Crown J007622 Instruction sheet

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
Imported on behalf of Builder Depot Ltd
Station Rd, New Southgate, London, N11 1QJ
Version 2.1
February 2019
PLEASE NOTE:
This product is considered a professional product and requires a
high degree of technical ability to be installed correctly.We always
recommend a qualied and experienced professional should be
responsible for the installation of this product.
PRE INSTALLATION
Crown Engineered Wood Flooring is a natural product and
acclimatisation is required to ensure the best possible results.
However, the warranty conditions dictate that the Engineered
Wood Flooring is to remain in the sealed packaging before the
date of installation.
SUBFLOOR PREPARATION
This type of ooring is suitable for installation on most types of
ooring substrate, as long as its clean, dry and level (e.g. sand
and cement screeds, timber oorboards, chipboard, plywood
are all suitable). It is the responsibility of the ooring installer
to check that the site condition is in a satisfactory state for the
installation to take place including all moisture related readings.
Concrete & Screed Sub-oors
It is vital that the installer checks the moisture content of the
concrete/screed to satisfy themselves that it is dry enough
for the installation to commence. If measured directly with
an appropriate moisture meter, the moisture content should
not exceed 4% on a non-destructive moisture meter such as
Tramex / Gravemetric weight percent measurement (2.5%
CM for Concrete screed / 0.5% CM for Anhydrite screed)
and the relative humidity of the air over the oor screed and
should be between 45-65% R.H. @ a temperature of 18-21ºC.
The oor screed must be leveled before installation to a
tolerance of no more than a 3mm gap showing under a
3m straight edge.
Timber Sub-oors
Floorboards, O.S.B, plywood and batterns are all suitable sub-
oors for Crown 18mm Engineered Wood Flooring.
If your sub-oor uses chipboard, we recommend stabilising
this using a minimum of 6mm plywood before installing your
Engineered Wood Flooring.The same level tolerance of
3mm applies.
Please Note: If installing on existing T&G ooring, make sure
all old oorboards are secure and free of infestation. We also
recommend that your new ooring is installed at a 90º angle
to the previous T&G ooring, as this will provide the necessary
stabilisation required should any subsequent movement of
either of the timbers occurring.
PRODUCT USE
Crown 18mm Engineered Wood Flooring can be installed:
- On or above ground level (not suitable for use in
basements)
- In well ventilated and dry areas, providing the area falls in
line with the Climate Control section of these instructions.
- Installed using the Fully Bonded or Floating installation
method
- Over a plywood, concrete sub-oor or directly onto joists.
- For use with Underoor heating systems (Please refer to
the Underoor Heating section within these instructions)
This oor should NOT be installed in bathrooms or laundry
rooms or other areas with high humidity. Use in any of these
applications will void the product warranty. Crown Engineered
Wood Flooring is designed for indoor use only.
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS COMPLETELY
BEFORE BEGINNING THE INSTALLATION.
The following instructions must be used to install Crown
Engineered Wood Flooring. Failure to do so may result in
voiding the product warranty.
INSTALLERS / OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY
At Crown Floor, we only use the best natural materials to
manufacturer our ooring. As wood is a natural product, you
can expect changes in colour, grain and appearance and other
visual imperfections between each of the boards - No two
planks will have the same characteristics.We manufacture our
products by following the accepted industry standard which
outlines that defective boards must not exceed 5% of the
full pack.These defects may be the result of manufacturing or
naturally occurring characteristics of the material.
We recommend that a minimum of 10% for cutting and
5% for visual grading should be added to your total square
meterage when calculating the quantity of ooring required.
Please Note: If your room is not of equal proportions, the
percentages of waste may be different to what we have
outlined above - This is an approximation.
Before the installation begins; it is the joint responsibility of
the installer and owner/customer of the site to conduct a
thorough site inspection before any ooring is installed.
When carrying out the pre-installation inspection, please
pay close attention to the following aspects:
- Quality of Manufacturing
- Finish
- Colour Grading
18mm Structural Engineered Oak

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
Imported on behalf of Builder Depot Ltd
Station Rd, New Southgate, London, N11 1QJ
Version 2.1
February 2019
If specic boards are deemed unacceptable, please exclude
these boards from the installation process. Boards that
remain as part of the installation are considered to have been
accepted by both installer and owner (even if the owner is not
present at the time of installation).
It is the sole responsibility of the ooring installer to conduct
thorough checks of the site, sub-oor, installation tools and
materials to ensure they meet or exceed the acceptable
industry standards for installing hardwood ooring. Crown
Floor accepts no responsibility for problems arising from
incorrect or improper site preparation or installation
procedures.
SITE PREPARATION
Before installing your new Crown Floor, please ensure that the
following points are addressed:
Installation in a new build construction
- Installation of all external windows and doors have been
carried out. (This includes doors from the home to
attached garages, failure to have these in place can affect
the ambient temperature of adjoining rooms.)
- All concrete, masonry, plastering, drywall, texturing,
painting and other wet work is complete and thoroughly
cured and dry.
- Basements and crawl spaces are dry. Crawl spaces must
have no standing water; crawlspaces must also have a
vapor barrier and adequate ventilation that meet local
building codes.
- Gutters and downspouts are in place, directing water
away from the building.
- HVAC systems are fully operational, enabling heat
and humidity levels to be controlled and maintained
throughout the home.
- The Sub-oor has been prepared correctly for installation.
Installation in an Existing Home (renovation)
If you are planning to install Crown Engineered Wood Flooring
in an existing home as part of a home renovation or remodel,
the same principles apply to that of a new build construction.
Please ensure all wet work (painting, wallpapering, texturing) is
completed and thoroughly dry before commencing with the
ooring installation.
In addition to the new build principles:
- Remove all furniture, artwork and other valuables from
installation area.
- Remove any skirting board and moldings.
- Undercut door frames (Tip: Use a piece of the ooring as
a depth guide when cutting)
- Remove all existing ooring and underlay, if necessary.
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
All Engineered Flooring from Crown Floor can be used with
Underoor Heating, but we recommend consulting your UFH
instruction guidelines before installing to ensure the correct
system is in place before the wood oor is installed.
The ooring installer should ensure the system has been
correctly tested and is operational before commencing the
installation of the ooring. Failure to do so can cause additional
problems because of the wide range of temperatures the
ooring is subjected to.
Always turn off the Underoor heating system 24 hours prior
to installation and allow it to cool fully.
Once the installation is completed, wait 48 hours before
turning the system back on, this gives any adhesive used the
time to fully cure.
When its time to turn the system back on, do so in small
increments of 5°C each day until you reach your desired
room temperature. Do NOT turn the system straight up to
the maximum, as this cause the timber to dry out quickly and
cause the oor to split or crack.
Maximum allowed contact temperature should not exceed
26ºC, at the base of the board, not the top surface. Please
note that loose carpets/rugs insulate the surface by around
2°C!
Important: Follow the heating regulation recommendations
given by the underoor heating system supplier.
CLIMATE CONTROL
Climate control is essential when it comes to wood ooring.
The conditions at the job site must be maintained with the
air temperature between 18-24ºC and relative humidity at
45-65% before, during and after the installation. The ooring
should not be delivered to the site until these conditions have
been met and maintained for 1 week for plywood sub-oors
and 2 weeks for concrete sub-oors.
Following the installation, these temperature and relative
humidity conditions should be maintained at all times to
ensure you get the best out of your new oor. See
Warranty for more details.
If the temperature and humidity conditions meet the
manufacturer’s guidelines, the material should then be
delivered to the site.When stacking boxes, ensure that boxes
are cross stacked to allow for proper airow between each
box. Do not open the boxes; leave closed until ready to
commence the installation and open each one as required
when performing the pre-installation checks.
18mm Structural Engineered Oak

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
Imported on behalf of Builder Depot Ltd
Station Rd, New Southgate, London, N11 1QJ
Version 2.1
February 2019
COLOUR RACKING
Real Wood Flooring contains natural variations in colour and
grain pattern.To prevent colour grouping or repetitive patterns
in the nished oor surface, Crown Floor recommends
unboxing 3/4 cartons to get a sense of the range of colour
variation and arrange the planks to achieve a satisfactory
appearance.When sorting boards, pay close attention to
visible manufacturing defects and any transport damage
(if applicable). Once a plank has been installed, these are
considered to have been accepted by the customer and are
not eligible for exchange or replacement (See Warranty for
more details).
EXPANSION SPACE
Wood ooring expands and contracts with changes in
ambient temperature and humidity.To allow for this, during
installation, please leave an 18mm expansion space around the
entire perimeter of the oor between the ooring and the
walls. Also leave expansion space where the ooring meets
doorways and any vertical obstacle, such as stairs, pipes, tiles
and cabinets.These will be covered by skirting boards or
scotia’s at the end of the installation process.
NOTE: In climates with extreme variations in humidity, or in
large installations (+80m²), a larger expansion space may be
required.
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Once the installation of your hardwood oor is complete, it
is essential to ensure you familiarise yourself with the correct
and safe ways to clean and maintain the surface to avoid any
potential damage.
Daily Cleaning
For day-to-day cleaning, it is essential to dust your hardwood
oors with a microber mop or cloth each day to prevent
any scratches and surface damage. Microber cleaning pads
use static electricity to trap dirt, particles and other household
allergens. Dusting the surface will remove any particles of dust
and grit that may appear from footwear, chair legs and will
contribute to preventing the oor from long-term damage.
Household brushes may also be used, but please be aware
that these can push the dirt around and may potentially cause
scratches to the surface of the oor.
Weekly Cleaning
On a weekly basis, we recommend giving your hardwood
oor a vacuum or moist mop to get rid of more stubborn
stains or debris that may have dried onto the surface. Keep
any protruding parts of the vacuum away from the surface of
the oor as this can cause damage. Any excess water should
be removed from the oor immediately and never pour water
directly onto the oor’s surface as this can cause swelling,
warping, delaminating and even joint separation and not only
reduce your oor’s lifespan, it will also most likely void any
manufacturers’ warranty.
Ongoing Maintenance
For a more in-depth clean, we recommend giving your oor
a deep clean 3/4 times per year to ensure the oor is well
protected from day-to-day living. As we offer many different
types of nishing materials on our ooring, we recommend
speaking to your retailer who will be able to advise on the
correct maintenance products for your ooring depending on
its nish, in accordance with the description on the product
end label.
Cleaning Tips & Tricks
- Use a good quality doormat at entrances & exits to avoid
dirt and debris entering the home.
- Always use appropriate felt pads on chairs, tables and any
other furniture to minimise indentations.
- For drink spillages, these must be cleaned up immediately.
- Always use a suitable Specialist wood ooring cleaner,
that is PH neutral & formulated for the type of nish you
have purchased.
- Do NOT use water and vinegar or soap-based cleaners,
as these will dull the oor’s nish over time.
- Do NOT use Steam Cleaners on your hardwood oors
as these also put heat and excessive water on your oor.
18mm Structural Engineered Oak

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
Imported on behalf of Builder Depot Ltd
Station Rd, New Southgate, London, N11 1QJ
Version 2.1
February 2019
18mm Structural Engineered Oak
INSTALLATION OF 18MM T&G ENGINEERED FLOORING
Crown Engineered Wood Flooring can be installed in three ways:
FULLY BONDED INSTALLATION
Crown Engineered Wood Flooring can be installed
directly to a concrete screed sub-oor or suitable
wood-based sub-oor using the Fully Bonded method.
This method involves using a exible polyurethane
adhesive to fully adhere the boards to the sub-oor.
This is normally done using a notched trowel to create
ridges of adhesive, that the oorboards are then bedded
onto when installed. Always consult the manufacturers’
guidelines for the adhesive you are using to ensure the
correct trowel and application method is being followed.
Tips for Fully Bonded Installation
- It is not necessary to further adhere the T&G
system when using the Fully Bonded method
- Always ensure all adhesive is kept off the surface
area of the boards as when dry it can be very
difcult to remove without causing damage to your
new wood ooring.
- Always use the correct trowel for your adhesive
type. Consult the instructions before beginning the
install.
F LOATI NG I NS TALL AT ION
This type of ooring can also be installed as a Floating
Floor. This is where the boards are joined together and
laid over the sub-oor and xed by applying a PVA
bead of adhesive into the tongue and groove system
on the board.
When connecting the boards together, ensure a
neat, continuous bead of adhesive is applied into the
groove section of the board and rmly press the
adjoining board into place. A tapping block may be
used to further assist the two boards tting together.
If additional strength is required (for example - heavy
trafc areas such as a doorway) a double bead of glue
may be applied. A further bead of adhesive should
also be used on header joints to create a strong and
stable installation.
Tips for Floating Installation
- Installation and Clamp & Straps should be used to
hold rows in place whilst the adhesive cures.
- Starter boards from off-cuts of the previous row
should be used at the beginning of the next row to
ensure a staggered joint is achieved of a minimum
of 500mm, which gives the installation valuable
added strength.
NAIL DOWN INSTALLATION
Finally, Crown 18mm Engineered Wood Flooring can
also be installed using the Nail-Down method.This
process involves using specialist nails on a 45angle into
the tongue section of the board, to allow for a clean
nish when the boards are joined together.
The joists or battens should be rigid, and level with a
moisture content of no greater than 12-14% at the time
of installing the wood ooring.
When xing to ground oor joists, suitable underoor
ventilation and appropriate protection against damp
should be used. If the battens are xed to a concrete
base the base must be dry and battens must not be
less than 36mm wide and be suitable for the nail
xings used.
End-to-End joists between battens should be staggered
throughout the oor area to avoid creating a line
of weakness. Battens are usually laid at 300-400mm
centres and xed with either nails, clips or appropriate
adhesive to the sub-oor.
Tips for Nail-Down Installation
- We always recommend using a professional
nailing product to install Crown Engineered Wood
Flooring using the Nail-Down method.
- The rst row of boards will need to be xed using
a hammer and nails. Subsequent boards can then
be xed with a professional nailing tool.

INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
Imported on behalf of Builder Depot Ltd
Station Rd, New Southgate, London, N11 1QJ
Version 2.1
February 2019
18mm Structural Engineered Oak
UK WARRANTY
1. Crown Floor is responsible for manufacturing defects.
2. Crown Engineered Wood Flooring must be installed
correctly according to the outlined above instructions.
The warranty covers regular use.The warranty does not
include the use of this product in damp and wet spaces,
such as conservatories, bathrooms and kitchens.
3. Planks showing visible defects should not be used as part
of the installation. It is the responsibility of the owner/tter
to deselect these boards at the time of installation.These
boards are to be allowed for in the 5% waste tolerance.
Boards with visible defects that are installed are excluded
from this warranty. Colour and grade de-selection is not
allowed for, as this is a personal choice and not a defect in
the manufacturing of the product.
4. Always check all boards to ensure the board dimensions
are accurate before installing. Off-cut boards should
not always be classed as waste, short or longer pieces
can both be used around the perimeter of the oor if
permitted.
5. Finished ooring, i.e. lacquered, stained, oiled, brushed, or
other nished ooring is subject to normal wear and shall
not be covered by this warranty, i.e. if you don’t maintain
the oor correctly, the warranty is null and void.
6. Excluded under this warranty are scratches, heavy impacts,
humidity, and damage caused by incorrect use or lack of
correct maintenance.
7. If you have a defect, which falls under the conditions
mentioned in this warranty, you should report this to your
dealer in writing within 14 days after detecting the defect.
In your letter, you should include a copy of the original
invoice.
8. This warranty only relates to the planks supplied, and
consequently, it does not include labour costs, the costs of
additional material and any other consequential loss.
9. In case of a dispute arising from the Crown Floor
warranty, either party may call upon an independent
expert to render binding advice. If this clause is applicable,
the cost is to be agreed in writing with all parties involved
in advance.
10. Where the Crown Floor warranty applies, Crown Floor
or its distributors will replace the faulty product. In case
the product in question is no longer available, Crown
Floor will ensure replacement of an alternative product of
the same quality.
11. This warranty shall apply only to the original owner/
purchaser of the wood oor.
WARRANTY WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE IN CASE OF:
1. The oor has not been installed following the correct
methods outlined in the instructions by a qualied installer.
2. The faults were noticed and ignored before the oor
was installed.
3. Defects and faults having arisen due to dampness or
water damage or any other causes as a result of force
majeure.
4. Defects and faults have been caused by improper use
or negligence and failure to use the product for its
intended purpose, as well as having been caused by
having disregarded the instructions for installation, use
and maintenance.
5. Visual faults having arisen as a result of any deformation
of the boards due to changed climate conditions, any
variations in colour due to the inuence of sunlight and
the effects of normal ageing and wear and tear of the
nishing coat.
6. Stains or mechanical damage to the surface (scratches
and dents) resulting from improper treatment during
transport, storage and any damage caused by stiletto
heels, furniture, stones, sand and pets.
MANUFACTURING TOLERANCE
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORS ARE
A NATURAL PRODUCT AND AS SUCH ARE
SUBJECT TO MANY VARIANCES IN COLOUR
AND CHARACTER IN EACH INDIVIDUAL
PIECE OF FLOORING, WE ALWAYS THEREFORE
RECOMMEND YOU WORK FROM 3-4 PACKS
OF FLOORING AT A TIME IN ORDER TO
GET THE BEST NATURAL COLOUR MIX.
AS SUCH A TOLERANCE OF 5% SHOULD
BE ALLOWED FOR THE DESELECTION OF
ANY MATERIAL DEEMED UNSUITABLE FOR
INSTALLATION. THIS PRODUCT IS PRODUCED
WITH A MANUFACTURING TOLERANCE
OF + OR – 1.5% ON THE DIMENSION OF
THE BOARD AND IN LINE WITH SPECIFIED
TIMBER MANUFACTURING GUIDELINES,
AS SUCH ANY ITEMS OUT OF TOLERANCE
SHOULD BE DISMISSED AS PART OF THE 5%
MANUFACTURING TOLERANCE.