Engineered Hardwood Installation

Installing Engineered Hardwood

These days, engineered hardwood is becoming a popular flooring option. If you’re considering having engineered wood installed, or if you already do, you might want some tips on how to keep it in great condition. Read on to learn more about the different engineered hardwood installation methods:

Here are some general steps to take before installing your flooring:

Allow flooring to sit in the room of installation for at least 72 hours to get used to the room’s temperature.
Choose planks from different boxes to ensure different grains. This will give your flooring more character.
Make sure there are no warped planks. If there are, remove them.
Gather all the tools and equipment needed to complete installation.

Floating Floor

The floating floor method consists of simply laying the planks over the subfloor and clicking them together to hold them in place. It’s considered to be the easiest out of all the installation methods because there is no need for glue or nails. It’s still a detailed process like the other methods, but it’s less time consuming and there’s less room for error. If your subfloor is flat and dry, the floating floor method is a great one.

Glue-down Method

The glue-down method is relatively simple as well. It’s perfect if your subfloor is made of concrete. An adhesive is spead over the subfloor, then planks are put into place. With some adhesives, planks should be installed while it’s still wet. With others, they can be installed after the adhesive has dried. Generally speaking, the first option is easier since you won’t have to wait for the adhesive to dry.

If you choose the first method, try spreading the adhesive one foot at a time. This approach helps so that you won’t have to worry about the adhesive drying before the planks are put in place.

Staple-down Method

The staple down method is , arguably, the most difficult method. However, it is also considered to be the most reliable. Your carpentery skills will be put to the test. So if you don’t have carpentry experience, you should either seek the help of a professional or opt for a different method of installation.

With the staple-down method, planks are literally stapled into the ground. Since engineered wood consists of multiple layers, it’s safer to use staples instead of nails. This will create a sturdy, stable floor.

Basics of engineered hardwood installation

It’s best to lay out the first 2 layers of planks before installing them. Draw a line at the end of the second row in chalk. Additionally, you should use spacers to leave a half-inch gap between the plank and the wall.
Make sure that the tongue of each plank is facing the wall.
All planks should be staggered six inches to avoid pattern repetition and avoid H joints that would ruin the charm of your engineered hardwood floors.
You can put the planks in place by using a rubber mallet.
If you implement the glue-down method, make sure that the glue doesn’t dry on top of the planks. If glue does get on the planks (which they probably will), use a safe cleaning agent to remove the glue.
Once the planks are installed, avoid walking on the flooring for at least 24 hours.

Engineered hardwood installation can be quite hard, though, so it’s best to keep a reputable installation company by your side. Sure, you’ll save money by installing your flooring yourself, but you’ll also be more prone to making mistakes. Such mistakes can end up throwing your entire project off, a risk that can’t be taken with something as expensive as flooring.

Call Floors BLVD for all your flooring and installation needs. Also, please visit our website—https://floorsblvd.com—and check out our blog for more helpful flooring and home remodeling input.