AQUASTOP LAMINATE FLOORING

Installation Guidelines

Important note; each project should be installed by a professional flooring contractor or skilled trades person. The installation process and method selected is the responsibility of the contractor. You must be satisfied that the contractor is qualified to carry out your site installation. Please check with your reseller to locate a licensed /professional installer for your project.Installation in Bathrooms & Wet AreasTo maximise the water resistant performance of AQUASTOP laminate the following installation method must be followed in any area that could be subject to moisture,such as bathrooms or laundry areas. You must seal the locking mechanisms at the junction where the click profiles joinas you install the laminate flooring. You can buy a laminate floor sealant (Dunlop Click Seal)at most home improvement stores inc. Bunnings. In addition, a mould resistant waterproof silicon sealant should be used to completely fill all of the expansion joints around the perimeter of the wet area floor. This will prevent water moving from the floor surface to the underside of the planks which could cause the floor to fail. The wet area floor should not be joinedto a floor surface in an adjoining room. The wet areashould be terminated with a transition trim and sealed appropriately.These additional instructions only apply for wet area locations.Please note: Aquastop laminate is suitable for installation with Under-Floor heating provided that the heating system selected is a Hydronic In-slab system. Correct operation of the floor heating system remainsat owner’s risk.

GENERAL LAYING INSTRUCTIONS: LAMINATE FLOORS WITH CLICK/ANGLE TAP PROFILE

Please read the following instructions thoroughly and carefully before laying the floor:

•Aquastop laminateis designed to be installed floating without glue. The Valinge Click system allows the planks to be joined without the need for adhesive or nail fixing to the sub-floor. In some situations a cross-linked PVA will be required to allow for easier assembly under door thresholds and tight floor spaces.Refer example diagram, Special Installations.Fixed &large objects such as a Kitchen Island Bench should not be placed on a floating install; laminate must be cut in and around the bench or fixed object.

•The cartons must be stored in a cool, shaded and protected dry place (ambient temperature of 18 –25 Degrees Celsius). Never open the packs until the day of installation as to avoid moisture pickup of the laminate. Keep cartons in their original unopened packaging to acclimatise for at least 48 hours.

•Each plank should be carefully checked prior to installation: never install any damaged planks.

•To better blend and balance the natural batch variation the installer should always work from several open cartons of product to create a balanced and natural visual for your new installation. Plan the install before commencement.

•The surface-temperature of the sub-floor at installation should be at least 15°C but never exceed 27°C. For optimum performance the ideal relative humidity should be 45% to 55 % but never below 30% or consistently exceeding 60%. Do not heat or cool the area prior to install.

•A concrete sub-floor should be dry,2.5-4.5%, clean, and free of any cracks. Sub-floor irregularities should not exceed 3 mm in every 3 meters, in all directions. If concrete sub-floor is required a cement-based floor-filler should be used and allowed to dry. All wooden substrates must be dry, free of loose or squeaky planks or joists, screw fix & nail if required.

•A recognised acoustic underlay with a minimum thickness of, 2 or 3 mm incorporating a PE Moisture barrier or similar must be used on the flooring to reduce sound transmission and to retard moisture ingress. This should be placed over a dry, flat substrate, with joins neatly taped. Joining between the plastic sheets should have sufficient overlap and/or sufficient tight joins to avoid leakage of vapour from underneath. Recommended overlap should be at least 20cm.

•If you are using an alternate acoustic underlay that does not incorporate a Moisture Film an age resistant polyethylene membrane plastic sheet(0.2mm thickness) for vapour barrier is required and necessary for a floating-system installation.

•The Underlay / Moisture Film should be kicked up the skirting boards on perimeter walls to avoid moisture ingress.•Ensure that the sub floor is thoroughly cleaned to avoid mould growth. Should the RH of the sub-floor be above 95%, the flooring should not be installed?This is strictly prohibited.

•An allowance of at least 12-15 mm on each edge / perimeter should be provided to accommodate floor expansion. Please allow for expansion around heating tube outlets, connection with tiles and fixed items where the floor is installed.Room to room expansion at doorways is highly recommended.

•Use spacing-wedges during the installation to assist in maintaining the correct expansions gaps.

•Bigger rooms (e.g. halls,assembly-rooms) will require a larger allowance for expansion joins. We highly recommend expansion joins within an appropriate section of the room. As a general guide room widths greater than 6-8 m will require increased expansion provisions. Length runs over 11m will require increased expansion provisions.

•If the client objects to these inclusions we recommend the installer keep a record that the client did not wish to include expansion trims. Wherever possible each room should be treated as a separate install, this will assist in reducing floor movement.

•The widely used formula to calculate the expansion (for floating-system) across the width of the installed floor is 1.5 mm expansion for every 1 meter of floor width. •We recommend the planks to be installed lengthwise against the longest wall of the room,starting from the corner furthest from the entrance. This will enhance the visual appearance.•The plank in the last row must not be less than 300 mm. Therefore measure and plan the floor before the installation begins to calculate the first and last plank.

•REMEMBER: Check your floor continuously during installation. Installed defective boards can be easily replaced No claims will be entertained for any plank defects after installation. If in doubt leave it out,…. or cut it out!

•When installing the laminate floor through several adjoining-rooms,expansion-joins must be provided at door ways to allow for normal expansion and contraction.When using the floating-system installation in a corridors and hallways, length-wise installation is required.

•When the floating-method of installation is employed, skirting-boards should be installed by fixingthem directly to the adjacent wall, never fix them onto the floor-boards. This is to allow the floor to move freely without restrictions from skirting or door jambs etc. Do not install large fixed objects& kitchen benches directly on a floating install.

•Your laminate floor is ready to walk on immediately after installation. If the floor requires cleaning after installation please make sure cleaning and maintenance is done as per the instructions detailed below. Any cleaning should be done using only damp-dry mop, never use a wet mop or stem mop to clean the floor. Excessive moisture can and will damage your new floor.

•Claims regarding visible defective floor planks must be made prior to installation. Each plank should be inspected to ensure that the quality is acceptable. No claims relating to surface defects can be accepted after installation.

•The laminate flooring should not be exposed to direct UV / Sunlight, please use sun blinds or window / door coverings to protect the floor surface from excessive heat exposure. Damage will occur that is not covered by our warranty

DIAGRAMS LAMINATE FLOORS WITH CLICK/ ANGLETAP PROFILES.

Sawing / Cutting tip;Laminate floors require attention to detail when cutting, if you are using a cross-cut hand saw or electric drop saw, the surface of the plank should be face up to avoid chipping. If you are using a hand held electric sawing device such as a jig saw then it’s recommended you place the surface, face down to avoid chipping. This will help you achieve a professional look and keep your plank waste to a minimum.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

You have purchased a high-quality, water resistant laminate flooring product; it will not require any special treatment directly after installation.Whilst Aquastop provides a certain level of extra water resistant qualities it remains important that regular care and maintenance responsibilities are required to better preserve your floor. If you follow these general cleaning and required maintenance guidelines your new floor will perform as intended for many years to come.

•Please ensure that an ideal room-climate is maintained whenever possible.Ideal conditions would provide for approximately,45-60% Air Humidity and 21-25°Croom temperatures.This is a comfortable range forindoor climate and provides for optimal health and assists in the overall performance of the floor.

•Do not expose laminate flooring to direct sunlight, please use sun blinds or window / door coverings to protect the laminate flooring from excessive heat & UV exposure.

•Daily cleaning should be done with a vacuum cleaner, static mop or a smooth floor-broom. Any sand or dirt should be immediately removed because they can cause scratches and damage the floor surface. Please ensure no metal screws or sharp edges are evident on the vacuum head. As with all good cleaning practices, water, liquid or food spillage should be wiped or cleaned up as soon as possible.

•Whenever necessary, the floor surface can be cleaned with a well-rung damp-dry mop. Do not use conventional household cleaning solutions and detergents,they are be abrasive and will damage the surface coating. Never use traditional wax or steel-wool on your laminate floor. PH neutral cleaning solutions are required, please observe and follow manufacturer’s instructions.

•It is important that you affix felt strips or suitable protection under any furniture-bases, chair-legs and commonly movable objects. At entry points and for high traffic areas the use of floor mats to remove entry grit and dirt is recommended and will be very useful to help preserve your floor surface coating. Do not drag or push heavy items across the surface of the laminate floor.

•Roller or castor chairs should not be used directly on the floor surface. Protective mats must be placed on the floor surface.

•Additional surface coatings are not required for your pre-finished laminate floor. Once installed its ready to walk on.

•In case of any plank damage on the surface (e.g. by furniture movement etc.), it is possible to remove damaged planks by pulling up the surrounding area and re-fitting a new plank. Professional advice and assistance from a qualified installer or specialist retailer could assist if the situation arises.

Note; only In-slab hydronic heating will be considered under warranty provisions. Other heating methods are not covered by our warranty. Please review carefully with the heating systems guidelines for installation and operational procedures before installing your laminate floor. Your new Laminate Floor is a living material that will expand and contract in shape if moisture or humidity is raised. It may also shrink if moisture or humidity becomes very low. As a natural product,damage from these circumstances may lead to irreversible deformation of the floor if the room climate and humidity is left too high or too low for an extended period of time. In winter months for example if the humidity (RH) in a heated room goes below the specified 45 % the floor may be subjected to conditions that may result in plank changes. In this case you should install an air humidifier to prevent damages to your floor. The same may also be necessary with air conditioned rooms. Disclaimer:Preference Floors has used its reasonable endeavors to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained herein and, to the extent permitted by law, will not be liable for any inaccuracies, omissions or errors in this information nor for any actions taken in reliance on this information. Products must be installed in accordance with relevant installation recommendations and industry best practices.

© Homemirus Pty Ltd trading as Preference Floors.Head Office 02 97381188