DURAPLEX Installation & Care Guide

• Inspect all planks before installation; do not use damaged pieces.
• Stack cartons on a flat surface. Avoid direct sunlight and heating/cooling vents.
• Mix planks from multiple boxes during installation for a natural color and pattern blend.
• Remove any existing baseboards, moldings, carpets, or old floating flooring. Permanent cabinets, vanities, and islands should be installed first.

• DURAPLEX SPC planks require no acclimation period when the installation space is climate controlled and held between 65°F and 85°F (18°C and 29°C). The rigid stone-polymer core is dimensionally stable, so planks may be installed the day they arrive.
• If the planks have been stored or transported outside that range — in an unheated garage or a truck in peak summer or winter, for example — allow them to rest flat in the installation room for 48 hours before installing.
• Keep planks flat and away from extreme heat or direct sunlight.
• The installation space must remain climate controlled after installation. See the warranty for the temperature conditions that apply.

1. Start in a corner of the room with the tongue facing the wall. Maintain a ¼" (6 mm) expansion gap around all edges.
2. Use the click-lock system to join planks. Insert short edges first at a slight angle, then rotate down to lock.
3. Stagger end joints by at least 6" (15 cm) for a natural look. First and last planks in each row should be at least 8" (20 cm) long.
4. Use a tapping block and soft-faced hammer to ensure joints are tight.
5. Cut planks to fit at walls, doorways, and around fixed objects. Maintain expansion gaps around pipes and door frames.
6. For the last row, trace the wall contour and cut planks as needed.
7. Remove spacers and install moldings or transitions, leaving a ¼" (6 mm) expansion gap.
8. Fill expansion gaps around potentially wet areas (refrigerators, tubs) with premium waterproof silicone caulk.

DURAPLEX SPC planks may be installed over electric or hydronic radiant heat systems, provided all of the following are observed. Installing over a radiant heat system in any other manner voids coverage.

1. Heating elements must be fully embedded in the subfloor or in a cementitious self-leveling compound. Never install planks directly over exposed heating wires or mats.
2. The floor surface temperature must never exceed 85°F (29°C). Use a thermostat with an in-floor sensor and set the limit before handing the system over.
3. Before installation, run the system at full operating temperature for at least 5 days to drive residual moisture out of the subfloor and any leveling compound.
4. Then reduce the system to 65°F–70°F (18°C–21°C) for 48 hours before installation, and keep it there while the floor is being installed.
5. After installation, leave the system at that setting for 48 hours, then raise it gradually — no more than 5°F (3°C) per day — until the desired setting is reached, up to the 85°F (29°C) surface limit.
6. At seasonal start-up and shutdown, change the setting gradually rather than all at once.
7. Do not add a separate underlayment. DURAPLEX planks have underlayment pre-attached, and a second pad insulates the floor and forces the system to run hotter to compensate.

• Slight differences in color or pattern may occur due to manufacturing.
• Blend planks from multiple cartons to achieve a natural appearance throughout the room.

• Use non-staining floor protectors on furniture legs.
• Sweep regularly with a soft-bristle broom; mop with warm water or neutral pH cleaner.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners, ammonia, bleach, or mop-and-shine products.
• Lift heavy furniture when moving; do not drag across the floor.
• Trim pets' nails and avoid cleats, spikes, or pointed shoes on the floor.