
Can You glue down 3/4 inch solid hardwood flooring?
No, 3/4 solid Hardwood flooring can expand and contract more than engineered wood flooring. I would not suggest direct gluing down any 3/4-inch thick solid Hardwood flooring to any surface, the adhesive bond might not allow the solid wood flooring to move or breath normally and can cause the wood flooring to distort.
Should you nail or glue your hardwood floors?
Panel Town & Floors carries an excellent nailer option as well as a cleat nailer to assist you should you decide on this method. Gluing hardwood floors includes pros like giving your floors a solid feel and sound as well as being least likely to have deflection between flooring and subflooring over nailing hardwood floors.
What is the best way to install Solid hardwood flooring?
One of the installation methods that people use for solid hardwood flooring is a glue adhesive. You run it along the subfloor and stick the wood planks directly to the subfloor.
Why does hardwood flooring glue fail?
The elasticity in hardwood flooring glue ensures that the hardwood will have an ample amount of space to expand and contract without causing the glue to crack or separate. Improper floor preparation, using the wrong adhesive, or applying incorrect amounts are all common pitfalls of a failed flooring installation.

Is it better to glue down hardwood floors?
Many installers and manufacturers prefer the glue-down method because of its superior stability. Gluing down your floor leads to less shifting and creaking, making the engineered hardwood feel and sound more secure. You can also glue down floors on any type of subfloor, even if it's uneven.
Can you glue down 3/4 inch hardwood flooring on concrete?
You can fit both engineered wood and solid wood flooring over a concrete subfloor. A solid wooden floor needs to be glued down to the concrete. An engineered wooden floor can either be glued down or laid over an underlay.
Can you glue down 3/4 solid hardwood?
No, 3/4 solid Hardwood flooring can expand and contract more than engineered wood flooring. I would not suggest direct gluing down any 3/4-inch thick solid Hardwood flooring to any surface, the adhesive bond might not allow the solid wood flooring to move or breath normally and can cause the wood flooring to distort.
Can you glue down hardwood flooring to plywood?
Plywood is a great base on which to lay a hardwood floor, no matter which fixing method you choose for your floor. There are essentially 3 main hardwood floor fitting methods and they are: floating, gluing and nailing.
Can solid wood flooring be installed on concrete?
If you have a concrete slab main floor or basement, you may be wondering if it's possible to install hardwood flooring directly on top of the concrete. The short answer is yes.
Do you need underlay for solid wood flooring on concrete?
Do I always need a wood floor underlay? It is important to mention that you do not need a wood floor underlay when you have a solid hardwood floor and that's because it is not stable, hence it has to be installed mechanically to the concrete subfloor.
How long before you can walk on glued hardwood floors?
Once your flooring is installed it is best to let it dry for 24 hours, during this time you should not walk on it. The amount of adhesive used is adjusted by the teeth size of your trowel and may be dependant on if you need vapor barrier properties.
Can you use Liquid Nails for hardwood floors?
Liquid Nails project, 10 Oz, off white, construction adhesive, interior grade, waterproof, will bond to almost any common building materials including plywood, hardwood, furring strips, paneling, ceramic fixtures, drywall and molding, VOC compliant, rubber based/high solids formula, VOC compliant, replaces TV #284-307 ...
Do you need to glue 5 inch hardwood flooring?
We recommend and encourage a glue assist for all nailed down floors, especially if you are nailing down a thin floor, a solid or engineered floor that is 5” or wider, or one installed in an environment with moisture swings. These types of floors are more likely to have problems with squeaks.
Is it better to glue or nail hardwood flooring?
If you have a concrete subfloor, then you should glue your hardwood down, if you have a wooden subfloor then you can choose either method of installation. However, if you are planning on fitting your hardwood floor to joists, then you will need to secret nail them into place.
How do you install hardwood flooring with glue?
2:574:12How to Install Glue Down Hardwood Flooring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold the planks tightly. Together using painters tape until the glue. Sets. Be sure to remove anyMoreHold the planks tightly. Together using painters tape until the glue. Sets. Be sure to remove any wet adhesive that gets on the finish. Right. Away continue adding chalk lines spreading adhesive.
Are floating hardwood floors good?
A floating floor can be a good choice if you are a DIYer, or if you are on a budget. These products are typically less expensive and easier to install than comparable glue-down or nail-down flooring.
Can you glue hardwood flooring to OSB?
OSB can accommodate glue-down, nail/staple or floating hardwood installations. With glue-down, follow the hardwood flooring manufacturer's guidelines. Some prohibit water-based adhesives given the potential for both the flooring and wood substrate to absorb moisture from the glue.
What is the best glue for hardwood floors?
Bostik's BEST® is the most versatile wood floor adhesive on the market. Bostik's BEST® urethane adhesive can be used to adhere all engineered, solid (adhesive only), bamboo (adhesive only), cork, and parquet hardwood flooring (adhesive only).
Should I glue my underlayment to subfloor?
No, you should not glue down your underlayment. Underlayment is is a floating material, the same as your laminate flooring. In most cases, you should not glue or nail your underlayment down. You should always check with the installation instructions of the underlayment for proper installation instructions first.
Do you have to glue tongue and groove flooring?
The recommended glue for floating installation is Tongue and Groove engineered flooring glue. Glue placement is very important. The glue must be placed along the topside of the groove the full length of the grooved side and end.
How does hardwood flooring move?
The direction of the hardwood movement is determined by the annual growth rings. Plain-sawn boards will expand and contract through the width of the board. The wider the plank, the more potential for movement. Typically, solid flooring that is quarter-sawn produces the most stable board possible.
Why does wood flooring move more than engineered flooring?
solid wood flooring will move more than engineered because it is not stabilized by alternating directional layers.
What is the best hardwood flooring?
Typically, solid flooring that is quarter-sawn produces the most stable board possible. “Quarter-sawing” is considered the best hardwood flooring, and generally refers to wood that ranges in grain angle from 60 to 90 degrees. By having such a high grain angle, the usual expansion and. contraction that hardwood floors experience with changes in ...
Can you glue wood floors to concrete?
This is a question that I have started to receive more and more. My answer to that is yes and it is still warranted. But, the catch is that the solid wood flooring we have that can be glued over concrete and warranted is 5/16″ and 7/16″ solid hardwood, not 3/4″ solid hardwood and can be only on on-grade and suspended concrete. Most 3/4″ solid hardwood is made as a nail/staple down installation. It is not because the adhesives will not adhere to the solid hardwood. It is the fighting of the natural tendencies of the solid hardwood to bow, twist, and curl. I have looked through many suppliers web sites such as Anderson, Armstrong, Bruce, Carolina Mountain, Cikel, Columbia, Harris Wood, Indusparquet, Lauzon, Lumber Liquidators Bellawood, Mirage, Mercier, Mohawk, Shaw, Somerset and all were a Nail/Staple Down Installation. All wood flooring is a natural product and will move with varying moisture and humidity levels, and
How Much Hardwood Flooring Do I Need?
Hardwood flooring is sold by the carton, so you will need to know how many cartons to buy.
How thick is a hardwood floor?
When you install a hardwood floor, you will be adding thickness to the subfloor. Most hardwood planks are ¾-inch thick. Raising the floor by this much will require moving all of the trims and door jambs up so that the new wood floor can fit under them. Remove the trim pieces and replace them after the floor is completely installed.
What is the best way to align hardwood flooring?
Visually, hardwood flooring looks best if it aligns with the straightest walls in the room. These are usually the exterior walls. You may want to align the flooring parallel to an exterior wall in the room.
What is a quarter round trim?
Quarter-round is a special trim designed to make the edges of your hardwood floor look smooth and neat as they meet the walls. There are also various wooden transitions you can use to blend your hardwood into rooms with other flooring types.
How to stagger the starting board length?
Remember to stagger the starting board length by cutting your first piece of flooring on each end of the row. You can often use the cutoff from your starter plank as an end piece on a later row. Try to do this whenever possible to avoid wasting material.
How to lower high spots on wood floor?
On wood subfloors, it’s easy to lower high spots with an electric sander. Use medium-grit sandpaper to remove a layer of the flooring until it falls within the ¼-inch over 6 feet range. It doesn’t need to be perfectly flat, just within that allowance.
How long does glue down flooring last?
If you do that and install your glue-down floor correctly, it should last you for many years.
How long does it take to apply adhesive to a subfloor?
As a general rule, limit the application of adhesive to the subfloor to the area which can be covered in 30 minutes so as to prevent drying out of the adhesive. However, the drying time will vary depending on job site conditions.
What is hardwood flooring?
Hardwood flooring is a beautiful product of nature with inherent variations in appearance. It is important to note that prior to installation, the installer and/or owner of assumes responsibility for carefully inspect the flooring as to grade, manufacture, color and finish. Typically, the owner’s responsibility also applies during his/her absence from the installation site. If a flooring board is not acceptable, do not install it and contact the seller immediately. Once a board has been nailed or glued down, it is deemed accepted by the installer and/or owner. Manufacturers generally deny any responsibility for judgment errors and/or for poor installation quality of their products.
What is the moisture level of hardwood flooring?
Using the moisture meter, check the moisture content of the hardwood flooring to ensure that it is within the acceptable moisture range of 6% to 9% . The installer and/or owner has full responsibility for moisture testing the wood or concrete subfloor and the hardwood flooring prior to installation.
What is subfloor preparation?
Sub-floor preparation is a very critical step prior to the installation of your new floor. The hardwood and bamboo flooris only as good as what is underneath it. Laminated rosin paper or construction paper acts as a moisture retarder and may be used to reduce movement caused by changes in subfloor moisture. Therefore it may reduce cupping and warping. It may also reduce sound transfer, and to prevent noise caused by minor irregularities and debris.
What happens if you don't install flooring board?
If a flooring board is not acceptable, do not install it and contact the seller immediately. Once a board has been nailed or glued down , it is deemed accepted by the installer and/or owner.
How long does it take for hardwood floors to dry?
Plastering and concrete work must be completely dry with minimum of 90 days curing time.
How much humidity does hardwood need?
To allow for proper acclimation, the heating/air-condition system must be operational for least 14 days prior to installation and thereafter at a temperature of 65°F- 75°F to reach desired humidity level. The relative humidity level at home is best kept controlled between 35% – 55% at all times prior, during and subsequent to installation.
Can you glue down prefinished hardwood flooring?
It can be done!! Gluing down prefinished SOLID three quarter inch hardwood flooring directly over a concrete slab
Can you glue solid hardwood to concrete?
Solid hardwood should not be glued to a concrete slab. Engineered hardwood is perfectly suited to do the job, and there is no reason to glue down solid hardwood. I have seen some MAJOR disasters because someone who lacked experience did exactly what this post suggests, and ended up with a $16,000 failure in no time.
Is engineered flooring a quality product?
Yes, a QUALITY product in an engineered construction would have been a more and economical approach... some of us even offer engineered flooring with as much as a 1/4" top layer... which is the equivalent to the useable material above the tongue in a solid floor. Oh well... time will tell. PRO.
Is radiant heat good for engineered hardwood?
In-floor radiant heat is a special situation. You need to ensure the engineered hardwood you choose is DESIGNED for infloor radiant heat. And then you have to ensure you have adequate humidity control in the home because the wood is going to need very nice humidity because it will dry out quickly when placed so close to a heat source.
Why is glue used on hardwood floors?
The elasticity in hardwood flooring glue ensures that the hardwood will have an ample amount of space to expand and contract without causing the glue to crack or separate. Improper floor preparation, using the wrong adhesive, or applying incorrect amounts are all common pitfalls of a failed flooring installation.
What is the job site inspection for HVAC?
Before the installation begins, it is important to perform a thorough job-site inspection. Ensure that the HVAC is operational and the hardwood product is completely acclimated to the temperature and humidity at which the room will be maintained when occupied. The floor will be glued directly to the sub-flooring using a hardwood flooring adhesive.
How long does it take for flooring to dry?
Once your flooring is installed it is best to let it dry for 24 hours, during this time you should not walk on it. The amount of adhesive used is adjusted by the teeth size of your trowel and may be dependant on if you need vapor barrier properties. Pro: Professionally viewed as a permanent method of installation.
Is hardwood flooring glue the same as adhesive?
All adhesives are not made the same. When choosing which adhesive is right for your project, consider how hardwood flooring glue is specifically made for hardwood. Hardwood is a natural product and will expand or contract with the change in humidity as it takes on moisture or loses moisture.
Can you glue down hardwood flooring to subfloor?
The floor will be glued directly to the sub-flooring using a hardwood flooring adhesive. With that said, one of the most important factors while dealing with glue down installation is going to be your subfloor.
When gluing over a concrete slab, is it necessary to take moisture readings?
The concrete slab needs the proper moisture vapor protection underneath and proper drainage away from the building . Once your subfloor preparation is complete and your floor is level it is time to choose an adhesive.
What color flooring should I use for a dark room?
Floor color is a choice that would have more to do with your personal tastes and décor. A natural light colored wood flooring will go with any décor and will lighten up any room. I usually suggest not using dark colored Hardwood flooring if your room decor is very dark.
How thick is a strip of hardwood flooring?
When we think of a solid Hardwood flooring we generally think of the standard strip red oak wood flooring that is 3/4" thick by 2 1/4" wide, but solid Hardwood flooring is also available in various sizes from 3 to 6 or more inches wide (called plank floors). Prefinished versions of solid wood flooring are available in various thicknesses from 5/16" - 3/4" thick are sold as random lengths anywhere from 12" - 84" long.
How much does hardwood flooring cost?
You can spend $20,000-$80,000 for kitchen cabinets that do not have anywhere near the amount of square footage of valuable wood compared to 6-7 rooms full of solid wood flooring for about $8,000-$10,000.
What is the only floor covering that increases the value of your home?
Hardwood flooring is the only floor covering that increases the value of your home.
What is the best hardwood flooring grade?
Clear Grade: Is the very best hardwood flooring grade which has the most uniform color, longer lengths, virtually no blemishes or knots. Clear Grade: Is the very best hardwood flooring grade with the most uniform color, longer, lengths, virtually no blemishes or knots.
What size board should I use for hardwood floors?
If you are putting a new Hardwood floor in either a kitchen or a new addition and have an older standard 2-1/4" wide (strip) Hardwood flooring in adjoining or abutting room areas, I might suggest using a 3" or wider board so there’s a defining difference between the two floors. Trying to match the older flooring grade and color may be very difficult to do and it can come out looking mismatched.
What is the most common hardwood floor?
The most common Hardwood flooring species used for solid wood floors are Red Oak, White Oak, and Maple -- but many other species are offered.
What is the glue down method?
The subfloor prep is especially critical for the glue down option. The glue down method means that the flooring is glued directly to your subfloor. The nail down method means that the flooring planks are nailed to your wood subfloor.
Is nailing down hardwood flooring a good idea?
Nailing down your hardwood floors has a few pros including its considered the most cost effective method as well the fastest. One other pro of nailing down hardwood floors is that if one floorboard gets damaged, it can be easily replaced without affecting the beauty of your floors.

Installer/Owner Responsibility
Tools and Accessories Needed For Glue Down Hardwood Flooring Installation
Temperature and Humidity
Storage and Handling
Considerations For New Homes
- If installing glue down hardwood flooring in a new house, completely close the building in with all outside doors and windows in place. All “wet” work (such as concrete, masonry, framing members, drywall, paint, etc.) should be thoroughly dry. The wall coverings and painting should be completed before the installation of the hardwood flooring. In o...
Job Site Requirements
Sub-Floor Surfaces and Conditions
General Instructions Prior to Installation