Hardwood flooring installation can be a challenging DIY project for those with little experience. The first step for anyone attempting to install their own hardwood floors is to choose the most appropriate method of installation for the specific job.
Nail down hardwood flooring installation is most commonly used when installing ¾ inch solid wood floors. However, adapters are available for thinner floors as well. Two inch nailing cleats are used with a wood flooring nailer and mallet to attach the hardwood flooring to the sub floor. Solid strip floors, or plank floors can only be installed on wooden sub-floors on grade or above grade.
A staple down hardwood flooring installation uses staples instead of nailing cleats to fasten the hardwood flooring to the wood sub floor. A pneumatic staple gun is used to drive the staples into the tongue of the wood planks and into the wood sub floor underneath. The staple down installation procedure is less complicated than the nail down for DIY installations. Be aware, not every hardwood flooring company recommends the same size staple or appropriate staple gun. Read the manufacturers installation manual to be sure you are using the right type of staple gun and right size staples for your hardwood flooring installation.
With the glue down installation method, the hardwood flooring installer glues the wood planks directly to the subfloor. The recommended adhesive is spread onto the sub floor using an appropriate notched trowel. The flooring planks are then set into the adhesive. Glue down hardwood floor installation of engineered wood floors can be accomplished on sub-floors and dry, fully cured concrete slabs.
It is important that the installer use the manufacturer’s recommended adhesive with the appropriate notched trowel when gluing down a hardwood floor. You do not want to void any warranties you might have with your hardwood flooring product by not using the manufacturer’s recommended adhesive and trowel size.
The glueless hardwood flooring installation method is popular thanks to flooring manufacturers including Kahrs, Award and Mohawk, who have introduced engineered wood floors with a special glueless locking system, much like the clic laminate floors. These floors can be installed over a range of sub floors such as wood, concrete slabs and even some types of existing floors. These are relatively simple to install and may offer the best option for a DIY installer.
Finally, with the floating installation method the floor is not mechanically fastened to any part of the sub floor. There is a thin pad that is placed between the wood flooring and the subfloor. A recommended wood glue is applied in the tongue and groove of each plank to hold the planks together. The padding protects against moisture, reduces noise transmission and makes the floor softer under foot. Some engineered floors and all longstrip floors can be floated. This is a very fast, easy and clean method of installation. Please consult the manufacturer installation instructions to see if your flooring can be floated. Most glueless hardwood flooring installations can be floated.
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