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SURFACE PREPARATION
The sub-floor must be dry; clean; absolutely flat and free from any cracks. Irregularities in the sub-floor flatness must not exceed 1.5 mm every 1 meter ( 0.2" every 10 feet).
When there is a need to level the sub-floor up to the specified flatness, use cement-based leveling compound in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Care should be taken to ensure the surface's moisture-content before any installation is started. Some vinyl floorings or sheeting, with thickness of 0.6mm (0.025") might be added for moisture barrier when required. Ensure sufficient overlaps and tight joints (this is required for floating installation only).
For glue-down installation, ensure that concrete sub-floor has at least 3000-PSI compression-strength. If the concrete is lightweight, the floating installation is recommended.
For nailed-down installation, plywood sub-floor should be provided, with thickness of at least 18 mm (3/4") and with the surface's degree of flatness as specified before. All surfaces must be clean and free of debris, nails, dirt, paints, adhesives, and such. This is also the stage where the trimming, cutting or notching of door bottoms and/or the lower parts of the door casing should be done whenever required, to allow in advance the space for the new and higher flooring.
GENERAL INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
It is recommended to open the box only just before the installation is started. Each floorboard has to be carefully checked prior to installation; put aside and never install any damaged boards. Along this stage it is also recommended to determine about which part of the surface to begin with the installation, and make sketches on the clean surface beforehand if necessary.
Particularly for larger product-types with full, one-piece face, take note that visual differences might be more pronounced from board to board, therefore it is recommended to open several different packages and lay them down beforehand to judge the most pleasant color blend and the best balanced appearance.
Always work out of several different boxes alternately, and always begin installation with the groove side of the floorboards facing to the closest wall. This way, ideally the installation should start from the right corner of the room. It is recommended that the direction of the flooring is parallel to the longest wall in the room (for installation in a corridor, length-wise installation along the corridor has to be ensured).
Allow a minimum distance of 12 mm (1/2") between any flooring-edges and the wall on all sides to accommodate expansions; use temporary spacing-wedges for this purpose (never forget to remove the temporary wedges, once installation is completed).
Place flooring rows alternately between one and the other, stagger the joints to be at least 500 mm (20 inches) apart. The next row of flooring to be laid should begin with boards left from the previous row whenever possible, in order to maximize utilization and to minimize any waste.
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