This article shares some best practices for installing engineered hardwood floors. The first best practice is thorough planning. Installing an engineered wood floor is a major project.
Treat it with the respect it deserves. Here are the eight critical questions you must research and answer to plan and budget for a successful engineered hardwood flooring installation. Engineered hardwood products vary in-depth, typically ranging from three-eighths to just over half an inch thick. Thinner material can be more cost-effective and is advantageous if overall floor height is an issue. Premium grades have a thicker wear layer, which offers more opportunities to be sanded and refinished, extending the life of the engineered wood flooring.
You need to understand how to prepare the subfloor surface, which varies a bit based on the type of subfloor surface. Subfloor surfaces must also be dry, solid, and structurally intact. The subfloor surface should be firmly secured with no loose material. There are different factors that come into play when making this decision.
It depends on the type of surface over which you are installing the floor. It also depends on the environment where you live. Is this a retrofit or new construction? You should install a floating engineered hardwood when you need flexibility.
Installing a floating engineered hardwood floor works well at any grade level and over most types of subfloor surfaces. A floating engineered wood flooring installation on concrete can be an excellent choice if your subfloor is below grade. In contrast, gluing hardwood to concrete provides you with a very permanent solution. Plan to nail down the engineered hardwood flooring when you have a wood subfloor.
As long as you use the correct pneumatic nail gun, this technique provides the installer with a simple and controlled approach to the installation. Whatever glue product recommended by the manufacturer. Different types of glue work best with different types of flooring. Environmental factors also play a part. Avoid adhesives that are water-based, as they trigger expansion and contraction of engineered wood products.
A good adhesive forms a powerful bond yet remains flexible over the long haul. If so, engineered wood flooring is an attractive option here. The manufacturing process of the engineered wood creates a stable core that resists expansion and contraction from environmental changes. Verify that the radiant heat system you are considering is compatible with engineered wood flooring.
Have you planned to install your engineered hardwood in a way that is compatible with a radiant heat system? For example, nailing down or stapling an engineered hardwood flooring over a radiant heat system takes special care. Always consult both manufactures in the planning process. Excess moisture is the surest way to a flooring failure. Engineered hardwood needs to acclimate , but different manufacturers require different things. Always consult the specific manufacturer for their requirements.
After your engineered wood products have been delivered, best practice dictates maintaining serviceable conditions within the building for approximately five days. Place open cartons of the engineered wood in the center of the room to promote adequate air circulation, while avoiding exposure to direct sunlight.
This placement helps to minimize expansion and contraction, which reduces the risk of moisture-related warpage. Engineered hardwood installation costs vary. If you are a homeowner, you may also be asking yourself whether you can save money by doing your own installation.
Get a few professional bids. Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT. Home Improvement. Home DIY. There are four hardwood floor installation methods from which to choose: Nail Down - Nails are used to fasten the wood to the subfloor.
This method is often used with thin wood flooring. Staple Down - Staples are used instead of nails to attach the floor to the subfloor. A glue down installation requires more skill and experience than nail down.
Both feature moisture blocking properties, which eliminate the need for an additional vapor barrier if used properly. If you need a powerful adhesive and sound deadening capabilities take a look at Bostik Singlestep2. Pros: Minimizes squeaks, best installation method over concrete, large areas can be installed without transition pieces and modern adhesives can also act as a moisture barrier. Cons: Professional installation recommended, can be messy for inexperienced installers and adhesive can be expensive.
Many tongue and groove floors can be floated over premium underlayment with good success. It can be done, but it should be the exception not the rule. Here are a few things to consider before choosing to float your hardwood floor:. Pros: Will allow you to install over existing floors without tear out like tile or older hardwood and allows you to transition from wood to concrete.
Cons: Transitions are required more frequently and you are much more likely to have issues down the road due to movement in the floor. If you prefer to have a floating floor, please check out our Super-Strand Bamboo Collection and Longevity Collection , which are designed to be floated. As always, please consult our full installation instruction document before installing our flooring and seek out the services of an experienced flooring installer for whatever method of installation you decide.
This is a very useful information, specially to those who are planning to install their floors on their own. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
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