moderna by BHK - Laminate Flooring - Frequently Asked Questions

Due to extensive experience in manufacturing laminate flooring, and the tremendous amount of testing that has gone into this new revolutionary system, the product is backed by a Lifetime Warranty against wear, stains and fading on most products. See individual product descriptions for waranty lengths. This floor can easily withstand just about any of the normal flooring situations experienced in the home.

How do you identify a quality laminate floor?

A truly high quality floor will have a minimum of 4 layers. The top layer (1) would consist of a transparent scratch and stain resistant wear layer, having a higher taber (wear resistance) value. Next would be the design layer (2), a melamine resin impregnated paper, having various patterns and designs ranging from woodgrains to stone, to many more imaginative and decorative type designs. Then would come the core (3), which would be constructed of a high quality, high density fiberboard, manufactured with a water resistant glue. Then the stabilizing layer or balancing layer (4). This layer is also impregnated with melamine resin and is of a thickness to balance the product, thus eliminating "cupping" and "warping".

Why choose moderna Laminate Flooring?



moderna Laminate Flooring's beautiful appearance and exceptional performance characteristics, along with its many practical advantages, make moderna Laminate Flooring the perfect choice of flooring.

Wear resistant - resists all kinds of wear without suffering any effects.

Impact resistant - resistant to pressure from high heels or falling objects and long term pressure from chairs, cabinets, table legs, furniture feet, etc.

Scratch resistant - moderna Laminate Flooring withstands traffic. High heels or office chairs on castors are no problem. (Special castors are available and it is advisable to use felt under furniture feet.)

Spills are no problem - Stains can be removed simply using a clean dry cloth and the moderna by BHK Maintenance Cleaner.

Chemical resistant - Stubborn stains such as indelable markers or lipstick can be easily wiped away with a little acetone.

Easy to maintain - Just dust mop or vacuum. For regular cleaning use the moderna Laminate Floor Cleaner and Mop Kit.

Burn resistant - A burning cigarette that falls on the floor for a few seconds will not cause the floor to burn or discolor.

Hygienic - moderna Laminate Flooring's smooth surface repels dust. Dust mites and other allergy causing particles cannot survive on the floor.

Easy to install - Installs quickly and easily by a moderna Laminate Flooring certified installer. Or, you can do it yourself! moderna Laminate Flooring is simple to install with professional results.

Colorfast - moderna Laminate Flooring keeps its color for years. It will not fade in sunlight so rearranging furniture in the room is not a problem.

How does it work? Installation is performed by a simple rotating motion. One panel is gradually rotated into another as shown here, and then snapped firmly in place.




What about Scratches?

moderna Laminate Flooring is particularly resistant to impact and scratches. Shoes and heels are not a problem. Scuff marks are easily cleaned using the moderna Laminate Flooring cleaning and maintenance product. To keep your laminate floor looking new for years to come, certain precautions should be taken (just the same as you would with any good wood floor). Felt pads should be used under furniture legs and special hard floor castors should be fitted to wheeled chairs. Use a plastic floor mat or other similar protective material on the floor under desk seating areas.

What is the moderna Laminate Flooring Warranty?

moderna Laminate Flooring offers you the peace of mind with a Lifetime Warranty against wear, stains and fading. See specific product warranties listed on each product. Complete warranty information is available of the manufacturers website at www.bhkofamerica.com.

What Designs are Offered?

Every effort is made to perfect the visual appearance of moderna Laminate Flooring. Our woodgrain patterns reflect a true, beautiful and warm reproduction of actual wood, making it difficult to distinguish the difference. All strips within the plank have visually the same width and consistency from plank to plank.

Where should I start the installation?

You decide where you want to start installing the floor: in a corner or in the middle of the room. That way you can avoid obstacles like pipes or doors when beginning installation.

You can either work from left to right, or from right to left - an additional bonus that will delight lefthanders.

Unwanted gaps caused by poor installation of the floor are now a thing of the past. With the moderna Laminate Flooring System, the gaps are closed entirely tight. The result? A floor that is both good looking and long lasting.

With its well designed tongue and groove system, plus special pretreated material, the moderna Glueless Flooring System provides greater resistance to moisture.



moderna Laminate Flooring UNDERLAYMENT SYSTEM (waterproof membrane and moderna Laminate Flooring 3 mm thick underlayment), INSTALLATION KIT (with special buffer block, pinch bar and spacer blocks) and moderna Laminate Flooring CLEANING PRODUCT.

What colors are available?

moderna Laminate Flooring is available in a wide selection of colors and patterns with matching accessories.

With the same exceptional performance characteristics and qualities of the moderna Laminate Flooring line, you can be assured you are buying a top quality product. The introduction of the moderna Laminate Flooring System has revolutionized the laminate flooring industry. moderna Laminate Flooring offers exceptional added value. It is highly functional as well as unique. The moderna Glueless Flooring System creates a floor that is both good looking and durable. And, it can be installed in practically no time at all.

Because no glue is required, installation is cleaner and faster. Say goodbye to glue residue problems! Installing a laminate floor has never been easier.

Installation is 50% faster than with conventional laminate floor covering which requires gluing. The panels fit together quickly in such a way that there is no need to waste time camouflaging gaps or removing glue residue. The system is so simple that you will enjoy installing your floor.

Is moderna Laminate Flooring easy to maintain?

moderna Laminate Flooring Laminate Flooring is very easy to maintain and is resistant to household chemicals, impacts, wear, scratches and cigarette burns.

It's amazing just how little maintenance moderna Laminate Flooring requires! Our special cleaning product makes the maintenance required even easier to keep your floor looking like new for years.

Spills such as sauces, jam, drinks and food can be wiped away using a clean dry cloth and the BHK Maintenance Cleaner. A burning cigarette falling on the floor will not leave a mark. Stubborn stains are easily removed with a little acetone. Everything else - just dust mop or vacuum. Cleaning is that easy!

For the best cleaning results and the ultimate in protection, long life and appearance of your laminate floor, we recommend our cleaner. Because moderna Laminate Flooring has a special composition, cleaning it with our cleaning product also gives it an anti-static treatment.

Does moderna Laminate Flooring warp?

Warping or the "banana" effect is a common occurrence with many laminate flooring products available on the market today. Warping prevents the installer from achieving tight joints between panels during installation. moderna Laminate Flooring has eliminated this problem once and for all through its unique conditioning process during manufacturing. With moderna Laminate Flooring, you are certain that your panels will all be perfectly flat and straight.

How is the flooring shipped?

Special packaging ensures that the flooring panels are fully protected during shipping. The floor is part of a total concept, which includes underflooring, matching molding, installation kits, cleaning and maintenance product. In other words - a complete package! The tongue and groove are designed to enable the panels to "click" together seamlessly and effortlessly. The surface edges of the panels have been specially treated to increase the moisture resistance of the floor.

What tests are moderna Laminate Flooring subjected to?

Moisture Testing
The moderna Laminate Flooring product is continuously tested. BHK utilizes only the highest quality materials in its manufacturing process. The HDF (high density fiberboard) core material is manufactured with a waterproof glue. This does not make the product water proof but does make it less susceptible to swelling. The testing process involves submersing the flooring in water for a period of time and then measuring the product to insure that swelling is at a minimum.

moderna Laminate Flooring Joint Pull Test
Connected panels are mechanically pulled at a tension of approximately 450 kg per meter or approximately the pulling tension of six grown men pulling boards apart. Panels are then dismantled to insure that the joint holds but can be taken apart with little or no force.

Dimensional Stability
Precision measuring equipment is used to constantly check on the dimensions and shape of the tongue and groove so that a perfect, tight and seemingly seamless joint is assured.

Can you recycle moderna Laminate Flooring?

The panels are entirely recyclable. As in any other conventional laminate flooring, the tongue and groove of the moderna Laminate Flooring panels are an integral part of the HDF base layer.

How long before you can walk on the new floor?

Immediately! There is no need to wait for hours while glue dries. You can walk on your floor and put your furniture back in place as soon as your floor is installed.

If I move, can I take my floor with me?

The floor is easy to disassemble and just as straightforward to reassemble in another room. And, you can do that up to three times. So when you move, there's no need to worry about new floor covering. You simply take your moderna Laminate Flooring with you!

Does the manufacturing of moderna Laminate Flooring affect the environment?

In the production of moderna Laminate Flooring, a great deal of attention is paid to the environment.
Every component right from the raw materials, via the production process, packaging (100% recyclable), installation and if necessary its destruction, have been carefully studied from this angle. The total product fits in perfectly with the increasing need to look after the environment; moderna Laminate Flooring is a product for the future. With moderna Laminate Flooring, you will have nature in your home, without destroying the environment.

moderna® Prefinished Glueless Hardwood Collection
Solid Wood & Engineered Wood Flooring
FAQ’s
Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the proper installation, maintenance and care of your wood floor. Get that information from your wood floor installer/retailer. If you have further questions, contact your installer/retailer prior to installation.


1. What is the warranty?
BHK provides the original purchaser of its moderna® Prefinished Solid & Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring with a residential Limited Lifetime Structural Integrity Warranty covering manufacturing defects caused by improper milling, grading and/or finishing. BHK also provides the original purchaser of its moderna® Prefinished Solid & Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring with a residential Limited 25 Year Surface Finish Warranty. The factory applied UV cured aluminum oxide surfaces on BHK moderna® Solid & Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring are warranted by BHK not to wear through or separate from flooring for 25 years from the date of purchase.

For further details, please view the BHK IMCW-Guide for Solid Wood and Engineered Wood at www.bhkofamerica.com

2. What are the ideal ambient conditions to install BHK moderna® Hardwood Flooring?
Understand the FACTS ON RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WOOD. Wood is a natural material and will expand and contract as humidity levels change. Establish and maintain standard environment conditions of 65-72° F (18-22° C) and 45-55% relative air humidity in the room prior to installation, during installation, and after installation. Your real wood floor will maintain a flat, tight appearance as long as you maintain these environmental conditions year round.

For further details, please view the BHK IMCW-Guide for Solid Wood and Engineered Wood at www.bhkofamerica.com

3. Where can this floor be installed? When they say above grade, below grade, etc., what does that mean?
Above grade is the portion of a building that is above ground level. On Grade is the portion of a building that is on ground level and below grade is the portion of a building that is below ground level.

moderna® Engineered Hardwood Glueless Floors are approved for installation for above grade, on grade and below grade levels. BHK does not recommend moderna® Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring in damp areas such as bathrooms, saunas or outdoor applications.

moderna® Solid Hardwood Glueless Floors are approved for installation for above and on grade levels. BHK does not recommend moderna® Solid Hardwood Glueless Flooring in damp areas such as bathrooms, saunas or outdoor applications.

For further details, please view the BHK IMCW-Guide for Solid Wood and Engineered Wood .

4. What subfloors are suitable for BHK’s moderna® Hardwood Collection?
You can install your BHK moderna® hardwood flooring, both solid and engineered, over most common subfloors such as concrete, plywood, particleboard, wood floors. In general, the subfloor must be dry, clean, flat, and firm. Make sure that you always use BHK’s moisture barrier and sound deadening underlayment underneath your BHK moderna® wood floor.

See suitability chart in the BHK IMCW-Guide for Solid Wood and Engineered Wood at www.bhkofamerica.com

5. Can BHK moderna® Hardwood Flooring be used over radiant heating systems?
moderna® Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring can be installed over a hydronic radiant heated subfloor (water filled tubes running through concrete or sleepers.) In order to ensure that buckling, twisting, de-lamination, warping, and cupping do not occur, never change the temperature of a subfloor radiant heat system by more than 2°F (1°C) per day when switching the system on and off. Prior to installation of moderna® Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring, the hydronic radiant heat system must have been tested and in operation for at least three (3) weeks. The surface temperature of the subfloor must never exceed 82°F (27°C). Proper relative humidity levels must be maintained consistently at all times throughout the year. Use humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers as necessary to maintain the recommended humidity level.
Check with the hydronic heating system manufacturer/contractor prior to installation.

moderna® Solid Hardwood Glueless Flooring can not be installed over a hydronic radiant heated subfloor!

6. Should flooring be acclimated prior to installation?
Deliver flooring to the job site at least 48 hours prior to installation. Place the cartons in the room where it will be installed. Allow flooring to acclimatize in its original unopened packaging for 48 hours in the area where it will be installed. Do not open cartons until ready to begin installation. Place cartons in the middle of the room, never against an outside wall or in a corner. The installation area should have a consistent room temperature of 65-72°F (18°- 22°C) with a constant relative humidity level of 45-55% existing for a minimum of five (5) days before installation of any BHK moderna® Hardwood Flooring begins.

For further details, please view the BHK IMCW-Guide for Solid Wood and Engineered Wood at www.bhkofamerica.com

7. Can BHK moderna® Hardwood Flooring be nailed or glued down?
moderna® Hardwood Glueless Flooring is a floating floor system that utilizes an innovative tongue angroove joinery system whereby flooring planks “click” together without the use of glue or nails!
You can disassemble and reinstall your moderna® Solid & Engineered Hardwood Glueless Flooring up to two (2) times. This system allows for a 50% faster installation when compared with traditional glued flooring installations. Since no glue is used, it is also much easier and cleaner to install. If you want to glue the flooring, check with the manufacturer of the adhesive prior to installation. Also, understand that the warranty DOES NOT COVER this type of installation and nailing or gluing the floor down will void the warranty.

8. What is the necessary expansion space when installing the hardwood flooring?
Wood is the primary component of moderna® Solid & Engineered Hardwood Flooring. Since almost all wood products react to varying degrees in humidity, this flooring product must be allowed to expand in all directions. This expansion can be up to 3/32” (2.4mm) per yard (914mm). To facilitate this, an expansion gap of 1/2” (12.7mm) must be provided at all sides of the floor. A gap must also be provided around pipes or at thresholds.

The greater the surface area covered, the greater the required space for expansion. The floor must be able to expand or contract in ALL directions. A space of 5/16” - 13/32” or 1/4” for every 10’ (8mm-10.5mm or 6.5mm for every 3050mm), must be allowed for at all walls, at thresholds or when installing flooring around pipes. Use doorways as additional expansion gaps. These gaps will be covered with molding attached to the base floor upon completion of the installation. Remember, for installation in large rooms, transition moldings must be used for every 33’ (10m) or in doorways. Matching moldings are available, except for stair nose moldings.

9. Can BHK’s moderna® Hardwood Flooring Collection be refinished?
Yes. The surface of both SOLID & ENGINEERED has the same refinishing capabilities as a solid product!

10. Color and Grain Variations?
Hardwood flooring is a product of nature with beauty characterized by distinctive color, grain patterns, and/or texture variations. These are natural variations and are not considered flaws. Rather, they are a part of the natural beauty and unique features of hardwood flooring. You should expect to see these variations in grain, color, and texture and understand that they enhance the beautiful natural looks of the flooring. The described variations are not considered defects. No warranty shall apply to such variations. In addition, this warranty will not apply to natural color changes, which occur in wood over time.

11. Maintenance & Care?
Periodically clean your floor with BHK’s moderna® Floor Cleaner.
Ask your retailer/installer for details.
Alternatively, periodically clean your floor with a hardwood flooring cleaner especially designed for lacquered wood floors diluted in water. Follow cleaner instructions but first try cleaning a small area in a less prominent area.
Make sure that the gloss level of the flooring and the cleaner correspond.
Only use a WELL WRUNG OUT CLOTH. ALWAYS WIPE THE FLOOR DRY IMMEDIATELY until no moisture is visible on the floor. If you do not wipe it dry, the cleaning product has virtually no effect.
DO NOT saturate the floor with water! Wipe up excess water or spills immediately with a dry clean cloth.
DO NOT use soap-based detergents, oil soaps or “one step” clean and shine products.
DO NOT use steel wood, abrasive cleanser, or scouring powder. These will scratch the floor.
Do NOT use any steam cleaning machines.
Use a broom or vacuum cleaner with an adapter brush for regular cleaning.
DO NOT USE A VACUUM WITH BEATER BARS.