Acclimate Your Flooring (Mandatory!) 

What to do: Upon delivery, bring the flooring boxes into the room where they will be installed. Open the boxes to expose the planks.

Why it matters: Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. Acclimation allows the wood to adjust to your home's specific conditions, preventing warping, buckling, or gapping after installation.

Duration: Typically 48-72 hours. Follow your manufacturer's specific instructions.

Inspect the Subfloor 

Your subfloor (the base beneath your flooring) must be:

Clean: Free of all dust, debris, and old adhesive.

Dry: For concrete subfloors, a moisture test is essential. The moisture content must be within the manufacturer's allowable limit. Example: If wood is at 9%- concrete should be within 2% range no more than 11%.

Level: Variations should not exceed 3mm over a 1-meter span. Any high or low spots must be leveled.

Structurally Sound: Firm and free of any movement or squeaks.

Check the Room's Environment 

Your home's indoor climate should be consistent with its normal living conditions (typically 59°F-77°F and 40%-60% relative humidity). This is vital for long-term performance.

Direction of Planks 

l Installing planks parallel to the longest wall or the main source of light (e.g., a large window) generally makes a room feel more spacious and aesthetically pleasing.

Pattern & Staggering 

Plan the layout so that end joints between planks are staggered randomly, with a minimum recommended distance (e.g., 15cm) between joints in adjacent rows. This creates a natural look and enhances structural integrity.

Transition Strips 

Plan for transition moldings in doorways where the new flooring meets another type of flooring (e.g., tile, carpet) or in rooms that are excessively large, to allow for expansion.