Quick and Easy Installation

MULTI-PLANK can be installed as a clip together floating floor over a number of different surfaces including:

• Concrete
• Sheet flooring (ply or particle board)
• Floorboards
• Vinyl or tiles(some preperationg may be required)

It can also be installed as a direct stick flooring system or glued and secret nailed over timber sub- floors.

When installed as a floating floor please follow our instructions closely and only use products we specify to ensure your warranty is not compromised. When glueing please check that you are satisfied with the adhesion at each stage before proceeding.

Laying Multi-Plank™ as floating flooring is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
 

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Tap in M-P Clip Glue in end matched T&G only Clip Together

Watch out instructional video on how to lay Multi-Plank™ flooring:

Multi-Plank™ - Detailed Laying Guide

Before laying the floor: 
                             
MULTI-PLANKTM floor boards are suitable for installation in residential and light commercial areas.  In the areas where the floor is to be laid, conditions must be the same as expected when the area is in use, and must have a humidity equivalent to the normal level for the season. The humidity should be stable and the difference between the highest and lowest measured relative humidity during the year should not exceed 20% RH e.g. 45-65% relative humidity at approx. 20C. The moisture content of any concrete base should not exceed 5% or 75% relative humidity. The building must be dry and weather tight with all wet trades complete. The heating & air conditioning system must be installed and tested, and during the heating season this should be operating with a constant heat supply. The packing on the bundles must not be removed until just prior to laying the floor. In the event of visible defects, the boards should not be installed and you should contact the supplier.

Laying with clips:

• The sub floor must be leveled to a tolerance of no more than a 3mm gap showing under a 3m straight edge the surface must be smooth with no roughness. Local irregularities must be leveled using an approved leveling compound as per manufactures directions, or on timber substrates level sanded to remove humps and peaks.  The more level that the floor is the better the end result will be.

• The number of clips required will vary depending on width and length of boards but 28 clips / m2 should be required (Based on a 120mm cover @ 300mm spacing) & 33 clips / m2  should be required (Based on a 90mm cover @ 300mm spacing).  Spacing will vary between 300mm & 450mm with a clip on each end then evenly spaced in between.  eg: a 450mm board will have only 2 clips, a 600mm board will have 3 clips, a 900mm board can have either 3 or 4 clips, a 1200mm board will have 4 clips, a 1500mm board will have 5 clips & a 1800mm will have either 5 or 6 clips.  The clips must be evenly spaced across entire floor so as to have an equal amount of tension on all boards.

• It is recommended to only use the MULTI-PLANK rubber underlay with foil on the top and all joins are required to be taped with water resistant tape, we suggest the under lay is laid in the opposite direction to the way the floorboards will be laid.

• It is recommended that the boards be laid parallel with the longest side of the room. Turn the board over and tap the end of the clip with the barb into the groove on the back of the board, so that the plain end of the clip points in the direction of the tongue, which is the laying direction the first clip is placed at a maximum of 80mm from the end of board. Solid boards are glued at all end joints with approved cross linked P.V.A glue. note: Solid boards must never be glued lengthwise. The gap between the end of the board and the wall can be filled with expansion cork of covered with a timber scotia. Ensure a close fit.

• The first row of boards is installed leaving a clear expansion gap at the wall of minimum size 15mm or 3mm for every meter of floor width at each side.  Clip spacing:  All rows, 300mm – 450mm centers for residential applications.  Make sure that the clips do not touch each other by staggering them (in line) by approx 50mm. Use temporary spacers or wedges between the wall and the first row of boards to form the expansion gap.

• However, the distance between board joints in two successive rows should be at least 250mm butt joints in one row of boards should not be in line with butt joints in a neighboring row, but must be spread as far as possible. Cut the last row of boards to form the correct size of expansion gap at the wall.  If the board is to narrow too take the clip glue the last board to the adjacent board along the entire length of the board. This is the only exception from the rule never to glue lengthwise along boards. Use a bar to slot the last board into place.

• Around pipes, drill a hole in the board to accommodate the pipe. The space around the pipe must be the same as the expansion gap at the wall. A tapered wedge is cut out, so that it can be glued in place.

Note: remove temporary spacers or wedge at walls before installing skirting or Scotia as it is extremely important that a minimum of 15mm expansion is always left.  Please ensure that on widths across the boards that exceed 6 metres that breaks are cut in to the flooring and a suitable capping is fitted to allow flooring to move due to seasonal weather and moisture variations.

Laying on existing wooden floors:
The boards can be glued & nailed to a sub floor such as plywood, particle board & existing floorboards etc. the sub floor must be structurally sound, sufficiently rigid, flat, level, and dry.
The sub floor must be level sanded to remove all contaminates and irregularities.  Boards must be laid to give a random joint pattern. Expansion gaps at walls and other fixed points will be a minimum size of 15mm or 3mm for every meter of floor width on each side and 1.0mm for every meter of floor length at each end with a minimum size of 15mm.   To avoid crushing, unevenness and tightness in the floor caused by fluctuations in the climatic conditions in the building, MULTI-PLANK solid hardwood boards must be fixed according to a 10 board measure. This is a measurement across 10 boards during installation. The 10 board measure is subject to continuous control and is based on the expected maximum relative humidity in the building. Guidelines are shown in the table below. If in doubt please contact your distributor.

We also recommend the floor be secret nailed using an approved gun with suitable protection on base plates to prevent damage to floor surface.  The angle of the gun may need to be packed with shims to give optimum angle for correct fixing.

Direct stick to concrete method:
Sub floor requirements – in all cases, the sub floor must me structurally sound, level, dry and clean.

• The concrete must be sound and have a steel trowel finish and be free of loose material.

• The concrete must be clean, dry and free of dust, coatings, adhesives, oil & grease.

• The slab must be flat with no more than 3mm deviation over 3 metres.  If deviation is greater than acceptance then the laying surface can be brought to level using a self leveling compound.

• An alternative method is to fix 12mm plywood underlay to the concrete slab after first laying a polyethylene membrane overlapping 200mm on joins and securing with waterproof tape.

• Multi-Plank flooring must not be laid on any section of concrete floor, which has a moisture content of more than 5%.  The best way to test the moisture content is to use an appropriate moisture meter.  We recommend the use of vapor protection barriers being applied as per manufactures directions.  We offer no direct warranty where it is installed using a “direct stick method” to concrete this will be covered under the adhesive manufactures warranty.  Therefore follow their directions for trowel size and coverage rates. 

• Satisfy yourself that all relevant product you use in this system are compatible if in doubt stop do not proceed until you are satisfied the products that you have selected will perform the task you wish them to perform.

 
Important points to remember:

• Only store Multi-Plank in a well ventilated position that is flat, not in direct contact with the ground and also protected from moisture and direct sunlight.

• Multi-Plank is normally supplied at 9% moisture content + or – 2%.  Satisfy yourself that this range is appropriate for your intended application.  If our product does not meet this moisture content range do not lay the flooring.  If for what ever reason the flooring fails to live up to your expectations do not lay and contact your supplier immediately.

• The flooring should be stripped out in the room it is to be laid in and subjected to the same climatic conditions that it will experience after laying.  That includes running of any heating or air conditioning for the usual time it would normally operate.

• Do not fix in extreme weather conditions, this will help the moisture control of the floor and reduce movement of the floor.

• Covering the flooring with plastic on site can cause an oven effect and should be avoided.

While MULTI-PLANK TM flooring can be installed as a glue and secret nailed or direct stick method MULTI-PLANK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD doesn’t offer any warranty or guarantee on its flooring when installed this way.  Please see your installer or satisfy yourself that it can be successfully installed this way before proceeding.
For full terms and conditions for MULTI-PLANK see warranty form available from your local supplier or visit our website.   www.multi-plankaustralia.com.au

General Maintenance:
Direct sunlight can cause a chemical reaction in the wood and to the coating, this will result in the floor changing colour (weathering and ageing).  It is advised in areas of direct sunlight to occasionally move floor rugs or carpets over the floor subjected to the light in order to protect the timber.  Curtains & Blinds should be installed to protect your floor from direct sunlight. Dirt & Grit lead to excessive wear and scratching of your timber floor.  In order to protect the floor dust and dirt must be kept off the floor.  This can be achieved by using dirt trapping mats at all exterior doors to minimize the amount of dirt & grit being introduced to your inside floors. The floor should be vacuumed or swept regularly.  If the floor is dirty or has a build up of grime it may be moped with a slightly moist mop, the floor may be cleaned using a small quantity of methylated spirits or a mild flooring detergent mixed with warm water this will assist in cleaning the floor.  You must not wet mop your timber floor as too much moisture will cause the moisture content of the boards to change and may cause cupping or buckling of the boards.  Never use a steam mop. 
Moving furniture over your floor can lead to surface damage.  Fit protective pads to the legs of chairs and tables so they can be moved easily without the risk of scuffing the floor.  
High heel shoes can dent any hard floor surface.  Special care should be taken to remove shoes that have exposed heels with sharp points to avoid damaging your floor.
Pets with long claws can scratch and dull your floor finish, requiring extra maintenance or premature recoating.
One of the features of Multi-Plank is that it can be recoated using water based polyurethane coatings (please test and satisfy your self with compatibility before proceeding).  If it becomes excessively damaged it is possible to re sand and polish several times.  We recommend this is only done by a professional proficient in the sanding & refinishing of timber floors.