Installation Types

When you are purchasing wood flooring, you should consider exactly how you are to install it. If you are undertaking a DIY job then this will involve much more thought than you probably anticipate because you have to determine the subfloor material as well as plan how you are to carry out the task at hand. However, the help you in your quest to install your wood flooring, the three methods of installation are briefly outlined below. This information should give you an idea of exactly what equipment you need and how you should go about it.

Floating Installation

Floating installation of wood flooring is the most common and the most DIY friendly type of installation you can choose. It is extremely easy and not as time consuming as other methods because anyone can do it by following simple installation instructions. You do not need any experience either so everybody wins.

The Uni-Click system is perhaps the best known method of floating installation for wood flooring. There are other forms as well but the tongue and groove method is utilised in most of them. PVA glue should be used to ensure that the tongue and groove fit perfectly and stay that way!

You should always use an underlay when using the floating installation method to help protect the flooring and the subfloor so that it is protected against moisture and fully insulated. It is worth noting though that this method is only suitable for wood flooring options that are not solid wood flooring because solid wood flooring does tend to move a lot. The exception to this rule is Junckers and Berthold flooring ranges that use metal clips during installation.

Glue Down Installation

Glue down installation of wood flooring requires the use of strong adhesive or a bonding agent to attach the flooring directly to the wooden or concrete subfloor. With the latter type of subfloor, you must lay a protective damp proof membrane first to ensure that your wood flooring is protected from any moisture that may rise. Kerakoll EP21 comes highly recommended.

Glue down installation is extremely effective and ensures stability if it is done properly. However, it is not as popular as floating installation because you do have to close off the room until the glue has fully set. Previous experience is also desirable because it can get extremely messy. Choosing the right glue is also a must because some options are not suitable for flooring of a higher width. However, if you stick with Kerakoll Silovil Flex then you can install wood flooring of up to 220mm in width with peace of mind.

Nail Down Installation

Finally, nail down installation can be employed to secure your wood flooring and is perhaps the mot simple of options you have providing that you have a wooden subfloor. It cannot be used with concrete subfloors. There is no set method to it if you have a plywood subfloor because all you literally have to do is lay the boards and hammer in the nails. However, if you have underlying planks then you should lay the wood flooring the opposite way so it is cutting across those planks before stabilising it.

You should use the nail down method with solid wood flooring because the planks are so much thicker and it is the best possible way to ensure that it remains in place. You should use 2” nails with solid wood flooring of 18mm to 22mm thick to ensure that there is enough to keep the wood in place.

The ail down installation method can be incredibly time consuming and it also requires a range of specific tools. This is why many people actually employ a fitter to do this task for them. It requires more than a little DIY experience. As such, think about it before making any decisions about this. However, regardless of how you fit it and who fits the wood flooring, you should use a little poly foam underlay to insulate the flooring and reduce any noise.