Your new wood floor is durable and easy to maintain. This is because when you're walking on your floor, you're not walking on the wood, but on the UV-hardened acrylic finish. This is what protects the wood and keeps your floor looking beautiful. The key to maintaining your floor is to protect and maintain this UV finish, and the following floor care recommendations will tell you how.
After installation
Immediately after installation, vacuum or dust mop your floor to remove any dirt or debris. Then clean the floor with a recommended cleaner.
Routine maintenance
Dust mop or vacuum your wood floor regularly.
Periodically,
'clean your floor with a recommended cleaner. You never need to
wax your floor.
Preventive maintenance
Never clean your floor with water or a wet mop. Excess moisture
can damage your floor.
Never use any kind of wood polish or
solvent-based dressing, they can dull or damage the finish.
Sand
and dirt can be abrasive to wood floors. Place protective mats by
doonuays to keep dirt and moisture from being tracked across
your floor. Area rugs are recommended in front of sinks and tubs
with a non-abrasive and non-discoloring backing. reInstall floor
protectors on furniture legs. Clean up spills quickly before
they get sticky or dry.
Spike or stiletto heel shoes,
especially those with worn heels, can dent and scratch hardwood
floors. They can produce pressure of over 1000 lbs. PSI. Pet
claws can scratch your real wood floor. To minimize scratching,
please keep pet claws trimmed. Please remember that your floor
is not warranted against scratches from animal claws.
Maintain
proper humidity conditions (40%-60%) in your home through out
the year. This may require the use of a humidifier or
dehumidifier, depending on conditions.
Avoid any extreme
changes in humidity from season to season.
Instructions For Storage, Handling, Use and Installation:Since methods and conditions of installation and use are beyond Seller’s control, Seller’s warranty is not effective unless the doors are stored, handled, used and installed in strict accordance with the following provisions:
STORAGE:
Store doors flat on a level surface in a dry, well-ventilated building. Doors must not come in contact with water. Doors should be kept at least 4 in. (102mm) off the floor and must have protective coverings under the bottom door and over the top. Covering must protect doors from dirt, water and abuse but allow for air circulation under and around the stack. Doors must not be subjected to direct sunlight. Do not subject interior doors to extremes of heat and/or humidity. Do not allow doors to come in contact with water. Prolonged exposure may cause damage.
HANDLING:
Doors must always be handled with clean dry hands or while wearing clean dry gloves. Doors must be lifted and carried when being moved, not dragged across one another or any other surface.
INSTALLING:
A wooden door should NEVER be installed in a room where moisture from plaster or cement is still in evidence.The use of 3 hinges on doors of solid engineered range is advised.
SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) Vinyl Plank features the patented Unilin® interlocking planks for easy installation and is installed as a glueless floating floor. The interlocking planks lock together to provide a tight water resistant seam, can be installed over most floor surfaces, and is suitable for both residential and light commercial interior applications.
General Information:
1. Flooring should be transported and stored in a neatly stacked fashion on a smooth flat surface.
2. Acclimate the flooring and the rooms to be installed for 48 hours at a constant temperature between 65° and 85°F (18.33° and 29.44°C) before, during, and maintained after installation.
3. SPC Vinyl Planks should only be installed after other trades have finished and the jobsite has been cleaned and cleared of debris that could potentially damage a finished plank installation.
4. Inspect flooring for damage, defects, or shading issues before installation; claims for visual defects will not be accepted after cutting and/or installed.
5. Mix and install planks from several different cartons during installation to ensure a random appearance.
6. Leave 1/4 inch (6.35mm) for expansion around the entire perimeter of the flooring.
7. Flooring should be protected from direct exposure to sunlight.
Subfloors:
Planks can be installed over a variety of subfloor surfaces including concrete on all grade levels, wood and many existing hard surface floors. The subfloors must be clean, smooth, flat, solid (no movement), and dry. Do not install planks over floors that are sloped for drainage. Any uneven areas greater than 3/16 inch (4.76mm) in a 10 foot (3.05m) radius should be leveled with a Portland cement based patching compound.
SPC Vinyl Plank is resistant to water damage but they do not prevent the transmission of moisture. Care should be taken to keep moisture from collecting on either side of the flooring to prevent the growth of unhealthy mold and mildew
Concrete Subfloors:
Planks can be installed over concrete on all grade levels if a proper moisture barrier is used. A minimum 6 mil polyethylene moisture barrier must be used with concrete subfloors. Moisture vapor emissions should not exceed 5 lbs./24 hour per 1,000 sq. when tested with the Anhydrous Calcium Chloride Test in accordance with ASTM F 1869 or 80% RH in accordance with STM F 2170 “Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Slabs using in situ Probes. Any uneven areas greater than 3/16 inch (4.76mm) in a 10 foot (3.05m) radius should be leveled with a Portland cement based patching compound. Holes and cracks in the cement should be patched, and expansion joints should be filled with a latex patching compound. Newly poured concrete floors must cure for a minimum of 90 days. Please note it is the person installing the floor and/or the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure any moisture or alkalinity issues are resolved prior to installing the floor.
NOTE: Excessive moisture may cause the growth of unhealthy mold or mildew and/or cause staining of the flooring which is not covered by our Warranty.
Wood Subfloors:
Planks can be installed over a smooth, flat, level wood subfloor, underlayment grade plywood, lauan plywood and other underlayment recommended by the manufacturer for use with a floating plank floor. Subfloor should be flat within 3/16 inch (4.76mm) in a 10 foot (3.05m) radius. Wood subfloors must be suspended at least 18" above the ground. Adequate cross-ventilation must be provided, and the ground surface of the crawl space should be covered with a suitable vapor barrier. If installing over a crawl space, a minimum 6 mil polyethylene moisture barrier must be used.
NOTE: Avoid subfloors with excessive vertical movement or deflection because subfloor movement may cause the locking mechanism to wear down, or even break. Indications of excessive deflection are subfloor fastener release, squeaking, compromised or sectional contours such as bowing or dipping in floors and uneven flooring material. Nail or screw subfloor panels to secure boards with excessive vertical movement or deflection prior to installation of the flooring material. Our warranties DO NOT cover any problems caused by inadequate substructures or improper installation of substructures.
Existing Flooring:
SPC Vinyl planks can be installed over a variety of finished floors including single layer resilient sheet flooring/ tile, ceramic, marble and terrazzo. The surface must be in good condition and show no signs of excessive moisture conditions. Grout joints and heavy embossing in tile or vinyl must be leveled so they are flush with the flooring surface. Additionally the tile may require several skim coats to achieve a flat surface. Carpet, heavily cushioned vinyl floors or vinyl floors consisting of multiple layers are NOT a suitable subfloor for installation.
Radiant Heat Subfloors:
SPC Vinyl plankscan be installed over in-floor radiant heating systems provided the subfloor surface does not exceed 85°F (29.44°C) at any point. The initial floor temperature should not exceed 70°F (21.11°C) for 24 hours prior, during, and 48 hours after installation. Thereafter the temperature should be gradually increased to the desired setting up to 85°F (29.44°C). Because heat does affect both plastic and stone, you may need additional room for expansion (larger expansion gap) and contraction (wider base to allow for contraction) Radiant heating systems that are installed on top of the subfloor surface and covered with self-leveling underlayment are not recommended.
Important Notes:
Before removing any existing resilient flooring or tiles, please consult with flooring professional to determine if asbestos abatement is necessary to avoid exposure. See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication “Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings” for detailed information and instructions on removing all resilient covered structures. The products in this carton DO NOT contain asbestos or crystalline silica.
Moisture Barrier and Underlayment:
While it is not necessarily difficult to install a Uniclic floating floor, you may want to consider having it done by a professional installer. Bare concrete floors require a moisture barrier of at least 6 mil polyethylene films with the sheets overlapping 6” and taped to prevent moisture migrating to the flooring. Using foam padding over the moisture barrier is recommended, but not required. Ask you retailer for their recommendations. You may choose to use a 2 in 1 type underlayment (moisture & padding). You can also install over sound deadening underlayment (3 in 1) with this method.
Frequently moved furniture (chairs) should be equipped with felt pads to avoid scratching the floor and checked regularly. Heavy furniture and appliances should be equipped with non-staining large surface floor protectors. Furniture with castors or wheels must be easy swiveling, large surface non-staining and suitable for resilient floors. Do not use ball type castors as they can damage the floor.
Avoid exposure to long periods of direct sunlight. Close blinds or drapes during peak sunlight hours
Use walk-off mats at entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked on to the floor.
Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to remove loose dirt. Avoid using a vacuum with a beater bar.
Clean up spills immediately.
Damp mop as needed using clean water and a diluted floor cleaner. Do not use harsh cleaners or chemicals on the floor.
In the unlikely event that a plank is damaged for whatever reason, the simplest method is to disconnect the planks carefully (protecting the tongue and groove edges) until the damaged plank can be removed. Then replace the damaged plank with a new one and re-assemble the disconnected planks. This typically works for planks that are close to the two long perimeters of a room. For damaged planks that are not close to the perimeter, you may have to remove the damaged planks and insert new pieces without the short and long end grooves.
1. Using a sharp utility knife and a straight edge, cut out the center of the damaged plank by leaving approximately 1 inch (25.4mm) strip attached to the adjacent planks.
2. Carefully cut back from the four corners of the plank to the inside edges in space left by the cut out plank.
3. Remove the plank edges carefully from of the adjacent planks making sure the tongues and grooves of the adjacent planks are not damaged.
4. Using a sharp utility knife, remove the tongue strip on both the long and short ends of the replacement plank. In addition, remove the groove strip of the short end of the replacement plank.
5. Place two-sided carpet tape with one half under the sides of the adjacent planks where the tongues and the groove of the replacement plank have been removed. Only the top side release paper of the carpet tape should be removed. Leave the bottom side of the release paper in place, as it should NOT be taped to the subfloor.
6. Position the replacement plank by engaging the groove of the long side into the tongue of the adjoining plank and pushing down on the other three sides. The carpet tape will hold the replacement plank in place with its adjacent planks. Use a hand roller to further secure the tape.