Because
bamboo is a natural fiber, variations in color naturally occur.
HAWA is manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry standards,
which permit a manufacturing defect tolerance not to exceed
5%. HAWA warranty is in effect if products are installed using
HAWA Installation Instructions, recommended adhesive for glue
down floors and floor care maintenance requirements and if proper
humidity conditions are maintained within the home. Each box
should be inspected for differences in color and staggered throughout
the floor. Warranty does not cover variations in color or variations
between samples and the installed floor.
It
is the responsibility of the installer/owner/purchaser to determine
if the job site subfloor and job site conditions are environmentally
acceptable for the installation of HAWA. HAWA declines any responsibility
for failure resulting from or connected with subfloor, sub-surface,
or job site damage, or deficiencies after flooring has been
installed.
HAWA'S
floating floor system may be installed below (see instructions
on page 2), at, or above grade and can be applied over radiant
floor heating systems, on concrete, existing wood floors, plywood,
underlayment, particle or OSB board, resilient tile, existing
sheet goods (with the exception of loose laid or perimeter adhesive
sheet goods), terrazzo, or ceramic tiles as long as the subfloors
are structurally sound, clean, level and dry. It can be floated
or glued down.
Note: HAWA makes no warranty or guarantee of the quality of the chosen
installer's work or of a particular installation performed by
them. HAWA disclaims all liability for any errors or improprieties
in the installation of its products by an installer.
Sub
Floors
Concrete subfloors must be tested for moisture and a vapor retarder
such as 6 mil polyethylene film on the subfloor should be applied
overlapping 8" and taping the seams. For all floors, cover
floor areas with 1/8" closed cell poly foam (2 lbs. per
cubic foot), rolled out and taped at seams. We recommend using
the Calcium Chloride Test Method. Flooring must not be installed
if vapor pressure exceeds 3 lbs. per 1000 square feet in 24
hours. Concrete should be checked for flatness prior to installation
and low spots and voids filled to a minimum of 3/16" in
8 foot radius, and high spots ground to surface. Surface must
be smooth and free of debris, oils, grease and solvents. Small
cracks and chips in concrete, nail holes or hammer dents in
wood and small gaps between underlayment sheets are not a problem
with the floating installation method. Below Grade Installations:
HAWA Floating Floor may be installed below grade; however, the
following procedure should be adhered to: The 6 mil ploy laid
loose with seams overlapped 8" and lapped up the wall 4"
all the way around the room. This can be trimmed off after moldings
are installed. Then roll out foam, butting edges, but not lapped.
Proceed with installation as described in the following paragraphs.
Caution: Proper humidity must be controlled between 35% and
55% for successful performance during and after installation.
All concrete subfloors, on or below grade, should be tested.
Floating Floor Installation
Method
Tools needed
for installation include a Hammer (1 lb.), tape measure and
pencil, scribing block, carpenter square, drill, flat bar, ½"
wedges, saw and white (PVAC) glue. Do not use yellow carpenter
glue. For glue down installations, use floating floor adhesive
recommended by your distributor and proper sized trowel. Calculate
the floor area and add 5% for cutting waste.
Cut
all door jams to the proper height to accommodate the new floor.
Place a board next to the jamb. Using it as a guide for the
saw can help accomplish this. Recommended expansion is 1/12"
for each 36" of installed product. A 24' wide room would
require about ¾" expansion on all sides. With a
circular saw (carbide blade), cut the flooring to size. Set
a distance of 0.5 inches around the wall by using wedge spacers
which are later removed. Using a chalk line, make sure the rows
are perfectly straight. Squeeze the adhesive into the upper
edge of the groove along the edge and end. No fastening to the
subfloor is required. Use the cutoff piece to start the next
row, reducing the waste factor. Stagger the end joint at least
12 inches. Boards along the first row must be straight. Walls
often are not straight; therefore, it is important to square
the first board. Lay the first board with the groove facing
the wall and place wedges the thickness of the desired spacing
at each end of the board to establish the correct expansion.
Join additional boards along the length of the room, but do
not glue the boards together yet. Continue laying boards in
the first row by gluing the end joints and pull the last board
into place with a pinch bar. Apply adhesive (PVAC glue) on the
top edge along the grooves on long and short side. A small bead
of white adhesive, less than 1/16" is sufficient. Excessive
use of adhesive can keep boards apart.
All
adhesive should be removed immediately as it occurs to prevent
permanent damage to the flooring.
Begin
the second row using the cutoff from the first row as the starter
board for this row. This assures staggered end joints. Apply
adhesive to the end and side grooves and engage the boards.
Quickly remove any excess glue that appears on the surface of
each board.
Use
a tapping block to put the board’s together (tap gently
until a snug fit is achieved). Continue this process until all
but the last board is finished. Never strike the boards directly
in order to engage the tongue and groove. Always used an approved
tapping block and hold it tightly pressed to the tongue of the
flooring. If not, damage to the top layer could result.
It
is extremely important that each completed row be secured with
straps or blue tape. Be certain that the tape used is meant
for the purpose of securing prefinished floating floors. Caution:
The use of other tape will remove the finish from your floor
when the tape is removed.
If
the final board requires cutting along the length to complete
the installation, place the board to be cut on top of the next
to the last row and place another board (tongue touching the
wall) on top of the board to be cut as a straight edge and mark
board to be cut. Cut the marked board on the table saw and fit
it into the open space. Continue until all boards in the last
row fit together and are glued.
