INSTALLATION RULES
The installation rules and the step-by-step installation
process that is shown here are universal. The package inserts however, may
contain further, more specific or even deviating instruction or rules for a
particular product that are mandatory and ought to be followed.
1. INSPECTION FOR MATERIAL DEFECTS
Inspect your solid wood planks thoroughly for their quality
to prior and during installation. Flooring planks with visible defects or
damages must not be installed. The installation must take place under daylight
conditions or with excellent artificial light to make sure that any possible
damages or faulty planks can definitely be detected. Surface inspections are
carried out best in a standing upright posture. Conditions of angular light or
back light are not to be used for inspecting or detecting things like surface defects,
problems with the surface flushness or scratches within the installed area.
2. ACCLIMATISING PRIOR TO INSTALLATION
The solid wood planks must acclimatise for a period of at
least 48 hours at temperatures above 17° and humidity between 50-65% in that
room that in which they are to be laid. That means the closed packages have to
adjust to the climatic conditions in the room. If the climate in the storage
location and the installation room are considerably different, the
acclimitisation time should be longer. If the climate differences are very
small the acclimatisation period can be shorter. Please store the packages flat
on a base without opening them. Paying attention to these guidelines is
especially important for new buildings, because humidity levels tend to be
particularly high here.
3. NO INSTALLATION IN AREAS SUBJECT TO SPLASHING WATER
NO INSTALLATION IN
PERMANENTLY MOIST/WET ZONES
Solid wood planks must not be installed in areas where
splashing shower may get on to the floor. Standing water will permeate into the
wood and can lead to permanent damages. Solid wood planks should not be
installed in permanently moist rooms or wet surroundings (saunas, bathrooms
etc.) because the danger of penetration with moisture can never be ruled out
completely. If solid wood flooring is supposed to be installed in a bathroom,
it is important to make sure that it is not installed in areas subject to
splashing water (i.e. from shower, bathtub, lavatory or sink) and that the
relative humidity in the room stays within the normal range between 50 and 65%
continually, any information of puddles and moisture penetration must be
avoided all around the corners of the room, for the joints as well as for the
whole flooring area.
4.CONDITION OF THE SUBFLOOR
Any existing subfloor must be even, dry and sufficiently
stable. Larger depressions should be evened out using standard commercial
fillers. the surface of the subfloor should be free of cracks and without any
breaks or tears. Loose subfloors or insufficiently stable subfloors
(PVC-/textile flooring) need to be removed. Mineral subfloors/screed need to be
sufficiently dry. It is always required to have the subfloor that will
accommodate the sub-structure and the flooring tested and inspected by an
expert/flooring specialist (this should include professional measurement for
residual moisture levels). Please also refer to the information in the special
chapter on Subfloors.