Installation

Every Sonora floor is precision milled from architectural-grade timber to perform for decades when installed over a sound, dry, flat substrate. Please review these essential guidelines before breaking carton seals.

Before you start: Acclimation and moisture

Keep unopened cartons flat in the installation space for 48 to 72 hours prior to installation. Maintain the room environment between 65°F and 75°F (18°C–24°C) with relative humidity between 35% and 55% during acclimation, installation, and thereafter.

Subfloors must be structurally sound, clean, and flat to within 3/16 inch in a 10-foot radius. On concrete slabs, test moisture levels (maximum 3 lbs / 1,000 sq ft / 24 hrs calcium chloride or 75% in-situ relative humidity) and install a minimum 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier.

Installation methods

Floating: Join planks using a high-quality tongue-and-groove flooring adhesive over an approved acoustical underlayment. Leave a 1/2-inch expansion gap around all room perimeters and vertical obstructions.

Glue-Down: Use a premium elastomeric hardwood flooring adhesive with moisture vapor protection applied with the trowel notch specified by the adhesive manufacturer.

Nail or Cleat: Fasten with 18-gauge flooring cleats spaced 6 to 8 inches along the plank length and within 2 to 3 inches of every plank end, blind-nailed into wood subfloors perpendicular to joists.

Radiant heat

All Sonora engineered oak and walnut floors are fully approved for hydronic radiant heating systems embedded in concrete. Turn on the heating system at 65°F for at least 5 days prior to installation. Never exceed a subfloor surface temperature of 80°F (27°C).