WILD RIVER TIMBER INSTALLATION SPECIFICATION

IMPORTANT: PROCEED WITH A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE BOARDS BEFORE INSTALLATION. ONCE INSTALLED, THE BOARDS ARE CONSIDERED ACCEPTED BY THE INSTALLER AND THE HOME OWNER.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE INSTALLATION

OWNER/INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY

Wild River Timber engineered flooring is a beautiful and unique product of nature, which is characterised by distinctive variations in grain and colour both within each board and from board to board. These natural variations in colour and grain are not flaws, but are a part of the natural beauty and uniqueness of engineered flooring. These inherent variations should be expected and serve to enhance the natural beauty and enduring charm. Engineered flooring is manufactured in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. The defects may be of a manufacturing or natural type.

It is understood that;

• The installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality. This inspection of each board should be carried out prior to installation. Carefully examine the flooring for colour, finish and quality before installing. Use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with glaring defects whatever the cause. All such inspections should be conducted in finished lighting conditions, particularly in areas that will be exposed to sources of natural light. If the flooring is not acceptable, contact your retailer immediately.

• Before beginning installation of any Wild River Timber flooring products, the installer must determine that the environment of the job site and condition and type of the sub-floor involved are acceptable, ensuring that it meets or exceeds all requirements which are stipulated in the Wild River Timber Engineered flooring installation instructions which follow. The retailer declines any responsibility for job failures resulting from or associated with inappropriate or improperly prepared sub-floor of job site environment deficiencies.

• Prior to installation, the installer/owner has final inspection responsibility as to grade, manufacture and factory finish. The installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with deficiencies.

• The use of stain, filler or putty stick for the correction of defects during installation should be accepted as normal procedure.

Should any individual piece be doubtful as to grade, manufacture or factory finish, the installer should not use the piece. Of course, replacement materials of boards not installed will be afforded in this instance by the retailer, provided the defect is considered as a genuine manufacture defect.

Wastage allowances: a minimum wastage factor of between 5%- 10% and up to 20% for the herringbone pattern.

Please note that Wild River Timber engineered flooring must be installed in a regulated and liveable environment to prevent possible damage not covered by warranty. As such, engineered flooring should not be installed more than 2 weeks prior to occupation of the home. The floor is designed to perform in an environmentally controlled structure. Warranty exclusions include, but are not limited to surface checking resulting from low humidity, cupping or doming of boards, or the presence of mildew or discolouration from extreme sub-floor moisture or poor cleaning/maintenance regimes.

JOB SITE INSPECTION & ACCLIMATISATION

• Engineered flooring can be installed below, equal or above ground level.

• Do not install in bathrooms, laundry, toilets or areas subject to regular moisture or water.

• In a new construction, Engineered flooring should be one of the last items installed. All work involving water or moisture plumbing, acoustic ceilings, wall lining etc, should be completed prior to Engineered flooring being installed. Heating and air systems should be fully operating maintaining a comfortable room temperature.

• Flooring should not be delivered until the building has been closed in and cement work, plastering, painting and other materials are completely dry. Concrete and plaster should be cured and at least sixty days old. Check basements and underfloor crawl space to be sure they are dry and well ventilated to avoid damage caused by moisture.

• Handle with care. Do not stand packs on their ends.

• Do not store directly on concrete or near outside walls. Cartons should be placed in the installation area, several days prior.

• Extremes in humidity levels in the home must be prevented all year long. Engineered timber is a living product which reacts to humidity level variations. During summer, where the humidity level is usually at its highest point, the Engineered flooring is expected to expand as it absorbs moisture from the air. These variations must be dealt with adequate dehumidification. As for winter, when the heating system is working, the humidity level is lower. It is then recommended to use a humidifier to minimise the extreme effects of shrinkage.

Moisture & Environment: ATFA, Pre- installation requirements.

https://www.atfa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ds2_pre_installation_requirements.pdf

A minimum of 80% coverage is required when using any adhesive.

Prefinished Boards: All boards require and oil and buff upon completion. Please refer to www.wildrivertimber.com.au for the recommended oil to suit the timber you have chosen.

Stairs must be installed to Australian Standards (AS1657)

Please enquire directly in regards to the appropriate products that are recommended to be applied to your stairs in compliance with the local building code for slip ratings.

Using a block to install: Care must be taken fitting boards together to avoid damaging the edges. Use a wooden or nylon block to knock boards together by hitting the board against the tongue side not the groove. Damaged edges can be hard to spot on completion of the job but after time a damaged edge can splinter up and personal injury can occur.

• Preparation of the slab: The concrete must be structurally sound, dry (no more than 5.5% moisture content), level and cleaned of waxes, adhesives, and dust.
• Apply a moisture barrier sealant to the slab to ensure no moisture rises to the surface.
• Slabs must be level with no more than a 3mm deviation over a 3-metre radius. If deviations are greater than above, use a self-levelling compound or grind the slab to level the surface within the above tolerance.
• It is important to consider the possible risk of sub slab water ingress from surrounding areas. A relative humidity & moisture content reading is required prior to installation; please document readings for your records. If moisture content is more than 5.5%, please contact Wild River Timber for further advice.

Over a prepared slab (see above re: slab preparation). Glue the boards with Sika Bond-T55 (J) or equivalent to the slab using a 3-6mm notch trowel. Spot weight across the floor and weight any hollow or drummy areas to ensure floorboard and subfloor contact.

The minimum thickness of ply which can be used over a slab to secret nail is 9mm. Over a levelled slab lay thick polythene sheet as a moisture barrier. Overlap each sheet by 150mm and attach the overlaps using a 50mm wide double-sided tape. Lay the ply over the polythene sheet in the opposite direction (cross laminate) to the intended direction of the floor, for example, place the long length of the ply perpendicular to the direction of the boards. Attach the sheets to the slab using pre-drill sleeve pins only, at a rate of 28 pins per 2400mm x 1200mm sheet. Level ply as necessary by plane or sanding. Adhere boards glue Sika Bond-T55 (J) SF applied in either a snake pattern individually to the back of the board or applied by 3-6mm notch trowel to the ply. Secret nail every 100-200mm.

The matting system is a requirement in multi-residential developments to reduce noise transfer. Over a prepared slab (see above re: slab preparation) The matting will need to be applied to the slab with Sika Bond-T55 (J) or equivalent using a 3mm notched trowel and allowed to dry to the manufacturer’s specifications. Glue the boards directly to the matting with Sika Bond-T55 (J) or equivalent also using a 6mm notched trowel. Spot weight across the floor and weight any hollow or drummy areas to ensure floorboard and subfloor contact.

In-slab and above-floor heating systems can be used under our flooring. In-slab heating uses either electric or hydronic heating elements which are embedded in the slab. If using in-slab heating, we recommend our direct stick to slab method (above). It is vital that any underfloor heating system be fitted with a cut-off thermostat set no higher than 22 degrees Celsius when measured under the timber flooring. Irreparable damage to wooden floors occurs if it is subjected to temperatures above 22 degrees. Even heat distribution is vitally important as hot spots can cause greater board movement (shrinkage or cupping) in some areas of the floor compared to others. Likewise, seasonal operation of the system can cause some gapping or board shape changes. It is best to run the heating system prior to install for around 2 weeks to ensure slab dryness. Subfloor temperature should be checked prior to install and should not exceed 22°C. Relative humidity should be in the range of 35 to 55% at a room temperature of 20°C. Then turn off the heating for at least two days where you can then install the flooring as per above. Once completed, gradually turn the heating up in stages over a period of 10 days in increments of 2°C per day then maintain at desired level for 2 weeks. Gradually increasing and decreasing the temperature for operational use will help the timber to acclimatise and minimise disturbance to the floorboards.

• Installation over structural timber flooring (e.g. Chipboard or Yellow Tongue): Rough sand the timber substrate if joins are peaking or level is greater than 3mm over 3m. Glue using Sika Bond-T55 (J) or equivalent applied in either a snake pattern individually to the back of the board or applied by 3-6mm notch trowel to the ply. Secret nail every 100-200mm.
• Installation over existing timber strip flooring: It is important to ensure that existing floors are sound and free of rot etc prior to installation of new timber over top. If running the boards in the opposite direction to the existing timber floors, the boards can be glued, and secret nailed directly to the substrate. If installing in the same direction as existing flooring, a 4mm ply must be pinned down over the existing floor to create cross lamination. This minimises movement between the existing timber floor and new timber floor. Rough sand ply and glue using Sika Bond-T55 (J) or equivalent applied in either a snake pattern individually to the back of the board or applied by 3-6mm notch trowel to the ply. Secret nail every 100-200mm.
• Wild River Timber do not suggest the installation of our boards directly over battens, bearers & joists, or as a floating floor. Please call us to discuss further if you have any questions.

• Caulking: As the boards are engineered, the need for expansion allowances is minimalized. Wild River Timber suggests a 3mm gap be left between boards & skirting. Caulk out the gap in a colour to match the floor or skirting (applicable when floor is installed direct stick only)
• Transitions: In most cases a 3mm aluminium flat bar is used as a transition between timber and other floor finishes.
• After installation/Builders Clean: If dust is present, vacuum immediately, do not mop. Moisture can set plaster dust into the low grain of the timber making it difficult to remove, if not impossible. After all dust has been removed, use Whittle waxes floor care in conjunction with mopping (see care and maintenance).
• Floor Protection during construction: It is preferred that the boards are laid as late as possible in the project to prevent the boards from being damaged by other trades as they are prefinished. Should further work need to be done on the project after installation has been completed it is essential that the floor be protected using a 2mm foam underlay and a 3mm or 4mm MDF sheeting over top that is securely taped together (do not apply tape to the finished floor) or other protection method.

Ensure to use the recommended floor cleaning products in conjunction with the specified oil. www.wildrivertimber.com.au

• All products require an oil finish, to preserve and protect the material, therefore it is imperative that all products must be finished with an oil coating.
• Supply list: Vacuum, Recommended floor cleaner, Foam mop, Water, Bucket, Moisture meter, Oil finish, Oil dispenser/Spray bottle, White nylon fleece pad, Rags/Cloths, Buffing machine.
• Mop the floor with the recommended wood floor cleaner and a foam mop. Allow the floor to dry completely (typically one to three hours). Use a high-quality foam mop and have a bucket of clean water available to clean the mop as you go.
• It is best to check the floor with a moisture meter to confirm the floor is dry before proceeding.
• Oil is then applied liberally with an oil dispenser or spray bottle.
• Next the floor is buffed, using a buffing machine with a nylon fleece pad. Those pads are coarse enough to knock down the grain while also driving in the finish.
• On a distressed floor, it may be necessary to use a brush pad on the buffing machine, or simply by hand.
• All perimeters should be cut in by hand, using a rag or nylon fleece pad
• The white pad is used to polish the floor until the finish has an even sheen. Now the oil needs to harden, which typically takes about six hours.
• For a slightly lower sheen, the floor may be buffed once more using a white pad with a polishing cloth underneath.
• The floor is ready for traffic in six to seven hours.

• Use a soft brush broom when sweeping your floor
• Use recommended cleaning product only when mopping
• Use only foam mops when mopping floor
• Use your sink(s) in conjunction with a bucket to ensure each time your mop contacts the floor, it is not applying dirty water
• Use recommended products only to spot oil dry spots or areas of heavy traffic
• Have your floor re- oiled every 2-3 years as a minimum to ensure longevity and richness of colour
• Ensure all furniture legs and bases are covered in thick felt or rubber stoppers to avoid scratching
• Attend to spills immediately
• Do not use micro-fibre mops or brooms as this may draw oil from your floor
• Do not use a steam mop
• Do not use any bleach, ammonia, or caustic cleaners to clean the floor
• Do not drag any heavy items/ furniture across floor Avoid wear from stiletto’s or sharp heels where possible
• Do not use any other product to mop your floor than what is recommended. This may dry out or discolour your floor
• Do not attempt to sand, re-stain or change the look of your floor before consulting a Wild River Technician
• Do not exceed 22 Degrees with underfloor heating
• For any further information, please contact (03) 5972 1111 or online at: www.wildrivertimber.com.au