TROJAN TIMBERS PTY LTD

ABN 12 086 098 866 Phone (07) 3861 4422 Fax (07) 3861 4488 Unit 4/ 67 Araluen Street, Kedron, QLD, 4031 PO Box 3363, Stafford DC, QLD, 4053 website www.trojantimbers.com.au email [email protected]

Bamboo Installation and care guide for your new bamboo floor Important Note: As every location may have differing requirements it is impossible to provide conclusive installation instructions for every set of circumstances. Our aim is to provide an overview to installation, please read through the guide and check with your supplier should you need any further clarification.

Uniclic Locking Bamboo Flooring with drop in end joining Important: Please read the instructions in their entirety before opening any packaging or starting the installation. 1. It is considered the sole responsibility of the installer to determine if the jobsite’s sub-floor and environmental conditions are suitable for the installation of the product. 2. Pre-finished Bamboo flooring should only be installed in the final stages of completion of a construction project with all trades people having left the site. All work involving water or moisture should be completed prior to the installation (cement work, plastering, painting, plumbing and tiling etc). Should this not be the case, installation should be delayed to avoid damage to the coating of the Bamboo flooring. The building should be roofed and enclosed with the temperature and humidity as close as possible to in-service conditions including the use of air-conditioning. Flooring should be delivered at least 2 - 3 days prior to installation and the boxes should be opened to allow the Bamboo floor to adjust to normal room. 3. Check all floor boards before installation for visual and structural defects. Any defects in the product should be notified in writing to the supplier of the flooring before installation. Floor boards with visible defects are not to be used. The product manufacturer cannot be held responsible for site conditions. Bamboo Floor is recommended for internal use only, and should not be installed in wet areas like bathrooms, laundries or in external environments to the elements. What you need To correctly install your new Bamboo floor, you will need  Underlay with moisture barrier  Trims to finish the floor off at doorways and tile areas, normally silver  Exterior PVA glue  A saw  A Rubber mallet  You will also need small blocks of timber to choc behind the timber plank and the wall in order to create the expansion gap (an off cut of the timber floor would be suitable). Here are a few finishing tips that will help the floor present the best way possible for new builds or where you are replacing the kitchen, ie  Waterfall – if the kitchen has a waterfall bench top you need to set the item up 20mm from the floor, so you can slide the flooring underneath (please note you will need to seal this with polyurethane).  False Kickers – it is best to install the kitchen with false kickers, this way you can install the floor up to the false kicker allowing for the correct expansion gap. Once the floor is installed the cabinet maker can glue and fix into place the actual kicker. This will eliminate the need for mouldings around the kitchen benches. (If you have adjustable feet with clip on kickers, just leave the kickers off until you have installed the floor.) Tips for Skirting and Tiling  Skirting – It is best to only tack on the skirting, don’t seal it off. This way your painter can go through as they normally would, you can take the skirting off and refit. The painter can then come back and fix the nail heads and touch up. This way you have no unsightly quad mouldings on the job.  Tiling – Where the timber floor meets the tiles, use a senior end moulding this has a height of approximately 19 to 20mm.

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Substrate Preparations Site Conditions: Flooring should be the last item installed for all commercial or domestic applications. All other trades must be completed before the flooring can be installed. Ensure site is thoroughly clean and all debris is removed. The subfloor must be flat (level to maximum variation of 3mm over a 3 metre radius and structurally sound) All installations require the use of a suitable moisture barrier (200-250 micron plastic or equivalent SABS approved) to be installed directly on the substrate. Ensure joins overlap by at least 200mm and are taped securely with waterproof tape and are folded up all walls and vertical obstructions by a 50mm. A 2mm cushion underlay or cork or high density foam is required on top of the vapour barrier. This would be installed by butting the edges together (no overlap) and then taping again (see sections below for the specific requirements). Alternatively a 2 in 1 plastic moisture barrier with attached high density foam may be used. For Wooden Subfloors: Check subfloor is dry year round, has no mould or contaminants, and is well secured. Nail or screw every 15cm along joints to avoid squeaking. Rectify if required. Check subfloor is level, if not level/ sand down high spots and fill low spots. The subfloor must be flat (level to a maximum variation of 3mm over 3 metre radius) and structurally sound. All installations require the use of a suitable moisture barrier (200-250 micron plastic or equivalent SABS approved) to be installed directly to the substrate. Ensure joins overlap by at least 200mm are taped securely with waterproof tape and are folded up the walls and vertical obstructions by 50mm. A 2mm cushion underlay or cork or high density foam is required on top of the moisture barrier. This would be installed by butting the edges together (no overlap) and then taping again (see sections below for specific requirements). Alternatively a 2 in 1 plastic moisture barrier with attached high density foam may be used. Confirm with an industry professional about the suitability of your timber subfloor and crawl space if you have any concerns. For Concrete Subfloors: Ensure concrete slab is fully cured and a minimum of 90 days old. All uneven areas in the subfloor must be filled with a self-levelling compound (refer to manufacturer’s instructions) and ground to conform to minimum requirements of 3mm deflection over a 3m radius. Check moisture content of concrete using a concrete moisture meter. If reading is above 5% the manufacturer recommends bamboo should not be installed. All installations require the use of a suitable moisture barrier (200-250 micron plastic or equivalent SABS approved) to be installed directly to the substrate. Ensure joins overlap by at least 200mm are taped securely with waterproof tape and are folded up the walls and vertical obstructions by 50mm. Alternatively a 2 in 1 plastic moisture barrier with attached high density foam may be used. Important: Do no install on concrete unless you are sure it stays dry year round. Radiant Heating We do not recommend Bamboo flooring for use over any form of under floor heating. Consider using above floor space heating systems. Installation: Prepare for installation: Expansion Joints For floors more than 6 metres wide or more than 12 metres long, an additional expansion joint must be inserted. This is done by under cutting the gyprock. Expansion joints are also required in doorways and between adjoining rooms or areas where adjacent flooring is installed. Use a T-moulding to cover expansion joint.

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Pipes and other obstacles When installing a bamboo panel around a pipe or other obstacle, leave the same amount of expansion gap as you would next to a wall. Measure and pre-cut the affected panel. If there is condensation from the pipe, cut the panel so there is sufficient amount of space to keep the panel dry. It is recommended that you treat the exposed edge of the panel to protect it from pipe condensation. Tip: Fill the space around a pipe with caulking in order to protect the exposed (cut) edge of the panel. Joining of long sides of boards Method A: Position the panel to be installed at an angle of 20 - 30 degrees to the panel already installed. Move the panel gently up and down and at the same time exert forward pressure. The panels will automatically click into place. You can either insert the tongue into the groove, or the groove into the tongue. (Diagram 1A, 1B, 1C)

IMPORTANT Even though the lock may appear tight, it is mandatory that you secure the lock by gently tapping both sides of the end joints. (See Diagram 2A and 2B) The tongue in groove method is the most common and easiest way. See diagram 1A, 1B and 1C. Method B: Using Uniclic you can also tap the panels into each other without lifting. For this method you must use a Uniclic tapping block. The planks should not be joined with a single tap. Avoid damaging the panels by gently and repeatedly tapping the boards to secure the lock. See diagram 2A and 2B

It is recommended after you finish the first row that you use the angle plus tap on the long side of the board (method A). Joining the short sides (or ends) of boards On the end of the boards there is a “drop in end joining system” - The short side (ends of the plank) have a top hook which is dropped into place into the end low hook of the adjoining board (ensure the joint is clean beforehand). The end of the board to be installed must be butted tightly to the board already installed. The long side is then installed once this has been done the board can be pressed down, engaging an end lock by hooking the top hook into the low hook. STEP BY STEP INSTALLATION: Install a 2mm or 2 in 1 underlayment following the manufacturer’s instructions over the pre-installed vapour barrier/ retarder (see section of subfloor preparation). Be sure to tape all underlayment seams with duct tape. Begin the first row with a whole plank. First saw off the tongue on the long side (the top hook on the end of the board must face the wall). You will continue to remove the tongue for any machined edge that directly lies against a wall or obstruction. Put the plank with sawn off sides against the wall. Put spacers between the planks and the wall. This will ensure your expansion joint is wide enough (12-15mm). On floors wider than 6 metres, it is important to maximise expansion. This is done by under cutting the gyprock; this together with the thickness of the skirting should provide around 25mm each side. Install the boards one plank at a time, making sure to angle the boards correctly and ensure the locking system is fully secured. Use a tapping block to tap the locking system gently on the side of the boards. Where the tongue has been sawn off for the boards next to the wall, use a pull bar to tap into position.

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Place the planks in a random position and always ensure that the end joints are staggered at least 300mm, this is to provide strength to the combined floor. You can use the left over pieces (cut offs) from the first row to start the following row. These must be a minimum of 300mm. (To achieve a random pattern the starting board lengths of the second and ensuing rows can be cut to random lengths.) INSTALLATION TIPS  Allow for extra clearance underneath doorways and cupboards. Check that doors and can be opened later with increased height levels before installing the floor with a clearance of 8mm.  Open a minimum of 2-4 boxes and blend different shades together for a natural finish.  Ensure starting line is straight and fixed.  Stagger end joints of boards from row to row at a minimum of 300mm to strengthen the entire floor and create a random pattern finish.  Do not fix, install cabinets or walls on top of the floating floor.  Fix baseboards over the moisture barrier. Never fix baseboards to the floor itself, but allow the floor to expand and contract underneath the baseboard.  Because the humidity of a room can vary due to difference between seasons, the floor must be able to expand and contract in all directions. To facilitate this, an expansion space and contraction allowance of 12-15mm should be provided at all walls and fixed vertical obstructions i.e. kitchen islands etc. It may be necessary to add a quarter round to conceal gaps. Floors Wider Than 6 Metres On floors wider than 6 metres, it is important to maximise expansion. This is done by under cutting the gyprock; this together with the thickness of the skirting should provide around 25mm each side. Colour Variation Bamboo is a natural material and variation in colour and tone are to be expected. For the optimum finish, mix different colours and tones to create a blended and natural looking floor. Light Fastness Bamboo is a natural product and all floorboards should be shielded from exposure to direct sunlight & high UV levels to limit the fading. Acclimatization Bamboo flooring must be moisture acclimatized as with conventional hardwood flooring (moisture and temperature) for a minimum of 72 hours according to internal relative humidity levels prior to installation. (See below table) Relative Humidity 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% Acclimation Time 96hrs 72hrs 72hrs 72hrs 96hrs Temperature and humidity of installation area should be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least one week before installation of bamboo flooring. Room temperature of 20-24C and a humidity range of 35-55% is recommended and this will need to be maintained at all times to ensure a successful installation. If the RH is not within these parameters, a humidifier/ dehumidifier can be used to reach required levels. Store the flooring in the installation area with all the boxes open and internal plastic wrap cut. Do not store the cartons directly on concrete or against walls. When installing bamboo flooring use planks from 2 - 4 cartons at a time to ensure a good blend of colour. WARNING: Installing bamboo flooring in temperature/ humidity conditions outside of recommended ranges may result in the floor expanding and contracting which may in turn cause warping/ cupping in wet/ hot conditions or splitting/ cracking in dry/ cold conditions. Any sharp increases or decreases in temperature or RH can affect the stability of your product. To ensure a successful installation, please ensure temperature and humidity levels are controlled within the optimum installation conditions at all times.

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POST INSTALLATION PRECAUTIONS MAINTENANCE  By far the most damage caused to bamboo flooring is by incorrect cleaning methods.  Never steam mop or wet mop floor surface area. Sweeping or vacuuming will keep it clean.  Use a recognized bamboo floor cleaner diluted with water to recommended ratio. Place this liquid in a spray bottle and spray a mist onto the floor. Then with a dry flat mop remove the moisture applying appropriate pressure. If any dampness remains, dry off with a towel.  Always clean up water spills immediately.  Cleaning kits are available through your dealer.  Protect the floor from scratches arising from furniture and chair feet by means of felt or plastic protector pads.  Avoid bringing dirt, water and sand inside by use of a walk-off door mat.  Make sure there is a minimum humidity of 35-55% in the room. If necessary use a humidifier.  Keep nails trimmed on animals.  Periodically rearrange the rugs and furniture to allow even aging of the floor.  Use area rugs in high traffic areas.  Never use wax, oil, soap or other household cleaners on your floor.  If you decide to cover the floor (to allow other construction trades to continue working), do not use plastic films or other non-breathing type coverings as this can cause the floor to become damaged from humidity build ups.  Due to the unforeseen happening, it is suggested that the owner keep a spare carton of floor, sealed in a dry storage area for possible future repairs. Product Warranty Warranties begin from the date of purchase in dry residential applications. We warrant our bamboo flooring in the original manufactured state free from structural defects (Structural Warranty) for 15 years. We warrant to the original purchaser that the wear layer (Coating Warranty) will not peel or separate from the flooring plank for 5 years. These warranties DO NOT COVER damages or defects resulting from or in any way attributed to: 1. Improper storage, handling or installation of the products. 2. Excessive or inadequate humidity in the installed area. 3. Uneven sub-floors (outside limits of specification, refer to details above). 4. Abuse, lack of maintenance, neglect, abnormal use or misuse, negligence, corrosive chemicals & other unintended uses. 5. Variations in colour, markings, fading or darkening that are naturally occurring or develop over time. 6. Damages caused during shipping are the responsibility of the shipping company. 7. Dents or scratches. 8. Changes in colour due to full or partial exposure to sunlight & weather. 9. Separations between boards caused by expansion and contractions during seasonal & temperature changes. 10. Installation or use of flooring with visible defects. NOTE: Should product be determined to have any possible defect by the person doing the installation please call the place of purchase immediately for inspection and possible replacement PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. All questions of product quality are to be addressed prior to installation. Installation implies acceptance. No warranty will be offered for appearance related claims once the products are installed.

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