can i float a solid osk floor over kingspan insulation

[howbec]

hi, I am currently finishing my extension and the wife has picked a very expensive hand scraped solid oak floor (120mm boards), I deliberately left the concrete slab 100mm low to allow for insulation and then a floating floor but everywhere seems to suggest nailing the new floor.

Can i glue and float over the insulation or do i need to batten out the floor.

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[WoodYouLike]

Can you give us a bit more information on the measurements of your Oak floor?
Thickness, length and - if you know - with random length floors how many (percentage) of your boards are short (short meaning 1/4 of the average length?)

In most cases you can install 120mm wide boards floating but can only say definite if you answer the above questions

 

[howbec]

many thanks WoodYouLike for your response the measurements are as follows

room size 6.5 m X 3.9 m split into 2 via a supporting nib each side (600mm x 200mm)

I will be using one of the following

wood size 130mm X 18mm X 0.3M - 1.5M lengths this is from next flooring online type NATURA HAND DISTRESSED GOLDEN OAK

wood size 120mm X 18mm x 0.3M - 1.5M lengths this is from my local timber merchant and I do not have a brand or type but it is hand scraped

If either of these are ok could you please recommend a good glue also would the floor look better laid longways or shortways

Regards
Howard

 

[WoodYouLike]

First impression I would say install longways continues, as long as there is no narrow entrance between the two areas. If there is, install a divider in the 'doorway' and treat every area as separate room.

As for installation method: do you know how many of the boards are the shortest? If there are more than 15 % 'short' lenghts (1/4 of the longest length = 375mm) your best bet is to glue it down with flexible adhesive like Basicoll PU-650SE.
If you have a standard mix of less than 15% short you could install the boards floating on combi-underlayment (with DPM in it)