When choosing your floor
it is very important that you choose the right floor for your
home and that the appropriate installation method is used. Below
are some of the most common methods used, during the inspection
of your home or business advice will be given on the installation
method which is most appropriate for your home or business.
:::
INSTALLATION METHODS ::
NAILING
Plywood or battens are fixed to the concrete floor and the hardwood
floor is secret nailed to the plywood (Secret nailing is the
term used where a special nail gun drives a nail at 33 to 45
degrees through the side of the tongue). If there is a timber
sub-floor it is often possible to fix the hardwood floor without
the need for plywood or battens. Nailing would be the preferred
installation method for installing hardwood and when done properly
there is no better or more predictable result. Most hardwood
floors would be manufactured with this in mind.
GLUING
Gluing can be used as an installation method for both solid
and semi-solid wood flooring. The flooring is glued directly
to the sub-floor with a flexible adhesive. The adhesive needs
to be flexible to allow for expansion and contraction throughout
the year. Not all solid wood flooring is suitable for this form
of installation. The more rustic grades and longer lengths may
not be suitable. This may limit the choice. Well machined flooring
properly kiln dried and sealed in packs at the average expected
moisture content up until the point of installation would be
the ideal solution. Semi-solids that are glued down have the
feel of a solid underfoot and are better suited for re-finishing.
FLOATING
Floating a wood floor covers more than one type of installation
method . But they all have one thing in common. They are not
fixed in anyway to the sub floor. Semi-solids are now by far
the most likely hardwood flooring type to be floated, they were
designed with this in mind. The boards are glued together and
with the aid of an underlay floated on top of but not connected
to the sub-floor - Solids are floated by means of a clip system.
The boards are connected to each other with steel clips on the
underside of each board. Another method for floating solids
is by the use of an underlay which is designed to stick to the
underside of the flooring, holding it together as a unit but
also being flexible enough to allow for any minor seasonal changes
within the floor.
FLOORING AND UNDERFLOOR
HEATING
In situations where there is under floor heating it is very
important to get advice on the type of wood and the installation
method to be used. With under floor heating shrinkage is to
be expected. Semi-solids by design are better suited for under
floor heating and will show far less seasonal variations in
dimensions - When choosing solid wood, a narrow board will show
far less movement than a wide board and a board with a micro
bevel will serve to shadow any slight gapping that may occur.
After the floor has been installed it is advisable to keep the
under floor heating system running, if just very low, all year
round.
