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Installation Instructions

Who will provide installation?

When you purchase from BreezeWood Hardwood Flooring, you maintain complete control over who completes your installation. We do not have installers, nor do we contract out installation. However, we can provide you with contact information for reputable and experienced independent installers whom our past customers have recommended. This is often advantageous to the customer since they are not required to purchase the flooring “supplied and installed” for a blended price.

 

Installation Instructions

Before you Install [PDF]
Installation Guide for all Hardwood Flooring Types [PDF]

 

IMPORTANT

Be sure to read the Installation Guide prior to picking up your flooring order to ensure the job site is prepared properly and the time line is planned out prior to the hardwood flooring arriving on-site.

Be sure to provide a copy of the Installation Guide to the individual who is installing your hardwood floor and ensure it has been reviewed in full prior to installation.

 

General Rules

  • ¾” solid wood flooring is intended for installation on or above grade only.   For installation below grade, special precautions must be taken including an assessment of the humidity level, seasonal variations in humidity and moisture testing of the subfloor.   Your hardwood flooring salesperson can best offer you advice in this area.
  • Your flooring should be delivered at least 72 hours prior to installation. Heating and air conditioning should be on so that the flooring can acclimate to the conditions under which it will remain after installation.
  • Our flooring is manufactured in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%.  The defects may be a manufacturing or natural type. These defects are to be trimmed out during the normal course of installation. It is the responsibility of the buyer or buyer’s representative to look for imperfections prior to installation. There is no warranty for hardwood installed with visible defects.  Installation of the flooring constitutes final acceptance, therefore if you have any concerns do not install the flooring. It is the responsibility of the buyer to account for the additional 5% of total square footage needed when placing an order.
  • Moisture content of the subfloor and the hardwood flooring should be measured.   If the difference in moisture content of the hardwood flooring and the subfloor is more than 2%, installation should not proceed until the two are within 2% of each other.
  • Hardwood flooring requires ½” – ¾” expansion space around the perimeter of the floor and at all vertical obstructions within the room.   This space is covered by baseboard and quarter round after installation.
  • Note that wood floors contract in winter and expand in summer.   Use of a humidifier in winter and dehumidifier in summer is recommended.   Be sure to maintain a constant relative humidity level of 45% (30%-50% range is acceptable).   The area you are installing in must be free of any moisture problems.   Do not install over radiant heat sources without consulting your salesperson or hardwood expert.
  • Hardwood flooring should be installed at right angles to the floor joists.   If this is not possible, the subfloor should be built up to a thickness of 1” for proper support and nail holding.
  • High spots on subfloors should be sanded down and re-nailing should be done to eliminate any squeaks or loose boards.
  • As an added precaution, affix a vapour barrier directly over the subfloor to eliminate the possibility of moisture from the level below leaching into the hardwood flooring.
  • Because of the natural variation in hardwood flooring, it is important to work out of 3 or 4 different boxes at a time to ensure a proper blend of shading.   Close attention should be paid to date codes or “batches” as identified on the carton label, to ensure proper mixing or how it may affect layout of the floor.
  • Proper nail spacing is one nail every 8”-10” with at least 2 nails in every board.   Every board should be nailed so that there is a nail within the last three inches of both ends of the board.
  • 2” nails should be used for machine nailing of this product.
  • The following tools are needed:  Tape measure, broom, chalk line, hammer, nail set, pry-bar, circular saw, mitre saw or table saw, and power nailer and mallet.

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