Before You Start
Sure- Step building product will expand and contract according to surrounding
climate. The hog flooring guidelines below must be followed to ensure warranty.
1. Store hog flooring parts inside and at room temperature for at least 24
hours before install
2. Use approved support system, and support spacing dimensions.
3. Leave room for expansion at walls, and an expansion joint in floor runs of
over 60 feet. ( Refer to Thermal Expansion page for gap distances )
4. Stagger joints for maximum strength.
5. Cover all edges around perimeter of the room. Edge covering is available
from JimDi Inc.
Tools
● Tape measure
● Pencil
● SURE STEP hog flooring goes together by hand, but if needed use only a
rubber mallet.
● If needed, cutting can be done best with a table saw, or circular saw.
Room Planning
Sure Step must have a support beam under the supporting ends of the part. ​Do
Not cut the supporting ends of the part​.​ To calculate the number and
combination of parts to use, follow instructions below. The ​non​ supporting
ends of the part can be cut to fit the room, allowing for expansion at each wall.
Example - 40 foot supporting-end length of room.
1) Convert feet to inches
40 x 12 = 480
2) Subtract for expansion using expansion chart
482 - 1.5 = 478.5
40 foot at 20 degrees below operating temp. = .75 x 2 = 1.5
3) Divide room length by part width
478.5 / 18 = 26.58 , 18" parts.
4) If decimal is more than .3 like this example, subtract 12 inch parts and
re-divide to achieve the lowest decimal
478.5 - 24.00 = 454.5
454.5 / 18 = 25.25
Use 25 - 18" parts and 2 - 12" parts for a total of 474 inches. The remaining .25
of 18" part, = 4.5 inches will be add to gap at ends
4.5 / 2 = 2.25 + .75 = 3 inches gap at both ends.
Thermal Expansion
Whenever possible, always install hog flooring at the room operating
temperature.
If installing below the room operating temperature, use the chart below to
calculate the expansion gap to be used between walls and flooring. Do not
install below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the floor is longer than 60 feet, an expansion joint is needed. To make an
expansion joint, use two support beams side by side and leave a gap between
floor parts.
Thermal Expansion Gap
The gap distance depends on the floor length, and the installation temp. vs.
room operating temp
Step 1 - Installing the support beams
Lay out support beams across the pit 12 inches apart for 12x12, and 18 inches
apart for 12x18.
When using fiberglass beam, install plastic beam mounting plate on each end or
wherever the beam comes in contact with the concrete.
Make sure the mounting plates are flush with the end of the beam, or pushed all
the way on the beam if using the closed end mounting plates.
The beam must have a minimum of 2 inches of bearing onto concrete ledge.
Step 2 - Installing SURE STEP flooring
Sure Step must have a support beam under the supporting ends of the part. ​Do
Not cut the supporting ends of the part​. Use the calculated gap at each end,
and the combination of parts to use, explained in the Room Planning section on
page 1. The ​non​ supporting ends of the part can be cut to fit the room, allowing
for expansion at each wall.
Lay out first row on support beams from wall to wall to make sure it works out.
Make sure each floor part is completely down on the beam.
On second row line up joint of first row with the center of the part on second
row.
Cover all edges around perimeter of the room.
Step 3 -Installing SURE STEP farrowing flooring : 5' x 7' or 5' x 7' 6"
Lay out 4 support beams across the pit at 18", 24", 18" spacing with mounting
plates
Install 7, 12 x 18 inch SURE STEP on both sides of 5 x 7 foot crate area leaving 24
inches between the rows for the cast parts.
Install a 24 inch steel support spacer under the beams on the front and back.
Install 24 inch cast flooring. Either 7, 12 x 24 raised, 7, 12 x 24 flat, or 2, 24 x 42
flat, for a 5'x7' crate.
Use 1, 6 x24 cast with the 12 x 24's or 1, 24 x 42 and 1, 24 x 48 for a 5'x7' 6"
crate.
Use ( J ) bolts to secure the farrowing crate to the steel support spacer.