M & N Flooring, Inc.
Floating Floor Installation
Pre-Installation Moisture Warning
Do not open flooring packages until you are ready to begin installation. Store the unopened packages in the room where the flooring will be installed for at least 72 hours prior to installation. Room should be dry and at normal (60-75 degrees F) temperature.
Your sub-floor should be clean, smooth, dry and level. There are various ways to conduct the necessary moisture test, including the use of an electric moisture meter or by conducting your own simple moisture test. Just tape a thin plastic film (at least 18"x18") at the edges onto the sub-floor. If you notice moisture accumulation after at least 24 hours, do not install the flooring and contact a qualified installer, or your supplier. This product is not recommended for use in full bathrooms with tubs and showers. M & N Flooring, Inc. can not be held liable for any installation of wood flooring when installed on an improperly prepared sub-floor or where excessive moisture might be present.
Hardwood Floating Flooring Installation Instructions
M & N Flooring hardwood flooring is designed to offer you many years of enjoyment and use, but it is important to note that wood is a natural product with various characteristics.
M & N Flooring wood flooring is manufactured in accordance with stringent industry standards, but it is still the owner/installer's responsibility to inspect each piece as to grade and finish prior to installation. Please make certain that you do not install any pieces that appear defective. For the most pleasing appearance, it is recommended that you lay out and preview your floor prior to gluing.
We urge you to read ALL of these pages before beginning installation of your M & N Flooring hardwood flooring.
Tools & Supplies
The following checklists show the tools and supplies you will need for your floating hardwood flooring installation.
Tools
- Hammer
- L Square
- Utility Knife
- Tape Measure
- Putty Knife
- Pry Bar
- Saw
- Wooden Block
- String Line
Supplies
- Moisture Resistant Glue
- 2" Seaming Tape
- Laminated Poly Film Foam
- Minimum 1/4" Shims or Spacers
Mouldings
(Mouldings are only used on thresholds and other transitions) We recommend a normal base & shoe
moulding for the perimeter. Check profiles at right for the necessary application of transition mouldings (all transition mouldings 7 feet long):
Floating Hardwood Flooring Step-By-Step Installation
After you've completed the pre-installation tasks for installing your floating hardwood flooring, just follow these simple step-by-step instructions to install your new floor.
Step 1 Concrete Sub-floors
Skip Step 1 if you are installing above ground level. If you are installing the floor on concrete below or at ground level, however, you must first install a polyethylene film over the entire floor as a moisture barrier or use Laminated Poly Film Foam. Overlap film seams by at least 6 inches.
Step 2 Lining Up Your Floor
Run a straight, taut string line 3/4" above sub-floor and 1/4" away from the longest wall. Line up your flooring with the string, not the wall. If concerned with the transmission of sound, use Poly Film Foam prior to installing your floor.
Step 3 Install the first row
Install the first row of planks, applying glue to the ends you are butting together, with the groove side facing the wall. Place a 1/4-inch minimum thickness shim or spacer at the edge end of each plank between the wall and the edge of the plank. Make sure that the plank edge is aligned with the taut line. The 1/4" space allows for expansion.
Step 4 Gluing the Planks
On the second row of planks and all subsequent planks, apply a bead of quality moisture resistant wood glue along the entire length of the lower lip of the groove and along the top surface of the tongue, applying glue to all edges. Stagger each plank with a minimum of 12" from the next adjoining plank. After gluing the first two rows, allow the glue to dry approximately 2 to 4 hours before continuing. Take this time to lay out and preview your floor for the most appealing appearance.
Step 5 Continue installation
After the glue in the first two rows has set, continue gluing and installing using a wood block placed squarely against the tongue to tap the blanks into place, side to side, and end to end. Immediately wipe all excess adhesives from the surface using a damp cloth.
Step 6 Finishing the job
Trim the last board to fit, leaving enough room to place a 1/4-inch spacer. Use a pry bar to position the
last plank. Allow at least 12 hours for the floor to set before walking on it. Then remove the spacers and apply the base molding. Take care in nailing the molding to the wall and not the floor,
leaving intentional expansion space under the base molding of 1/4 inch.
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