5G Fold Down Lock Installation Guide

General Information for Installers

This product features a patented 5G fold down lock system with an attached underlayment pad for easy, glue-less floating floor installation. The planks create a tight, water-resistant seam and can be installed over most floor surfaces, suitable for residential and light commercial interiors.

General Information

• Transport and store flooring neatly stacked on a smooth, flat surface.
• Recommended for seasonal and three-season rooms. Maintain at least 3/8" (16mm) expansion.
• Not recommended for installations experiencing temperature extremes beyond -40°F (-40°C) or greater than 150°F (65°C).
• While acclimation is not generally required, best practice suggests installing the floor close to the intended occupied temperature. Rooms should be between 65°F and 85°F (18.33°C and 29.44°C) for 48 hours before and during installation. Acclimation is necessary if the flooring was exposed to extreme temperatures prior to installation.
• Install only after other trades have finished and the jobsite is clean and clear of debris that could damage the installation.
• Inspect flooring for damage, defects, or shading issues before installation. Claims for visual defects are not accepted after cutting or installation.
• Mix and install pieces from several cartons during installation to achieve desirable variation. Use only one run-number (production lot) per job.
• Leave 1/4 inch (6.35mm) expansion space around the entire perimeter for areas up to 50'x50' (15.2m x 15.2m), and around all vertical obstructions. For larger installations up to 100'x100' (30.4m x 30.4m), use 3/8 inch (10mm) spacing. Commercial installations with continuous spans over 100' are not recommended.
• Protect flooring from prolonged direct exposure to sunlight.

Please Read Prior to Installation

This product is a new generation of high-quality luxury vinyl flooring with a rigid core for a strong click joint. It offers faster installation than ceramic tiles, traditional glue-down vinyl, or wooden floors. Luxury vinyl flooring is warm to the touch and absorbs more sound than wood, laminate, and ceramic tile.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Utility Knife
• Straight Edge Saw
• Power Saw
• Measuring Tape
• 1/4 or 3/8 Inch Spacers
• Transition moldings and baseboards

Hints for Measuring:

Measure room length and width for square footage. Measure alcoves or offsets separately. Purchase at least 10% extra for waste, trimming, and future replacement needs.

Caution: This product is not suitable for outdoor use or in rooms that may be exposed to flooding.

Subfloor Preparation

Subfloors General:

Flooring can be installed over various subfloor surfaces including concrete (all grade levels), wood, and many existing hard surface floors. Subfloors must be clean, smooth, flat, solid (no movement), and dry. Do not install over floors sloped for drainage. Uneven areas greater than 3/16 inch (4.76mm) in a 10-foot (3.05m) radius must be leveled with a Portland cement-based patching compound. While vinyl planks/tiles are water-resistant, they do not prevent moisture transmission. Prevent moisture collection on either side of the floor to avoid mold and mildew growth.

Concrete Subfloors:

Installation over concrete is permitted if a proper moisture barrier is used. A minimum 6 mil polyethylene moisture barrier is required for below and on-grade concrete subfloors. Moisture vapor emissions must not exceed 5 lbs./24 hours per 1,000 sq. ft. (tested via ASTM F 1869) or 80% Relative Humidity (tested via ASTM F 2170). Uneven areas greater than 3/16 inch (4.76mm) in a 10-foot (3.05m) radius (or 1/8 inch in a 6-foot radius) require leveling with a Portland cement-based patching compound. Large holes and cracks must be patched, and expansion joints filled with latex patching compound. Newly poured concrete floors need a minimum 90-day cure time. The installer and/or homeowner is responsible for resolving any moisture or alkalinity issues prior to installation.

Wood Subfloors:

Installation is possible over smooth, flat, level wood subfloors, underlayment grade plywood, or other manufacturer-recommended underlayments for vinyl plank flooring. The subfloor must be flat within 3/16 inch (4.76mm) in a 10-foot (3.05m) radius (1/8 inch in a 6-foot radius). Wood subfloors must be suspended at least 18" above ground. Ensure adequate cross-ventilation and cover the ground surface of the crawl space with a vapor barrier. Avoid subfloors with excessive vertical movement or deflection, as this will telegraph through to the finished installation. Signs of excessive deflection include subfloor fastener release, squeaking, compromised contours (bowing/dipping), and uneven flooring material. Secure subfloor panels with fasteners if excessive movement or deflection is present before installing flooring. Warranties do not cover problems caused by inadequate substructures or improper installation of substructures.

Heated Subfloors:

Underfloor heating with warm water systems is compatible. For newly installed systems, operate at maximum temperature for several weeks to eliminate residual moisture before flooring installation. During installation, reduce radiant heated floor temperature to 65°F (18.3°C) and maintain for at least 24 hours before and during installation, and for at least 48 hours after completion. Gradually increase temperature by 5°F (2.8°C) increments every 24 hours, not exceeding 85°F (29.4°C). The subfloor surface temperature must not exceed 85°F at any time.

Existing Flooring:

Luxury vinyl floor planks/tiles can be installed over various finished floors including single-layer resilient sheet flooring/tile, ceramic, marble, and terrazzo, provided the surface is in good condition and shows no signs of excessive moisture. Level large grout joints to be flush with the flooring surface. Carpet, heavily cushioned vinyl floors, or vinyl floors with multiple layers are not suitable subfloors.

Underpad / Cushion:

DO NOT install this product over an additional underpad or cushion, as this may cause excessive deflection and movement, damage the locking system, and void product warranties.

Planning the Job

• Determine the desired flooring direction. Typically, planks and tiles run the length of the room, but preference may dictate otherwise.
• To avoid narrow widths or short lengths near walls/doors, plan ahead. Calculate how many full pieces fit the room width and determine space for partial pieces.
• Lay the first row along a chalk line, trimming to fit the wall and allowing 1/4 inch expansion space. If starting with a full width piece, trim tongues next to the wall and place the cut edge against the wall. Use a utility knife and straight edge to score and bend the plank for separation. If the starting wall is out of square, scribe the first row to match the wall for a true square base for subsequent rows.
• Use expansion gap spacers to maintain a minimum 1½ inch gap from walls. Maintain a 1/4" gap around all vertical obstructions (cabinetry, fireplaces, doorways). Larger installations require 3/8" expansion gaps.
• Remove wall base and undercut door jambs. Do not secure individual planks or tiles to the subfloor, as it is a floating floor. Do not install cabinets or permanent fixtures on top of the flooring. Transition moldings and baseboards must allow for floor movement and not be tight to the floor. Do not nail, screw, or glue transitions or baseboards through the floating floor to the subfloor.

Plank Assembly Steps

1. First piece, first row: Starting from the left with the tongue facing the wall, carefully place the first piece. Use spacers along the wall to allow the required expansion gap (1/4" for spans < 50'; 3/8" for spans > 50'). Refer to "Planning the Job" and step 10 for determining if a less-than-full width piece is needed.
2. Second piece, first row: Place this piece gently against the short end of the first piece. Use spacers against the wall to maintain movement restraint and the expansion gap.
3. Folding down: Start from the corner closest to the wall (or previous row in subsequent rows). Fold down towards the center, continuing towards the opposite long side. Ensure pieces are close together during folding.
4. Pressing short end: Lightly press along the short end of the installed piece.
5. Measuring last piece for first row: At the end of the first row, place a spacer against the wall and measure the length for the last piece to fit.
6. First piece, second row: Often, a leftover piece from the end of the first row can be used. Ensure the piece is at least 1/4 of a full piece length and no more than 1/4 of a full piece length. A variety of starting plank lengths in the second row creates a more natural look. Place a spacer against the left wall.
7. Staggered overlap: The distance between the short ends of pieces in parallel rows must never be less than 1/4 of the length of a full piece to ensure a strong fit.
8. Second piece, second row: Place the piece gently against the short end of the previous piece and fold it down as per steps 3 and 4.
9. Check after 2 or 3 rows: Confirm that all spacers along the outside length of the first row and row ends are properly in place.
10. Last row: The minimum width of the last row should be 1/4 of a full piece width. Allow for proper expansion space when measuring the remaining width. Measure the required width along the entire length of the last row before cutting, as rooms are rarely perfectly square.

Repairs

In the event a piece is damaged, the simplest method is to carefully disconnect the pieces (lift the entire row to separate long sides, slide pieces side-to-side to separate short sides) until the damaged piece can be removed. Replace it with a new one and re-assemble. This method works best for pieces near room perimeters. For pieces not near the perimeter, you may need to remove the damaged planks and insert new pieces without the short and long end grooves.

1. Using a sharp utility knife and straight edge, cut out the center of the damaged piece, leaving approximately a 1-inch strip attached to adjacent pieces.
2. Carefully cut back from the four corners of the piece to the inside edges. Gently remove the edges from adjacent pieces, ensuring tongues and grooves are not damaged.
3. Using a sharp utility knife, remove the tongue strip from both the long and short ends of the replacement piece. Also, remove the groove strip from the short end of the replacement piece.
4. Place two-sided carpet tape on one half under the sides of the adjacent pieces where the tongues and groove of the replacement piece were removed. Remove only the top side release paper of the carpet tape. Leave the bottom side release paper in place, not taped to the subfloor.
5. Position the replacement piece by engaging its long side groove into the adjoining piece's tongue and pushing down on the other three sides. The carpet tape will hold the replacement piece in place. Use a hand roller to further secure the tape.