Wood flooring installation commonly asked questions & facts
Can Solid hardwood flooring be glued down ?
No. Solid hardwood flooring should be nailed down. Engineered wood flooring can be glued down and is less likely to expand and have issues with moisture from the concrete.
Solid Bamboo Flooring is neither a Hardwood or engineered wood floor. It is a grass and should be treated differently.
Bamboo requires longer acclimation, special adhesive, faster glue clean up, and special attention to manufactures guidelines. I get more calls for repairs on bamboo then I do any other floor because the original installer treated bamboo like a wood floor not a grass.
Can I install a glue down floor right up to my tile with no molding ?
Yes. Absolutely ! I hate molding and I never use them. But that is why my clients hire me because I do things a little differently then most. I do what looks the best and is going to last. Even if it means its going to take longer. I never take the easy way out.
What if my tile in not straight or at a different height ?
Still no molding. I can cut the tile straight and even raise or lower the floor for a seamless transition.
Always moisture test every room prior to installation regardless of the type of floor or installation !!
Always insist on checking your concrete for moisture before any flooring is installed. Any good company has a Tramex or Wagner moisture meter that gives an instant reading of the concretes moisture percentage. Some installers don't want to spend $500 on a piece of equipment the size of a Walkman radio.
Can I glue down wood flooring over ceramic tile ?
Yes as long as the tile is secure and not loose. It should be lightly grinded if it has a shiny finish or a sealer applied.
wood flooring installation methods we service boca raton, ft. Lauderdale, boynton beach, pga, Jupiter, Weston , wellington, davie, lake worth, delray beach, plantation, West palm beach, broward county, tri-county area
Moisture Testing of Concrete
Plywood with Vapor Barrier for Nail Down Installation
Hardwood Nail Down Installation
We always test concrete subfloors for moisture prior to installation. This is a must and will help determin what type of installation is best for your home.
Hardwood Nail Down Installation
Plywood with Vapor Barrier for Nail Down Installation
Hardwood Nail Down Installation
This is a diagram of the naildown installation process. Felt roofing paper should always go between the plywood and the hardwood flooring. Then the flooring is nailed to the plywood with the nailsgetting shot in the tongues of the boards where you will never see them.
Plywood with Vapor Barrier for Nail Down Installation
Plywood with Vapor Barrier for Nail Down Installation
Plywood with Vapor Barrier for Nail Down Installation
If you want hardwood flooring but have concrete, no problem. But first we must install plywood with vapor barrier. This is from one of our jobs. Notice the plywood is staggered and not lined up. Its also layed the opposite direction of our flooring. Also notice the 6 mill poly vapor barrier under to plywood.
Self Leveling Concrete / Floor Prep
No Molding Doorway With Feature Strip / Border - Flush to Tile !!
Plywood with Vapor Barrier for Nail Down Installation
Its important to check your subfloor to see if its level. This is a picture of a leveling in progress. Unfortunately this customer had their flooring installed initially without floor leveling. It felt horrible when you walked on the floor. It squeaked and crackled every time you took a step and it felt like a trampoline in places. My customer actually had guest trip on the floor when they had company over for dinner.
No Molding Doorway With Feature Strip / Border - Flush to Tile !!
No Molding Doorway With Feature Strip / Border - Flush to Tile !!
No Molding Doorway With Feature Strip / Border - Flush to Tile !!
A perfect transition from wood to tile. No need for T-molding (I hate them). I also like to run a flooring board the opposite direction in the doorways to really give the floor some character. As you can see it looks amazing !!!
Acclimation Pattern / Wood Flooring Prior to Installation
No Molding Doorway With Feature Strip / Border - Flush to Tile !!
No Molding Doorway With Feature Strip / Border - Flush to Tile !!
When doing Hardwood flooring, Engineered wood flooring , or Bamboo flooring its important to properly acclimate your flooring. This is the proper way to acclimate flooring. This is called an ACCIMATION PATTERN. It starts with laying some scrap wood on your floor to keep the wood off the concrete or floor. Then take the boards out of the boxes and leveling a few inches between boards, space the boards out and switch directions for every layer. This allow your flooring to properly acclimate and adjust to the environment in your home. Did I mention this must be done in your home not in the garage or on the patio. Yes. I have gotten to jobsites a found this pattern outside. or in the craziest places because a customer was worried about it not looking nice in their house. lol Its only for a few days...