• Protect your floor by using a dolly for moving furniture or appliances. Try not to slide or roll across the floor.
• Maintain relative humidity levels between 30% and 70% and temperature between 15-30°C
• All doorways and adjoining rooms should have expansion joints.
• Sweep or vacuum as often as necessary to remove any loose dirt or grit before it can scratch the floor.
• Use a slightly damp mop only – avoid excessive amounts of water. Steam mops must not be used.
• Oil soaps, wax, liquid or other household products may affect your coating and should be avoided.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight through the use of blinds or curtains.