Description: Nagle Flooring
General Fitting
instructions
Congratulations with your new ‘Solid
Wood Flooring’. Before starting with the
installation, it is critical that you read the
following instructions carefully. Failure to
do so will inevitably result in problems
occurring and invalidate your warranty.
Installer/owner
responsibility
Solid hardwood floors are a natural product and as such are subject to
many variances in both colour and character, this is to be expected at all
times. In order to establish a consistency of product a grading and
manufacturing tolerance of 5% has been set to allow for de-selection of
material if deemed unsuitable for the installation. A 5% cutting or waste
allowance must therefore be added to the net square meters required for
the site to be installed. This product is produced with a manufacturing
tolerance of + or - 1.5% on the dimensions of the board, this should be
considered on installation and where product is out of tolerance that
section dismissed as part of the cutting and waste allowance.
The installer or owner assumes all responsibility for final inspection of
the product quality prior to installation. The installer or owner must
determine that the job site environment and the sub-surfaces involved
meet or exceed all requirements within these instructions; claims will
not be accepted if a fault was visibly noticeable or preventable prior to
installation. These conditions are noted further within.
• All flooring must be stored in the correct conditions prior to installing.
• This product “must not” be stored on site until all sub – floors;
plastering, cement work; decorating and all other wet work is
completely dry.
• The owner has final responsibility to ensure that they have received
the correct species and finish that was selected in store.
• The installer/owner must inspect each board and deselect pieces
with defects whatever the cause, under no circumstances should
these be installed.
• Solid hardwood floors must not be installed below ground level,
conservatories or in bathrooms. Solid hardwood floors must never
be floated.
• It is normal practice to use stain, putty or filler stick for defect
correction or minor dimension differences.
• Always work from 3 to 4 packs at a time mixing boards to achieve
the appearance you require, taking into consideration the texture of
the wood and the natural change in colours. Each floor, even each
board is an individual piece of nature, which is guaranteed to make
your home a place of beauty.
Note: Keep a record of all your readings for later reference and
warranty enquires. We strongly recommend you keep a record
of your moisture and humidity readings prior to installation
and in order to accurately determine acclimatisation. These
measurements “will be” required by the manufacturer or supplier
if there are any future problems.
Acclimatising
your new floor
AS PART OF THE WARRANTY CONDITIONS
OF YOUR SOLID WOOD FLOOR IT IS ESSENTIAL TO
ACCLIMATISE THE PRODUCT PRIOR TO INSTALLATION
The aim of acclimatising wood flooring is to allow the moisture content
of the timber to adjust to the normal expected day to day conditions
within the building once it is occupied.
Prior to installation, it is the installer’s responsibility to ensure that the
internal site conditions are stable and are suitable for the installation of
solid hardwood flooring. A room temperature of between 18 -20ºC
and relative humidity of between 45-55% must be maintained.
In winter, especially when the temperature is 0ºC or below, and the
air is dry outside, we recommend the use of a humidifier to stabilize
site conditions if the site readings are showing below 45% humidity.
Screed / concrete subfloors must be under 4% moisture content using
Tramex / Other non destructive moisture meter (2.5% CM Test / Din
Standard). Ash-felt or bitumen sub-floors are not suitable to take solid
wood flooring, engineered should be considered as an alternative.
Failure to do this could cause ongoing behavioural problems
with the floor and will invalidate the warranty.
The building should be fully enclosed including doors and windows.
Heating should be operational.
All wet work must have been completed otherwise the moisture will
transfer from walls floors and ceilings to the hardwood flooring.
The delivered flooring must be left in the packaging with polythene
wrapping intact. The flooring should be stacked horizontally no more
than 2 to 3 packs high or wide. Break up stacked cartons with battens
to increase air circulation. The use of gas or paraffin heaters should be
avoided. Do not store next to radiators. The flooring must be left in situ,
for 3-7 days before installation. Further checks must be undertaken by
the installer to confirm the solid wood flooring is in equilibrium with the
site it to be installed.
You can expect your hardwood flooring to be supplied at 8 to 10%
relative moisture content at the point of delivery. The correct moisture
content for installation within the UK & ROI climate is 10-12%; this is
why acclimatisation is required. Testing must be carried to ensure the
product is within this window. If the product has moved beyond 12%
action should be taken to reduce the moisture / humidity readings
within the area / product. A reputable installer will have testing
equipment such as “Tramex” to check relative humidity and the
moisture content of the subfloor and wood.
New build and
renovation projects
A new installation site needs to dry out before wood flooring is
delivered. There is nearly always excessive moisture on either new
construction sites or major refurbishment contracts. In these instances
the wood will absorb the excess moisture; resulting in stress issues
such as cupping, expanding and later contraction. Always protect
against excessive moisture ingression, where it helps use
dehumidification equipment to stabilise the site conditions.
‘’Explanation of why the flooring should be one of the last jobs to be
undertaken on site; Other trades can damage an excellent installation
if care is not taken to safeguard against moisture ingression in hard
wood floors. In new building projects moisture is introduced into the
fabric throughout the construction process. Example; Under BS882
a concrete mix of (1:2:4) one cubic metre of concrete will contain
187 litres of water. This will have to dry out to below 4% moisture
content before your flooring is installed. This may take up to a day
per 1mm thickness of concrete to dry out, therefore you must always
take a new moisture reading of the concrete sub floor before
proceeding with the installation.
Under Floor Heating
Please note: This product is “not” guaranteed for use with under floor
heating due to the general movement characteristics associated with
wood when rapid temperature changes occur. Installing this product
over under floor heating “will” invalidate the warranty.
Sub base:
When fitting to a sub base other than battens (Screed, ply, chipboard)
the sub base must conform to BS 8204: Part 1 1987, which states
that it must not deviate by more than + or - 3mm under a 3m straight
edge in any one direction.
Wooden sub structures must be sound and securely fixed. They must
be a minimum of 18mm in depth in order to be supportive. (This
applies to Ply or Chipboard also)
Always show a preference for Ply to be used as opposed to Chipboard.
Ply will offer a better nail fix, there is a good possibility that the nail will
work free from Chipboard. Furthermore Chipboard when damp will
become less resilient if moisture is introduced. Screed / Concrete subfloors
must be under 4% moisture content using Tramex / Other none
destructive moisture meter (2.5% CM test / Din Standard), above this
will cause excessive dimensional change in the wood flooring resulting
in problems such as cupping not covered by the guarantee.
Expansion
All solid wood floors will react to changes in the presence of
moisture within the boards. In the winter months when central heating
is present, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract
which will leave slight gaps between each plank. In the summer
months when the humidity is higher the wood will expand and the
gaps will disappear. This needs to be allowed for during the fitting
process. Therefore it is important when installing a solid floor to leave
the proper expansion area around the perimeter and to ensure the
flooring is fully acclimatised prior to installation. An expansion gap of
15mm must be in place around the “FULL” perimeter of the room.
Flooring must “NOT” be run through doorways in to other rooms,
instead it should be broken in the doorway again allowing 15mm;
this gap is covered by a profile (such as the Elka 3 in 1 system)
that is not fixed to the new flooring.
Please note with a large area (lengths in excess of 10 m) the floor
must be divided with an expansion gap provided on both length and
width. On completion, this gap is again covered by a profile that is not
fixed to the new flooring.
Installation of Floor
All Methods:
On completion of the preceding tasks the following steps should be
followed for Installation.
• Generally you will want the flooring to run the length of the room
towards a natural source of light for aesthetic reasons.
• Under cut the bottom of door frames, wardrobes, etc. to allow for
the floor board and underlay to fit under it.
• Open 4 or 5 packs and “shuffle” the boards to ensure an even
distribution of colour and character.
• If you discover a defective piece DO NOT LAY IT. You are the final
judge of acceptable quality.
•Nature or its dealers will not be responsible for costs associated with
installing, finishing and/or replacing flooring installed with obvious
defects.
• Mark a straight line parallel to the chosen wall, allowing a 15mm gap
for expansion. It may be necessary to scribe the first row of boards
to achieve correct alignment.
• The first board should be laid groove to the wall allowing for
expansion of approx. 15mm between the wall and first board.
• The last board in the first row should be fitted ensuring a 15mm
expansion gap at the head of the board.
• The second row and all following rows should be started with the off
cut from the last board on the previous row.
• It is necessary to ensure that the end joints of adjoining rows are at
least offset 150mm, this leaves the floor stronger and is visually more
attractive.
• Tapping blocks should be used to tap boards together,
direct contact of hammer or mallet on the board edge
is not recommended.
• All perimeter gaps should be covered with skirting or Scotia using
cover strips at thresholds.
Installation
There are 2 methods to install your Solid Wood Flooring:
Nailing on to Wooden Sub-Floor:
• Before you start make sure the subfloor is in good shape. Bouncy,
squeaky or uneven areas must be repaired. Note 18mm plywood,
solid wood or battens hold porta-nails better than mdf or chipboard.
If fitting over an existing floor, install at a right angle to floorboards,
if this is not possible - fit plywood so that the direction can be
changed. The floor will be stiffer and less prone to joints separating
if plywood is used.
• Securing can be done by using a porta-nailer or other form of secret
nailing with nail lengths to be suitable for 18mm solid wood floor
installation. The porta-nailer will fire a nail at a 45º angle through the
tongue in to the batten or ply substructure. Secret nailing should be
spaced at 150 - 200mm intervals. Even small panels must be
secured in a minimum 2 locations.
• For some extremely hard wood species, it may be necessary
to pre-drill nail holes.
Gluing on to Wooden or Concrete Sub-Floor:
• You must use a water-free, alcohol or polyurethane glue, specially
formulated for use with wood flooring. Installation can be by either
the traditional trowel method or by applying a glue batten system
(such as Elka Bond), in all cases follow the instructions of the
adhesive manufacturer.
• With this method, you adhere direct to the sub floor and you do not
need to apply glue to the tongue and groove.
• Any surplus glue that may seep out on to the surface of the wood
must be removed immediately with a damp cloth.
• Flooring straps can be used to pull the boards together and hold
them firm whilst the glue sets.
Wood floor care guide:
Wood floors are a lifetime investment, and decisions concerning them
should not be taken lightly. Routine maintenance should include
protecting the surface finish from moisture and heavy wear which
creates scratches. Our recommended Elka maintenance program
requires more than sweeping and vacuuming.
Consumer Expectations:
Wood floors are NOT impervious to the day to day impact of grit, food,
spills, and water. Preventive maintenance like area rugs, floor protectors
(on ALL furniture on your wood floors), and routine maintenance with
proper hardwood floor cleaner (such as Elka Clean) should always be
exercised (improper products can contribute to additional wear, may
VOID your warranty, and cause failure when recoating.
Good practice:
Do: Place Protector pads on ALL furniture legs resting on your
wood floor.
Do: In high traffic areas use added protection (such as Elka
Protect) to prolong the surface life of your floor. These products
works in conjunction with Elka 3in1 cleaner as part of the
manufacturers recommended maintenance program.
Do: Place walk off mats and area rugs in high traffic areas (make sure
they stay dry and are cleaned underneath on a regular basis).
Do: Perform routine maintenance; this should include sweeping,
vacuuming and/or dust mopping to remove dirt and grit.
Keep this as a regularly scheduled event. Always perform this
process before and after a major event that involves a high
volume of traffic on the floor.
Do: Keep high heel shoes in good repair, as well as keeping your
pets nails trimmed on a regular bases.
Do not: Use WET mops.
Do not: Use ammonia.
Do not: Use dust cleaning substances.
Do not: Track dirt over the surface of the floor, clean immediately.
Do not: Use other general floor cleaning products, only specialised
products for wooden flooring should be considered.
Do not: Wax a urethane or oiled finish.
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Nature Flooring