INSTALLATION GUIDELINES

How Much to Order

When ordering, it is always recommended to order at least 10% more than your measurement. This extra will allow for defects that may be found among the boards and your own cuts and unusable pieces that will be leftover during installation. Because every product will vary and every project may affect the exact waste percentage, it is common to have leftover material, which is something to hold onto in case it is needed for future use.

Installing Your Floor:

The success of your installation will rely heavily on proper job-site conditions being met prior to the floor’s installation. Your floor should not be brought on-site until all windows and doors are installed and all drywall and paint or texturing is completed. Once on-site, your floor should be stacked in the area where it is to be installed. Please allow proper time for acclimatization where needed.

Sub-floor preparation is important and requires inspection ahead of installation of your floor. It is imperative to inspect for excessively high or low spots that may require grinding and/or have leveler added. If flooring is installed over an area with too much of a height difference, the connection of the floor to the sub-floor can fail, which can lead to soft spots, hollow spots, or excessive movement in the floor which can lead to potential damage to the tongue & groove of the plank.

Do NOT use any type of tape across the finished surface of the wood flooring. This can result in damage to the finish and is not covered by the warranty. The use of clamps against the wall is recommended to help reduce movement in the planks during installation.

All hardwood floors are unique; knots, mineral streaking, length averages, color variations, and other natural effects are all part of your floor’s character. Some boards may be deemed “less attractive” but are still expected to be used. These can be placed in an inconspicuous spot to help control the overall look, but understand some floors can have a high degree of natural marks that will be present all over. Consult with your installer prior to final installation.

Atlas Floors are milled to be precise and stand up to the toughest standards of today’s world. But hardwood flooring is a natural product that is never perfect. Hardwood consistently moves with moisture levels in the air. Because of this, it is common to come across imperfections that can result in small gaps that can appear 1/16″, 1/8″, and even 1/4″. These are not considered defects and are expected to be filled with an appropriate colored wood putty during installation. Hardwood floors are not expected to be perfect on every board, even cleaner Select or Prime grade floors can consist of the occasional defect.

Installation of any flooring constitutes acceptance of its grade, milling, and finish. 

Be sure to contact your dealer before you install your floor if you feel your flooring material may have any issues. Once installed, it cannot be returned, credited, or swapped for another product.

Atlas Floors has no control over the installation methods or site conditions the end-user utilizes, therefore, Atlas Floors cannot be held liable for any installation or site related issue. Atlas Floors assumes no liability for incidental or consequential damages. 

Any damage caused to the flooring because of the following will void any warranty:

  • Improper Installation: Proper NWFA guidelines are recommended to be followed when installing yourself.
  • Storage/Jobsite Conditions: Product must not be stored in any area that can have excess moisture or dryness levels; no exposure to any moisture shall be permitted. Do not store over concrete or below grade.
  • Water Damage: Warranty does not include damage caused by flooding, faulty plumbing, moisture penetration, improper humidity levels, overflowing sinks, leaking appliances, or any like occurrences.

Responsibilities of the Hardwood Floor Installer: 

The installer of your product is responsible for the proper handling, storage, and installation of your hardwood floor. This includes final inspection of flooring prior to installation. The warranty does not cover flooring with visible defects once it is installed. The installer is also responsible for making sure the flooring is installed over an acceptable, suitable sub-floor with adequate leveling, moisture protection, and other prep work that may be needed. Radiant floors are not covered in any warranty.

Moisture Concerns:

Moisture levels in sub-floors vary throughout the year. What may show a low reading at one point can become higher later and may cause damage to your floor. To combat this, Atlas Floors recommends that all floors be installed using proper moisture barrier and protection applications.