Flooring should be inspected before installation. Felix Huard Inc. considers that the installation of any Nature Zone hardwood strips and planks means its acceptance.Our pre-finished floors meet the high quality standards of the industry which permit a defect tolerance and a grading variance not to exceed 5% of the purchased quantity.

We recommend that the sub-floor be inspected and tested for dryness or moisture problems and that you retain all documentation regarding your pre-installation tests.

Cement work, sub-floor, plastering and paint should be completed and dry before installation.Whatever your sub-floor is, it should be clean and sound : no plaster or product should create an uneven surface.Sweep and vacuum to remove all dust.

Please note that our warranty does not cover installation on concrete or OSB(pressed wood).

Remove baseboards and door sills. The doorframes and the bottom of the doors may need to be cut, using a handsaw, by 3/4'' or 5/8''. Remove, if applicable, the old floor covering.

The hardwood strips and planks should be placed in the room where they will be laid down at least 24 to 48 hours before installation for the wood to adapt to the room's humidity and temperature level.

Use a barrier such as a felt floor liner or polyethylene film on concrete or building paper on wood sub-floor before the sub-floor is screwed securely to the joists.

Make a sketch of the installation or lay down the strips or planks on the floor in the staggered pattern they will be installed keeping in mind that end joints should be at least 6'' apart.The strips or planks may be laid parallel to the longest wall of the room. perpendiculary to the joists, or at a 45 degree angle.We recommend that you open two or three different packages at a time so you can vary the length, color and shades of the wood.

It is very important to start straight and square.

Draw a parallel chalk guide line at a 90 degree angle to the adjacent wall and at 3/4'' or 7/8'' more that the width of the hardwood strip or plank to be use from your starting wall.

(Example : 3 inches from the wall for the 2-1/4'' strips, 4 inches from the wall for 3-1/4'' planks,) Thus allowing for the 1/2 inch minimum expansion gap and the 1/4 inch for the tongue.

The straightest strips or planks should be used for the first three rows. Select those and lay them down on the floor in the pattern you have established before(see preparation section)

Leaving 1/2 an inch between the groove edge and the starting wall, lay the tongue edge of the strip or plank on the chalk guide line.

Always leave a 1/4 inch gap at both end of each rows.

The first and last rows must be secured to the floor using finishing flooring nails.

Pre-drill nail holes to prevent splits at one inch from the edge and at approximately 12 to 16 inches apart.Each strip or plank should be secured with a minimum of two nails. Nails should hit the joist whenever possible.

The strips or planks selected for completing the first two must be long enough to yield a remaining piece of strip or plank of at least 6 inches should be use to start the second row.

Be careful to avoid aligning or clustering end joints by alternating with strips lengths.Once the second strip is in place, drill a hole on the tongue at a 45 degree angle at every 8 to 10 inches, then using screw shank flooring nails, secure it in place.

After these first few rows are done and when clearance allows a manual or pneumatic hardwood floor nailing machine should be use to simplify and speed the nailing process.

These subsequent rows are to be installed in the same manner the first ones were. Nails should be 8 to 10 inches apart and not within less than 3 inches of the end of each board.

Always complete the installation and nailing of one row before starting on another one.You should always have 6 to 8 rows of boards laid out at any time in order to vary the lengths, color and shade of the wood.

Protect your new hardwood floor surface during the installation, cover it with undone cardboard boxes and regularly sweep up sawdust and bits of waste wood.

Again because of lack of clearance the last 4 to 5 rows will have to be installed in the same manner the first ones were.

Once completed install baseboards, door sills, molding and trim, nailing them to the wall (never to the floor).They should cover the various gaps.

Keep the sqare strips or planks in case of need of repair.

Finally, vacuum throroughly and using the recommended hardwood floor cleaner wipe, using a terry cloth mop, the surface clean.Always spray the cleaner on the mop never directly on the floor.