Page 7 - Provenza Floors Hardwood Guidelines Consumer Flipbook 2023

Wood subfloor must be:
• Clean, dry, and well secured.
• Nailed or screwed down every 6 inches along the joists to remove squeaking.
• Subfloor must be flat, high spots must be sanded down and low spots filled with a
self-leveling compound. Leveling material should provide a structurally sound wood
subfloor.
Concrete subfloor must be:
• Clean and free of paint, sealers, adhesives, or other debris. If present, concrete sealer
must be removed by grinding and sanding.
• Fully cured for at least 60 to 90 days prior to installation.
• Dry all year round. Do not install hardwood flooring over concrete if it will not remain
dry at all times.
Subfloor Moisture Testing Requirements
Moisture testing of the jobsite and subfloors is critical to a successful hardwood floor-
ing installation. Visual checks are not reliable.
If subfloor moisture exceeds acceptable levels, the source(s) of this moisture must be
corrected before the hardwood flooring is delivered to the jobsite.
Excess moisture detected in the subfloor requires the use of a moisture barrier product,
including but not limited to, PVC vinyl sheet (with felt-backed and vinyl wear layer) or, for
concrete subfloors, a moisture retardant product that is approved as a concrete sealant
for use in hardwood flooring installation.
Acceptable subfloor moisture testing methods include:
• Calcium Chloride Test. The maximum moisture transfer must not exceed 3lbs/1000
square feet with this test.
• Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter Meter. Moisture reading should not exceed
4.5 on the upper scale.
• Relative Humidity Probe Test. Maximum moisture reading is 75%.
Concrete Subfloor Test Method Used
Calcium Chloride (ASTM F1869)
RH (ASTM F2170-02) 1869
Electronic Meter (Tramex or equivalent)
Concrete Subfloor Moisture Reading
% Moisture Content of Concrete Subfloor
A “DRY” SLAB, AS DEFINED BY THESE TESTS CAN STILL BECOME WET AT OTHER
TIMES OF THE YEAR. THESE TESTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A DRY SLAB. ALL CON-
CRETE SLABS SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF 6-MIL POLY FILM MOISTURE BARRI-
ERS BETWEEN THE GROUND AND THE CONCRETE.
Wood Subfloor Moisture Content
% Moisture Content of Wood Subfloor
Ambient Temperature Requirements
The jobsite should be evaluated for a consistent room temperature of 65°– 85° F with
relative humidity levels of 35%–55%. These levels must be maintained, before, during
and after installation for the life of the installed hardwood flooring.
Flooring failures that are a consequence of not maintaining required ambient tempera-
ture levels, at all times, are not covered by the manufacturer warranty.

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