Laminate Installation Instructions
Premium Laminate is a durable floor covering, not intended as structural material. Laminate requires a clean, dry, secure subfloor that meets building codes.
The following requirements are not intended to supersede federal, state, or local building codes but, as with many other interior finish products, may require modifying existing structural components for successful installation. Owner assumes responsibility for compliance with all building codes.
Laminate floor is suitable for use in climate-controlled (35-65% RH and 60°-85° F) indoor installations only and should not be installed over any floor with a sump pump or in a room with a floor drain. Laminate floor can be installed above, on, or below grade.
A moisture test is strongly recommended to determine if high moisture exists in the subfloor. When using a calcium chloride moisture test for concrete subfloors (ASTM F1869), values must be ≤ 5 lbs/1000ft²/24-hr or < 80% RH with an in-situ probe (ASTM F2170). Moisture readings of wood subfloors must be ≤ 12%.
Acceptable job site conditions, including relative humidity and subfloor moisture conditions, must be maintained throughout the lifetime of the flooring.
Laminate flooring is installed as a floating floor and requires the use of T-moldings in doorways less than 32 inches (0.81m) or if the installation changes direction through the doorway (regardless of doorway size) and in rooms 50 feet (15.24 m) or larger in length or width. Floor movement must not be constrained by glue, nails, screws, hardware, or other fixed obstructions.
- Remove previously installed floor coverings, carpet, or padding. Also remove any wood flooring installed on concrete. Do not remove products unless they are asbestos-free.
- Undercut door frame and wallbase. Slide the flooring at least ¼ inch underneath the door frame and wallbase. Also leave a concealed 3/8 inch minimum expansion space under each.
- Remove bumps or peaks in the subfloor and fill depressions with floor leveling compound to ensure no more than 3/16 inch unevenness per 10 foot span.
- Acclimate unopened product before installation. If there is no time for acclimation, there should be a difference of no more than 25° F and 20% relative humidity between the stocking/transportation environment of the flooring and the final installation environment of the flooring.
- Clean debris from subfloor before installation.
- For concrete subfloors, install vapor barrier with overlapped seams of 8 inches or more.
- For planks without attached underlayment, install over single layer of underlayment appropriate for laminate floors. For planks with attached underlayment, it is acceptable to install Performance Accessories Platinum Underlayment. Make sure to follow the installation instructions, taking special care to seal all foam edges with sealing tape and repair all rips and perforations in the underlayment vapor barrier.
- Inspect each plank. Floor should be installed by blending planks from several cartons at the same time to ensure good color and shade mixture throughout the installation.
- For the first row along strait walls, remove the tongue on all long-side joins and on the short side of the first plank only.
- For uneven walls, trace contour on the tongue side of plank and cut.
- Assemble the first row, tongue side toward wall. Insert the end tongue into the end groove and rotate downward to lock the joints in place.
- Two spacers thick side to thick side = 3/8 inch.
- Provide a 3/8 inch space for expansion on all sides. First piece must be at least 8 inches long. Start new rows with pieces trimmed from previous row. Ensure at least a 12 inch end joint offset.
- At a slight angle, insert the tongue of plank 2 into the groove of plank 1 until the plank edges meet, and then rotate down until the joints lock.
- Join the short end of the plank first. There will be a gap on the long-side joints when the plank is rotated down.
- Raise the outside edge of the plank, as well as the first plank in row 2, upward approximately 1 inch. Maintain this angle as you push the plank in until the plank edges meet. Rotate the plank downward until the joint locks. Repeat these steps to complete the installation. Installation Tip: Place a carton of planks across the end of the row being installed to keep installed planks in place during installation.
- Alternate Tap Method: Align the tongues into the grooves of the long and short side of the planks. Install the long side first by placing a tapping block no closer than 8 inches from either end and tap lightly along the long side until the join is closed tightly. Then tap the end into a locked position using the tapping bloc. Note: Uneven tapping or use of excessive force may damage the joint.
- Ensure there will be a 3/8 inch gap (after the joint is closed) between the plank and the wall for expansion.
- For the last row, align the plank to be used on top of the second-to-last row. Using a full-width plank as a spacer, trac wall contour and cut plank.
- For the last row, install the long-side tongue into the groove with the end joint aligned. Using a pull bar and hammer, work evenly along the length of the plank and lightly tap the joint closed.
- After tapping the long-side joint closed, tap the short side closed, using a tapping block or a pull bar.
- Slide plank under pre-cut door casing and/or frame.
- Tap the long-side joint closed first. Then tap the end joint closed.
- Allow 3/8 inch expansion space around pipes or other fixed objects.
- Remove all spacers
- Ensure floor is able to “float”. Do not nail trim to the floor.
- The entire perimeter of the installation must be sealed with the waterproof quarter round or 100% silicone sealant in accordance with the installation instructions. For sections where the waterproof quarter round cannot be used, seal the perimeter with 100% silicone sealant as follows. DO NOT USE ACRYLIC SEALANT.
- First, fill all expansion spaces with 3/8 inch compressible PE foam backer rod and cover with silicone sealant.
- Prior to installation the moldings, apply silicone sealant to the portion of the molding or transition that will contact directly with flooring surface.
- Install moldings and immediately wipe aware any excess silicone sealant.
- Apply silicone at connections to doorframes or any other fixed objects.