Specification B-CF

Kaswell & Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 549
Framingham, MA 01704

SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE-WOOD BLOCK FLOORING WITH CLEAR, BLACK OR COLORED POLYURETHANE FINISH - FOR INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL USE. (OTHER SPECIES OF LUMBER AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST).

MANUFACTURE

The blocks shall be manufactured from air-seasoned or kiln-dried Southern Yellow Pine lumber, meeting the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials D1031-81.

The blocks shall be 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2", 3" or 4" in depth, (nominal dimension), and in face sizes of 3" x 6", 4" x 6", 3" x 8", or 4" x 8", (nominal dimension). Permissible variations from the specified dimensions shall not exceed 1/16" in depth and 1/8" width.

Season checks in the blocks shall not be considered defects.

The blocks shall be impregnated with Bardac 2280 in a petroleum solution, under pressure by an empty cell process, assuring adequate distribution of preservative throughout the wood, to no less than four (4) lbs. retention of Bardac solution per cubic foot of wood.

They shall be manufactured and installed in strict accordance with the following specification and under the direction of Kaswell & Co., Inc. authorized representative.

INSTALLATION

For acclimation purposes to insure maximum results of finished products, all wood block shall be stored at the job site in the room area to be installed, either in palletized form or loose-scattered if possible, for a period of from three to ten days prior to being laid. NOTE: Length of acclimation period may be adjusted at the discretion of the installing contractor and is based upon atmospheric conditions at the time of year. In any event, the temperature of the room area and the building must be uniformly maintained at not less than 65 Degrees Fahrenheit from before the first block delivery and through acclimation as well as during and after the installation. (Temporary heating units such as space heaters, etc. are not acceptable). The maximum relative humidity at any time shall not exceed 60%. Adequate overhead lighting shall be provided and maintained by others.

The blocks shall be installed on a thoroughly cured concrete slab or carefully constructed plywood base (exactly the depth below the finished floor level corresponding with the depth of the block used). The concrete base must be smooth and level, and contain no ridges, waves or projections that would provide an uneven surface for the blocks. The plywood base must be level and solid, and be fastened properly to the underlayment with screw-type nails.

This base shall be cleaned thoroughly of dirt, construction mortar, etc. and/or other debris, by the General Contractor, after which the surface shall be given a prime coat of Kaswell's Wood Block Cement WHITE by squeegee method and then allowed to dry.

After the primer has dried, the surface shall be given an application of Kaswell's Wood Block Cement WHITE as received in its original container, by trowel or squeegee, leaving film of between 3/16" and 1/8".

The blocks shall then be laid tightly together with the end-grain showing on the surface. Where the blocks are to meet all walls, columns, machine pads etc., install a one-inch wide pre-moulded cork expansion joint material.

The rows of blocks shall be kept straight and parallel and all joints must be broken by a lap of at least one inch. Every other course shall start with one-half block to provide the proper lap. At the end of each course, the last piece of block to be installed shall be no smaller than one-inch. (Other block patterns are available and must be heretofore noted as required).

FILLING AND FINISHING

(The time schedule for filling and finishing will be upon the season of the year and the section of the country).

WINTER INSTALLATION

After the blocks have been installed, they shall be allowed to further acclimate for at least seven days. The floor shall then be sanded, making use of drum sanders using #3 1/2 open coat sandpaper. The sanding shall consist of four or eight cuts depending upon the finish required. It is recommended that the first four cuts be made across the rows of blocks, with the second four cuts in the same direction of the rows.

After the blocks have sufficiently contracted in place, and all openings around each block have been determined to be adequate, the floor shall be filled with KASWELL'S Granular Flexible Filler, working the particles into and filling all voids, removing all excess filler from the surface.

The surface shall then be disc sanded using #3 1/2 open coat sandpaper, after which all surplus sanding dust and filler particles shall be swept carefully from the surface. Care must be taken not to dislodge the particles of filler from the joints between blocks.

The floor surface shall then be given the first coat of Kaswell's Polyurethane Floor Coating, applied by flood method and using a soft sponge blade squeegee. After approximately five to eight hours of drying time, the floor shall be inspected and spot filled as necessary so as to provide a 100% filled floor.

The floor surface shall then be re-coated (either two or three additional coats) with Kaswell's Floor Coating as required to furnish a film finish prior to the application of the final coat.

Prior to the final coat (coat No. 5 or No. 6), the entire floor area shall be disc sanded using #1 sandpaper then carefully cleaned to remove all dust and other particles from the surface.

The final coat of Kaswell's Floor Coating shall then be applied. The finished floor shall then be allowed to dry for between 24 and 36 hours prior to any traffic. It is recommended that a period of approximately 48 hours be allowed before the floor is ready for normal use.

SUMMER INSTALLATION

Promptly after the blocks have been installed, the floor shall be sanded, making use of drum sanders and using #3 1/2 open coat sandpaper. The sanding shall consist of four or eight cuts depending upon the finish required. It is recommended that the first four cuts be made across the rows of blocks, with the second four cuts in the same direction of the rows. Immediately following the drum sanding, the floor must be disc sanded, also with #3 1/2 open coat paper.

After the surface has been properly cleaned, the floor shall then be given two or three separate coats of KASWELL'S Two-Component Polyurethane Floor Coating, allowing approximately five to six hours drying time between coats. The application shall be made by lamb's wool applicator or spray method, and care must be taken to apply the coatings evenly so as to product a uniform finish. The floor can then be placed in temporary service.

After maximum contraction of the block has taken place (usually when the building heat is turned on the following winter) the floor shall be filled with KASWELL'S Granular Flexible Filler, and all excess removed from the surface. The floor shall then be disc sanded with #1 or #2 grit disc paper and the surface swept clean. Additional coats of Kaswell's Floor Coating shall then be applied as required to furnish the proper film finish.

Prior to the final coat (coat No. 5 or No. 6), the floor surface shall be carefully cleaned, thereby removing all dust or other particles from the surface, after which the final coat shall be applied.

After proper drying and curing the floor surface is ready to be placed in service. It is recommended that a period of approximately 48 hours be allowed before the floor is ready for normal use.

CONDITIONING

When your blocks arrive on site they should be probed for moisture content and recorded. A log should be kept, recording the moisture content of the wood block on arrival, during installation, and after installation. The temperature and humidity in the storage and installation area should be recorded in the log as well. The length of acclimation will be determined by job conditions and block conditions. We are always available for consultation.

For acclimation purposes, all wood block should be stored at the job site in the room to be installed, either in palletized form or loose-scattered if possible, for a period of from two to ten days prior to being installed. The length of acclimation may be adjusted at the discretion of the installing contractor and is based upon atmospheric conditions at the time of year. In any event, the temperature of the area and building must be uniformly maintained at not less than 65 degrees F from before the first block delivery, through acclimation, as well as during and after the installation. Temporary heating units such as space heaters, etc. are not acceptable. The maximum relative humidity at any time should not exceed 60%.

Because of the possibility of wide variations in working conditions, the season of the year, the condition of the blocks when first delivered (i.e. moisture content), deviations and adjustments in the acclimation and installation schedules may be required. Decisions for these specification adjustments should be made by qualified or experienced wood flooring personnel. Therefore, Kaswell & Co., Inc. cannot accept the responsibility for results of installations made by others.

ALTERNATE:

No 1. If necessary, the acclimation period, either before or after installation may be waived. In either case, if it is required to install the floor when the relative humidity and/or temperature conditions exceed the specified limits, it maybe necessary to apply the floor filler at a time other than that specified in the Winter and Summer installation procedures.

No 2. KASWELL'S Priming Oil and two squeegee applications of KASWELL'S Hot Pitch (3/16" total thickness) may be used in lieu of the White Primer and the White Adhesive under certain conditions.

NOTE:

Because of the possibility of wide variations in working conditions, the season of the year, the condition of the blocks when first delivered (i.e. moisture content), deviations and adjustments in the acclimation and installation schedules may be required. Decisions for these specification adjustments should be made only by qualified or experienced personnel. Therefore, Kaswell & Co., Inc. cannot accept the responsibility for results of installations made by others.

All bidders shall base their prices on the use of KASWELL'S Wood Blocks, KASWELL'S Wood Block Cement WHITE, KASWELL'S Wood Block Cement BLACK, KASWELL'S Wood Block Primer, Wood Block Pitch, Wood Block Filler (flexible or rigid), and KASWELL'S Polyurethane Floor Coatings. All products should be installed in strict accordance with Kaswell & Co., Inc. recommendations.

Requests for substitutions of materials or deviations of installation procedures by installing contractors shall be made in writing and directed to the Architect, Engineer or Owner involved in the quality and performance of the finished work.

We reserve the right to change specifications without notice.

The following notice is attached to our pallets and boxes of wood block flooring:

1. Heating, air conditioning, and humidity controls all operating, humidity consistently normal (35% to 50%), and doors and windows closed.
2. After HVAC is on long enough to duplicate the same humidity and temperature that will prevail after occupancy, then and only then open pallets of block, and destroy all palletization for acclimation. Length of acclimation must be at the discretion of the installing contractor. Because of the possibility of wide variations in working conditions, the season of the year, the condition of the blocks when first delivered (i.e., moisture content), deviations and adjustments in the acclimation and installation schedules may be required. Decisions for these specification adjustments should be made only by qualified or experienced personnel. Therefore, Kaswell & Co. Inc. cannot accept the responsibility for the results of installations made by others.
3. Slab checked for smoothness and not to exceed 1/4" in 10' with a straight edge. Low spots (washboard type) must be filled with leveling compound. Insist masonry contractor make necessary corrections.
4. KASWELL & CO. finishing and application instructions in your possession.
5. Doors and windows closed, being certain there are no temporary sources of moisture from plaster, concrete, or other wet work.
6. WARNING: If either acclimated or installed prior to total HVAC normalization, the unfinished blocks will absorb excess moisture. Then when the heat or AC is later turned on there can be shrinking and unnecessary cracks, requiring expensive repair. When there is contractor or owner pressure to install before HVAC is on long enough to normalize the interior, please telephone 1-508-879-1120 so we can explain possible consequences.