How to install Engineered Click Flooring?

Here is our 5G Engineered Oak Fitting Instructions:

1.   Introduction:

Congratulations with your new 5G LOC European Engineered Flooring. This product requires a 48 hour period of acclimatization; stored flat and to remain in the sealed packaging until the date of installation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your site conditions are within the stated requirements. This floor should only be used in dry rooms with normal temperature and air humidity. It should also be installed as a floating floor on a level and solid wooden or concrete subfloor. Any old carpets or PVC should be removed. Please ensure that any concrete subfloor is dry enough before you begin the installation. Use a moisture meter to check that the moisture content of the subfloor is less than 2%. When this product is installed with an Underfloor Heating system, be aware that the moisture conditions are much stricter for this type of installation - 1.8% for Concrete and 0.5% for Anhydrite. We always advise that you contact your Underfloor Heating supplier/installer for more details before installation.

2.   Product Grading:

To establish product consistency; a grading and manufacturing tolerance of 5% has been set to allow for the de-selection of material if deemed by the customer/installer to be unsuitable for the installation. A 5% cutting or waste allowance must, therefore, be taken into consideration and added onto the net square meterage required for the site. We recommend keeping any spare boards for any subsequent repairs in years to come.  Due to the quality of our 5G LOC system full plank replacement is possible to do.

Note: Keep a record of all your moisture readings for later reference and warranty enquiries. We strongly recommend you keep a record of your moisture and humidity readings before installation. These measurements will be required by the manufacturer or supplier if there are any future problems or warranty claims.

3.   General Installation Information:

3A) Preparation - Tools needed: Distance wedges, hand block, installation support wedge, hand saw or electric jig-saw, pencil, measuring tape, drill, chisel + hammer, dustpan and brush.

3B) Check your Subfloor: Carpets must be removed. You can install our engineered flooring on all kinds of subfloors if they are dry, flat, fixed and clean, for example on old wood floors (install at right angles to existing floor), cement/concrete floors or ceramic tiles.  If the subfloor is of other material, please contact Ukflooringcompany who will be happy to advise you. The sub floor must be dry: Always measure the moisture content of cement screed / concrete / anhydrite with professional test instruments and record readings. Cement screed / Concrete needs a long time dry - in worst cases up to one year. Requirements, moisture content limits. For concrete sub floors:  max 2% moisture content

Note: All types of cement screed/concrete/tiles sub floors require a moisture inhibitor - an ageing resistant PE - plastic film, min. 0,20 mm thick. (sd - value - 100m) overlapping minimum 15 cm under skirting board and tape all joints overlapping 300 mm. Our wood floors are dried to a moisture content of 8% + /– 2%. Measure and record.

Note:  Subfloor construction boards, for example particle board/plywood at time of installation may have too high moisture content (maximum acceptable is 14%). Measure and record all readings. Dry, if necessary or replace with boards of correct moisture content. In ALL cases using plywood / particle board an expansion gap of 3 mm should be left ALL round EVERY board.

Flat: Measure always with a straight edge. Unevenness of + 2 mm over 2M is unacceptable and should be levelled.

Tip: Use a suitable flooring compound to level your sub floor – never use foams or other soft materials. Always check the floor afterwards for evenness.

Firm and Clean: Concrete should always be firm and sound, if crumbly, cracked or soft remedial work is required prior to installation of your Flooring. Always check old wooden sub floor nail/screw fixings are sound to eliminate the possibility of unevenness or squeaking. Brush or vacuum clean your sub floor prior to installing - work clean!

3C) Underlay This type of Engineered Flooring, when installed using a floating installation, must be installed over a minimum of 2mm foam or poly underlay (with a density of a minimum of 180kg/m³). If an acoustic underlay has been installed first and is suitable according to manufacturer’s guidelines for the flooring to be laid directly on top, then a 2mm foam or poly-type underlay is NOT necessary. However, if a 1.5mm cork or bitumen type acoustic barrier is used, then 2mm foam, in particular, is still recommended to install over the subfloor. The foam also stops grinding between wood, OSB or plywood sub-floors and should be used. Moisture inhibitors (such as 1000g Polythene) will only assist in protecting the floor from residual moisture when the concrete subfloor is 2% or less. An underlay or moisture inhibitor will NOT cover up an inherent moisture problem that should have been addressed before installation of your engineered wood floor.

Sound insulation material must be installed (over the PE-plastic film, if so required). Use flooring paper, 2mm cork, HD-foams (over 30 kg/m³) 2-3 mm or other approved Underlay materials. Always check with your supplier for suitable product selection.

3D) Underfloor Heating When installing over Underfloor Heating, we recommend the following guidelines should be followed;

• Maximum allowed temperature on top of the floor underneath the floorboards is 29 °C. Please note, it is not allowed to cover this wooden floor with carpets or rugs if installed over a floor heating system.

• Always follow the heating regulation recommendations given by the underfloor heating system supplier.

4.   Installation Preparation

4A) General Measure the area before installation and decide on the installation direction. It is recommended to install the board’s end on to the primary source of light. The width of the last row of boards should not be less than 50mm. If so, adjust the width of the first board to compensate.

ALWAYS REMEMBER - MEASURE TWICE & CUT ONCE!

In narrow hallways/corridors, install the floor parallel to the longest walls. Claims of visibly defective floorboards must be made before installation. Each board should be inspected to ensure that the quality is acceptable. No warranty claims relating to surface defects can be accepted after installation. If you lay it, you have accepted it.

5.   Installation Method using Valinge 5G Technology

Install the first row as shown in diagrams below, 2nd and following rows as per method 2: First only connect board by board as in first row and then angle in the long side of the whole long row into the 1st row. Tip: Connect this second row on top of the first and then slowly slide the whole row towards you, till the groove falls in start position. Angle in by lifting and pushing forward the whole row and fine tune the panel positions with the positioning block as shown below (fig.6).

Others: Your floor can very easily be disassembled, which enables replacement during installation and also during use. See section F below. You can use the floor immediately after installation. The skirting’s (moldings) must be fixed to the walls (never to the floor).

Instructions for installing wood floorings with a locking system based on the Vålinge 5G technology.

6.   After the Installation

Once the installation is complete, the recommended relative humidity (RH) of 45-60 % and temperature of 18-24°C in the room should be maintained at all times. If necessary, install a humidifier/dehumidifier to ensure the best climate for yourself, your furniture and your wood floor. If the environment is not suitably maintained or the floor is not correctly installed as per these instructions, the floor may show small gaps or some tension in the floor, which can be heard with footfall.

7.   Cleaning and maintenance

The floor should be cleaned by using a vacuum cleaner using an attachment for wood floors or brushed using a soft-bristled brush. If required, wipe with a damp-dry (well squeezed) cloth with a mild soap. Any liquid accidentally spilt must be wiped off immediately to prevent staining.

8.   Floor protection

It is recommended practice to use a good quality doormat at every entrance (both inside and out) to ensure dirt and dust particles aren't transferred onto the floor surface. For furniture, soft protective pads should be applied to table and chair legs to avoid any damage when moving furniture.

9.   Warranty

Your UKflooringcompany 5G LOC European Engineered Flooring warranty last for 20 years starting from the date of purchase. Please refer to our warranty section at https://www.ukflooringcompany.com for more detailed information.