This is the recommended method for installing all solid strip and plank flooring. Most solid floors are unfinished and require sanding and finishing. Some engineered floors can be nailed down depending on manufacturers specifications. The procedure entails nailing the flooring to a suitable wood sub-floor. CDX plywood with a minimum of 5/8” thickness (preferably 3/4”) or 3/4” OSB (Orientated Strand Board) are both suitable sub-floors for nail down installation. Particle and pressed board are NOT acceptable due to lack of nail holding capability.
Plywood has to be installed over all concrete slabs prior to a nail down installation. The process is as follows: first a layer of “purestick” (tar-based flooring adhesive) is spread underneath a layer of 6 mm plastic followed by another layer of “purestick” then the plywood is nailed to the concrete. A layer of 15 lb felt is then laid in between the plywood and the flooring. The material and labor required will increase the total job cost.
This is the preferred method for installing engineered flooring and parquet. Most engineered floors are pre-finished eliminating the need of on-site sanding and finishing which saves money and time. Engineered floors are more stable then solid floors being the only wood floors recommended for below grade applications. The glue down procedure entails using flooring adhesive to bond your floor to your sub-floor. An epoxy moisture barrier is recommended for all applications over concrete.
Engineered floors are manufactured two ways, one having a Sliced (sawn) cut where the hardwood wear layer is sawn like regular lumber this shows finer graining. This is the more expensive way but it shows the true look of the wood. The wear layer can also be Rotary cut, which the hardwood wear layer is peeled off the log using big lathes. This peeling method shows dramatic wilder graining.
Floating is the recommended method for laminate flooring. This consist of laying a foam pad with 6mm plastic as a vapor barrier underneath the laminate floor. The Floor is then clicked or glued together floating above the foam pad. This method offers a less expensive floor that hold up well to a lot of heavy foot traffic. The downside to laminate flooring is not having a hardwood wear layer enables you to ever sand or refinish.
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