solid wood flooring to concrete

[goatlips]

Hi and welcome guys.

Today I have bought my new solid wood flooring in the sales, I want to fit this myself in my lounge/dining room and hallway.

I have concrete subfloor downstairs and keep getting different advice on how to fit it. The living room and dinner is only 21sq meters in an L shape so its not very big. I have been reading some of the posts here regarding a floating floor, do you think this will be ok?? The floor is not damp and it's level apart from the wall thats been knocked down between the lounge and dinning room where I have the wood timber running across the floor.

If I fit it floating, what should I use between the wood flooring and the concrete?? and also where can I buy it from??

Any other advice would be very helpful.

Regards,
David

 

[mattysupra]

what flooring is it? ( product etc ) also what are the dimensions of the planks? You might want to have a read of ' wood you like ' web site ( goggle it )

 

[goatlips]

what flooring is it? ( product etc ) also what are the dimensions of the planks? You might want to have a read of ' wood you like ' web site ( goggle it )

Hi, its solid oak rustic, no make on the box,but I bought it from carpetrite.

The dimensions of the planks are 18x130 300/1200 length.

I have been reading his posts and hoping he will reply.

 

[WoodYouLike]

She will

What you bought sounds like 'Masters Choice' and might contain more very short lengths than longer ones (it's never our choice, but then again, we're not 'masters' )
If so, you're best bet is to glue it down completely to the concrete floor. too many short lengths will make the floor unstable when installing floating.

If you've been lucky enough to only get 10 - 15 % short lengths and many 1200m lengths then you can install it floating, glueing the T&G's properly. Use a combi-underlayment first - DPM plus sound-insulation.

Good luck

She of wood you like.

 

[goatlips]

She will

What you bought sounds like 'Masters Choice' and might contain more very short lengths than longer ones (it's never our choice, but then again, we're not 'masters' )
If so, you're best bet is to glue it down completely to the concrete floor. too many short lengths will make the floor unstable when installing floating.

If you've been lucky enough to only get 10 - 15 % short lengths and many 1200m lengths then you can install it floating, glueing the T&G's properly. Use a combi-underlayment first - DPM plus sound-insulation.

Good luck

She of wood you like.

Hi she,my apologies

I have opened the box and there are a few short lengths,will it be the same in the rest of the packets?? The shop says glue it to the floor,but BBQ say's fit it floating.

Where can I get this combi-underlayment with DPM??

If I glue it directly to the floor then I surely don't use combi-underlayment with DPM??

 

[WoodYouLike]

Any instruction on the boxes? If that says glue it down, then glue it down with Lecol5500 or Stycobond B92 (F.Ball). When you glue it down you don't need an underlayment.

Combi-underlayment can be bought at every decent wood floor specialist

 

[goatlips]

Any instruction on the boxes? If that says glue it down, then glue it down with Lecol5500 or Stycobond B92 (F.Ball). When you glue it down you don't need an underlayment.

Combi-underlayment can be bought at every decent wood floor specialist

In the instructions it says for nail down installation only,but it can be fitted over concrete once the appropriate nailing surface has been installed.

Sounds to me like it's not a DIY job!

What would it cost to fit 25sq meters??

 

[WoodYouLike]

Nailing down IMHO is rubbish, waste of money, materials and effort. If it can be nailed down it can be glued down.

If you feel up to it, open the boxes and calculate how many 300mm, 600mm, 900mm and 1200mm boards you have. Like said before if over 60% of sq m is 900 or longer than you can safely install it floating. And with the proper tools, taking your time and 'keeping it simple' it is a job any handy DYI-er can do.

 

[goatlips]

Nailing down IMHO is rubbish, waste of money, materials and effort. If it can be nailed down it can be glued down.

If you feel up to it, open the boxes and calculate how many 300mm, 600mm, 900mm and 1200mm boards you have. Like said before if over 60% of sq m is 900 or longer than you can safely install it floating. And with the proper tools, taking your time and 'keeping it simple' it is a job any handy DYI-er can do.

Ok,I wish I only knew this before I bought it!

I have 21 box's to open!

What's the idea of the short planks anyway?? I was expecting it to be full length and then having to cut them to suit.

 

[WoodYouLike]

If after 10 boxes the amount of short lengths keep growing, stop and think again.

 

[goatlips]

If after 10 boxes the amount of short lengths keep growing, stop and think again.

Sorry I edited my last message.

What's the idea of the short planks anyway?? I was expecting it to be full length and then having to cut them to suit.

 

[WoodYouLike]

short lengths are supposed to help you save on saw-waste, but......
only if the short lengths are 10 - 15% of the total amount. Otherwise you'll end up with many short lengths in the middle of the floor, creating a strange look - many joints, and the risk of making the whole floor unstable because you cannot stagger the floor as best as possible: joins in neighbouring rows should be at least 300mm apart.

It's a 'cheap' way to sell Solid pre-finished flooring by (among others) Master Choice, because it gives the manufacturer an outlet to sell all those off cuts the standard quality products aren't allowed to have in them.

Hope it makes sense.

 

[goatlips]

short lengths are supposed to help you save on saw-waste, but......
only if the short lengths are 10 - 15% of the total amount. Otherwise you'll end up with many short lengths in the middle of the floor, creating a strange look - many joints, and the risk of making the whole floor unstable because you cannot stagger the floor as best as possible: joins in neighbouring rows should be at least 300mm apart.

It's a 'cheap' way to sell Solid pre-finished flooring by (among others) Master Choice, because it gives the manufacturer an outlet to sell all those off cuts the standard quality products aren't allowed to have in them.

Hope it makes sense.

Ok I have opened 10 packs and I have the same lengths per pack as follows.

2X 1200MM
4X 700MM
4X 500MM
6X 400MM

What do you think??

 

[WoodYouLike]

No as bad as I thought but still 'dubious' - 50% is 500 or shorter. You should definitely glue it down, I'm not happy with recommending this lot to be installed floating.
Plus you'll have to work out a way of 'pattern' to prevent a 'pattern': meaning randomly staggering will be a problem with 10 boards per pack being short.

Not sure what you paid for it and won't like to say: you'll get what you pay for. The quality of those boards are normally good, it's just the many short lengths that 'riles' me time after time - but that's me.

 

[goatlips]

No as bad as I thought but still 'dubious' - 50% is 500 or shorter. You should definitely glue it down, I'm not happy with recommending this lot to be installed floating.
Plus you'll have to work out a way of 'pattern' to prevent a 'pattern': meaning randomly staggering will be a problem with 10 boards per pack being short.

Not sure what you paid for it and won't like to say: you'll get what you pay for. The quality of those boards are normally good, it's just the many short lengths that 'riles' me time after time - but that's me.

The more I read on the more unhappy I am!

I paid £750 for it and now want to return it,but not sure if they will take it back after opening the box's??

How much does your wood cost?? PM me if you like.