Installation Guide Chalet Laminate Flooring
Please always visit nationaltiles.com.au/flooringresources for the most up-to-date version of our installation instructions, warranty, product catalogue, and care and maintenance guide as it may have been revised and updated. Version Update: October 2026 | This document replaces all previous versions
Table of Content Installation Requirements General Information Acclimatisation and site inspection
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Installation instructions Method Preparation subfloors Floor installation Getting started Installing the first row Installing the second row Installing the third row Continuing the rest of the installation Laying the last row Holes for pipes Door moulding and skirting Under door frames Lifting or removing Finishing
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Installation instructions - Over heated slab
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Installation Requirements Floated Floated Floor Method: Yes Expansion Trims and Compartmentalisation: Mandatory Underlay Required: Yes Moisture Barrier Required: Yes Adhesive: Not Required Finishing Accessories: (Scotia, Skirting, Door Jambs etc.) Gap: 0.5mm Raft Size
Expansion Gap Around Installation Perimeter
Black 200um Plastic
Up to 12m (l) x 8m (w)
12mm
Yes
Direct Stick Direct Stick Method: Not allowed Wastage: 5 - 10% Hydronic Heated Slab: Yes Nailed / Screwed to subfloor: No Tools Required • Safety glasses • Dust mask • Measuring tape and square • Ruler • Sharp ‘Stanley’ type knife • Pencil • Pull bar • Mallet • Tapping block • ‘Table type’ power saw with dust collector, or a circular saw with carbide-tipped blade, or a power jigsaw, multitool, drop saw and undercut saw • Small hand tools associated with woodworking • Expansion wedges (suitable sized spacer blocks of plastic or wood) • Trims • Scotia • Stair Nosing • Suitable underlay containing a moisture barrier membrane • Suitable floor protection • Waterproof tape Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide | 3
General Information It is understood that: Important: It is the owner’s/installer’s responsibility to read and be aware of the entire installation instructions before proceeding with the installation.
with a relative humidity of 45-60% and a consistent temperature range. As such, laminate flooring should not be installed more than 2 weeks prior to occupation of the home. The floor is designed to perform in an environmentally controlled structure. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any additional compound or material you use.
Laminate flooring has been manufactured with a click system, the planks can be clicked together without using any glue.
In all flooring installations, a moisture barrier will be required. Ensure to use a minimum moisture barrier membrane of 100µm.
The installer assumes all responsibility for the final inspection of product quality. An inspection of each board should be carried out prior to installation. Carefully examine the flooring for batch, date, colour, finish, and quality before installing. Use reasonable selectivity and hold out or cut off pieces with glaring defects, whatever the cause. All such inspections should be conducted in finished lighting conditions, particularly in areas that will be exposed to sources of natural light. Planks showing visible manufacturing defects should never be installed. If the flooring is not acceptable, contact your retailer before proceeding further with the installation. If deemed defective by the manufacturer, these boards will be replaced prior to the installation.
Warranty exclusions include, but not limited to: - surface concerns resulting from low humidity. - cupping or convexing (doming) of boards - the presence of mildew/moisture - discolouration from extreme subfloor moisture and/or exposure to direct sunlight - poor cleaning/maintenance regimes.
Do not put like planks next to each other and you must randomly stagger end joints for best appearance.
Before beginning installation, the installer must determine that the environment of the job site and conditions, and the type of subfloor involved are acceptable, thus ensuring that it meets or exceeds all requirements stipulated in the installation instructions that follow. The manufacturer declines any responsibility or job failures resulting from, or associated with inappropriate, or improperly prepared subfloor, or job site environmental deficiencies.
Once installed, all boards are deemed to be accepted. Claims resulting from the installation of such planks will not be honoured. It’s at the installer’s discretion to remove or cut off pieces with deficiencies. Please note that laminate flooring must be installed in a regulated environment to prevent possible damage not covered by warranty. A ‘regulated environment’ is one 4 | Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide
Please contact your retailer immediately if you have any questions regarding these guidelines.
Acclimatisation and site inspection
All sources of moisture must be rectified prior to installation of the floor. In addition,
all moisture levels in the rooms fitted with laminate flooring should also be maintained at a stable level, in line with normal living conditions. Laminate flooring cannot be installed in bathrooms, laundries, toilets, saunas, or areas subject to regular moisture or water. Window coverings should be used to protect the floor from direct sunlight, which would otherwise cause discolouration to the boards.
Extremes in humidity levels in the home must be prevented all year round. Laminate flooring reacts to humidity level variations. During summer, when the humidity level is usually at its highest point, the laminate flooring is expected to expand as it absorbs moisture from the air. These variations must be controlled with the use of a dehumidifier. As for winter, when the heating system is working, the humidity level is lower it is recommended to use a humidifier to minimise the extreme effects of shrinkage.
In a new construction building, laminate flooring should be one of the last items installed. All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, acoustic ceilings, wall lining, etc.) should be completed prior to flooring being installed. Heating and cooling systems should be fully operating, maintaining a comfortable room temperature. Flooring should not be delivered until the building has been closed in and cement work, plastering, painting, and other materials are completely dried. Concrete and plaster should be cured and at least 60 days old. Check basements and underfloor crawl spaces to be sure they are dry and well ventilated to avoid potential damage caused by moisture. Always handle with care. DO NOT STAND packs on their ends. Do not store directly on concrete or near outside walls. Cartons should be placed in the installation area and remain unopened until commencement of installation. The boards should be placed in the room in which they are to be fitted, to acclimatise for 48 hours on site in a protected area and should be carefully stacked in their packaging to allow air to circulate. DO NOT OPEN CARTON UNTIL COMMENCEMENT OF INSTALLATION.
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Important: Proceed with a visual inspection of the boards before installation. Once installed, the boards are considered accepted by the installer and the homeowner. The use of silicone or caulking compound will void the manufacturer’s warranty as it will leave the floorboards inadequate space to expand and contract. When installing laminate flooring leave a clear expansion gap around the perimeter of the room without any points of contact. The floorboards must not be glued, tacked, nailed, or fixed to the subfloor in any way. Step and brick stagger patterns are not permitted, the boards must be randomly staggered. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any additional compound or material you use. DO NOT USE duct tape and/or any other industry’s tapes on the surface of the boards as this wall cause damage. The use of low tack masking tape is acceptable on the surface of the floorboards for a maximum of 72 hours. Avoid using solvents of any kind to clean the floor. Solvents include (but are not limited to) methylated spirits, turpentine, bleach, ammonia, eucalyptus, citrus, vinegar, and any non pH-neutral cleaners. These solvents may damage the surface, which is not covered under warranty.
Method Laminate flooring can only be installed as a floating floor method. That is, the floorboards are joined together as a panel via a click system and floated over suitable overlay.
expansion gap around the perimeter of the room (Please refer to the Installation Requirements inside page 2). The floorboards must not be glued, tacked, nailed, or fixed to the subfloor in any way.
A successful installation will rely heavily on adherence to these instructions. The two most common causes of failure are uneven subfloors and inadequate expansion to the perimeter of the floor.
Installations greater than the stipulated raft size (Please refer to the Installation Requirements inside page 2) or those with separate rooms will require compartmentalisation with the use of transition mouldings to provide proper expansion space.
An uneven subfloor and inadequate expansion will lead to the movement of the flooring underfoot and within the joining system. This can result in excessive noise, which often sounds like ‘cracking’ or ‘creaking’. When installing laminate flooring as a floating floor, you must leave an 6 | Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide
Cabinetry or kitchen islands must not be installed on top of a floating floor, as this restricts the natural expansion and contraction. Heavy items (above 200kg in weight) can not be installed or placed on top of a floating
floor. For all finished accessories leave a minimum of 0.5mm clearance above the finished floor height to allow for unrestricted expansion. This applies to door jambs, cabinetry kickboards, scotia, skirtings and trims. When installing around vertical obstructions and fixed items (cabinets, kitchen islands, columns, pipes, etc.) a clear expansion gap (Please refer to the Installation Requirements inside page 2) must be left.
Preparation - Subfloors Important: Subfloors should be checked prior to installation. Should the moisture content of the concrete slab be above 4.8%, or the relative humidity be above 85%, flooring should not be installed. Before installing the flooring, you must clean, sweep, or vacuum the subfloor so that it is free of dirt and debris. Verify the moisture content of the subfloor using a moisture meter or another approved method. Wooden and wood-based materials (plywood, OSB, particle board) must be dry, with a moisture reading no greater than 14% (this should be checked with a moisture meter). All wooden subfloors must be greater than 19mm in thickness. Ensure that the boards of the subfloor are properly fastened to the supporting beams and that you do not have any squeaking or depressed areas. Fill depressed areas if needed with floor levelling compound. Raised areas must be sanded down. If the moisture level is above 85% relative humidity as measured by an approved moisture meter that complies with the current Australian ATFA codes, you must
first install a 200µm minimum plastic moisture proof membrane or sheeting. Where the membrane edges meet, they must overlap by 300mm and the joins must be sealed using a waterproof tape. The membrane must be extended up along all the walls and vertical fixtures and then trimmed to the suitable height based on the skirting and/or beading that will be put in place. Please ensure the subfloor or surface that the flooring is being installed over is flat. Deviations in any subfloor must not exceed 3mm over 2m straight edge. Raised points must be sanded/ground down and depressions filled using a good quality cementitious levelling compound. Any existing floor coverings that have an attached cushion or is a floating floor (such as carpet or carpet underlay) should be removed prior to installation; installing over these surfaces will void the warranty. Laminate flooring can be installed over well bonded vinyl or ceramic tiles if sufficiently flat. Tile grout joints or other gaps of more than 2mm in depth and 4mm in width should be levelled. The subfloor must be smooth, flat, structurally sound, and free of deflection.
Installation Please refer to the Installation Requirements inside page 2 1. Getting Started Check the floorboards before you start to make sure that they are not in any way damaged or have quality defects. These planks should not be put aside and used for cuts or submitted for a product warranty claim. Warranty claims resulting from the installation of such planks will not be honoured. For best results, it is Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide | 7
recommended that material be mixed from four (4) to six (6) boxes when installing the laminate flooring. After cleaning the subfloor, roll out a suitable underlay (1A). The underlay must be applied with a minimum 100mm overlap and sealed with waterproof tape.
leave an expansion space between the flooring and all walls or other fixed objects. 2. Installing the first row Start installation of the planks in the righthand corner, tongue-side against the wall (2A), if desired, the tongue can be cut off.
All walls and vertical fixtures must have the underlay turned up and then trimmed back to the appropriate level depending on skirting and/or beading to be installed.
Make sure you place the short side of the plank 10-12mm from the wall (2B). It is practical to adjust the gap between the long sides and the wall later, when three rows have been installed. The boards should be fitted lengthways towards the main incoming light source and, where possible, down the length of the room. In narrow hallways, install the floor parallel where possible. To avoid straddling a door jamb with a plank, measure back to the starting wall to ensure a plank connection within the door jamb area. It is recommended that you do not end up with a narrow strip at the end that is less than 50mm wide on any wall in the room. Make sure to cut both first and last rows, so they are equal in width. Undercut all door jambs so that the flooring will easily slide underneath them (leaving a minimum 0.5mm clearance), this will help to ensure the floor is not pinned by the door jambs. Using a scrap piece of flooring and underlay as a guide, undercut the jambs with a jamb saw or regular handsaw. Always 8 | Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide
Position the short side of the next plank to be installed at an angle of 20-30º to the first plank already installed (2C). Move the plank gently up and down and at the same time exert forward pressure (2D). The planks will automatically click into place (2E). If required, tap the short side of the plank to ensure the lock is fully engaged. To avoid damaging the planks, you must tap them together gradually using a tapping block, until the locking mechanisms are fully engaged.
Repeat the same process for the next 3-4 planks. Place the final plank face down. The distance to the wall must be 10-12mm (2F). Mark where the plank is to be cut (2G). Place the plank face down on the work surface and cut to size using a circular saw. If you are using a hand saw, ensure that it is fine toothed and cut the plank face up (2H). Ensure the long sides of the planks make a straight line.
3. Installing the second row The offcut from the last board in the first row now starts your second row. Place the long side of the plank into the first row at angle of 20-30º, the planks will automatically click together (3A). Ensure to place a spacer between the wall and short join of the board to maintain expansion allowance (3B). The use of a tapping block and mallet can be used to Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide | 9
ensure the lock is fully engaged. Engage the long side tongue of a new plank into the groove of the first row at a 20-30º angle, alongside the first board in the second row (3C). Using a tapping block gently tap the short side of the second board to engage the lock of the first board in the second row (3D). To avoid damaging the planks, you must tap them together gradually. Always ensure that the end joints are randomly staggered at least 400mm apart. Step and brick stagger patterns are not permitted, the boards must be randomly staggered (3E). Repeat the same for the next 3-4 planks and then start the third row.
4. Installing the third row Start and complete the third row in the same way as the second row. If required, we can slide these three rows off the starting wall and install the suitable spacers against the starting walls. Make sure you leave minimum 10-12mm expansion from both walls (4A & 4B).
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It is critical to keep the first three rows straight and square, as their alignment will affect the rest of the installation.
5. Continuing the rest of the installation Repeat the same way row by row. Check to be certain that all planks are fully engaged. In some places where it is difficult to install with the tapping block (e.g., against the wall), you can tap the planks together using a pull bar and mallet (5A & 5B).
6. Laying the last row Measure and cut the plank, it must be a minimum 50mm in width. Leave a 10-12mm expansion gap to the wall (6A & 6B).
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Holes for pipes Measure the diameter of the pipe and drill a hole that is 20-24mm larger for the expansion. Saw off a piece and lay the plank in place on the floor (7A, 7B, and 7C).
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Door moulding and skirting Lay a plank, with the decorative side down, next to the door moulding to measure where it is to be cut. Cut and remove the door jamb and slide the plank under the moulding (8A & 8B).
Finishing Remove all spacers and ensure the 10-12mm or greater expansion gap is left around the perimeter. Install any finishing accessories (scotia, skirting boards and other mouldings) against the wall. Never attach the mouldings to the floor. This method allows the floor to expand and contract. Important: The use of silicone or caulking compound is not allowed around the perimeter of the installation
Under door frames Ensure that the expansion joint under the door at least 10-12mm. If the planks cannot be lifted, gently use a tapping block or pull bar and mallet to tap the planks together with the planks flat against the floor until they click into place (9A).
Install any end, connector, or adaptor profiles that have not been fitted during the installation process. These trims must hold the floor in place and provide for full and free expansion of the flooring under or inside the trim profile. During the installation of any finishing accessories (scotias, skirting boards, trims, and door jambs) ensure no downward pressure is applied to the boards. It is recommended that a minimum 0.5mm gap allowance is given where the accessories meet the boards. Do not install any cabinets, kitchen islands, or any heavy items (above 200kg in weight) on top of floating floors.
Lifting or removing It is possible to remove or replace planks that have been laid as floating flooring in living areas and commercial areas without causing damage by first releasing the entire row along the long side by angling it to free it from the locking mechanism. The planks can be separated from one another by lifting the tongue side out of the groove and removing laterally. Chalet Laminate Flooring Installation Guide | 13
Installation Instructions - Over Heated Slab Laminate flooring, due to its great stability, can be installed over a hydronic heated slab (only). It needs to be installed as per the guidelines specified below to avoid compromising your floor warranty. Other floor heating systems are not covered by our warranty. The floor must be installed by a professional installer, and always follow all the manufacturers’ guidelines to make sure your warranty won’t be compromised. Always lay a 200μm plastic moisture barrier first before installing the laminate flooring. Please also note that the heating system being used must be installed and operated in compliance with the guidelines of the heating and/or other manufacturers. Refer to our laminate flooring installation instructions or contact us for more information. 1. The in-slab underfloor heating needs to be started and run at the desired temperature for at least 14 days prior to installation. Note: The slab surface temperature must not exceed 26ºC at all times. 2. After 14 days, turn off the slab heating and allow 4 days to pass in order for the subfloor to cool down and reach room temperature before installation. Do not store any floorboards in the dwelling during step 1 and 2 3. Make sure the room temperature is a minimum of 16°C during the installation and that the temperature of the heated slab surface does not exceed 26°C at any time.
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4. Leave a 12mm expansion gap as per the normal installation guide. 5. After floor installation is complete, your laminate flooring requires gradual acclimatisation in conjunction with the heating system. The heating system temperature is to be increased in 2-degree increments each day until the desired temperature is reached (not exceeding 26°C). When turning the system off, also decrease the temperature in 2-degree increments each day until it is off. 6. The use of an in-floor temperature sensor is highly recommended to avoid overheating.