Two retailers are advising different methods for laying a solid wood floor. One says it must be laid directly to the concrete subfloor, the other says put down an underlay and "float" the floor. Which is correct please?
installation of solid wood floor - what is correct base?
- Thread starter cfwilson
- Start date
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both. But it is down to whos floor you buy. Different manufactories recommend different methods. I must say i prefer a fixed floor over a floating floor myself. But there is also more to go wrong with a fixed floor to a floating if not installed correct.
Hi cfwilson
As Matty already indicated both methods can be used. Further info on when using the floating method: only if your room where you plan to install it in isn't wider than 5 meter then with solid floors you can use the floating method (wood-engineered floors up to 11 meter wide).
How wide are your boards? If narrower than 100mm you'll have to glue them down
As Matty already indicated both methods can be used. Further info on when using the floating method: only if your room where you plan to install it in isn't wider than 5 meter then with solid floors you can use the floating method (wood-engineered floors up to 11 meter wide).
How wide are your boards? If narrower than 100mm you'll have to glue them down
Thank you both. If floating the floor, is the underlay stuck to the concrete, and then the wood stuck to the underlay? Floor width is 143 - should this be stuck down? Someone said their floated floor creaks! Is this a general problem - or perhaps her floor not properly fitted? Advice much appreciated.
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Hi again
143mm wide can safely be installed floating, the Tongue and grooves.
On a concrete underfloor you can use a combi-underlayment (DPM + sound-insulation) - which is rolled out on the concrete floor, not stuck down and install your boards on it, not glued to the underlayment!
As for creaking, this can happen with any installation method (not with design parquet floors - little woodblocks). The floor has to 'settled' to its new climate and is finding its best 'position'. Changes in temperature can also create some creaking noises (in the morning when the central heating is turned back on).
Normally it isn't a fitting problem, only when the underfloor was too unlevel and the fitter didn't solve that.
Hope this helps
143mm wide can safely be installed floating, the Tongue and grooves.
On a concrete underfloor you can use a combi-underlayment (DPM + sound-insulation) - which is rolled out on the concrete floor, not stuck down and install your boards on it, not glued to the underlayment!
As for creaking, this can happen with any installation method (not with design parquet floors - little woodblocks). The floor has to 'settled' to its new climate and is finding its best 'position'. Changes in temperature can also create some creaking noises (in the morning when the central heating is turned back on).
Normally it isn't a fitting problem, only when the underfloor was too unlevel and the fitter didn't solve that.
Hope this helps
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