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Balta Laminate Installation HandbookThe Do It Yourselfer's Guide To Laminate Installation for Balta Trinterio Laminate
Handbook for Balta Trinterio *Word.doc Downloads for Printing Written and Presented by: Installing Laminate Flooring (435) 586-4431 Tools Needed For Installation Tools Needed For Installation - ^ Back to Top ^ The following tools may vary with your specific installation, please contact before having to go out and making a purchase. Tapping block (should fit the product's tongue) To repair minor chips, etc., you can use colorfill epoxy in the same color as the floor. First, surround the area to be repaired with masking tape to prevent excess epoxy from getting on the rest of the laminate. Fill the area with the epoxy and let dry. Wipe up excess with acetone/fingernail polish remover (that contains acetone). To remove a damaged board, have someone kneel or stand on the board that is above the one you wish to remove. Grasp the board firmly and pull up about 3 inches and pull out. It will come out easily when raised. For further installation help, please feel free to call 435-586-4431 and talk to Max, Tom, or Courtney. We offer free installation advice to all of our customers. Cleaning And Maintenance 1. To regularly clean flooring, you can first use a broom, swiffer, or vacuum (no beater bars….use hard surface tool only). When deep cleaning is necessary, only clean a small area at a time (5X5 ft. area) and dry with a towel as you go to prevent streaking. You can use white vinegar and clear warm water (4 to 1) and a wrung out mop. USE AS LITTLE MOISTURE AS POSSIBLE. Follow immediately with a dry towel or cloth to prevent streaking. (If you put a towel down, then push it around with a dust mop, etc. on top, you won't be on your hands and knees.) DO NOT use detergents, as they often leave a residue behind that makes the floor streak when cleaning in the future. For sticky messes, etc., you can use Windex and a dry towel or cloth.2. Place mats at outside doors to collect dirt and debris. Sharp foreign objects in shoes can scratch the floor. 3. Clean up spills as quickly as possible. 4. Use furniture glides (felt protectors or wide base castors) under heavy furniture, equipment, and furniture with metal legs. 5. Be careful when moving heavy objects across the room. 6. NEVER WAX, SEAL, OR POLISH THE FLOOR. It never needs to be sanded or refinished, either. 7. To clean stains….For nail polish, tar, cigarette burns, use acetone (nail polish remover) and it will come right up. What about that expansion gap? 5/16 inch around the perimeter *Installation Concept One of the unique ideas that makes laminate flooring easier to install is that the floor floats over the surface rather than being attached to the surface. Due to the characteristics of wood, laminate expands and contracts with the weather, humidity, and changes of season. It is therefore necessary to provide ample room (5/16 in.) around the entire perimeter, under door frames, and any other area where the perimeter of the laminate may come in contact with any other surface. Preparing For Installation1. Remove any carpeting and pad if you are installing laminate in that area. Linoleum, vinyl, and ceramic tile (as long as it is an even, level area) can be left. You can install right over them. THE MOST IMPORTANT PREINSTALLATION ADVICE WE CAN GIVE IS TO READ THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLING. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINES CAN RESULT IN VOIDING OF THE WARRANTY. This diagram illustrates the correct way to install stairs. Laminate Adjoining A Sunken RoomWhen you are installing laminate in the sunken area only….Finish with quarter round where the laminate meets the carpet. When you are installing laminate in the top area only, you have two choices, doing just the top part of the stair (where you'd finish with the stairnose…see below instructions), ore doing the entire stair/step…see directions below. Stairs (Enclosed Stairways Only)If you have an open stairway (no wall on each side), you must have a carpenter do all the finishing. Installing PaddingIf you are installing additional pad, please adhere to the following:
Installation Of The Planks When installing Balta planks, you must first hinge the short side (a). Then, allow the plank to come down and rest on the lip of the other planks (b). Hook into the planks by lifting the entire row (c). Release the row and allow it to lock into place (d). VERY IMPORTANT
1. To install the first row, start from the left and connect full boards together until you near the end of the row. Then, put a spacer between the wall and the first board, so your space is correct. (5/16 inch all the way around the perimeter of the floor.) Measure to fit the last board in that row. To install the last board (if up against the wall), you can either slide it or pull it in with the pull bar. 2. You can now put the spacers along the wall between the laminate you've just installed and the wall.   The above picture shows how the staggered joints do not all have to be a pattern of lengths. The only requirement is that the starter board is at least 16 in. and the stagger on each joint is a min. of 16 in., also. Door Jambs To go through a doorway and allow laminate to pass through a doorway and go under the door casing… 1. Take laminate (and pad if using additional pad), flip it upside down and use a jamb saw (handheld saw) to undercut the casing to the same height. Fireplaces Dishwashers Moldings and Transition Pieces When installing base/and or quarter round, it is best to use an air brad nailer as it is fast and makes a professional looking finish. When the floor is finished, simply take out the spacers, put the baseboard down next to the wall and brad nail it directly into the wall. (MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT NAIL THROUGH THE LAMINATE.) When putting down the quarter round, you can brad nail it into the base (making sure that it isn't going into the floor) at a 45 degree angle, or you can put a bead of latex caulking around the perimeter and set your quarter round down in that. Installing Over Radiant Heat 1. Install the flooring normally. When you wish to use glue….. If you are installing over concrete, you will need to use glue to install the track. You can use liquid nails, but we like polyethylene glue as it is much stronger. If you are going over a wood sub floor, simply secure the track with screws. Moldings and Transition Pieces continue… 2. To install transition pieces, make sure you leave the proper expansion joint (1/4 inch) on both sides of the track. DO NOT LAY PAD UNDER TRACK. Cut the track to fit the transition area. If you are installing over concrete, you will need to use glue to install the track. You can use liquid nails, but we like polyethylene glue as it is much stronger. If you are going over a wood sub floor, simply secure the track with screws. Then, measure the transition area and cut the transition piece to fit. Snap the transition piece down into the preinstalled track.
You can also use a reducer in reverse if you have the laminate as the low side and another type of flooring (ceramic tile, hardwood, etc. ) that is the high side. You'd simply reverse the reducer. 7. Stairs…Please go to the page that details how to install stairs. *If you are using Quiet Walk pad with the 8mm products, you may need to put in an 1/8 inch piece of masonite or scrap lumber under the molding track (make sure it is the same width as the track) to raise it to the level of the laminate and pad. Bathrooms And Kitchens 1. Put a 1/8 in. bead of latex caulking around the perimeter of the room (also around toilet flange, sinks, icemaker inlets, dishwashers, etc.) when you are finished installing the laminate. Set your trim down in that latex caulking. DO NOT use silicone, as it will break out and crack. Pure silicone doesn't work well because it is not as flexible. The latex will allow for expansion and contraction. It is very flexible.
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