For products up to 3″ wide and 1/2″ thick, use use a 20 gauge, 1″ staple with a 1/8″ crown. When installing a 5″ wide product, use an 18 gauge 1-1/4″ staple or longer with a 1/4″ crown. 3/4″ thick, engineered planks should be nailed or stapled using a 3/4″ solid wood flooring nailer or stapler of any brand.
How do you install engineered wood flooring?
- Glue-down, or adhesive, installation is a popular option for engineered flooring. It is typically clicked together and secured with glue.
- Click-lock, or floating, installation is the most common install method for engineered wood. ...
- Nail-down installation of solid wood is chosen by many homeowners because of its permanence. ...
How do you install engineered wood?
- Choose the correct pneumatic stapler or “brad” nailer to install your engineered hardwood product.*
- Snap a line or use some sort of straight edge to ensure that boards are lined up straight. ...
- Follow the flooring manufacturer’s guidelines for best practices on securing (nailing or stapling) the engineered wood to the subfloor.* Tighten using a mallet and wood tapping blocks.
Which is better hardwood or engineered wood?
The exception to hardwood and engineered wood’s interchangeability comes down to water damage. Engineered wood flooring is a better choice in high-moisture environments than solid hardwood, making it a better option for kitchens, bathrooms and basements. But, for whole-house installations, both flooring options offer a wide range of style choices.
How to install engineered wood?
Method 4 Method 4 of 5: Installing Floating Engineered Hardwood Floors Download Article
- Install underlayment if you don’t already have it. When installing floating engineered hardwood on a concrete floor, it’s best to do so on top of an underlayment.
- Set up spacers along the walls. Most manufacturers require a certain amount of space between the edge of the flooring and the wall.
- Apply glue to the groove of the board. ...
What is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Why do you need underlayment on engineered wood floors?
What is glue down flooring?
How long does engineered wood flooring last?
How to make a sandbox?
How to cut a wall when you run out of space?
What is floating floor?
See 2 more
What Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Made from layers of real wood compressed together, engineered hardwood floors are better able to handle changes in moisture and humidity than solid hardwood.
Floating Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Before installing a floating engineered hardwood floor, follow the same preparation steps mentioned above, including underlayment and laying out spacers to maintain the expansion gap specified by the manufacturer.
Staple-Down Installation Over a Plywood Subfloor
If you’re working with a staple-down engineered hardwood floor, you’ll follow the same preparation steps as above, including laying spacers around the room’s perimeter to maintain the manufacturer’s recommended expansion gap.
Nail-Down Installation Over a Plywood Subfloor
With a nail-down engineered hardwood floor, follow the same subfloor preparation steps as above, including underlayment and laying spacers around the room’s perimeter to maintain the manufacturer's recommended expansion gap. This installation method is identical to staple-down, only the fastener and fastening tool differ.
What to use to set tools properly before installation?
Use a scrap piece of flooring material to set tools properly before installation.
How long does it take for glue to set on a tile floor?
After putting these three rows together, allow the glue to set (15 to 45 minutes) before proceeding with the installation.
What happens when you turn a plank back over?
When the plank is turned back over the glue will run down the back of the groove giving total coverage.
How many plies are needed for floating?
Only engineered styles with 5 plies or more are approved for floating installation. Anything thinner could buckle or become damaged while floating.
What is the minimum expansion space required for a fireplace?
An expansion space of at least 1/2″ must be maintained around the perimeter of the room, all pipes, counters, cabinets, fireplace hearths, doorframes and any other fixed vertical objects in the room. This allows the floor to expand and contract normally. Not leaving an expansion gap can cause your floor to buckle.
Can you use staples to install engineered wood flooring?
Engineered hardwood floors may be installed over wood subfloors using staples or flooring cleats. When installing engineered wood planks or strips by nailing or stapling, it is necessary to use the proper type of flooring stapler or nailer made for the thickness of the engineered wood flooring that is being installed.
Can you use floating glue on engineered hardwood floors?
If you would like to add extra strength to your engineered hardwood floors, you can use recommended floating floor glue for use with engineered hardwood floors for installation. 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.
What is engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood flooring looks and acts much like solid hardwood flooring. The flooring is built up in layers that are glued together in a hot press. The core layers are slightly different in shape from the top finished layer, creating a tongue-and-groove system. The top layer is a hardwood veneer that is already stained and sealed and is ready to walk on as soon as it's secured to the floor. Although some engineered floors can be glued down or laid as floating floors, thin 3/8-inch flooring must be nailed.
How long should engineered flooring sit in a room?
Allow the engineered flooring to sit in your room for at least two days before installing it, allowing it to acclimate to the temperature and humidity in your home. The 1/4-inch gap on every side is important. Wood shrinks and expands as the humidity in your house changes.
Why is 1/4 inch gap important?
The 1/4-inch gap on every side is important. Wood shrinks and expands as the humidity in your house changes. If there's no room for expansion, the wood can buckle and crack.
Can engineered wood floors be glued down?
The top layer is a hardwood veneer that is already stained and sealed and is ready to walk on as soon as it's secured to the floor. Although some engineered floors can be glued down or laid as floating floors, thin 3/8-inch flooring must be nailed.
How thick should engineered wood be?
It’s recommended that an engineered wood wear layer is between 3mm – 5mm thick. To ever refinish your engineered hardwood flooring, the wear layer and real wood veneer should be 3mm or thicker.
What is the difference between engineered hardwood and hardwood?
The key difference between hardwood and engineered hardwood is the construction, installation process, and where they can be installed. While hardwood floors are wood logs cut into planks, each engineered wood plank is topped with a thin hardwood veneer to create a hardwood surface on top of an engineered core.
How to make engineered hardwood planks?
The process of creating engineered hardwood involves adhering the layers of the plank together. The layers for planks with an HDF core consist of the real wood veneer, a single, solid layer of HDF, and the backing layer glued together creating a sturdy flooring solution. For other cores, this process is accomplished by attaching the fiberboard plies on top of each other in opposite directions under the real wood veneer.
Why is engineered wood flooring so popular?
Engineered wood flooring is growing in popularity because of its realistic wood looks and eco-friendliness. But there’s so much more to love about this floor than just its looks. Here are even more reasons why you should choose engineered hardwood.
How thick should a veneer floor be?
Therefore, it’s standard for wear layers and veneer to range from 3mm-7mm thick to ensure long-lasting flooring beauty. Remember, the thicker the wear layer and real wood veneer the better.
What is a swiffer mops?
Swiffer mops are an appropriate tool for sweeping and damp-mopping your engineered hardwood. Products like Swiffer dry and wet refills are also great alternatives to pick up any loose dirt or handle those tough stuck-on spots. The Swiffer Wet-Jet in particular is one of the best tools for cleaning engineered hardwood.
How long does it take for engineered wood floors to acclimate to the new environment?
Regardless of the type of engineered wood floors you choose, it must acclimate to its new environment for at least 24 hours to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the area. While engineered hardwood does not expand and contract as much as hardwood, acclimation ensures proper installation and durability.
Cleat Nails
LFN-50 HighPro Pneumatic Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer SHF15 Senco Manual Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer
Staples
Use 18 GA 1-1/2" long staples when installing thinner 1/2" thick solid wood floors (per manufacturer's recommendation).
What is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Engineered hardwood is the newest alternative to solid wood flooring. Composed of man-made materials, each engineered wood plank is topped with a thin layer of real wood veneer. Complete with life-proof features such as water-resistance, each plank either has a high-density fiberboard (HDF) backing, a plywood backing, or a stone-plastic composite (SPC) core and, in some cases, an attached underlayment.
Why do you need underlayment on engineered wood floors?
It stops moisture build-up under your floors, keeps your floors warm, reduces noise, and evens out subfloor imperfections. This extra support will lengthen the life of your engineered wood floors.
What is glue down flooring?
The glue-down method of installation is ideal for flooring in a high traffic area, as it adds more permanence to your floor. Essentially, you spread glue on the subfloor before installing the planks, and this keeps the floor in place.
How long does engineered wood flooring last?
The lifespan of engineered wood flooring can range from 20-80 years. The livelihood of the floor comes down to the thickness of the plank, its wear layer, and how well you take care of your floors. If the plank is thinner, it could last 20-30 years, whereas if a plank is thicker, it could have a lifespan of 40-80 years.
How to make a sandbox?
Working from left to right. Complete the first row by connecting the planks with their tongue and groove connectors. Tap the second row of planks using a tapping block and rubber mallet. Stagger the planks by using the leftover cut ends that are at least six inches long to begin your next row.
How to cut a wall when you run out of space?
If you run out of space in a row, measure the gap between the wall and the last plank, then mark and cut the next plank accordingly. (For cutting instructions refer to the section above.) Stagger the planks by using the leftover cut ends that are at least six inches long to begin your next row.
What is floating floor?
The floating floor method is the most common for engineered wood floors. The process involves inserting the tongue of one plank into the groove of another and locking them together. Floating floors require nothing more than the planks, and depending on your floor, some tongue and groove glue.
