Methods of Hardwood Flooring Installation
Three
different methods are used to install wood floors depending
on the type (solid or engineered) of wood used.
- Naildown/Staple
- Gluedown
- Floating
 Naildown
The
naildown method of wood flooring is typically used for solid
wood floors.
-
First there must be a subfloor to nail to. Typically this
is plywood. If you have a concrete subfloor, the plywood
is nailed onto the concrete.
-
The flooring is laid out in the manner desired by the
customer - horizontal, vertical, diagonal, herringbone,
etc.
-
Then it is nailed down with nails or staples depending
on the specification of the type of wood.
Gluedown
Engineered
wood floors are typically glued down directly to the contrete.
-
First anything sticking up on the surface of the concrete
has to be scraped away.
-
The dust is swept up.
-
Slab is inspected for irregularities and flattened if
necessary.
-
Then the glueing and installing process begins.
Floating
Floating
floors are glued tongue and groove and allowed to float
freely over a cushioned underlayment that is applied to
the subfloor. The more common floating floors are constructed
of the engineered variety, but a few manufacturers offer
a "click" type hardwood floor system. When the
installation is complete all of the planks are glued to
each other and become one unit and float on this layer of
foam.
Engineered
floating floor systems provide more stability in the way
they are constructed. They can be used below, above or on
grade successfully. These types of floors can be refinished
as well.
Acclimation
Acclimation
is the most important part of the wood flooring installation
process. The moisture content of your home could range from
5-20%. All solid, unfinished wood flooring
must be stored for 3 weeks in the room that it is to be
installed with the air conditioning running. Acclimating
the wood to your home's climate will eliminate swelling
or shrinkage of the hardwood flooring after installation.
Choosing
the Right Wood Floor Installation Method
The
right installation method will vary based on the type of
subfloor, whether the wood flooring is engineered or solid,
the height of the adjoining floor coverings, and of course,
personal preference. We will be happy to help you in deciding
which method works best for you. |
