INSTALLATION & CARE

HEWN FLOOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 

Hewn’s Stoneform flooring replicates the look of a natural wood product which has variations in color, texture, and sheen. For best representation of Hewn flooring, shuffle planks from several cartons and do not install similar planks side by side.


SUBFLOOR PREPARATION FOR FLOORING INSTALLATION:

The subfloor should be dry and level to 3/16” per 8 ft. radius for best installation results. Prior to installation the installer must ensure that the jobsite and subfloor meet the installation requirements. Hewn Floor is not responsible for flooring failure resulting from unsatisfactory jobsite and/or subfloor conditions.


HOW MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE AFFECT FLOORING INSTALLATION:

Concrete must be cured and tested for moisture before beginning installation of Hewn Floor products. The Hewn Floor warranty does not cover flooring failure if a moisture barrier is not used prior to installation. Hydrostatic pressure from subfloor moisture can put undue pressure on the joints between Hewn Floor planks and ultimately cause the flooring to cup, warp, or fail. Hewn floor recommends a 6 mils plastic visqueen to be installed prior to flooring installation over sub floors. Improper ventilation or moisture from crawl spaces can also damage the flooring. Crawl spaces with less than 18” from ground to floor joists or without cross ventilation equaling 1.5% of the total footage increase the risk of moisture-related failures. Topical spills and routine maintenance will not damage the Stoneform flooring. 
Prior to flooring installation, temperature and humidity must be consistent with normal, year-round living conditions for at least 48 hours. Optimum room temperature for Hewn Floor product is 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 25%.


PREPARE FLOORING FOR EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION DURING INSTALLATION:

Houses and buildings, as well as adjacent hardwood or laminate floors will expand and contract with temperature changes. To accommodate this expansion, we recommend leaving a 1/4” gap during flooring installation between Hewn Floor product and perimeter walls, cabinetry, and adjacent hard surface flooring. To further prevent expansion and contraction failure, install flooring after cabinets are installed. The Hewn Floor warranty does not cover product failure where cabinets are set on top of the installed flooring.


PREPARING FOR INSTALLATION:

Carefully examine the flooring under adequate lighting prior to installation for color, finish, sheen, and quality. If there are any defects in the flooring planks, contact Hewn Floor immediately and arrange for replacement. Hewn Floor is not responsible for flooring installed with visible defects.

Hewn’s position-and-lock floor installation system is an angle-angle installation. Unlike hardwood and laminate installation, it does not require the use of rubber mallets or taping blocks to engage the locking mechanism. A web search on click together flooring installation will offer many online references to help with the proper method of angle-angle installation.

FLOOR INSTALLATION:

Open several boxes of flooring and “dry lay” the floor before permanent floor installation. This will allow you to select the varying textures, colors, and sheens, and to arrange them in a harmonious pattern. It is the installer’s responsibility to determine what the finished floor will look like and remove planks that do not meet those expectations. Begin floor installation next to an outside wall to establish a straight working line. Measure an equal distance from the wall at both ends equal to the width of a plank and snap a chalk line to create your straight working line for floor installation. You may need to scribe cut the first row of planks for wall variation while still maintaining a straight line. Stagger end joints from row to row by at least 8” to replicate the look of wood flooring. You can do this by using the cut-off end from your first row to begin the next row. If the cut-off end is less than 8”, discard it and instead cut a new plank at a random length larger than 8” and use it to start the next row. After all the floor planks are installed, install any transition pieces that may be needed using 100% silicone as an adhesive (reducers, T-molding, etc.).


AFTER INSTALLATION:

To protect the floors from scratches after installation, use rosin paper and 3M Scotch-Blue/TM 2080 Tape to hold the rosin paper to the floor (other blue tapes may damage the floor finish). Clean the floor thoroughly before laying the rosin paper to ensure that no debris is trapped underneath. DO NOT USE plastic film or other non-breathing coverings as this can cause the floor to fail from humidity buildups. Dust mop or vacuum your flooring to remove any dirt or debris. Clean the floor using only a recommended PH neutral cleaner. 
Furniture should be moved onto the newly installed floor using an appliance hand truck over hardboard runways.

PROTECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR FLOOR:

For best long-term maintenance of your floor avoid long periods of direct sunlight, close blinds or drapes during peak sunlight hours. Flooring exposed to excessive heat and light is subject to thermal degradation.
Preventative maintenance can prevent floor staining from oil or petroleum-based products. Do not track asphalt-driveway sealer or automobile-oil drips onto Hewn Floor products. Rubber backing on the bottom of rugs and mats may discolor the floor. For best maintenance of your floor, use rugs and mats without rubber backing.
Frequently moved furniture should be equipped with felt pads or floor protectors to avoid scratching the floor. Heavy furniture and appliances should be equipped with non-staining large surface floor protectors. Furniture with castors or wheels must be easily swiveling, large surface non-staining and suitable for resilient floors. DO NOT use ball type castors as they can damage the floor.