DO allow flooring or stair treads to acclimate to the relative humidity of the home. (Usually 1-2 weeks) Be sure to check moisture levels of the sub-floor.

DO leave a gap of 5/8"- 3/4" (as much as possible depending on baseboard depth) to allow for expansion.

DO install wood flooring over approved 5/8"- 3/4" thick sub-floor (particle board is NOT allowable). ALWAYS rip up old linoleum before installing hardwood flooring.

DO use Red Rosin or 15 lb felt as an underlayment between the flooring and sub-floor in order to provide some moisture resistance as well as to reduce squeaking as the floor contracts and expands.

DO NOT install solid wood flooring over radiant heat. Doing so will void the warranty on any solid pre-finished or unfinished flooring. Engineered products are available for installation over radiant heat. ALWAYS follow manufacturer guidelines for setting radiant heat levels.

DO install 3/4" solid wood flooring on or above grade but NOT below grade.

DO follow a proper nailing schedule to insure minimal movement in flooring.

On 2-1/4" strip flooring a nailing pattern of 6"- 8" between nails or staples is required with a maximum of 2" from the ends of the boards.

On plank flooring 3"- 5" wide a nailing pattern of no more than 4"- 6" between nails or staples is required with a maximum of 2" from the ends of the boards.

A general rule of thumb is to nail more often on a wider board.

DO NOT glue joints on solid wood flooring. This will produce uneven gapping in the floor and may result in splits in the center of flooring planks. (Glue is only required on some engineered products or laminates that float and that are not adhered to the sub-floor).

DO finish nail or face nail beginning and ending rows of flooring in order to provide room for the manual or pneumatic nail gun.

DO rip out old treads and put new treads over stringers when replacing stair treads. Installing new treads over existing treads may result in conflicting expansion and contraction rates.

DO install treads before installing kick boards to allow for expansion in the treads leaving a gap of 5/8" to 3/4" between tread and back of stringers depending on the depth of risers.

DO NOT put a topcoat of finish on pre-finished flooring because this may result in a voiding of the finish warranty.

DO put pads on the bottom of furniture to prevent scratching or gouging in wood flooring.

DO put runners or mats down in entranceways to cut down on dirt, rocks or debris scratching wood floors.

DO NOT wet mop wood flooring. Use suggested wood floor cleaning products made specifically for pre-finished wood flooring. Examples include Bona-Kemi and Mirage products.

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407 Route 125 • Brentwood, New Hampshire
Tel: 603-679-1230
Fax: 603-679-1960 Main Office/Wholesale Sales
Fax: 603-679-8248 Retail Sales
Email:retail@highlandhardwoods.com

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Photographs of flooring and wood products contained on this site are general representations. Actual color and grain pattern may vary.