Hardwood floors provide refined finish for the most varied environments. Due to the characteristics of its raw material, this type of coating has a pleasant temperature to the touch and it´s easy to clean.
However, to have all the benefits of a hardwood floor it´s essential that its installationwill be correct.
Who will execute the work needs to have technical knowledge and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Unprepared labor increases material waste and rework to fix the mistakes.
Planning of the wooden floor installation begins after choosing the type of it, as each model requires a specific method of installation. Basically, there are two alternatives: with polyurethane (PU) glue or with screws. Another option is to mix the solutions, creating a third alternative that ensures better fixation.
PU glue is suitable for floors with fittings of varying lengths, limited to 2 m. The system with bushings and screws is usually used on floors with longer pieces, which tend to bend over time, due to the natural movement of the wood. With the installation method defined, the process begins with the preparation of the subfloor, which should be flat, dry, moisture free and clean.
Pre Installation Steps
Laying of the wooden floor should take place in the final stage of the work, after the wall has already received the first coat of paint, the drywall has been applied, and the frames are laid. Caution is warranted because any contaminant that falls on the flooring, such as tinner or paint, is eventually absorbed into the wood, and there is no way to remove it.
Before installing the hardwood floor, the professional needs to verify if the amount of available parts will be enough to cover the entire area. This simple analysis prevents the procedure from being interrupted until a new batch of materials arrives. It is also interesting to separate the rulers by tone and measure, since the harmonic distribution is directly related to the visual aspect the project wishes to achieve.
The installer must ensure that there is space between 1 to 1.5 cm between the floor and the wall. These small expansion joints allow the wood to work smoothly. The measurement must be uniform throughout the length of the wall. If this is neglected, the pieces will warp or loosen over time, as the movement of one pushes the other into a domino effect.
Traffic Release
One of the advantages of hardwood flooring is that almost immediately after installation, traffic can be released. If fixing is done with screws, as soon as the work is done, people are immediately allowed to walk on the surface. If the procedure occurs with PU glue, the time is around three hours for normal traffic. The total cure will occur in 48 hours.
Even with authorized traffic, it is necessary to wait 30 days for the floor finishing application, once this is the time to accommodate the installed parts. After this first month, the total surface sanding is done and then the varnish is applied. If a new coat of paint is required on the walls or any other environmental repair, the floor must be properly protected.
