Engineered wood flooring can be set up in a variety of ways. Of course, each method has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. These advantages and disadvantages should be taken into consideration when assessing which floor is best for your home and what will provide the best long-term results.
Tongue and groove (T&G) construction is used in most engineered wood floors. Each row is held down by the row next to it, allowing the planks to slot together like jigsaw pieces. Tongue and groove milling is extremely adaptable, allowing floors to be stapled, fastened, glued, and even floated.
Glue Down
If your room(s) has a concrete subfloor, the best choice is to glue the floor down. This allows for a large continuous installation with minimal transition parts. Gluing the floor down will prevent it from expanding and contracting in highly dry or humid climates.
There are also some reservations concerning the ease and speed with which the system can be installed. A glue-down installation necessitates more expertise and experience than a nail-down installation. The proper way, like many things, is not usually the simplest way.
Pros: Reduces squeaks, is the best method for installing over concrete, huge expanses may be installed without transition pieces, and current adhesives can also function as a moisture barrier.
Cons: Professional installation is suggested; nonetheless, it can be messy for untrained installers, and adhesive can be costly.
Floating
Many tongues and groove flooring can be successfully floated over premium underlayment. This is accomplished by using a T&G glue to adhere the tongues and grooves together. T&G flooring, unlike click-lock floating floors, are not intended to be floated.
Without transitions, a floating installation should not exceed a 20' by 30' space. T-moldings will be required at all doorways in a floating installation.
Pros: Helps you to install over existing floors (such as tile or older hardwood) without tearing them up and allows you to move from wood to concrete.
Cons: Transitions are necessary more frequently, and you are far more likely to run into problems later due to floor movement.
Staple/Nail Down
If possible, this is the best method of installation. To staple or nail onto, you will need a wood or engineered hardwood flooring. Staples and nails will not adhere to concrete or other hardboard subfloor materials. Staple/nail down installation offers the best final look since the boards are "racked" together tight when hit with the nails. The finest final look is to get the boards as close to each other as feasible.
Pros: Easy to install, boards stack tightly together, and vast areas can be covered without the use of transition pieces.
Cons: Due to variations in temperature and humidity, boards may still slide, and large planks may need to be bonded.
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