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Installation
Expansion Gap
Wood is a living material, which therefore requires a gap (known as an expansion gap) of 12-15mm between the floor and the walls.
This also applies to door thresholds, pipes, stairs, up against fireplaces or stone floors etc.
Gluing
Use a good quality wood glue compliant with EN204D3-BS4071. All boards must be glued. Spot glueing is not sufficient, a full glue line must be applied inside the groove on the long side and the ends. Remove any access glue with a damp cloth.
Limitations
A floating wooden floor, even despite its laminated construction, can expand and contract significantly, depending on how much the indoor climate changes during the year. This means a floor can only go up to 10mm wide without an additional expansion gap. More complicated floors, for example a corridor which is to be laid in conjunction with rooms on either side, is possible. In such cases, it is recommended that the floor is laid as several independent squares/rectangles, with expansion gaps between. If several floors are to be laid in conjunction with each other without gaps, laminated boards, panels and herringbones can be glued directly onto the sub-floor. This method minimises the movement of a wooden floor, and can also be used for pattern laying, when boards are laid in various directions, or to reduce movements in a floor due to other causes.
Types of sub-floor
Basement or concrete floors:
Level out any unevenness. If necessary, lay damp barrier on top of which underlay is to be fitted. The wooden floor can then be laid floating on top.
Old wooden floors:
Check that the floor is firm, level and free from rot and does not squeak. Serious unevenness should be planed/sanded or filled. Smaller unevenness can be filled with rag felt. Lay an intermediate layer of rag felt, and then the new boards should be laid at right angles to the old.
Chipbaord: as above
Planning
Hard or soft floor covering:
Wooden floors can be laid directly onto vinyl floors, linoleum, rag felt and carpets with a short, dense pile. Ask your supplier or flooring contractor for advice.
Cellular plastic:
Boards can be laid on cellular plastic insulation with a density of at least 30kg/M3. The boards can be laid floating on top of a layer of rag felt. High point loading, areas of heavy wear etc., can require some reinforcement of the construction. If in doubt, consult your supplier or flooring contractor.
Underfloor heating:
When laying a floor where underfloor heating has been installed it is important to follow these guidelines:
- The heating has been started up at least 3 weeks before laying the floor, make sure that there is no water leaking and the concrete is dry. This means not more than 3% moisture, full depth of screed.
- The concrete has to meet all the requirements for underfloor heating.
- The surface temperature of the ground cannot exceed +27°C.
- The heating has to be turned off 48 hours before laying the floor.
- 8 days after laying the floor, the heating should be turned on gradually, increasing 2-3°C every 24 hours.
