Jobsite Preparation
Exterior
Structural damage caused by water and/or high humidity must be resolved prior to installing ALSTON StoneCoreX® flooring.
Ensure that exterior grading is complete with surface drainage offering a minimum drop of 3" in 10' to direct exterior water sources away from the structure where the flooring will be installed inside.
Crawl spaces should be a minimum of 18" high, insulated per latest building code requirements, with a minimum 6-mil ground cover vapor barrier. Crawl spaces should offer cross-ventilation air vents equivalent to at least 1.5% per 100 square feet of floor space.
Interior
Moisture issues must be detected and corrected before installation. ALSTON StoneCoreX® floors are waterproof but are not intended for use as a moisture barrier.
The jobsite should be enclosed and climate-controlled. HVAC systems must be fully operational with a consistent room temperature of 65°- 85° F and relative humidity levels of 35%-55% before the flooring is delivered or installed, and throughout the lifetime of the flooring installation.
Do not install Waterproof StoneCoreX® floors where they will be subject to extreme hot or cold temperatures at any time. Do not install cabinets or heavy fixtures directly onto ALSTON StoneCoreX® floors.
To eliminate potential trade-related damage, Alston recommends that its StoneCoreX® flooring be one of the last jobs completed.
Subfloor Conditions
The quality and preparation of the subfloor over which your StoneCoreX® floors will be installed is critical to a successful installation.
Acceptable Subfloor Types
- CDX Plywood
- Concrete. Minimum compression strength of 3000 PSI
- OSB/Particleboard
- Existing resilient tile, sheet vinyl (one layer) or ceramic tile
Minimum subfloor requirements for all installations:
- Structurally sound, smooth, clean and free of debris, including but not limited to, staples, nails, wax, grease, paint, sealers and old adhesives.
- Level and flat to 3/16" per 10'.
- Dry throughout the lifetime of the installation.
Wood subfloor must be:
- Tested for moisture not to exceed 11%.
- Nailed or screwed down every 6 inches along the joists to remove subfloor squeaking.
- Leveled with high spots sanded down and low spots filled with a leveling compound. Leveling material should provide a structurally sound wood subfloor.
Concrete subfloor must be:
- Fully cured for at least 60-90 days prior to StoneCoreX® installation.
- Tested for relative humidity, moisture and pH. Relative humidity tests should not exceed 85% (RH); Calcium Chloride Test for moisture should be no more than 8lbs per one-thousand square feet in 24 hours MVER (Moisture Vapor Emission Rating) and pH tests for alkalinity levels should register between 7 and 9.
- Installed properly with a minimum 6-mil poly film moisture barrier between concrete and ground below.
Resilient tile, sheet vinyl or ceramic tile requirements:
- No more than one layer.
- Well secured to structural subfloor.
- Grout lines of any depth should be filled in with a cementitious leveling and patching compound to assure a smooth, flat surface.
DO NOT INSTALL STONECOREX® OVER CUSHION BACKED GOODS OR ANY OTHER FLOORING THAT IS NOT COMPLETELY ADHERED TO THE SUBFLOOR.
Floor coverings that must be removed prior to StoneCoreX® installation, include: Carpet, needle felt, cushion vinyl, floating floors of any kind; parquet, solid and engineered hardwood over concrete; sleeper substrates. Do not install over existing wood flooring glued to concrete.
Radiant Heat Guidelines
ALSTON StoneCoreX® flooring should only be installed over embedded radiant heat flooring systems. Prior to installation, the radiant heating system should be operational with the heating temperature set to 68°F 48 hours before, during and 72 hours after installation.
The temperature of the radiant heating system may be increased gradually 72 hours after installation but the surface temperature should never exceed 85°F.
StoneCoreX® Installation
Tools generally needed: Spacers, Rubber Mallet, Ruler, Pencil, Tape Measure, Utility Knife
ALSTON StoneCoreX® Waterproof floors are designed to replicate the look of a real wood product with natural variations in color, texture and grain. For optimal visual effect, shuffle planks from several cartons and avoid installing similar planks nearby one another.
For aesthetic purposes, plank flooring is often laid in the direction of the longest wall. It is the responsibility of the installer/owner to make the final decision regarding which direction the planks will run.
ALSTON StoneCoreX® floors can be installed in a staggered fashion to achieve an overall random appearance, but other patterns can be employed and it is the responsibility of the installer/owner to make this decision prior to installation.
Starting Installation
Select installation starting point next to an outside wall. This is usually the straightest and best reference for establishing a straight working line.
Establish the working line by measuring an equal distance from the wall at both ends and snapping a chalk line. The distance you measure from the wall should be the width of a plank. You may need to scribe cut the first row of planks to match the starting wall in order to make a straight working line if it is out of square.
Undercut or notch-out door casings to fit flooring thickness by placing a piece of flooring on the subfloor as a height guide for sawing.
Remove door thresholds and base moldings and replace after flooring installation. Always leave at least ¼" expansion space around the perimeter including adjacent existing flooring or other structures such as hallways, door jams and thresholds.
For the best visual effect, planks in the final row of the installation area should be at least ⅓ the width of a full plank.
Measure the room at a right angle to the direction of the flooring, calculate number of planks required to fit, and, if necessary, cut plank widths in the first row to a smaller size.
You may want to position a few rows before starting installation to confirm your layout decision and working line.
When laying flooring, stagger plank end joints row by row by at least 8" (20 cm). You can use the cut-off end to begin the next row when cutting the last plank in a row to fit. If cut-off end is less than 8", discard it and instead cut a new plank at a random length (at least 8" in length) and use it to start the next row.
Always begin each row from the same side of the room and ensure that minimum ¼" spacers are placed at ends and edges where planks meet the wall. The tongue side of the plank should face the starting wall.
As installation proceeds, cut the last plank in each row allowing for the min required ¼" expansion space, and continue to check that both long edge and end joints are locked, secure and have not shifted during this process.
As installation proceeds, the installer/owner should inspect and approve each piece that will be used in the flooring installation.
The installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with defects that fall within manufacturing tolerance levels, whatever the cause. Alston Floors®, Inc. cannot honor claims due to a lack of on-site flooring inspection and acceptance by the installer/owner.
Installation Steps for StoneCoreX® 3L Locking System