Testing is something you can do on your own. Also, if you intend to glue your floor, it might help to know that some types of adhesives are also intended as moisture barriers. The layered construction of its core makes engineered wood especially durable and less prone to expansion and shifting caused by environmental changes. Most concrete floors require a barrier to protect the installed floor from the moisture they release.
Trapped moisture can lead to mold, mildew, loss of adhesion. Moisture can also cause a wood floor to warp and it can cause the layers of engineered wood to separate and lift or curl upward. To nail floorboards in place, the substrate must be made of wood. Again, to protect the wood from moisture contained in the concrete, an underlayment between the concrete and wood subfloor may be required.
Gluing floorboards to the underlayment that sits on the concrete is not recommended. Most engineered wood floors manufactured today are the tongue and groove kind. The boards interlock with one another so that neither glue nor nails are required to keep them in place. By virtue of this interlocking, the boards become a single, large sheet.
This sheet sits on top of an underlayment to protect it from moisture that might come up from underneath it. Between the interlocking capability and the way engineered wood is made, this is the type of installation most recommended for engineered wood over concrete in basements especially. This can be a godsend when it comes to basements where sounds tend to echo, amplify, and bounce around. The intended environment of the engineered wood floor should always be paid equal attention.
A dehumidifier is a good way to do this. There is also the matter of ambient air temperature. Lay the flooring into the adhesive with the tongue side of the board facing the center of the room. The hardwood may slip and move at first, so be sure to secure one row entirely before moving on to other rows. The initial row will limit the movement of subsequent rows.
If the board is not entirely covered, remove dried adhesive and apply more. For instance, you might be required to roll and cross the floor with a lb. Traffic should also be restricted for up to 24 hours after completing the installation to allow drying. If you are still debating whether to install your engineered wood flooring using the glue-down method, consider these points:.
Tony Morgan is a senior technician for Wagner Meters, where he serves on a team for product testing, development, and also customer service and training for moisture measurement products. Along with 19 years field experience for a number of electronics companies, Tony holds a B. Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. My Account 0 items Engineered Flooring Installation on Concrete.
The manufacturing process of the engineered wood creates a stable core that resists expansion and contraction from environmental changes. Verify that the radiant heat system you are considering is compatible with engineered wood flooring.
Have you planned to install your engineered hardwood in a way that is compatible with a radiant heat system? For example, nailing down or stapling an engineered hardwood flooring over a radiant heat system takes special care. Always consult both manufactures in the planning process. Excess moisture is the surest way to a flooring failure.
Engineered hardwood needs to acclimate , but different manufacturers require different things. Always consult the specific manufacturer for their requirements. After your engineered wood products have been delivered, best practice dictates maintaining serviceable conditions within the building for approximately five days. Place open cartons of the engineered wood in the center of the room to promote adequate air circulation, while avoiding exposure to direct sunlight.
This placement helps to minimize expansion and contraction, which reduces the risk of moisture-related warpage. Engineered hardwood installation costs vary. If you are a homeowner, you may also be asking yourself whether you can save money by doing your own installation. Get a few professional bids. Analyze the costs of labor and materials against services and warranties offered. Then make your choice. The first checklist applies regardless of the installation method. Each one of the other three checklists addresses a different installation option: gluing, nailing or floating.
It is vital to test the moisture levels of the subfloor and the engineered wood flooring products properly. Moisture impacts the engineered hardwood flooring regardless of whether the subfloor is wood or concrete.
Excessive moisture permeating from floor slabs after installation can cause floor covering system failures such as debonding and deterioration of finish flooring and coating and microbial growth. In this way, in situ measurement provides a composite picture of overall slab moisture levels and provides the data necessary to make business decisions regarding flooring installations. Proper acclimation helps to minimize moisture-related warping as well as expansion and contraction.
To set the conditions for proper acclimation, have the engineered wood flooring products stay onsite under serviceable conditions for up to five days after delivery.
Last updated on November 3rd, We have a 5 floor heritage building that we are to complete an abatement project to remove all plaster and existing ceiling and insulation. All flooring is hardwood and is considered heritage and is to be kept in place during this project. My question is what is the requirements to protect the wood during the abatement work period and waiting period for the rehabilitation of the building which may be in another year or two depending on funds?
Type of covers required? What is the recommended environmental control to keep the wood from shrining or expanding during the project? For excessive moisture vapor emission rates, you can choose to use a moisture mitigation system like LiquiDam or LiquiDam EZ prior to installation. Fill any voids or deflections in your substrate with a cementitious patch, like TEC Fast-Set Deep Patch , or a self-leveling underlayment.
In those cases where moisture levels have been tested and they are not a concern, TEC offers two additional products: Wood Go and Wood Ready.
Wood Go offers an added benefit for improved acoustics and sound deadening. This can be preferable where engineered hardwood flooring is installed over plywood, often in residential installations. Wood Ready is specially formulated for the challenges of engineered wood flooring. After inspecting your boards and removing any defective ones, plan on following a running bond pattern of the grain. Remember to leave expansion gaps between the flooring and wall. Installing engineered hardwood flooring over concrete too tight against a stationary object will not allow room for normal expansion and may cause a failure.
Consult the product data sheet for instructions regarding specific trowel requirements.
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