Valor L1 Series, Installation & Owner'S Manual

Page: 37 / 72

37
QUALIFIED
INSTALLER
Installation Planning
Extending the cement board well beyond the minimum
shown will help avoid cracking due to diff erential
expansion of materials.
Pre-drill cement board with oversized holes and do
not over-tighten screws to avoid cracking due to heat
expansion.
Standard gypsum wall board may be used beyond the
perimeter of the cement board.
Non-combustible fi nishing over cement
board
Additional non-combustible material such as tile, etc.,
may be applied over top of the cement board or you
may choose to leave it fi nished clean with no tile, etc.
Be aware that a trim is always required and that only
the 1575 and 1550 style trims will accept tile, etc.
tucked behind them (up to 5/8” thick for the 1575 and
up to 1 inch thick for the 1550). Finish
should not
cover the trims.
Cracking wall fi nishes
We recommend installing the optional LDK HeatShift
Duct Kit to reduce the wall temperatures and
minimize the possibility of cracking wall fi nishes.
If a clean fi nish with no tile, etc. is desired, joints in
the cement board and the transition to gypsum board
will require special attention if future cracking is to be
controlled. Be aware that temperatures on the non-
combustible wall surface above the appliance can
exceed 250°F.
Below are some tips on how to best avoid any
cracking:
• Allow materials to dry thoroughly before fi nishing
the wall. Cement board has the ability to absorb up
to 30 percent of its weight in water and may shrink
as much as 1/8” over a 48” length when drying from
a saturated condition. Running the fi replace before
fi nal fi nishing will help drive out moisture.
• Always pre-drill screw holes through cement board
and use screws with self-milling head.
• Always use tape over joints.
• Behind joints, double up studs or use studs “on the
fl at” to add extra support to the joint. Adhesive on
the backside of wall board behind any joints can
help control diff erential movement.
• Use multiple, thinner coats of joint compound and
allow to dry thoroughly between coats.
• Ensure framing materials are dry.
• After fi nishing the wall, introduce heat gradually to
slowly dry any excess moisture rather than drying
too fast.
• Avoid notching cement board or tiles around corners
of window opening and instead provide a joint that
intersects the corner.
Installation
Unpack Appliance
Beware of sharp edges! Wear gloves!
1. Remove the cardboard wrapping and the wood
pallet from the appliance and discard.
2. Unpack any loose items from around the appliance.
3. Remove the window and set aside in a safe place to
avoid damage—see page 39.
4. Verify that you have all the components required
for the installation,
including:
◊ approved cement board;
◊ liners and fuel bed (in separate cartons);
◊ trim kit with barrier screen;
◊ venting components and accessories;
◊ optional LDK HeatShift Duct Kit if used;
◊ electrical components if installing optional
decorative light wall switch or blower.