MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 1 of 8
RIGID PLANK FLOORING INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION GRADE LEVELS INSTALLATION METHOD
Rigid Vinyl Plank Above Grade / On Grade / Below Grade Uniclic Click Lock
KEY INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS• MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringisintendedforinterioruseonlyandissuitableforabovegrade,ongrade,andbelowgradeapplications.DO NOT
installinanyoutsideareas,saunas,seasonalporches,campingtrailers,boats,RVs,lanais,roomsthatarepronetoflooding,orroomsorhomesthatarenottemperature-controlled.
• MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringisafloatingfloorandshouldbeallowedtoexpandandcontractfreely.Itmustnotbeglued,nailed,orfastenedtothesubfloorinanyway.Permanentcabinets,vanities,islandsandsimilaritemsshouldbeinstalledfirst.Then,installMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringaroundthem,leavingtheproperexpansiongap.MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringcanbeinstalledundervanitieswithlegs.MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringcanbeinstalledundertoilets;leaveproperexpansionspacearoundtheflangeanduseapremiumwaterproof100%siliconecaulk.Donotanchortoiletthroughthematerial.
• MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringisawaterprooffloatingfloor,butitshouldnotbeusedtosealanexistingfloorfrommoisture.Itcannotinhibitthegrowthofmoldorpreventstructuralproblemsassociatedwith,orcausedbyflooding,excessivemoisture,alkalisinthesubfloor,orconditionsarisingfromhydrostaticpressure.Regardlessoflocation,alwaysremovestandingwater,urineandotherliquidspromptly.Jobsitemoistureissuesshouldbeaddressedandcorrectedpriortoinstallation.Fillexpansionspacesaroundpotentialwetareasonlywithpremiumwaterproof100%siliconecaulk.
• Long-termexposuretodirectsunlightcanpotentiallydamageMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooring,causingittodiscolor,fade,orbuckle.ProtectMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringfromexposuretodirectsunlightviatheuseofwindow-treatmentsorUV-tintingonwindows.
• Iftheflooringistobeinstalledbyathirdparty,thenitissuggestedthatthehomeownerbepresentduringtheinstallationforconsultation/direction.Theownerandinstallershoulddiscussinstallationandlayouttomaximizesatisfaction.Ifthisisnotpossible,consultationshouldoccurpriortoinstallation.Theowner/installerassumesallresponsibilityforqualityofcompletedinstallation.
BEFORE STARTINGBeforebeginningaMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringinstallationproject,itiscriticalthatyou1)fullyacquaintyourselfwiththedetailedinstallationinstructionsforyourspecificflooringandsubfloortypeand2)conductacompletejobsiteevaluation.• Forappropriateinstallationinformation,reviewthisguideandtheassemblyinstructionsprovidedoneachcartonofflooringyoupurchased.• MakeacompletejobsiteevaluationtoassurethatenvironmentalconditionsareacceptableforMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringinstallation.No
acclimationisrequirediftheproducttemperatureisbetween45°Fto115°F(7°C to 46°C)andsiteconditionsarebetween45°Fto115°F(7°C to 46°C),withaninsiderelativehumiditybelow85%for48hourspriorto,duringand48hoursafterinstallation.Formoredetail,pleasereferencethe“InstallationPrep”sectionofthisguide.
• DeterminethequantityofMohawkRigidVinylPlankfloorings,flooringtransitionsandwalltrimneededforyourinstallation.Itisrecommendedthatyouaddanadditional10%toyoursquarefootageforstandardinstallationstoaccountforcuts.Fordiagonalinstallations,add15%.
• Makesureyouhavetheappropriateinstallationtools.Alistofrecommendedinstallationtoolscanbefoundinthe“ToolsRequiredforInstallation”sectionofthisguide.
• Cartonsshouldbeevenlystackednomorethanfivecartonshighonaflatsurfaceandawayfromanyheating/coolingductsordirectsunlight.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 2 of 8
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION• TapeMeasure• UtilityKnife• EyeProtection• Gloves• TappingBlock• SoftFacedHammer• PullBar• ¼”Spacers
• Level• ReciprocatingSaw(optional)
• MiterorCircularSaw(optional)
• KneePads(optional)
Site PreparationPriortoinstallation,thehomeownerorinstallermustensurethatjobsiteconditions(including subfloor/ substrate, ambient temperature and relative humidity)willnotnegativelyaffectthefloor.Themanufacturerisnotresponsiblefordamagesassociatedwithimproperinstallationorpoorsiteconditions.A. Thesurfaceofthesubfloormustbeflat.Theflatnessrequirementisdefinedasfollows:themaximumdifferencebetweentwohighpointsandthe
intermediatelowpointis1/4”ina10’radius.Surfaceflatnessmustalsonotvarymorethan1/16”whenmeasuredwitha3’straightedge.Additionally,thesubfloormustnotslopemorethan1”in6’.
B. Highareascanbesanded,grounddownorfloatedoverwithanapprovedself-levelingcompound.Fillexcessivevoidsorlowareasusinganon-gypsum,cementitiousbasedlevelingcompound.AllowthelevelingcompoundtodrythoroughlybeforebeginningtheMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringinstallation.Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionstobesureitisappropriatefortheapplication.
C. Subfloorsmustbestructurallysoundwithoutdeflection.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 3 of 8
D. CrawlSpaces:Concreteslaborgroundmustbedry.Ensurethatcrawlspaceshaveopenventsyear-roundtoensureproperaircirculationandpreventmoisturebuild-up.Thegroundinthecrawlspacesmustbecompletelycoveredusing6milpolyethylene.Crawlspaceclearancebetweentheearthandundersideofjoistsshouldbenolessthan18”(45.7cm)andtheperimeterventareashouldbeequalto1.5%ofthetotalsquarefootageofthecrawlspaceorasmandatedbycode.
E. Carefullyremoveanyexistingquarterroundorbaseboardmolding.F. Alwaysremovecarpet,carpetpadandtackstrips.G. Removeanyexistingfloatingorun-adheredflooring.H. Besurethesurfaceofthesubfloorisflat,clean,dryandsoundbeforestarting.I. Inspecteveryplankforanyshippingdamagewhenremovingfromthecarton.J. Kitchencabinetsmustbeinstalledbeforethefloorisinstalled.DonotinstallcabinetsontopofMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooring.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 4 of 8
APPROVED SUBFLOORS:Concrete,Plywood,OSB,Particleboard,Chipboard,Hardwood(Solid, Engineered, Parquet),Tile(Ceramic, Terrazzo, Stone, Asbestos, Peel and Stick),Non-CushionSheetVinyl,Metal,VCT,DRIcoreAllsubfloorrequirementsnotedbelowmustbemetpriortotheinstallationofMohawkRigidVinylPlank.Concrete Subfloor Prep• Performmoisturetestsatlocationsaroundexteriordoorways,nearwallscontainingplumbing,nearfoundationwallsandinthecenteroftheroom.• Highspotscanberemovedbygrinding;depressionscanbefilledwithpatchingcompoundformulatedforuseinfloorinstallation.• Cureforatleast90days(applies to newly-laid concrete slabs).• Canbeeithersealedorunsealed.• Moisturelevelsofconcreteslabsbefore,duringandafterinstallationmustbe≤8lbs/1000ft2/24-hrusingananhydrouscalciumchloridetestaccordingto
ASTMF1869andpHmustbebetween5.0and9.0;or,ifusingASTMF2170IN-SituProbes,shouldbelessthan90%RH(relative humidity).Alwaysmeasure,recordandkeepyourtestingresults.
Wood (Plywood, OSB, Particleboard, Chipboard, Solid Hardwood, Luan) Subfloors• WoodsubfloorsmustbeA.P.A.approvedwithaminimumgradeof“BB”or“CC”.Forreference,A.P.A.istheacronymforanorganizationoriginallyknownas
the“AmericanPlywoodAssociation”,andthatisnowknownas“TheEngineeredWoodAssociation”.• Performmoisturetestsusingareliablemoisturemeterinmultiplelocations.Moisturereadingsshouldneverexceed14%forplywood,OSB,particleboard,
chipboardandsolidhardwoodsubfloors.Ifmoisturereadingsexceed14%,itshouldbecorrectedatthejobsitebeforeinstallingMohawkRigidVinylPlank.Other Subfloor Prep• Adheredandsoundvinylsheetgoods,linoleumandresilient(VCT)tiles:Oldvinylandlinoleumtilesorsheetgoodsnormallydonotneedtoberemoved
iftheyarefullybondedandfreeofanynotabledamage.Someoldervinylsheetgoodsandtilecontainasbestos.Shoulditcontainasbestosspecialprecautionsmustbetakenforyoursafety.Contactaprofessionalimmediatelyforinspectionandremoval.
• Ceramictilesandterrazzo:Oldflatceramictilesnormallydon’tneedtoberemoved.Groutjointswiderthan¼”mustbefilled.Usually,MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringproductscanbeinstalleddirectlyoverceramictilesandterrazzoprovidingtheyarefullyadhered,smooth,soundanddry.Theseflooringmaterialsmustbesmoothandflattowithin1/4”ina10’radiusandmustnotvarymorethan1/16”whenmeasuredwitha3’straightedge.
• Donotinstallovermorethanonelayerofvinyl.Radiant Flooring Heating Prep• Aftermarketradiantheatedfloorsmustbeapprovedbythemanufacturerforusewithresilientflooringapplications.Thesubfloortemperatureshouldnot
exceed85°F(29°C).NON-APPROVED SUBFLOORS:• Carpeting/CarpetPad• CushionedVinylFlooring• FloatingFloors• Laminate
• ParquetOverConcrete• Cork• EngineeredHardwoodOverConcrete• SleeperSubstrates
• HardwoodOverConcrete• Rubber
RemovethefloorsnotedaboveandremoveoldadhesivebeforeinstallingMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooring.
GENERAL MOHAWK RIGID VINYL PLANK FLOORING INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS• MohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringproductsareintendedforindooruseonly.• Temperatureswithintheroommustbemaintainedbetween0°Fto140°F(-18°C to 60°C).• Theseextremerangesbetween0°Fto45°F(-18°C to 7°C)and115°Fto140°F(46°C to 60°C)areforunoccupiedenvironmentsonly.Occupiedareasaswellas
theinstallationneedtobecontrolledbetween45°Fto115°F(7°C to 46°C).• A1/4”(6 mm)expansionspacemustbeprovidedaroundtheperimeteroftheroomandanyfixedobjectssuchaspipesorcolumns.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 5 of 8
• Useapprovedsafetyequipmenttoprovideproperprotectionbasedoneachgiventask.• Door-jambsandcasingsmustbeundercutsothattheplankcanslideunderneath.A1/4”(6 mm)expansion
spacemustalsobeincludedaroundtheundercutjambsandcasings.Areciprocatingsawisrecommendedtocreatethenecessaryundercut.Neverundercutmetaldoorcasings.CuttingTip:Toundercutthecasting,layascrappieceofflooringnexttothecastingandlaythesawflatontopoftheflooringsothatthesaweasilycutstotheheightoftheplank.
• Important—Alwaysinspecteachplanktomakesureitisnotdamagedpriortoinstallation.Checkthetongueandgroovetoassureitisfreeofdebrisordamage.
• Wheninstallingflooringfromtwoormorecartons,checkthepattern,colorandbatchnumbersonthecartontoensuretheyareallthesame.Thisinformationislistedontheexteriorlabelofeachcarton.Itisrecommendedtoblendflooringfrommultiplecartonsduringinstallation.
• Cartonsshouldbeevenlystackednomorethanfivecartonshighonaflatsurfaceandawayfromanyheating/coolingductsordirectsunlight.
• Excessflooringshouldbestoredinaprotectedclimatecontrolledenvironmentforfuturerepairsifnecessary.• Powertoolscanbedangerous.Operateinstrictaccordancewithmanufacturer’soperatinginstructionsandsafetyprecautions.Unsafeandimproperusecan
causeseriousinjuries.Avoidinhalationandexposuretoairborneparticlesbywearingpersonalprotectiveequipment,including:NIOSHorOSHAapproveddustmasks,safetygogglesandworkgloves.
MOHAWK RIGID VINYL PLANK FLOORING CLICK LOCK INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS1. Inspecteachplank.Floorshouldbeinstalledblendingplanksfromseveralcartonsatthesametimetoensuregoodcolorandshademixturethroughout
theinstallation.2. Itisrecommendedthatinstallationbegininacorneroftheroomwiththetonguefacingthewall.Betweenthefirstrowofflooringandthewall,insert
spacerssothata¼”(6 mm)gapiscreated.3. Wheninstallingthefirstrow,inserttheshortedgeofoneplankintotheshortedgeofanotherplankataslightangleandrotatedownward.Continueto
completethestarterrowmaintainingastraightedgeforthefollowingrow.
4. Useatappingblockandsoftfacedhammertocloseanygapsbetweentheplanks.5. Onceyoureachtheendofthefirstrow,measureandcutthefinalplanksothatitcompletestherowwhilealsoleavingthenecessary¼”expansiongap.
Lastplanksofrowsmustbeatleast8”long.Note:Useaspareplanktocreateastraightedgeatthecutline.Useautilityknifetoscorethetopofthepatternandsnapthepanel.Itwillbenecessarytocut
thefoamunderlaymentaftersnappingthepanel.6. Startthesecondrowofflooringbytrimmingaplanktoalengthdifferentfromthefirstplankinthefirstrow.Firstandlastpiecesmustbeatleast8”long.
Endjointsshouldbestaggeredaminimumof6”.7. Ataslightangle,insertthelongedgetongueofthefirstplankinrow2intothelongedgegrooveoftheplankinrow1untiltheplankedgesmeet,and
thenrotatedownuntilthejointslock.8. Whenjoiningthenextplanktothefirstplankintherow,jointheshortsideedgesfirst.Therewillbeagaponthelongsidejointswhentheplank
isrotateddown.9. Raisetheoutsidelongedgeoftheplankupwardapproximately1”.Thiswillraisetheoutsidelongedgeofplanksinthatrow.Maintainthisangleasyou
pushtheplankinuntilthelongedgeoftheplankmeetsthelongedgeofthefirstrow.Rotatedownwardontheplankuntilthejointlocks.10. Aftertappingthelongsidejointclosed,closetheshortedgejointsusingatappingblockorpullbar.11. Repeatthesestepstocompletetheinstallation.12. Aftereachrowiscomplete,ensuretherewillbea¼”(6 mm)gap(after the joints are closed)tothewallforexpansion.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 6 of 8
13. Forthelastrow,aligntheplanktobeusedontopofthe2ndtolastrow.Usingafullwidthplankasaspacer,tracethewallcontour.Useafullplankasastraightedgetocuttheplank.Insertthelongedgetongueintothelongedgegrooveanduseapullbarandhammertoclosethegap.
14. Aftertappingthelongsidejointclosed,closetheshortedgejointsusingatappingblockorpullbar.
Installing Under Doorway Frames15. Whenthenewflooringmeetsathresholdoradoorway,werecommendundercuttingthedoorjamb.Tosecuretherightcut,turnaplankupsidedownand
placeitontheflooruptothedoorframe.Thenplaceareciprocatingsawflatagainsttheplankandsimplycutthroughtheframe.Removethecut-outpieceandvacuumawaydebris.Slideplankunderpre-cutdoorframe.Doorframeshouldbecutsothata¼”(6 mm)gapislocatedfromtheedgeoftheplankunderthecasingtothewall.
16. Tapthelongsidejointclosedfirst,thentaptheendjointclosed.
Installing Around Fixed Objects17. Allow¼”(6 mm)expansionspacearoundpipesorotherfixedobjects.18. Inrowswherethereisapipe,makesurethepipefallsexactlyinlinewiththeshortsideoftwoplanks.Selectadrillbitwiththesamediameterasthepipe
plus1/2inch(13 mm).Clicktheplankstogetherontheshortsideanddrillaholecenteredonthejointbetweenthetwoplanks.Theninstalltheplanks.19. Foradoublepipe,drillaholeequivalenttothediameterofthepipeplus1/2inch(13 mm)ateachofthemarkedpoints.Iflocatedonthelongsideofthe
plank,makea45ºcutfromeachholetotheedgeoftheplank.Then,usinganappropriategluealongthecutedgesofthepieceyoucutout,gluethepiece
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 7 of 8
inplace.Besurenogluecomesbetweenthecut-outpieceandthesubfloor.
Finishing the Installation20. Removeallspacers.21. Fillanyexpansionspacesaroundpotentiallywetareas(such as refrigerators, tubs, etc.)withpremium,waterproof100%siliconecaulk.22. Remember,theuseofcoordinatingT-MoldsisrequiredwheninstallingMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringinaroomorareathatislargerthan100lineal
feet(30.5 meters)inanydirection,sothatthefloorisseparatedintosectionsthatarenolargerthan100ft.x100ft.(30.5 meters x 30.5 meters)persection.23. Installmoldingstocovertheexpansiongap.Wheninstallingmoldings,neverallownailsorscrewstoentertheMohawkRigidVinylPlankflooringorthe
expansionzonearoundtheflooringperimeter.Allmoldingsandtransitionstripsneedtoprovidea¼”(6 mm)expansionspaceaswell.(Note: Coordinated moldings can be purchased on homedepot.com. Follow molding installation instructions for proper installation.)
CARE AND CLEANINGPreventative Maintenance• Preventindentationsandscratchesbyusingnon-stainingfloorprotectorsonthelegsofchairs,appliancesandallheavyfurniture.Floorprotectorsshould
beatleast1”indiameter.Periodicallycleanprotectorstoremovegritthatmaybecomeembeddedandcausescratching.• Chaircastersshouldberubber–notplasticormetal–andshouldbekeptclean.• Placewalk-offmatsatentrances.Matsshouldhaveanon-rubberizedbackingandbemarkedasnon-staining.• Werecommendtheuseofahardsurface(non-studded),non-rubberchairmattoprotectyourfloorfromofficechairswithcasters.Light,rollingfurniture
shouldbeoutfittedwithbroad-surface,non-stainingcastersthathavebeenengineeredforhardsurfacefloors.Suchcastersshouldbeaminimumof1”(2.5cm)wideandatleast2”(5.1cm)indiameter.
• Keeppets’nailstrimmed.• Removeshoeswithcleats,spikesorexceptionallypointyheelsbeforewalkingonthefloor.Cleaning & Maintenance• Sweepthefloorregularlywithasoftbristlebroomtoremoveloosedirt.• Washthefloorwithnon-abrasive,neutralPHfloorcleanerapprovedforvinylfloors.• Foreverydaycleaning,amopmoistenedwithwarmwaterwillsuffice.
MOHAWK TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT | 508 EAST MORRIS STREET, DALTON, GA. 30721 | 800.833.6954 01190_2020 | EH | 09/2020 | 8 of 8
Do Not Use the Following on Mohawk Rigid Vinyl Plank flooring• Detergentbasedcleaners• Abrasiveormopandshineproducts• Ammonia• VacuumcleanerwitharotatingbeaterbarengagedNOTE:Alwaysreadthecautionaryinformationonallcleanerspriortouse.IMPORTANT:Neverpush,pullordragfurniture,appliancesorotheritemsacrossthefloor.Whenmovingfurnitureorheavyitems,alwaysliftandcarrytheitems.
