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Antique Collection - Installation Instructions

DO'S AND DO NOT'S INSTALLATION SHEET
ANTIQUE COLLECTION
IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE INSTALLATION OF FLOORING
10-15-08
Oiled flooring is not a new concept; it has been used in Europe for centuries. In Europe, where a real natural looking floor has been in demand for quite some time, oil finishes account for almost a third of all wood flooring finishes. Oil has been used on floors in European Museums, Historical Buildings, French Chateau's and Castles.
We are sure you will love the benefits and ease of repair associated with oiled flooring.
We are providing a brief explanation of the Do's and Do Not's during and shortly after installation.

Due to the fact, that the flooring has been recently oiled these guidelines must be followed to maintaining a great looking finish.
DO'S:
  1. Do mix wood from several boxes of flooring during installation.
  2. Do make your best effort to avoid dragging or dropping tools.
  3. Do use straps, tapping blocks and wall spacers to ensure tight joints during installation.
  4. Do use appropriate removable cleating when starting in an area that will require traffic during the beginning of the installation. This will allow a stable base to push the floor against to keep it straight and tight until you reach a wall where you can use wall spacers.
  5. Do clean up glue immediately as you install flooring. A dry or dampened cloth with distilled water is best.
  6. Do clean up any liquid spills and wipe dry using a terry cloth towel.
  7. Do wipe away any dirty finger prints, pencil lead, or any other smudges from the surface as you go with a Terry Cloth Towel.
  8. Do use a soft bristle brush on a vacuum or broom to clean up dirt and saw dust on flooring.
DO NOT'S:
  1. 1. Do not use any kind of tape on the surface of the flooring including tapes which you may have used on other floors. This will damage the finish.
  2. 2. Do not use any urethane or solvent based cleaners on the surface, including but not limited to: (Mineral Spirits, Acetone, Paint Thinner and Lacquer Thinner.)
  3. 3. Do not allow liquids to pool or stand on oiled surface for long periods.
  4. 4. Do not drag your feet (Rocks on shoes) or tools on the floors surface.
  5. 5. Do not wash the flooring until an initial cure time of 21 days has elapsed. See Care and Maintenance sheet for additional cleaning instructions.
RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Wood Cellar Ltd.
ANTIQUE COLLECTION ENGINEERED PLANK FLOORING
10-15-08

Before starting installation be sure you have read the: DO'S AND DO NOT'S INSTALLATION SHEET
RESPONSIBILITY OF USER/INSTALLER/OWNER
Engineered hardwood floorings are natural products that will give a warm, beautiful, and lasting comfort to any home. Owing to their natural origin, however, they may have occasional “natural characteristics”. WOOD CELLAR has adopted the highest possible manufacturing standards for its engineered-floorings, within the limitations of the natural materials, and, based on the accepted standards in the industry, defect-tolerances and variances of maximum 5% is allowed. These allowances cover either natural defects within the wood-materials themselves, and/or process/manufacturing defects that may take place in working specifically with this kind of material.
As a responsible manufacturer WOOD CELLAR has selected and graded all the materials and products before, during, and after manufacturing, within its maximum capabilities. Before commencing with the installation of WOOD CELLAR flooring, it should be determined and ensured that all the installation's preconditions and guidance specified hereunder could be met or exceeded.
The User/Installer/Owner of WOOD CELLAR floorings has the final responsibility pertaining to the inspection and acceptance of quality, grade, workmanship, surface-finish, color, and visual aspects of WOOD CELLAR floorings. The responsibility is also applicable during his/her/their absence from the location of the installation(s).
The installer must also utilize the product selectively and methodically. Floor material must be carefully checked and judged prior to installation; never install any damaged or defective boards. Once any floorboards are glued-down, nailed down, cut or permanently installed, they would be deemed as accepted by the User/Installer/Owner.
The installer must also make judgements concerning the placement, the cutting, the sorting and eventually the rejected board(s), if there are any. The use of touch-up oil and filler meant as corrective measures during installation should be accepted as a standard method and normal procedure.
In the case that any individual floor-board(s) is questionable in respect of its quality, grade, workmanship or surface-finish, while any cutting or placement for that board(s) is determined as not possible, the Installer should put the board(s) aside and away from installation.
If by any chance any questionable board(s) is installed, WOOD CELLAR's maximum liability for this occurrence is limited to the replacement of that board(s), plus maximum 5 % extra-footage, and limited to the material only. WOOD CELLAR is not liable for any other cost(s) related to installation-costs, labor, glue or nails, sub-floor, and any other consequential costs or losses. WOOD CELLAR is also not liable for any mistakes in the judgement or any errors in the installation of the flooring. If proper procedures are not followed, they may jeopardize any Warranty covering the product. Please refer to the Warranty section for information about all the Warranties.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
WOOD CELLAR flooring is engineered in a multi-ply construction with sawn-cut face layer; lumber or water-resistant plywood middle layer; and rotary-cut balancing veneer at the back (see tables below for details). Depending on the product type, installation can be done by the floating-system, glued-down system, or nailed-down system. Please refer to the next paragraphs for all the details, the do's and don'ts, about installations.

PURCHASING, HANDLING AND STORAGE
Tocalculate the footage requirements for any installation, an allowance of 5% extra footage should be added to cover the entire cutting waste and losses during the actual installation.
Exact quantities may vary depending on the type/pattern of installation and the shape and dimension of the installation area.
Pay attention and care in the handling and storage of WOOD CELLAR high quality, ready-made floorings. Every product has been very carefully controlled and inspected under strict standards before they are packed.
Climate controlled storage-space before delivery ensures protection and stability of the product. Boxes must be stored in protected dry place. Allow at least 10 cm (± 4 inch) space under pallets or cartons for air space and circulation. Open the box only just before the beginning of the installation. Particularly during wintertime, floorings in their original, unopened boxes must be acclimatized to the room temperature for at least 48 hours prior to installation. Please bear in mind that ready-made wood-floorings, while hassle-free, need some extra time and care for installation to avoid any damage.

INSPECTION & PREPARATION
Before delivery, make sure that the building where the floorings would be installed are completed, including all moisture or water related works such as masonry, plastering, wall painting, plumbing, gutters etc. All openings should also already be completed (roof; windows; doors). As a rule-of-thumb, ready-made wood flooring should be one of the last items delivered and installed in the building. Any concrete sub-floor must be completely cured and dried (8~12 weeks old), with minimum surface temperature of 15º C (60º F) and maximum moisture-content of 2% dry-weight basis. The ideal relative humidity in the room should be 55%. A moisture test is required using either the Calcium Chloride method or an acceptable moisture meter.
If the building has radiant heating system, the system has to be operated continuously for at least 2 weeks prior to installation at ± 60% of its maximum capacity in order to drive any remaining final moisture away without causing any damage.
The system should then be reduced 3~4 days before the flooring installation started to reach a suitable installation temperature of ± 21º C (± 70º F).
The flooring itself can only be installed over a maximum surface temperature of 28º C (± 83º F).
2~3 days after the installation is completed, the system can be gradually raised again (over an extended period of 1 week) up to the desired level.
Care should be taken that the surface temperature never exceed 28º C (± 83º F). If conditions are outside the parameters above, measurments must be carried out to keep them correct. WOOD CELLAR floorings should be installed within environmental preconditions in which they are expected to perform.
The User/Installer/Owner are fully responsible to test and measure all the moisture content/ humidity/ temperature to be strictly within the correct range as specified.

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 flooring or sheeting, with thickness of ± 0.6 mm (± 0.025”) might be added for moisture barrier whenever 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 (also see DO'S AND DO NOT'S INSTALLATION SHEET)

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. Refer to all drawings provided in separate page for more details.
 
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