Installation guidelines
Portfolio strand bamboo with Xcora™ technology, prefinished, wide-plank floating floor featuring a
Välinge-patented, self-locking system
Pre-Installation Notes
Please read Teragren LLC’s warranty, maintenance instructions,
and ALL of the following guidelines before opening any packaging or
beginning your flooring installation. All information within this
document is provided as a courtesy to our customers and is meant to be
understood as an installation guideline only. The customer and/or the
installer is solely responsible for any and all decisions regarding how,
where, and when to install any Teragren product.
Teragren LLC recommends using the services of a professional
hardwood flooring installer. For more information and for guidelines
on the installation of hardwood flooring, please contact the
National Wood Flooring Association (800-422-4556) or review their
website
http://www.woodfloors.org/consumer.
Teragren Portfolio is suitable for installation as a floating floor system on, above, and below grade. Portfolio may be installed over radiant floor heating systems (see Radiant Heat Systems section below). May also be glued down.
Teragren Portfolio should be delivered to the job site no less than 72 hours prior to installation. Distribute unopened boxes evenly to ensure all boxes can acclimate to job site temperature. DO NOT OPEN BOXES PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. Floor packaging should only be opened once installation is ready to begin.
Teragren’s warranty does not cover variations in colour either in individual planks, between the planks, or the variations in colour between our product samples and the installed flooring. An industry standard of 5% material overage should be added to the actual square footage required for cutting and grading allowances.
Prior to installation, all material must be inspected to ensure the material received matches the work order. Any visible defects or discrepancies should immediately be reported to your distributor or dealer. It is considered the installer/owner’s responsibility not to install flooring having finish, manufacturing, or unacceptable material variations. Individual planks with defects should not be installed or the defect should be cut-out prior to installation. Filler or putty stick may be used to correct minor flooring defects during installation. The Teragren warranty does not cover materials with visible defects once they are installed. Installation of any Teragren product serves as acceptance of that material.
It is the sole responsibility of the installer/owner to determine if the job site’s sub-floor and environmental conditions are suitable for the installation of Teragren flooring and accessories.
NOTE: Do not install cabinets or walls on top of the floating floor.
NOTE: Unexpected changes to subfloor moisture content may cause Portfolio to cup, buckle, or otherwise dimensionally change. Portfolio must be installed over a moisture barrier.
Teragren LLC makes no warranty or guarantee of the quality of the chosen installer’s work or of a particular installation performed by the installer. Teragren LLC disclaims all liability for any errors or improprieties in the installation of its products.
Product Acclimation
Acclimation should occur at the room temperature expected to be
present before, during, and after installation. Teragren Portfolio
should be allowed to acclimate (inside of its unopened box) on the
job site for a minimum of three (3) days. For maximum material
stability, Portfolio should be installed into environments with
relative humidity (RH) and temperature controls capable of
maintaining the delivered moisture content of 7-9%. Please reference
the following chart for correlations between RH, Temperature, and
moisture content (%):
It is important to note that gaps in the floor may come and go seasonally due to temperature and relative humidity changes. The amount of movement depends upon the temperature and relative humidity (bamboo, like all hardwoods, expands and contracts as its moisture content rises and falls).
Tools Recommended (not all tools may be required)
Floating Installation: Rubber mallet, tapping block
(tested to ensure it won’t damage planks), tape measure, chalk line,
pencil, carpenter square, scribing block, flat bar, 1/2” wedges,
saw, chop saw, 6 mil polyethylene film vapour barrier, underlayment
(Floating floor approved underlayment or cork not exceeding 5/64” in
thickness may be used). Note: A “2-in-1” foam padding/moisture
barrier may be substituted for moisture barrier and underlayment.
Sub-floors
A moisture-vapour retardant such as 6 mil polyethylene film
should be placed in crawl spaces. Wood sub- flooring surfaces must
have no flex and must be smooth, level, clean, dry, and free of
contaminants. Fix any squeaks or movement in the sub-floor prior to
installation. High spots should be sanded flat. Any low spots equal
to or greater than 5/64” over 78” should be filled (brought to
level) using a non-compressible material. Suitable surfaces may
include concrete, particleboard, wood floors, and both ceramic and
vinyl tiles, among others. Please consult with your professional
flooring installer to determine suitability of sub-floor surface.
Teragren recommends using 5/8” T&G CD Exposure 1 plywood for 12 and
16 inch on centre floors (OC), 3/4” T&G CD Exposure 1 plywood for 16
to 19 inch OC floors, and 7/8” T&G CD Exposure 1 plywood for 24”OC
floors. A sub-floor of 1-1/8” plywood over joists at 16 inches on
centre is recommended for an optimal installation. Note: the use of
particleboard may result in a substandard subfloor due to the lack
of rigidity and the potential for adhesive bond failure.
Concrete sub-floors must be tested for moisture in more than one place for consistent readings. Teragren recommends using the Calcium Chloride Test Method to quantify the volume of moisture vapour radiating from a concrete slab surface over time and if vapour pressure exceeds 3 lbs. per 1000 square feet in 24 hours to not install the floor. Concrete should be checked for flatness prior to installation and any low spots or voids should be filled to a minimum of 3/16” within a 10’ radius or 1/8” in a 6 foot radius, and high spots ground to surface. Surface must be smooth and free of debris, oils, grease and solvents.
Install a vapour barrier over the entire subfloor surface following closely the manufacturer’s recommendations. Next, roll out 5/64” (2mm) padding (underlayment) one roll at a time over the vapour barrier, being careful not to poke holes through or damage either material during installation. Run padding up walls 1” to 1-1/2” and secure in place with tape. Join padding sections to one-another with tape. Make sure to tape down all loose edges. A “2-in-1” foam padding/moisture barrier may be substituted for moisture barrier and underlayment. Other approved floating floor underlayment materials such as cork may be used. Follow underlayment manufacturer’s installation instructions. Note: flexible underlayment should not exceed 5/64” in thickness.
Note: The use on an underlayment or padding thicker than 5/64” (2mm) may result in plank movement causing damage to the flooring and/or friction induced noise such as “creaking” or “squeaking”.
Installation
Measure the room so that the quantity of flooring required
is known (length x width = square feet). If the last board required
is too narrow in width, it may be necessary to install length-wise
cut boards on both sides of the room to give it an overall balanced
look. Ensure that the floor will fit under doors and skirting
strips. Existing skirting strips may have to be removed during
installation to allow for the expansion perimeter. Ideally, the
flooring should be installed parallel to the longest dimension of
the room. In a square room, the long joints should (preferably),
follow the path of the incoming light. Allow for a minimum expansion
space of 1/2” around the perimeter of the installed flooring. For
floors larger than 16’ in any one direction, leave an additional
expansion space of 1/8” on the edges for each 48” of installed
flooring. For example, a 24’ square room would require about 3/4”
expansion on all sides. Rooms larger than 40’ wide (boards running
length of room) require an expansion joint in the middle of the room
such as could be provided by leaving an intentional gap covered by a
t-mold (or other flat molding) or other accessory piece. Any rooms
that are not square (such as a T, L, F, or U shaped room) must have
non-parallel areas separated by an expansion joint. All door opening
must have an expansion joint between rooms. Under no circumstances
should the floor’s ability to move freely be restricted.
First Row: Start in a corner of the room with the locking strip (lower edge of the lock) facing into the room (see picture #1). Using spacer wedges, maintain a 1/2” gap between the wall and the edges of the planks being installed. Install the first plank. Install the second plank (see picture #2), pressing the short end of the second plank against the leading edge of the first plank and then, in one movement, laying it down flat (see picture #3) to engage the locking mechanism. Ensure that the edges of all planks being installed are parallel and even. Continue with this method until you are ready to install the last plank of the first row.
Carefully measure the required length of the last plank in the row, allowing for a minimum of a 1⁄2” gap at the end of the row (see picture #4). Cut the last plank of the first row to size using a saw with a carbide blade (see picture #5), then install as done for the previous planks, leaving a 1⁄2” gap at the end. After the first row is complete, ensure that all edges are perfectly even and parallel. Note: It is practical to fine-tune the gap between the long sides and the wall later, after the first three rows have been laid.
Second Row: Start the second row beginning with (if available) the piece left over (cut off) from the first row (see picture #6 - piece must be at least 36” in length). If the piece is too short (or if there is no leftover piece), start with a new board, cut in half. Always ensure that the end joints (between planks in adjacent rows) are staggered at least 10 inches apart (see picture #7).
Maintaining a 1⁄2” gap between the end of the plank (row 2 plank 1) and the wall using a 1⁄2” spacer, begin the second row by inserting the long edge of the locking mechanism of the first plank (row 2 plank 1) into the long edge of the locking mechanism of the adjacent plank of the first row. Push the plank forward and press down at the same time to fully engage the locking mechanism (see picture #8). With the plank resting flat on the floor, ensure there is no gapping at the joint between it and a first row. If necessary, use a tapping block to ensure that the plank’s locking mechanism is fully engaged and that there is no gap between it and the adjacent plank. To install the second plank (row 2 plank 2), place the long edge of the plank into the adjacent plank of the first row. Slide this plank to the left until the short end of the second plank is flush against the leading edge of the first plank (row 2 plank 1). Then, in one movement, lay the plank down flat, ensuring that there is no gapping on either the short end or the long side of the plank. Use a rubber mallet and tapping block to correct any gapping. Note: If gapping cannot be corrected by a rubber mallet and tapping block, ensure that there are no splinters or other obstructions keeping the locking mechanism from fully engaging.
Installation Around Pipes or Columns
Drill holes and saw out flooring as required to make room
for any exposed structure or pipe. Note: holes around pipes or other
items must be at least 3/4” greater in diameter than the pipe or
structure.
Installation with Transition Pieces
Flooring must be allowed to float freely underneath the
overlap portion of the transition piece. To ensure freedom of
movement, cut or chisel off tongue as required allowing unrestricted
movement of the flooring under the transition piece.
Glue-Down Installations
While designed primarily as a floating floor, Teragren
Portfolio may be successfully glued to a sub-floor as required by
end-use requirements (such as commercial installations) in on-grade
or above-grade applications. In such cases, Teragren recommends the
use of a low-VOC, premium, water-free flooring adhesive and moisture
barrier system specifically recommended by the adhesive manufacturer
for use with bamboo flooring. Note: Always use a moisture barrier
and adhesive system manufactured by the same company – never mix
products. Please review Teragren’s latest
adhesive recommendation
The sub-floor must be extremely flat (see adhesive manufacturer’s specifications), be square with the space, and run perpendicular to the joists. Leave a 1⁄2” expansion space from base plate or wall. Starter rows should be held firmly in place using wedges. Once the starter rows are secure, apply the adhesive per the manufacturers’ installation instructions. NOTE: Always remove any adhesive from the surface of the flooring (smudges, fingerprints, etc.) before it dries. Clean up as you go – do not wait until the installation is complete. Cured adhesives are very difficult to remove and may permanently damage flooring. Always follow the adhesive manufacturer’s installation instructions.
It is up to the owner/installer to confirm the warranty, the
environmental statements of the manufacturer, and the suitability of
any adhesive for the intended end-use. The selection and use of any
adhesive / moisture control system is at the sole discretion and
responsibility of the owner/installer.
Note: The use of a
moisture-barrier with Portfolio Flooring is mandatory.
Radiant Heating Systems
Portfolio flooring is suitable for installation over radiant
heating systems capable of maintaining a surface temperature at or
below 85°F. The radiant heating system needs to be in operation for
at least 7 days prior to installation, shut off 4 hours prior to
flooring installation, and then returned to operation once the
installation is complete. If using an adhesive to “glue-down”
Portfolio flooring, please confirm with the adhesive
manufacturer the suitability of the adhesive for use with radiant
heating systems.
It is up to the owner/installer to confirm the suitability of any radiant-heating system for the intended end- use. The selection and use of any radiant heating system is at the sole discretion and responsibility of the owner/installer.
Maintenance
Teragren recommends vacuuming or sweeping in order to remove dirt
and grit prior to cleaning the flooring. Remove any liquid spills
promptly. Exposure to the sun and ultra-violet light can accelerate
oxidation (colour-change). Periodically rearrange rugs and furniture
to allow for consistent aging of the flooring. Use area rugs in high
traffic areas. Install wood guards on the feet or legs of furniture.
Do not use wax, oil soap or other household cleaners. Teragren recommends using either WoodWise Floor Cleaner by Design Hardwood Products, or Bona Swedish Formula® MicroPlus Hardwood Floor Cleaner available from Tileworks or your retailer.
Proper care and maintenance can extend the life of your floor for many years; however, at some time a re-coat or total refinishing may be desirable. To re-coat your floor and remain in conformance with the Teragren warranty, follow the manufacturer's instructions at either of the following:
Basic Coatings Tykote Sandless Re-coating System or BonaPrep™ Re-coating Adhesion System by BonaKemi USA.
Contact us for more information.
