Installation Guide BFCore®️ SPC
“If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail” — Benjamin Franklin
Subfloor. Make sure the subfloor is flat, level, clean and free of debris. New concrete must be cured for at least 60 days. Test the subfloor moisture prior to installation.
Acclimatise. Your Vinyl Flooring For 2 to 3 Days. For Vinyl flooring, lay boxes on the floor and only open box ends.. Acclimate your floor as close to the installation area as possible, for 1 to 2 days in normal living conditions
Expansion. Leave at least 10 mm expansion spaces between flooring and ALL vertical objects (walls, cabinets, pipes, etc.) Large flooring runs may require additional expansion space. Use transition mouldings between rooms and doorways 3 feet or less. Undercut door jambs and casings to provide adequate expansion space. Do not screw or nail cabinetry or other permanent fixtures to a floating floor.
Floating Click-Lock BFCore®️ SPC Installation
Note: Flooring not used for its intended purpose will not be covered under warranty.
Upon ordering of BFCore®️ SPC materials add an additional 10% to allow for cutting waste and grading allowance.
Installer/Owner assumes all responsibility to inspect all flooring before installation. Planks deemed unacceptable in appearance can be placed in cupboards, near walls or simply not be used. Pieces with glaring defects that can be seen from a standing position should be cut off or not be used as use constitutes acceptance.
It is the responsibility of the installer/homeowner to determine if the job site conditions, environmental conditions and sub-floor are acceptable for the installation of BFCore®️ SPC flooring.
Floor noise is normal and will vary from one installation type to the next. Occasional noise is due to structural movement and may relate to sub-floor type, flatness, deflection, and/or related to the fasteners, changes in environmental conditions, relative humidity and the amount of topside pressure applied to the flooring. For these reasons floor noise is not considered a product or manufacturer defect.
During installation, it is the installer’s responsibility to document all jobsite conditions and measurements including the installation date, site relative humidity, temperature, and subfloor moisture content. This information must be retained by the installer and left with the property owner as a permanent record.
Do not install flooring under permanent or fixed cabinetry.
Never nail or screw anything through a FLOATED floor.
Transport, Storage, Acclimatisation.
Transport and store cartons in lay down, flat position.
Stack boxes no more than 8 cartons (4ft.) high. Keep away from direct sunlight
Room temperature and relative humidity must be consistent with year-round living conditions for at least 5 days prior to installation.
Due to the nature of BFCore®️ SPC, typical acclimation is for 48 to 72 hours. Flooring does not need to be taken out of the boxes, just opened at the ends.
Pre-Installation Preparation
Prior to installation, inspect planks in daylight for visible faults/damage. Check if subfloor/site conditions comply with the specifications described in these instructions.
Recommended Tools
• Tape measure •
• Utility knife
• Rubber mallet • Chop Saw
• Pencil
• 10 mm spacers
• Table saw
Due to the nature of BFCore®️ SPC, it is acceptable to use the score and snap method for your end cuts. It is still recommended to use a table or chop saw for any rip cuts.
Subfloor Requirements General
Floating floors can be laid on top of most hard surfaces (e.g. concrete, ceramics, wood). Soft subfloors (e.g. carpets) must be removed
The subfloor must be level
The subfloor must be clean, thoroughly swept and free of all debris
The subfloor must be dry
The subfloor must be structurally sound
Acceptable Subfloor Types
Concrete slab
Existing wood
Ceramic tile (must fill in grout lines with a compatible patch compound)
Plywood
Resilient tile and sheet vinyl
Acceptable Subfloor Thickness Requirements:
Wood subfloors must be securely fastened. A best practice is to nail or screw every 15cm along joists to avoid squeaking. If levelling is needed, sand down high spots and fill in low spots.
Tip: If your plywood, OSB or particle board subfloor is reading higher than 13% MC it is advised to find and correct the source of moisture intrusion before continuing installation. Bamboo Family is not responsible for any damage caused by moisture intrusion.
Concrete subfloors must be fully cured and at least 60 days old, preferably 90 days old. If levelling is needed, grind down high spots and level low spots.
Ceramic Tile, resilient tile and sheet vinyl must be well-bonded to subfloor, in good condition, clean and level.
Radiant Heat Systems
Ensuring stable job site conditions, subfloor suitability and proper acclimation are especially important when installing over a radiant heat system. It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure that the recommended environmental conditions are met for installation. Refer to your radiant heat system manufacturer to determine its compatibility with vinyl flooring, and to learn the specific requirements for installation.
Because of the wide variety of systems on the market (Hydronic, embedded in concrete, electrical wire/coil, heating film/mat) each with its own features and applications it is recommended that the user consult with the radiant heating provider for best practices, installation methods and proper subfloors.
With BFCore®️ SPC the floating installation method is the only method recommended for use with radiant heat systems.
Radiant heat system must be turned on and in operation for at least 3 days before installation.
The flooring must be acclimated per BFCore®️ SPC flooring acclimation instruction
The system must be turned down to 15C and maintained 24 hours prior to installation.
Once install is complete, turn system back on and slowly bring back up to normal operating temperature over a period 4-5 days.
Floor should never be heated over 27C. Consult with your radiant heating system manufacturer to successfully limit the maximum temperature.
Always remember that rugs placed over radiant heated flooring can increase the surface temperature in that area by 3-5C degrees.
When turning off the radiant heat system it must be turned down slowly at a rate of 5C degrees per day. You should never just turn the system off.
Installation of BFCore®️ SPC by Bamboo Family™️
Before laying: Measure the room at right angle to the direction of the planks. Planks in the final row should be at least 1/3 the width of a plank. Due to this rule, planks in the first row can be cut to smaller size. Shuffle planks in order to obtain a pleasant blend of shades. Lay planks preferably following the direction of the main source of light. We recommend laying on wooden floors crossways to the existing floorboard. You should never nail or screw planks to the subfloor.
Floor should be installed from several cartons at the same time to ensure good colour, shade and appearance.
Expansion gaps: Even though BFCore®️ SPC will have very minimal expansion and contraction it is still required to leave 10 mm expansion space around the perimeter as well as all fixed objects (tile, fireplace, cabinets).
If the installation area exceeds 12 mtrs, a greater expansion space is required; approximately 2 mm for every additional 3 mtrs. If the floating installation flows into other rooms, a T-moulding must be used in doorways and openings between rooms (halls, archways, etc.) to allow separate areas to move without interference.
To cover your expansion space, Bamboo Family carries matching BFCore®️ SPC accessories see website for details.
Installing the first row:
1. Starting from the left with the tongue-side facing the wall, carefully place the first board in place, using spacers to leave a 10 mm expansion gap between wall and edges of the plank.
2.Install the second piece by aligning the butt end with the end of the first piece at a 45 degree angle. Softly push the second piece down until the tongue and groove lock together to secure the joint on the ends. Continue in this manner until reaching the final board in the first row.
3.Cut the final board piece to length and install it in the same manner as the previous piece.
Next Steps:
1. If the cut plank is at least 20 cm in length, it can be used as a starter piece in another row. If the cut plank is shorter than 20 cm do not use it. Instead, begin with a new board that is at least 20 cm in length and allows 20 cm between the end joints on the adjacent planks.
2.Position the first board in place by angling it up slightly, pushing forward and interlocking the side tongue. The long side of the plank should fit snug with no gapping.
3.Install the second plank in the second row by partially disengaging the first plank for the purpose of locking the butt ends of the first and second plank. Once this is done repeat step 2.
4.Carefully inspect the long edge and short ends of the plank for any gapping before moving on to the plank. If you notice a gap, STOP, and reinstall the board to ensure a snug fit.
5.Install the remaining boards and rows in the same manner.
6.Cut the last board to size.
7. Whenever practical, use cut pieces from previous rows as the starter board to reduce waste, however, it is a best practice when doing this to not create a repeating pattern. For a natural look rows and patterns should be staggered.
8.Maintain proper spacing (at least 20 cm) between end joints for best appearance.
Installing the Final Row:
1. The last row may need to be cut lengthwise (ripped). Make sure ripped piece is at least 1/3 the size of the overall width of the plank.
2. Place the last row of boards to be fit on top of the last row of installed boards. Use a piece of plank or tile as a scribe to trace the contour of the wall.
3. Mark where the board will be cut. If the fit of the wall is simple and straight, simply measure for the correct fit and cut. 4.After boards are cut, position boards and tap all joints (long AND short ends) with the rubber mallet.
After Install/Floor Care Maintenance:
For Cleaning, we recommend dry or damp mopping as needed using laminate cleaner or similar.
Do not use anything abrasive or harsh chemicals to clean the floor. Never use any of the following products on your floor: ammonia-based cleaners, mineral spirits, acrylic finishes, wax-based products, detergents, bleach, polishes, oil soap, abrasive cleaning soaps, acidic materials such as vinegar.
Never apply wax treatments or top coats to the floor.
Do not drag furniture across the floor, use felt pads on chair and furniture legs.
Keep pet’s nails trimmed to avoid excess scratching.
Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to remove loose dirt. Do NOT use vacuums that use a beater bar or turn beater bar off.
Place quality walk-off mats at all entrances to retain tracked in dirt, grit and moisture, never use latex or rubber backed mats as they can permanently stain the floor.
Area rugs are also recommended in front of kitchen sinks and in high traffic areas.
Although BFCore®️ SPC Flooring is water proof, it is still a best practice to avoid excessive moisture on the floor. Therefore, we recommend soaking up spills immediately using a dry towel or dry mop.
Limit direct sunlight on floor by using curtains and blinds in areas that are exposed to high UV rays.
Heavy furniture (500+ lbs.) may obstruct the free, natural movement of a floated floor. Restricting this movement in certain areas can lead to problems such as buckling or separation when the floor experiences natural expansion and/or contraction.
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