Laying Tips

Laying Tips

 

Wood is a living material. Thus, it is natural that it evolves according to its environment (Temperature and humidity).

It can expand or shrink; this is why it is recommended to maintain a constant hygrometry rate of 50% to 60% with a minimum temperature of 15 °C. For this, it is sometimes necessary to have dehumidifiers.

 

•  FLOORING LAID GLUED

 

(French DTU 51-2 / NF P63-202)

Whether with polyurethane glue or a grooved spatula. Each Blade is assembled on the previous one with a hammer. Intercall a piece of wood to avoid damage the flooring.

 

2 Possibilities

 

- Spreader Glue:

 

This method must be used on low temperature heated floors. Use appropriate glue and follow the manufacturer instructions Put wall spacers all along the edges of the floor, about every two feet. These will ensure that an expansion gap is preserved at the edges of the flooring to allow the wood to expand (The gap will be covered by floor trim at the end of the project).
Set the first course of boards into the glue, with the grooved side of each board facing the wall and pressing against the spacers. Lock the boards together end to end.
Lay subsequent courses by pressing the tongue-and-groove edges of the boards together. Knock them tightly together by putting a piece of scrap flooring against the side of the board and tapping it with a hammer. Work your way across the floor, spreading more glue and cutting the boards as necessary to fit. Don’t stand or kneel on the newly laid floor. Lay as much floor as you can, until you start running out of room to work. Let the partially complete floor set overnight.

 

- Tube Glue :

 

This kind of laying (line of glue) is not yet mentioned in regulations. However, this method is more and more unused by the professionals. Lay on the floor a line of glue of 6 mm larg. Flooring is then stick perpendicular to these line of glue. Start laying parallel to the wall.

 

Laying on low temperature heated floors

 

(DTU 65.7 or DTU 65.14 according to the heating system)

 

The thickness of the tread above the heating pipes or electric heating cables should be 40 mm.
The heater must be switched on at least three weeks before installation, whatever the season (even in summer). The heating must be stopped 48 hours before installation and the maximum temperature achieved should be 35 °C. It must be restarted a few days after laying and finishing with a rise in increments of 5 ° per hour, reaching a temperature floor of 28 degrees maximum.

 

 

GLUE CHOICE

It is imperative that you ask to your dealer. He will tell you the type of glue you need.

 

 

•  FLOORING LAID SECRET NAILS

 

(French DTU 51-1 / NF P63-201)

 

Tongue and groove flooring is secret-nailed fixed through the tongue at approx 45 degrees into the sub-floor at intervals of 200 to 250mm. Each blade is assembled on the previous one with a hammer. Intercall a piece of wood to avoid damage the flooring. To allow the flooring to move, flooring must not come into contact with obstacles including perimeters walls, structural supports, hearths etc.  A gap of 8 mm must be left around the perimeter of the room. This gap will be covered by the baseboard.

 

-TIPS-

Aspects variations (colors, knots...) may exist on the boards of the same product. Thus, it is important to mix the boards of different packs to avoid that an area of the room has a color or a dominant aspect.

  

• FLOORING LAYING INSTRUCTIONS

 

(French DTU 51.11)

Lay the first board, tongue side against the wall (off the tongue the entire length with a saw).
Position the shims between the blade and the wall to obtain a set of expansion
around the room: 1 mm per meter of floor, 8 mm minimum. Start the 2nd row with the fall of the last blade of the previous row. Upon installation, carefully glue the top edge strips along their entire length with special adhesive vinyl flooring. Use a shim to avoid damaging the blades in the socket. Immediately clean the traces of adhesive with a cloth or sponge slightly damp. Cut strips of the last row to the desired width along with the space needed for expansion. Use a «crowbar» or metal hunting for nesting. Remove the shims 24 hours after insertion. Set against the baseboard or skirting without exerting pressure on the floor.
For better uniformity of tone, rotate the blades of several packages.