If required, remove skirting boards, quarter-round or doorway thresholds. These items can be refitted after installation is complete. Doorway architraves should be undercut to allow the Armourfloor to fit neatly. This is best done using an electric under-cut saw. If using a hand saw, a piece of underlay and flooring placed against the architrave can be used as a height guide.
NOTE: Ideally, before installation begins, the building where the floor is being laid should be in the final stages of completion, with all trades having left the site. If this is not the case, installation is not recommended.

Unroll the underlay so that all ends butt neatly against the walls. Seams between lengths should also butt together, with no overlaps. To prevent overlaps, tape the ends, sides and seams of the underlay.

Installation & fixing

Inspect all material before installation. Any material considered not to be of the correct quality must not be laid. If there is any doubt that the quality is to the required standard, contact the supplier of the material for further information. No claims will be allowed for visible defects in material that has been laid.

NOTE: Care should be taken at this stage to ensure that colour and grain variations between Armourfloor boards are randomly mixed throughout the finished floor. This can be achieved by working from several different packs of flooring. Using boards of differing lengths results in a more natural appearance.

To start the first row, place 10mm-thick cork spacers between the boards and the wall, approximately 600mm apart or near the board ends. A gap between the floorboards and the walls allows for slight movements caused by structural movement of the building or by seasonal changes in relative humidity. The cork spacers can be covered by replacing the skirting boards or by using colour-matched beading when the floor is finished.

Gluing the tongue-and-groove joint

Always apply glue to the top of the groove. Wipe off all excess glue immediately using a damp cloth; it can be very difficult to remove cured glue from the finished floor. Always use a tapping block to tap the boards together. Using a hammer directly on the boards can damage the tongue and increase the chance of damage to the floorboard. Installing first row of boards

Select the wall where you are going to start the installation. This is usually the longest wall in the room and preferably an outside wall as these are usually the straightest.

Lay the first row of boards with the groove facing the wall and with glue applied to the end grooves. Using a tapping block and hammer, tap the boards together firmly. At the end of the row, use an installation bar to tap the last board into place. Cut the last board in the row so there is a 10mm expansion gap on the end.

To ensure a random pattern of boards, start the second row with a board at least 500mm shorter than the first board in the first row. Again, using the tapping block and hammer, firmly tap the adjacent boards together until no gap is visible. Continue installing the floor, repeating the process until the last row is ready for installation. Installing the final row

The final row of boards, in most installations, will need to be ripped lengthwise to fit. The cut must allow for the expansion clearance or gap between the wall and the flooring, as well as compensate for uneven walls.

Allow a minimum of 12 hours for the glue to cure before allowing foot traffic on the floor.

Direct glue applications

Where boards are glued directly to the sub-floor, the adhesive should be a durable, moisture-cured polyurethane, selected for the product and site conditions. It should be sufficient to hold the boards in place, ensure rigidity and be able to transmit the required load.

The adhesive should be compatible with the substrate and flooring, be non-staining and resistant to ageing, oxidation and ultraviolet light.

Use adhesive in accordance with the manufacturers instructions, allowing for the appropriate field and perimeter expansion. Follow sub-floor preparation instructions above. Spread a thin, even measure of polyurethane adhesive using a 3mm V-notch trowel. Adhesive should be applied without bubbles or lumps under finished surfaces or edges. Clean excess adhesive progressively. Remove all excess adhesive on completion.