Installation Instructions
Installer/Owner Responsibility
Prior to installation the Installer/Owner should perform a final inspection of the grade, manufacturing and factory finish of the purchased products. Warranties do not cover visible defects once they are installed. Based on industry standards a defect/irregular tolerance of up to 5% is allowed.
Wood is a natural product that can vary in color, grain, and contains natural characteristics that varies from plank to plank and is to be expected. We do not warrant against these natural variations from plank to plank or variations from sample to plank.
If you are not satisfied with the flooring prior to installation, simply return the cartons to your dealer for a full replacement. Accepting or rejecting the material must be done on full shipment of quantities only, not carton by carton or plank by plank.
The Installer must use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with defects, whatever the cause. Beautiful hardwood floors are a product of nature and therefore not perfect.
Pre-inspect the job site prior to delivery of the floor to ensure the structure is suitable for hardwood flooring installation. Since improper installation can void the warranties, only a professional hardwood floor installer should perform the installation.
If at any time during the installation of this flooring you have a question or a concern, STOP and call your dealer. Verify that the color, gloss, texturing and T&G fit are acceptable prior to starting the installation. Fame Hardwood will only be responsible for obvious issues in flooring that has not been installed.
Important: The primary cause of problems with any hardwood floor is moisture, either too much or too little. It is the contractor's/homeowner's responsibility to ensure that the conditions prior to install, as well as for the life of the hardwood floor, meet certain criteria.
The wood sub-floor must have a moisture content (MC) of 12% or less when measured with a properly calibrated pin-type moisture meter and should be within 3% of the measured MC of the hardwood flooring prior to installation. It is the contractor's/homeowner's responsibility to verify those measurements and to ensure that the environment, including the crawl-space, is and will remain dry.
Uncontrolled environmental relative humidity (RH) can also affect the MC of the floor. It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain a RH of between 35% and 55%, and a temperature range of between 60° and 80°F at all times. Failure to do so can lead to excessive cupping, splitting, checking and gapping, which will not be covered as manufacturing defects.
Pre-Installation & Jobsite Requirements
Open a few boxes of flooring to confirm that the flooring meets the homeowner's expectation for grading, color and texture. Installed flooring constitutes acceptance of flooring outside of a manufacture related defect.
General Conditions
It is the installer/owner's responsibility to ensure that the jobsite conditions and subfloor are environmentally and structurally acceptable prior to installation. All substrates must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound.
Subfloor Types and Conditions
- Subfloors must be clean and free of dirt, curing compounds, sealers, drywall mud, paint, wax, grease, urethane, or other materials that may affect the integrity of the flooring or adhesives.
- All subfloors must be structurally sound and installed following their manufacturer's recommendations. Whenever possible install the planks perpendicular to the floor joists for maximum stability.
- Test subfloor moisture content and choose adhesive system according to the Glue-Down Installations section.
- A "DRY" SLAB AS DEFINED BY THESE TESTS CAN BE WET AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR. THESE TESTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A DRY SLAB.
- Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth.
- The subfloor must be flat, meeting a minimum of 1/8" within 10'. Repair all cracks greater than 1/8" before applying flooring adhesive.
- All wet work (paint, drywall, concrete, masonry, plumbing) must be complete and dry well in advance of delivery.
- Permanent HVAC should be on and operational a minimum of 7 days, maintained between 60° and 80°F and a relative humidity of 35%–55% prior to, during, and after installation.
Recommended Subfloor Surfaces
- Concrete: Newly poured concrete must be cured for a minimum of 42 days before installation.
- Wood — Preferred: 3/4" CDX grade Plywood or 3/4" OSB, PS2 rated, sealed side down, with joist spacing of 19" on center or less.
- Wood — Minimum: 5/8" CDX Plywood, maximum 16" on center joist construction.
- Do not glue hardwood flooring over particle board.
- Do not install over existing glue-down hardwood floors.
Handling, Storage & Acclimation
- Do NOT store material in a garage, outside, or in a home that is not climatized to 35%–55% RH.
- The moisture content of the material will be 8%–10% and is ready to install — acclimation is not required. Please test prior to installing.
- Only open material that will be installed immediately.
Pre-Installation & Jobsite Requirements
Open a few boxes of flooring to confirm that the flooring meets the homeowner's expectation for grading, color and texture. Installed flooring constitutes acceptance of flooring outside of a manufacture related defect.
General Conditions
It is the installer/owner's responsibility to ensure that the jobsite conditions and subfloor are environmentally and structurally acceptable prior to installation. All substrates must be clean, flat, dry, and structurally sound.
Subfloor Types and Conditions
- Subfloors must be clean and free of dirt, curing compounds, sealers, drywall mud, paint, wax, grease, urethane, or other materials that may affect the integrity of the flooring or adhesives.
- All subfloors must be structurally sound and installed following their manufacturer's recommendations. Whenever possible install the planks perpendicular to the floor joists for maximum stability.
- Test subfloor moisture content and choose adhesive system according to the Glue-Down Installations section.
- A "DRY" SLAB AS DEFINED BY THESE TESTS CAN BE WET AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR. THESE TESTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A DRY SLAB.
- Basements and crawl spaces must be dry. Use of a 6 mil black polyethylene is required to cover 100% of the crawl space earth.
- The subfloor must be flat, meeting a minimum of 1/8" within 10'. Repair all cracks greater than 1/8" before applying flooring adhesive.
- All wet work (paint, drywall, concrete, masonry, plumbing) must be complete and dry well in advance of delivery.
- Permanent HVAC should be on and operational a minimum of 7 days, maintained between 60° and 80°F and a relative humidity of 35%–55% prior to, during, and after installation.
Recommended Subfloor Surfaces
- Concrete: Newly poured concrete must be cured for a minimum of 42 days before installation.
- Wood — Preferred: 3/4" CDX grade Plywood or 3/4" OSB, PS2 rated, sealed side down, with joist spacing of 19" on center or less.
- Wood — Minimum: 5/8" CDX Plywood, maximum 16" on center joist construction.
- Do not glue hardwood flooring over particle board.
- Do not install over existing glue-down hardwood floors.
Handling, Storage & Acclimation
- Do NOT store material in a garage, outside, or in a home that is not climatized to 35%–55% RH.
- The moisture content of the material will be 8%–10% and is ready to install — acclimation is not required. Please test prior to installing.
- Only open material that will be installed immediately.
Preparing for Installation
Stop! All questions or concerns regarding the grading or milling of this product must be resolved prior to installation.
- Use only ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Delicate Surface 2080 on flooring. Do not use traditional "Blue Tape." Do not leave tape on flooring for longer than 3 days.
- Inspect material for color, finish, milling, and grade. Hold out pieces that may not be acceptable once installed.
- Undercut all door casings 1/16" higher than the thickness of the flooring being installed.
- Open and work from several cartons at a time, dry-laying and mixing planks for maximum aesthetic appearance.
- Allow a minimum 5/8" expansion around all vertical obstructions.
Glue-Down Installation Guidelines
Éternel Collection should be installed via glue-down installation only.
Permitted adhesive products:
- Installing on Concrete: Divergent Adhesive Timber Tight AF, Timber Flex
- Installing over plywood: Divergent Adhesive Timber Ridge, Timber Tight AF, Timber Flex
Follow the Adhesive Manufacturer's Installation Instructions for testing subfloor moisture content.
Installation Over Radiant Heat Systems
Éternel Collection is warranted for installation over Hydronic Radiant Heat systems provided the following guidelines are strictly followed.
- Concrete subfloor moisture content must not be greater than 2 lbs per 1,000 sq ft after a calcium chloride test.
- Relative humidity must be maintained between 35%–55%.
- Use of floor temperature sensor(s) and a separate thermostat for each room is required.
- Radiant heat system must run at 2/3 maximum output for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to installation.
- Reduce to 65°F four days prior to installation.
- Install following the glue-down installation instructions.
After Installation & Seasonal Operation
- 48 hours after installation, slowly raise the heating system temperature to its preferred level over 5 days. Do not allow surface temperature to exceed 80°F.
- Maintain humidity between 35%–55% RH at all times.
- Seasonal gapping should be expected.
- Failure to control maximum floor temperature or humidity level may void your warranties.
Completing the Job
- Sweep or vacuum floor and clean with Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
- Install transition pieces — thresholds, t-moldings, baseboards, and quarter round. Nail moldings to wall, not the floor.
- Leave Warranty and Maintenance brochure with customer.
- Leave unused material with the owner, stored in a dry place for future repairs.
- Use plywood or hardboard when moving heavy appliances or furniture across the floor.
Floor Protection During Construction
Always protect installed flooring with quality rosin paper, taping it to the baseboards. Never use plastic or polyethylene sheeting as it will trap moisture.
Care & Maintenance
Fame Hardwood Collection is a high quality, natural wood engineered flooring. Never use a wax or oil-based cleaning product. Fame Hardwood recommends Bona® cleaning products.
Do's
- Sweep, vacuum, or dust mop regularly.
- Immediately wipe up liquid spills with cloth or paper towels.
- Maintain with Bona® hardwood floor cleaner for un-waxed/un-oiled finishes.
- Use felt protectors or furniture coasters under heavy furniture.
- Maintain room temperature 60–80°F and relative humidity 35%–55% year-round.
- Place mats and throw rugs at all doorways.
Don'ts
- Use oil-base soaps or paste wax-based products.
- Drag sharp or metal furniture legs across the floor.
- Expose to direct sunlight for extended periods.
- Use steam cleaners.
- Wet-mop a wood floor.
Common Issues
Color Change: Normal exposure to sunlight and air will bring about natural changes in color as the floor ages. This is normal and not a defect. Rotating area rugs and furniture periodically will allow covered areas to adjust in color to the surrounding floor.
Surface Checks: During winter months of low humidity, minor surface cracks may appear then close up in summer. This is a normal characteristic of natural wood and not a defect.
Seasonal Gaps: Seasonal gapping can be expected, especially on wider planks. Maintain home temperature and humidity within the recommended range to minimize dimensional changes.
Product Warranty
Structural Integrity Warranty
Fame warrants its products to be free of defect in assembly, milling, dimensional stability, and grading in their original manufactured condition. Fame floors are warranted against buckling, cupping, or warping when properly installed and maintained.
Finish Warranty
Fame warrants that the surface of factory finished products will not wear through or separate from the wood flooring for a period of 25 years in residential and 10 years in commercial applications under normal conditions with proper care and maintenance.
This warranty excludes scratches, indentations, and surface damage caused by lack of proper maintenance, misuse, negligence, spike heel shoes, exposure to water or other liquids, erosion, pebbles, sand, or improper furniture protection.
Warranty Disclaimers & Exclusions
This warranty does not cover:
- Damage due to water, excessive moisture, broken or leaking pipes, wet mopping, or weather conditions
- Indentations, scratches, or damage caused by negligence, excessive heat above 100°F, or excessive dry conditions below 30% humidity
- Abrasives, pets, insects, spiked heel shoes, color variations, improper installation or maintenance, or misuse
Tips on Protecting Your Floor
Abrasives: Place felt pads under chair and furniture legs. Sweep and vacuum regularly. Place mats at all exterior doorways.
Pressure Marks: Place larger furniture pads under heavy objects to distribute weight. Use wide rubber castors on chairs and furniture — avoid hard plastic or wood castors.
Water & Liquids: Keep humidity levels between 35%–55% year-round. Immediately clean up any liquid spills. Use only hardwood floor cleaner with a neutral pH.
Regular Care: Sweep or vacuum regularly. Apply cleaner to the mop rather than directly to the floor. Mop in the direction of the floorboards. Never use wax or oil-based soaps.
Stain Removal Tips
- Wet spills: Wipe up immediately with a well-wrung damp cloth, then spray with hardwood floor cleaner.
- Fatty/oily substances: Spray cleaner on a soft cloth and wipe the area. For stubborn stains, apply a small amount of white vinegar for no more than 2–3 minutes then wipe off.
- Chewing gum/candle wax: Let harden, pick up by hand, scrape with a plastic spatula, then clean with hardwood floor cleaner.
- Severely damaged floorboards: Deep scratches or major damage require professional replacement.
Restoring Your Floor
After years of use, the floor can be restored by applying a new superficial coat of finish. Re-coating and in-depth sanding require a professional hardwood flooring contractor.
Last Updated: 12/29/2020 | info@famehardwood.com | 8444 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069 | (855) 365-3263
