Bruce Westmoreland - Manual

WARNING!
EXISTING IN-PLACE RESILIENT FLOOR COVERING AND ASPHALTIC
ADHESIVES. DO NOT SAND, DRY SWEEP, DRY SCRAPE, DRILL, SAW, BEADBLAST, OR
MECHANICALLY CHIP OR PULVERIZE EXISTING RESILIENT FLOORING, BACKING, LINING
FELT, ASPHALTIC “CUTBACK” ADHESIVE, OR OTHER ADHESIVE.
These existing in-place products may contain asbestos fibers and/or crystalline silica.
Avoid creating dust. Inhalation of such dust is a cancer and respiratory tract hazard.
Smoking by individuals exposed to asbestos fibers greatly increases the risk of serious bodily harm.
Unless positively certain that the existing in-place product is a non-asbestos-containing material, you must
presume it contains asbestos. Regulations may require that the material be tested to determine asbestos
content and may govern removal and disposal of material.
See current edition of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) publication Recommended Work Practices
for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings for instructions on removing all resilient floor covering structures or
contact your retailer or Armstrong World Industries, Inc. 1 800 233 3823.
The floor covering or adhesive in this package does NOT contain asbestos.
RECOMMENDED CLEANER: Bruce Dura-Luster ® No-Wax Floor Cleaner,
Armstrong TM Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
3/4˝ SOLID HARDWOOD PLANK & STRIP PRODUCTS
FOR MECHANICALLY FASTENED, STAPLE, NAIL OR CLEAT APPLICATIONS
RECOMMENDED CLEANER: Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate
Floor Cleaner RECOMMENDED CLEANER: ForEver TM Finish Cleaner,
Armstrong Hardwood & Laminate Floor Cleaner
ATTENTION INSTALLERS
IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE FOR MINNESOTA RESIDENTS ONLY:
THESE BUILDING MATERIALS EMIT FORMALDEHYDE. EYE, NOSE AND THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHE, NAU-
SEA AND A VARIETY OF ASTHMA-LIKE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HAVE BEEN REPORT-
ED AS A RESULT OF FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE. ELDERLY PERSONS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, AS WELL AS
ANYONE WITH A HISTORY OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIES OR LUNG PROBLEMS, MAY BE AT GREATER RISK.
RESEARCH IS CONTINUING ON THE POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE.
REDUCED VENTILATION MAY ALLOW FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE
INDOOR AIR. HIGH INDOOR TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY RAISE FORMALDEHYDE LEVELS. WHEN A HOME IS
TO BE LOCATED IN AREAS SUBJECT TO EXTREME SUMMER TEMPERATURES, AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM
CAN BE USED TO CONTROL INDOOR TEMPERATURE LEVELS. OTHER MEANS OF CONTROLLED MECHANICAL
VENTILATION CAN BE USED TO REDUCE LEVELS OF FORMALDEHYDE AND OTHER INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF FORMALDEHYDE, CONSULT YOUR DOC-
TOR OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Sawing, sanding and machining wood products can produce wood dust. Airborne wood dust can cause
respiratory, eye and skin irritation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has clas-
sified wood dust as a nasal carcinogen in humans.
Precautionary Measures: If power tools are used, they should be equipped with a dust collector. If high dust
levels are encountered, use an appropriate NIOSH-designated dust mask. Avoid dust contact with eyes and skin.
First Aid Measures in Case of Irritation: In case of irritation, flush eyes or skin with water for at least
15 minutes.
If you have any technical or installation questions,
or to request a Material Safety Data Sheet, please call
1 800 233 3823.
CAUTION: WOOD DUST
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Owner/Installer Responsibility
Beautiful hardwood floors are a product of nature and therefore, not perfect. Our hardwood floors are manufactured
in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit grading deficiencies not to exceed 5%. These grading
deficiencies may be of a manufacturing or natural type. When flooring is ordered, 5% must be added to the actual
square footage needed for cutting and grading allowance (10% for diagonal installations).
• The owner/installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality grade, manufacture and factory
finish. This inspection of all flooring should be done before installation. The installer must use reasonable selectivity
and hold out or cut off pieces with deficiencies, whatever the cause. Should an individual piece be doubtful as to
grade, manufacture or factory finish, the installer should not use the piece. If questions of quality arise contact the
seller immediately.
• Prior to installation of any hardwood flooring product, the installer must determine that the job-site environment
and the sub-surfaces involved meet or exceed all applicable standards. Recommendations of the construction and
materials industries as well as local codes must be followed. These instructions recommend that the construction
and subfloor be clean, dry, stiff, structurally sound and flat. The manufacturer declines any responsibility for job
failure resulting from or associated with subfloor and substrates or job-site environmental deficiencies.
• Use of stain, filler or putty stick for touch-up and appropriate products for correcting subfloor voids is accepted as
part of normal installation procedures.
II. PREPARATION
Storage and Handling
Solid wood flooring should be stored in the environment in which it is expected to perform. Deliver the materials to
an environmentally controlled site. The wood subflooring materials must not exceed 13% moisture content. Measure
and document the moisture content of both subfloor and wood
flooring to determine proper moisture content with a reliable wood
moisture meter. The difference between the moisture content of the
wood subfloor and the wood flooring must not exceed 4% (3% for
plank). Acclimate the wood flooring on or off the job, as necessary,
to meet these requirements. Store in a dry place being sure to
provide at least a four-inch air space under cartons, which are
stored upon “on-grade” concrete floors. Flooring should not be
delivered until the building has been closed in with windows and
doors in place and until cement work, plastering and all other “wet”
work is completed and dry. Concrete should be at least 60 days old.
Job-Site Conditions
• The building should be closed in with all outside doors and windows in place. All concrete, masonry, framing
members, drywall, paint and other “wet” work should be thoroughly dry. The wall coverings should be in place and
the painting completed except for the final coat on the base molding. When possible, delay installation of base
molding until flooring installation is complete. Basements and crawl spaces must be dry and well ventilated.
• Exterior grading should be complete with surface drainage offering a minimum drop of 3˝ in 10´ (7.6 cm in 3 m) to
direct flow of water away from the structure. All gutters and downspouts should be in place.
• Solid flooring may be installed on or above grade level. Do not install in full bathrooms. Installation of a suitable subfloor is
required over concrete.
Subfloor Conditions
• CLEAN: Subfloor must be free of wax, paint, oil, sealers, adhesives and other debris.
• LEVEL/FLAT: Within 3/16˝ in 10´ (5 mm in 3 m) and/or 1/8˝ in 6´ (3 mm in 2 m). Sand high areas or joints. If the floor
is to be glued down, fill low areas with a latex additive cementitious leveling compound of 3,000-PSI minimum
compressive strength such as Armstrong S-194 Patch, Underlayment and Embossing Leveler with S-195 Latex
Underlayment Additive. Follow the instructions of the leveling compound manufacturer but make certain that the
leveling compounds are completely DRY before beginning installation. When mechanically fastening the floor
down, flatten low spots with layers of 15# builders felt, plywood or shims (not leveling compounds). Leveling
materials must provide a structurally sound subfloor that does not affect the holding power of the fastener.
• DRY: Check and document moisture content of the subfloor with the appropriate moisture test. Install moisture
retardant materials if needed or desired. (See plank installation note) Moisture retardant materials must meet
minimum perm standards of 3 > 50 ASTM D4869-88, Type I or F.S. UU-B-790a, Type I, Grade D, Style 1a. Most
asphalt saturated papers, #15 felt or Grade D kraft paper meet this perm rating. Common brown kraft builder paper
and red rosin generally do not qualify as a vapor retarders. Concrete subfloors must be a minimum of 30 days old
before testing begins.
• STRUCTURALLY SOUND: Nail or screw any areas that are loose or squeak. Wood panels should exhibit an
adequate fastening pattern, glued/screwed or nailed as system requires using an acceptable nailing pattern.
Typical: 6˝ (15 cm) along bearing edges and 12˝ (30.5 cm) along intermediate supports. Flatten any swollen edges
as necessary. Replace any water-damaged, swollen or delaminated subflooring or underlayments.
NOTE: Avoid subfloors with excessive vertical movement. Optimum performance of wood floor covering products
occurs when there is little horizontal or vertical movement of the subfloor. If the subfloor has excessive vertical
movement (deflection) before installation of the flooring it is likely it will do so after installation of the flooring is
complete.
Tools & Accessories Needed
NOTE: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO USE THE PROPER ADAPTERS, FACE PLATES, AND STAPLES OR
CLEATS. IMPROPER FASTENERS, MACHINES AND AIR PRESSURE CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE. THE
MANUFACTURER OF THIS FLOORING PRODUCT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY USE OF
IMPROPER TOOLS OR MISUSE.
• Chalk line & chalk
• Hardwood flooring cleaner
• Nail set
• Tape measure
• Hammer
• Electric power saw
• NIOSH-designated dust mask
• Electric drill and bits
• Compressor and hose w/in-line regulator for pneumatic tools
• “Blind’ fastening machine for 3/4˝ (19 mm) flooring (see note below)* w/1-1/2˝ or 2˝ (4-5 cm) fasteners
• Pneumatic finish nailer with 1-1/ 2˝ or 2˝ (4-5 cm) nails or
• 6-8d finish nails
• Moisture meter (wood, concrete or both)
• Broom
• Hand Saw or Jamb Saw
• Eye Protection
• Transition and wall moldings
• Urethane construction adhesive for floors wider than 4˝ (10 cm)
* Use a “Blind” nailing machine designed for installing 3/4˝ (19 mm) hardwood flooring
using staples or cleats. The nailing machine MUST HAVE a protective foot attachment
to prevent edge bruising and finish damage. Use one of the following:
Stanley Bostitch (multiple models) with MIIIFOOTKIT, Powernail (multiple models)
with NailerShoe, Primatech (multiple models) with Trak-Edge.
2nd Floor
(above ground level)
1st Floor
(ground level)
Basement
(below ground level)
Soil Line
• Crawl spaces must be a minimum of 18˝ (46 cm) from the ground to
underside of joists. A ground cover of 6-20 mil black polyethylene film is
essential as a vapor barrier with joints lapped six inches and sealed with
moisture resistant tape. The crawl space should have perimeter venting
equal to a minimum of 1.5% of the crawl space square footage. These
vents should be properly located to foster cross ventilation (Figure 1).
Where necessary, local regulations prevail.
• Permanent air conditioning and heating systems should be in place and
operational. The installation site should have a consistent room
temperature of 60°-75° F (16°-24° C) and humidity of 35-55% for 14 days
prior, during and until occupied.
Figure 1
Protective Foot