Installing Hardwood and Solid Wood Flooring

If you are unsure about how to lay a wood floor then please contact us for our specialist advice.

Solid wood flooring is extremely coveted bcause it is beautiful and elegant, and gives a beautifully warm feeling to your home throughout the years. However, there can be issues with solid wood flooring if it is not installed correctly. It does react to the presence of moisture, if not properly installed, in the winter the air is dry and contains little moisture, when the heating system in your home is used the wood can dry out and cause contraction. This is normal as long as its does not look unsightly, approx 1mm gaps between floorboards appear and is normal they do close up again in the summer, the gaps will disappear.

This sounds alarming, but if the solid wood flooring is installed properly it will last for 30 to 40 years and still look good, Its vital you have your solid wood flooring delivered a few days before installing starts. Remove the boards from the packaging and store it in the installation area to acclimatise. The room should be between18 – 24 C with a relative humidity of 40%-55%

If you follow the installation methods laid out below for solid wood flooring then you should not have a problem:

Nailed Down Installations

Nailed down installation is the most popular method because it is the most traditional. However, it can only be done on wooden subfloors unless you use battens with a concrete subfloor.

Wooden Subfloor

A subfloor of floorboards or plywood is perfect for installing solid wood flooring, however, it should not be used over chipboard because it is not strong enough to hold the flooring. If the floorboards are not in good condition you should lay 12mm plywood first.

You will need to check the existing floorboards and secure any loose boards, and check for squeaking. You could use a polyfoam underlay for soundproofing.

Nailing down solid wood flooring is best done with a power Nailer to ensure the nail is driven through the boards at a 30-degree angle into the subfloor. You should be able to hire these from DIY shops. Alternatively, you can use Parador special screws.

It is essential when laying solid wood flooring to leave a gap of 1.5 to 2cm around the edge of the room to allow for expansion. Installation kits including spacers are available to prevent damage to the skirting boards and floor. After installation this gap can be covered with new skirting boards or scotia. However, this gap must be left around doorways if the floor runs into another room.

Install the first row, measure out your expansion spacing and lay down the boards with the groove towards the wall and insert the spacers. You may need to cut the first row to match the wall contours to ensure the solid wood floor goes down straight even if the walls are not. When you are satisfied with the alignment, top nail or secret screw the first row to the subfloor at the appropriate intervals.

Start the next row with a short board (about 20-25cm long) to stagger your joints, tap this board into place and using your angled nailer/stapler to secure into place. Work your way across the floor until you reach the last few rows.

You will have to install the last row differently because your nailer/stapler may not fit between the wall and the boards. Using a soft mallet (which will not mark the wall) tap the last row into place. Use the mallet to fit each board tightly to each other. On the last row mark out your expansion gap and put your spacers in place, you may have to cut the boards to fit to profile to the wall if its out or not straight.

Lay the boards with the tongue or cut edge nearest the wall and tap together so that all the boards are tight. When satisfied with the fit, top nail the last row in place, use a few extra nails or use secret screws use colour coded filler to hide the heads. Remove the spacers, fit new skirting boards or cover the expansion gap with scotia, and your solid wood floor is ready for use.

Installing onto a Concrete subfloor using Battens

It is possible to nail down solid wood flooring over a concrete subfloor, but this can only be done by using battens. You must first lay a damp proof membrane over the concrete, then lay out the battens on top of the membrane. They should be laid 400mm apart and should be at least 25mm deep so that they do not warp later. The rest of the procedure is as above ensuring that the nails go into the battens

Again it is essential when laying solid wood flooring to leave a gap of 1.5 to 2cm around the edge of the room to allow for expansion. Installation kits including spacers are available to prevent damage to the skirting boards and floor. After installation this gap can be covered with new skirting boards or scotia. However, this gap must be left around doorways if the floor runs into another room.

Full Glue down Installation

This is one of the best methods of installation of Engineered wood floors however this is where we differ from all other companies. We never Glue down solid wood floors, and while most manufacturers suggest it can be done, in our opinion it is unsuitable for the large amount of movement that occurs with solid wood products. This is why Engineered flooring is better glued as it expands less because of its cross bonding. Gluing down with an Engineered floors require a strong adhesive being applied directly onto the subfloor and the boards being laid directly on top of that. But it is also time consuming because it needs a lot of floor preparation in advance. The subfloor underneath can be made of either wood or concrete so the method is very versatile.

If you have a concrete subfloor then you should ensure that it is level, smooth, dry and free from structural defects before laying your wood flooring on it. Uneven subfloors should be smoothed out using a self-levelling compound. It should also be free of paint, oils, waxes, grease, and adhesives. It is important to remove them in advance either physically or chemically. Do not use any strippers with solvent bases or the glue will not take when you install your solid wood flooring.

You will also need to check the moisture content of the subfloor, which should be less than 4% (max65% rh). You can do this with a moisture meter. If it is too high, you will have to use a barrier to prevent moisture affecting the wood flooring. Our concrete Primer is highly recommended, we use it on all glue down floors regardless even if the moisture level is showing lowm as it is a primer and because the moisture is low now it may not be at a different time of year. If it is a brand new concrete floor, it is advisable to leave it for at least 60 days before installing your solid wood flooring.

If you have a wooden subfloor you will need to lay a base of 6.0mm 9.0mm or 12mm plywood before installing your engineered flooring, to give you a level and smooth surface on which to lay.

Finally you need to carefully consider which adhesive to use for you final glue down application. Using the wrong adhesive will affect your warranty. Always use our suggested product Currently Bona 850 adhesive it conforms to the latest regulations and is safe to use as zero solvent content.

It is essential when laying flooring to leave a gap of 1.5 to 2cm around the edge of the room to allow for expansion. Installation kits including spacers are available to prevent damage to the skirting boards and floor. After installation this gap can be covered with new skirting boards or scotia. However, this gap must be left around doorways if the floor runs into another room.

INSTALLER/OWNER RESPONSIBILITY

Make sure there is no damage to any the flooring before you install it, as it cannot be returned as faulty once fitted for any damage after installation.

You should also ensure that your subfloor is structurally sound. Our warranty does not cover damage caused to the flooring by an incorrectly prepared subfloor, incorrect fitting, or the use of unsuitable materials, either during the fitting, cleaning or maintenance of the product.

We strongly advise you to read the manufacturer’s installation guides before installing any wood flooring.