Installation: Getting Started

Preparing your Kore Laminate
1. Check all planks for defects such as chips, color or sheen differences; Use good lighting conditions. Complaints on obvious defects on planks which have already been installed will not be recognized. 
2. Always order a carton or two more than initially calculated; 10% overage is a good rule of thumb. This allows for any damaged planks, cutting errors, or area miscalculations. 
3. Laminate flooring must be allowed to acclimate to the environment of the installation area. Leave cartons closed in a horizontal position for 48 hours prior to installation. 
4. Preferable room temperature should be 62-73 degrees
5. Wood expands; therefore, use spacers along each wall to maintain an expansion space of 5/16”-3/8” between flooring and wall or other objects (doors, pipes, islands, etc). 

Kore Laminate is not suitable for damp rooms such as bathrooms, saunas, rooms with damp concrete or rooms that could potentially flood.

Subfloor Preparation

 1. The subfloor must thoroughly even, dry, and solid. Carpet staples or glue residue must be removed to ensure proper installation. 
2. To check for evenness: Hammer a nail into the center of the floor. Tie a string to the nail and push the knot against the floor. Pull the string tight to the farthest corner of the room and examine the floor at eye level for any gaps between the string and the floor. Move the string around the permimeter of the room, noting any gaps larger than 1/8” per 3’2”. These must be sanded down or filled with proper filler. 
3. Floors must be carefully checked for moisture problems. 
4. New concrete needs to cure for at least 60 days prior to Kore Laminate installation. 
5. Large rooms must have expansion joints every 24 feet width-wise to the planks and every 24 feet length-wise. Also provide expansion joints between different rooms and hallways (e.g. under the door). Expansion joints can be finished by means of a T-Molding that is attached to the subfloor. These, and other trims, are available in every Kore Laminate color. 
6. Ensure the end joints of the planks in two successive rows are never in line. Always ensure that the joints are staggered by at least 6 inches. 

Tools Needed and Final Preparations

Tools and Supplies Needed
1. Tapping block, spacers, pull bar, utility knife, tape measure, ruler, saw, and hammer. 
2. Kore Laminate includes attached foam padding with a foil backing vapor barrier. Therefore, additional padding or moisture blocking is not necessary if installed over a proper subfloor.

Quick Tip: Always lay the planks parallel to the room’s main light source. 

Beginning Calculations
Before you begin, it is necessary that you calculate the exact width of the last row of planks. It must not be narrower than 2”. If it is, the first row you install must be trimmed lengthwise. 

Now you're ready to start installing - download the Installation PDF for step-by-step instructions and helpful tips.

Kore Laminate Care & Maintenance

Laminate flooring, by design, is incredibly simple to clean and maintain - and Kore Laminate is no exception. While incredibly durable, laminate flooring (like wood) doesn’t mix well with water or abrasives and proper care means removing those safely. 

Never use the following which may cause swelling, delamination, joint separation or other visible damage that will void the warranty: 

  • steam cleaners or wet mops
  • steel wool or abrasive cleaners
  • harsh cleaners containing ammonia or bleach
  • liquid cleaning products like oil-soaps or detergents
  • buffing or polishing machines

Routine Maintenance

  • Use a damp cloth to clean spills as soon as they happen. 
  • Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
  • Sweep, dust, or vacuum regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the brush roll/beater bar) to prevent dirt and grit build-up that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
  • Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care. 

Special Cleaning

For spills or marks from oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, use an acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth. Then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.

For candle wax or chewing gum, use an ice cube to harden the spot, then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.