South Bruce Flooring

Hardwood Flooring should be one of the last products installed at a construction site. All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, masonry work, drywall taping, etc.) should be complete before wood flooring is delivered to the job site.

Protect your flooring from high humidity at all times. Never unload your flooring in heavy rain or snow.

Your job site should have a consistent room temperature of 60-70°F (16-22°C) and humidity of 40-55% for a minimum of five days prior to the installation of your hardwood flooring product. This environment should be maintained continuously thereafter.

Building interiors are affected by two distinct humidity season-heating and non-heat. Recognizing that wood floor dimensions will be slightly affected by varying levels of humidity in your building; take care to control humidity levels within the 40-55% range. During the heating seasons, a humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage in wood floors due to how humidity levels. During the non-heating season, humidity levels can be maintained by using an air conditioner, dehumidifier, or by turning on your heating system periodically during the summer months. Avoid excessive exposure to water from tracking during periods of inclement weather.

Your hardwood flooring must undergo an acclimatization period (must be stored in the room where it will be laid) for at least 72 hours prior to installation.

Tools required: Safety Goggles, Chalk Line, Hammer, Mitre Saw, Square, Hand Saw, Broom, Tape Measure, Level, Vacuum Cleaner, Nail Punch, Jigsaw, Drill (with bit set) #7 or #8 spiral Nails, Hardwood Flooring Nailer, 2" Barbed Flooring Nails, Non-Marking Rubber Hammer.

Joints between the ends of the strips in any given row should be offset at least 6” (15cm) from the end-joints in adjacent rows. This will ensure a balanced appearance.
After fastening a couple of rows of strips, use the hardwood flooring nailer. Use nails every 8” or 10” (20-24cm), stopping at a distance of 2” (5cm) from the end of each strip.

Face nail the first strip after drilling holes every 8”-12” (20-30cm), at a distance of ½” (13mm) from the edge of the strip next to the wall. Be careful not to drill a hole at a distance less of 3” (8cm) from the end of the strip. Use #7 or #8 spiral nails to fasten the flooring and countersink the nails with the nail punch. The first row of nails will be hidden by moldings. Repeat the nailing operation in the tongue of the strip, keeping the edge of the latter along the chalk line.

Only nail the tongue of each subsequent strip. Do NOT face nail.

Joints between the ends of the strips in any given row should be offset at least 6” (15cm) from the end-joints in adjacent rows. This will ensure a balanced appearance.

After fastening a couple of rows of strips, use the hardwood flooring nailer. Use nails every 8” or 10” (20-24cm), stopping at a distance of 2” (5cm) from the end of each strip.

As you approach the final wall and can no longer use the automatic nailer, return to nailing the tongues by hand. Wedge the last row into place with a pry bar.

Cut the last row length wise to fit, allowing for the required expansion space and moulding coverage. Facenail the last row.

Countersink and putty all face nails.

Cover up the expansion space along the walls with mouldings.