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PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, CAREFULLY, BEFORE YOU BEGIN INSTALLATION, IMPROPER INSTALLATION WILL VOID WARRANTY.

INSTALLATION GUIDE:

Dear customer, you have just Purchased an SPC Flooring product, produced with the latest technologies. Its exclusive hybrid composition guarantees you optimal performance in humid and temperate situations where other types of PCV flooring are unadvisable.

PRE-INSTALLATION SUBFLOOR REQUIREMENTS

All subfloors must be:                                 

  • Dry
  • Clean: Thoroughly swept and free of all debris.
  • Structurally sound 
  • LEVEL: Flat to 4.7mm per3.3 meters radius

Wood sub-floors must be dry and well secured. Nail or screw every 15cm along joists to avoid squeaking. If not level, sand down high spots and fill low spots with a leveling patch. Make sure all crawl space is open and has proper ventilation.

Concrete subfloors must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, and should have a painted or 200-micron polyethylene vapor barrier between concrete and ground. Subfloor should be flat and level within 4.7mm per 3.3 meters. If necessary, grind high spots down and level low spots with a leveling compound.

Ceramic Tile, resilient tile and sheet vinyl must be well bonded to subfloor, in good condition, clean and level. Do not sand existing vinyl floors, as they may contain asbestos.

INSALLATION TOOLS

  • Tape measure
  • Tapping block (trimmed piece of flooring)
  • Pencil
  • Heel iron/ Pry bar/pull bar
  • Chalk line
  • Crosscut Power saw/ Guillotine
  • 3M Scotch -blue 2080 tape
  • Rubber mallet

STARTING YOUR INSTALLATION

Work from several open boxes of flooring and “dry lay” the floor before permanently laying the floor. This will allow you to select the varying grains & colors and to arrange them in harmonious patterns. Remember, it is the installers ‘responsibility to determine the expectations of what the finished floor will look like with the end user first and then to cull out pieces that do not meet those expectations.

Begin installations next to an outside wall. This is usually the straightest and best reference for establishing a straight working line. Establish this line by measuring an equal distance from the wall at both ends and snapping a chalk line. The distance you measure from the wall should be the width of a plank. You may need to scribe cut the first row of the planks to match the wall in order to make a straight working line if the wall is not square.

You may want to position a few rows before starting installation to confirm your layout decision and working line. When laying flooring, stagger end joints form row to row by at least 30cm/300mm. When cutting the last plank in row to fit, you can use the cut off end to begin the next row. If cut off end is less than 30cm/300mm in length, discard it and instead cut a new plank at a random length and use it to start the next row. Always begin each row from the same side of the room. When near a wall, you can use a pry bar to pry close the side and end joints.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Key installation considerations:

                                                                                                 RESIDENTAL AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

Subfloor flatness tolerances

Flat to 4.7mm per 3.3meters radius

Vapor barrier recommended

Painted or 200 micron

Acclimatisaton requirements

24 Hours recommended

Transitions requirements

(T-Mold) for large spaces

Requirements when in excess of recommended floor coverage.

N.B. Recommended coverage in an uncontrolled environment is 20lin.M x15lin.m

Transitions requirements

(T-Mold) Doorways /Thresholds

Required if outside of recommended floor coverage of 20lin.m x 15lin.m

Installation over existing ceramic tile floor

Filling in grout lines wider than 5mm/deeper than 5mm is required

Glue down installation

Not recommended / except for stair cases

Subfloor RH/MVER (Moisture vaporemission rate) recommendations.

85%RH/8 lbs. MVER

(Moisture Vapor emission rate)

Radiant heat

Not to exceed 28°C

Perimeter Expansion requirements

Expansion gap must be 10mm within the total floor coverage. Expansion gap to be covered with a ¼ round or skirting on perimeter walls and around heavy fixed objects

Optimal interior

Environmental conditions

18-30 °C

60% – 80% RH

Fitted cabinets

Do not install cabinets on floor planks/panels

Extreme Temperature

Should be maintained between 3°C and 50°C

Definitions of “waterproof”

Structural Integrity of flooring will not degrade due to contact with moisture /water.

Inspection: Prior to insulation, inspect planks in daylight for visible faults/damage. Check if Subfloor/site conditions comply with the specification described in these instructions. If you are not satisfied do not install and contact your supplier.

BEFORE LAYING:  Measuring the room at right angle to the directions of the Planks. For best visual effect, plank in the final row should be at least 50mm wide (minimum), or half width of plank. For this purpose, planks in the first row can cut to smaller size. Shuffle planks in order to obtain a Pleasant blend of shades. Lay Planks preferably following the direction of the main source of light. We recommend laying on the floor crossway. (ensure there is sufficient cross ventilation running under the existing wooden floor) to the existing floorboard. Planks must not be nailed or screwed to the subfloor. Baseboards are molding must not be fixed in a way which restricts the movement of the floor.

INSTALLING THE FIRST ROW

  • Starting from the left with the tongue facing the wall, carefully place the first board in place.
  • Place 10mm spacers between the short and long side of the planks and the wall.
  • Always position one of the spacers between the wall and where the planks join.
  • The end joints of the planks in the first row are assembled by inserting the tongue side into the groove side of the previous plank at a low angle. Gradually lower the plank down flat until the end joint closes, insuring that the plank are perfectly aligned. Install the remaining full planks in the first row.
  • Cut the final board piece to the length, never the less than 30cm/300mm.
  • The remaining piece cut off from the last plank in the first row may serve as the first plank in the second row provided it is at least 30cm /300mm long. Always stagger the end joints from row to row to a minimum of 30cm/300mm.

CONTINUING THE INSTALLATION

  • Begin the second row with the cut piece from the first row. If the cut piece is shorter than 30cm/300mm, do not use it. Instead begin with a new board that is at least 30cm/300mm in length and allow 30cm/300mm between the end joint on the adjacent planks.
  • Position the long side of the first board in place overlapping the groove of the planks in the previous plank. Angle the plank up and gently pus forward until the plank locks into the previous row. Slide the board to the left /right as necessary to align the edges of the end joint.
  • Carefully push the board down until the tongue and groove lock together on the side and ends.
  • It is important to make sure the first three rows are straight and square as they can affect the entire Installation.
  • Install the remaining boards and rows in the same manner.
  • Cut the last board to size if necessary, complete tight fit by tapping the board into place with a pull bar.
  • Whenever practical, use cut pieces from previous rows at the starter board to reduce waste.
  • Maintain 30cm/300mm spacing between end joints after the first four rows for the best appearance.

FINISHING THE INSTALLATION

  • After the planks have been installed, remove all the spacers from the perimeter of the room.
  • Install Transitions/reducers/end moldings. Do not fasten any floor finishing moldings through/to/on the floor.
  • Predrill and install Quarter round or skirting. Moldings must be sufficient to cover the 10mm expansion gap. Always fasten these to the wall and not the floor planks.

Warning: heating matts work very well under carpet, tile and stone; however, we do not recommend placing them directly underneath the Diamond Core vinyl floor. It is best to install Diamond Core vinyl flooring over embedded floor heating systems. Refer to manufactures/distributor for installation and operating instructions.

PROTECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR FLOOR

Lasting beauty can be achieved through purchasing a quality floor covering and providing proper on- going maintenance. Please fallow the recommendations in this guide to retain the fresh look and protect the floor finish.

  • After installation, we recommend a first clean to remove any loose dirt or debris that may have been caused during installation. Also, in order to protect the floor surface from walked in abrasive dirt and debris we recommend the use of an effective barrier system to limit the amount of moisture, dirt and grit that may enter the area, by using a good walk on/off mat.
  • Check any new cleaning agent on a small test patch of the floor in an inconspicuous area.
  • Avoid using harsh cleaners or any cleaner with an ammonia base.
  • Furniture should be moved onto the newly installed floor using an appliance hand truck over hardboard runways or pulled on towels/blankets into position and be fitted with felt pads to protect your flooring surface.
  • Avoid exposures to long periods of direct sunlight. Close blinds or drapes during peak sunlight hours. Floor covering subjected to excessive heat and light it subject to thermal degradation. Use appropriate precautions to protect the floor.
  • Natural ventilation or intermittent air conditioning in vacant/holiday homes should be used.
  • Oil or petroleum-based products can result in surface staining. Do not track asphalt driveway sealer or automobile oil drips onto the vinyl floor covering.
  • Use non-staining mats. Rubber will discolor the floor or cause it to turn it yellow.
  • Frequently moved furniture should be equipped with felt pads to avoid scratching the floor. Heavy furniture and appliances should be equipped with non-staining large surface floor protectors.  Furniture with Castors or wheels must be easy swiveling, large surface non-staining and suitable for resilient floors. DO NOT use ball type castors as they can damage the floor. For office chairs soft wheel castors must be used.
  • Use felt floor Protectors under furniture.
  • Do not allow pets with unclipped nails to damage your flooring. It may result in sever scratching to the surface. The same is true for any high/stiletto heeled shoes that do not have proper tips on the heels.
  • Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to remove loose dirt. DO NOT use vacuums that use a beater bar or turn beater bar off.
  • DO NOT use electric brooms with hard plastic bottoms with no padding.
  • Clean up spills immediately.
  • Micro mop (damp) as needed using clean water and diluted floor cleaner. DO NOT use harsh cleaner or chemical on the floor. DO NOT use abrasive scrubbing tools. DO NOT use detergents, abrasive cleaners or “mop and shine” products.
  • Vinyl flooring, like other smooth floors, may become slippery when wet. Allow time for floor to dry after washing.
  • If your floor has been exposed to excessive amounts of water due to flooding, do not panic, Diamond Core is waterproof. Simply remove the water as quickly as possible. A Humidifier should be promptly turned on in the room to reduce the moisture levels back the normal. DO NOT dry the room to below the normal moisture level that existed previously.
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