Kronotex Common Questions

Please leave a minimum of 3/8” clearance.

Kronotex like all laminate flooring is made from high density fiber board which responds to temperature and humidity. Even the trip from the store to your house could expose the planks to a different environment. Therefore, BEFORE opening the packaging please acclimate all planks for 48 hours by laying each box horizontally and individually in the center of the room, in which they are to be installed.

Several factors could contribute to the difficulty you are experiencing

1. Were the planks acclimated 48 hours in the room they are to be installed?
2. Is this a climate controlled environment?/li>
3. Do the boxes lay flat on the floor? If not - flip the boxes over and acclimate for an additional 24-28 hours
4. Measure the boards from opposite corners- diagonally to check for square
5. Did you scribe the first row against the wall? Unevenness in the wall can be transferred thru the planks.
6. Try locking the plank on the end with your dominate hand then working toward the other end of the plank

It is very important to keep the tongue and grove clean of any debris and check corners of your planks carefully. We recommend using a soft bristle brush frequently during installation to avoid debris in the locking system. Chips can also result from improper tapping tools or techniques, improper acclimation or concealed shipping damage not discovered during installation.

Do not install any planks with visual defects. Chipped boards can be used for cut planks along the left and right walls. Use planks with damage to the grove end along the right wall and planks with damage to the tongue end along the left wall. Please make sure the chipped parts will be hidden underneath the quarter round or base molding

The vapor barrier should be extended 2” to 4” up each wall and folded or cut back after the planks are installed to fit behind the wallbase molding. This creates a tub effect and impedes moisture from wicking into the side of the floor planks from the concrete wall. Please avoid extreme variations in temperature and humidity. The ideal room temperature is between 64º F and 94º F and the humidity should not exceed 75%.

You should always use underlayment padding above the vapor barrier and below the laminate flooring planks. If a pad is pre-attached, no additional underlayment should be used. Yes, 3/8” cork underlayment is a premium underlayment and can be used to help meet the required sound standards e.g. in condos. The cost can be high as much as $3 per square foot. Please be advised that density can be an issue directly related to performance. Therefore, purchase cork underlayment supplied by US Floors, Natural Floors or National Cork as product from QEP may or may not consistently meet our preferred density requirement for maximum performance.

This technique allows you to work on multiple rows at the same time in a stair-step fashion, first row longer than the next and so on… Professional installers can have more than one installer at a time locking planks together - time and square footage is money! The do-it-yourselfer does not need a helper to lock a long row to the preceding row. And the advantages for both are:

1. Only handling cut pieces once to cut then installing them directly into the floor saves time and effort
2. Heavy furniture does NOT have to be moved out of the room
3. Potentially over time this technique could perform better (remain locked to a tighter tolerance than end joints engaged without tapping)

Before you install planks in front of an exterior doorway, be sure to shave away the locking system from the side which will face the exterior door. That piece will be on the edge of the floor exposed to extreme conditions. The gap between the exterior entrance and your first piece of laminate flooring should be filled with 100% silicone sealant to protect the flooring from moisture. We do not recommend having an end joint directly in the traffic path, however sometimes it may unavoidable. For esthetic reasons we suggest laying the laminate underneath the door jams after cutting them using a saw especially designed for door jams available at any hard ware or home improvement store. You may also want to use a small bead of glue on the tongue of the locking system of the planks in the entrance area or consider using a door mat to help protect your floors against snow and water that may be dragged in on shoes.

Laminate flooring can be installed under a refrigerator but should not be installed under any stationary or extremely heavy furniture as this would prevent the flooring from expanding and contracting. Please work around the kitchen island leaving an expansion gap of 3/8” to the flooring. We also recommend adding glue to all four sides of each plank before installing the flooring around a sink, refrigerator and any other areas where water may occasionally be present. All expansion spaces in these areas must be filled with a 100% mildew silicone sealant. This will help prevent any damages

Please install laminate flooring parallel to the long walls in the hallway.

Please use a high tooth count fiber tip saw blade. Remember the “grill” (=the teeth of the blade) should come in contact with the décor face of the plank first. This will reduce chipping. Chipping is not a big issue because anytime you cut our planks you have removed the locking system so the cut edge will be toward the wall and be covered by the quarter round. Do not use any pieces that are less than 16 inches in lengths.

Safety requirements: You need to wear a dust mask and safety glasses when cutting planks and they should be cut outside. Professional installers may use a dustless cutter which can be used inside because it does not generate dust.

The 6m vapor barrier should be extended 2” to 4” up each concrete wall and folded or cut back after the planks are installed to fit behind the wallbase molding. This creates a tub effect and impedes moisture from wicking into the side of the floor planks from the concrete wall. Please avoid extreme variations in temperature and humidity. The ideal room temperature is between 64 and 94 F degrees and the humidity should not exceed 75%.

Installation should take place at room temperature of at least 64°F. The following climatic conditions in the room must be ensured before, during and for at least three days after installation:

• Floor Surface min 59°F
• Room Temperature min 64°F
• Room Humidity max 75% (35% - 75%)

Always use underlayment padding above the vapor barrier and below the laminate flooring planks. If a pad is pre-attached, no additional underlayment should be used. 3/8” cork underlayment is a premium underlayment and can be used to help meet the required sound standards e.g. in condos. The cost can be high as much as $3 per square foot.

Please be advised that density can be an issue directly related to performance. Therefore, purchase cork underlayment supplied by US Floors, Natural Floors or National Cork as product from QEP may or may not consistently meet our preferred density requirement for maximum performance.

You won’t be able to look the new planks directly into the existing floor but you’ll be able to “connect” the existing floor with your new floor by installing a transition profile between both.

• Sustainable core – All of our laminate flooring designs contain a wood fiber core made with ecologically sustainable pine trees, allowing us to bring you the look and feel of exotic hardwoods without harming exotic or endangered species.
• Efficient production – When Kronotex laminate flooring is made, we are able to use almost every part of the tree, for a more efficient manufacturing process.
• No harsh chemicals needed – Kronotex laminate flooring requires very minimal maintenance and unlike hardwood, it will never need to be refinished. Regular sweeping and occasional damp mopping with our mild cleaning solution will keep your floor looking like new for years to come, with no need for harsh chemicals.
• Simple installation – With our mechanical locking systems, Kronotex laminate floors install easily without the need for glue or nails. This simple installation process means fewer power tools are needed, which results in less energy use and less waste.
• It's here for the long haul – With warranties of up to 30 years, Kronotex laminate flooring is more durable than carpet or hardwood, and won't have to be replaced nearly as often. This translates to less waste being sent to a landfill.
• Low VOC Inks - The decorative paper layer used in Kronotex laminate flooring is printed with water-based, low VOC inks, which are safer for consumers and the environment.
• Responsible Packaging – Kronotex laminate flooring cartons are made from recycled cardboard.

The common term used to denote the durability level of laminate flooring is its “AC” rating. AC ratings are an abbreviated representation of a laminate’s resistance to abrasion, impact, stains and cigarette burns. The ratings also indicate that the product has been tested for the effects of furniture legs, castors, and swelling along its edges. If a laminate flooring product has a rating, then it has passed all of the test criteria. Failing just one test will disqualify a product.

The AC rating levels are designated AC1 through AC5. Each is represented by international pictographs reflecting the product’s application and durability. The primary application is divided into two groups: residential and commercial. Each group is further divided into traffic intensity levels: moderate, general, or heavy.

The residential rating is designated by a pictograph of a house and the commercial rating by a building. To the right of those is a pictograph of one, two, or three people corresponding to the traffic intensity levels. Below the person or people is a numerical equivalent of the pictographs. The first digit indicates the primary application: 2 for residential, 3 for commercial. The second digit indicates the traffic intensity level: 1 for moderate, 2 for general, 3 for heavy.

• AC 1: House, One Person, (Residential, Moderate Traffic: Suitable for bedrooms or guest rooms)
• AC 2: Residential, General Traffic: Suitable for living rooms or dining rooms
• AC 3: Residential, Heavy Traffic: Suitable for all areas. Note that products with an AC3 rating can be used for all residential applications as well as moderate commercial applications

Yes, as long as the tree stand has felt protectors and any water spills are wiped up immediately

We recommend purchasing a laminate flooring cleaning kit. You can also clean your laminate floor using a damp mop and a homemade cleaning aid made from 3 parts of water and 1 part of vinegar.

To remove stains from juice, wine, grease, or chocolate, dampen a rag with water and a laminate floor cleaner and spot clean. To clean cigarette burns, asphalt, shoe polish, paint, ink, crayon, dried foods, nail polish, simply dampen a rag with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover and spot clean. For candle wax, or chewing gum, allow to harden and gently scrape with a plastic scraper.

Installation should take place at room temperature of at least 64°F. The following climatic conditions in the room must be ensured before, during and for at least three days after installation:

• Floor Surface min 59°F
• Room Temperature min 64°F
• Room Humidity max 75% (35% - 75%)

Kronotex laminate flooring may be installed in both rooms provided that neither the waterbed nor the aquarium leak. While smaller spills can be wiped off quickly and won’t harm the laminate floor larger spills can cause serious damages to the core material and are not covered by our warranty. Therefore you should be very cautious when filling, emptying or cleaning the aquarium! Also, please make sure the aquarium is level and the weight is distributed evenly. We recommend setting it up on a piece of furniture with a solid base rather than a four-legged stand.

Please check your local building code for the recommended distance. If no building code exists please leave at least 2 feet between the fireplace and your laminate floor.

It’s called floating floor because the laminate is not glued, nailed or otherwise fastened to the subfloor or walls and can expand and contract as temperature and other conditions change. Floating floors gain their strength from locking to the other planks in the floor. Note: This is why 12” minimum end joint stager row to row is so important

Yes, the surface of laminate is so hard it can not hold the allergens typically accumulated by softer floor coverings. This benefit is a good example of why laminate is the best flooring option for children’s rooms or anyone concerned with health

We recommend purchasing a laminate flooring cleaning kit. You can also clean your laminate floor using a damp mop and a homemade cleaning aid made from 3 parts of water and 1 part of vinegar.

Kronotex kronotex flooring is high quality wood laminate flooring and is backed by 15, 20, 25 and 30 Year Residential Limted Warranties. Kronotex offers a Warranty on all products.

Water is the worst enemy of laminate flooring. Please dry the flooded area completely and as soon as possible. Your floors may start to warp due to water that entered into the seams and made them swell. You will need to de-install your flooring and let the area/rooms dry completely before reinstalling new flooring. Planks involved with floods caused by exterior water or waste water are not recommended for re-installation. Floods are not covered by the Kronotex warranty. Please contact your homeowner’s insurance.