How to install wood flooring? and What are the ease and difficulties of installation? Questions about it are answered in this article.
What is Hardwood Flooring?
Hardwood flooring is floor covering material in the form of a prism with smooth surfaces, homogeneous thickness, and lamp and tenoned to ensure that they are combined with each other on the side and head surfaces. According to the standards, the thickness of wood flooring is 17 and 22 mm with a tolerance of 2%. Their width ranges from 30-100 mm with a difference of 5 mm; their lengths are between 200-1000 mm with a difference of 50 mm. Wood floorings are divided into three groups according to their appearance characteristics as first class, second class and third class.
It is necessary to apply very carefully and in accordance with the details, especially in the laying of wood flooring, as in every flooring. These processes are the stages from the preparation of the floor to the finish of the flooring and polishing process. An incorrectly prepared floor will prevent the flooring from performing as expected. Due to the wrong application, undesirable situations such as swelling and opening may be encountered over time.
Wood Flooring stages
Wood flooring is done on the blind floor and directly on the frames or by gluing on the screed. The floor must be prepared very well, especially before the floorings are adhered to the screed. These are briefly;
- Handle; should be smooth, hard, clean and dry.
- In order to see the hardness of the screed, care should be taken not to create a deep line by drawing it with a pointed metal.
- Handle; It should be kept for 21-45 days depending on the season.
- Screed thickness should be 2.5-3 cm.
- The place where the flooring will be installed must be cleaned of plaster, plaster and all kinds of dirt.
- Adhesive containing water should never be used on flooring.
If an application will be made on the old flooring, it should be done after the old flooring has been polished.
Especially in humid areas, in order for the flooring to adapt to the ambient humidity, it should be brought to the place where it will be laid at least 10-15 days before and the mouth of the parcels should be opened. In order for the joints of the flooring floor coverings to not open, the moisture percentage should be between 8-14%. However, in very dry environments this lower limit must be observed. The floorings are attached to the floor with white glue. In another method, the floor is primed with flooring pitch, after the primed floor dries, the wood floorings are laid by pressing the boiling flooring pitch. Then, the paved floorings are treated with sandpaper with a scraper motor. After the scraper is applied, a coat of primer is applied and a coat of polish is applied. Polish paste is applied on the dried polish. The problem of color difference is seen in wood floorings, which occurs with scraper and polish after flooring. Another form of application of wood floorings is fixed in place by nailing them to the blind floor and directly to the frame. Undesirable situations such as blistering and opening in the bonding system are less common in the application with a staff. But this type of application is more expensive and longer and more difficult to craft. Wood flooring construction starts with a wood coating that is nailed on the wood frames of 5/5 cm dimensions. A layer, such as some building elements that cannot be seen after the construction is completed, because other materials are placed on it, is also called “blind flooring”. The function of blind flooring is to ensure that smaller wood floorings to be laid on top can be nailed and applied in the desired motif. The intervals between the wood frames are 50-60 cm according to the lengths of the coating boards to be nailed. Varies between The cadres should be started close to the walls, but not in contact, so that the skins do not over-consist.
Wood Flooring Installation
There are two methods in the installation of wood laminate floors. The first is applied by gluing with a special adhesive on a cement screed with a very smooth surface, as in other wood floorings. In recent years, the second system has started to be applied more. In this system, known as the floating system, a polyethylene mattress is laid on a cement screed with a very smooth surface. The screed of the surface on which the laminate flooring will be laid must be dry at the same time. The laying of the floorings starts from the wall edge with the tenon side facing the wall. Flooring is applied on the polyethylene mattress only by gluing lamp-mortise surfaces to each other. Wood laminate floors do not require polishing because they are presented on the market as polished.
There are some advantages of wood laminate floors in their application as a floating system. The polyethylene mattress laid before the flooring is laid has the effect of reducing the impact sound caused by footsteps from passing to the lower floors. The mattress also protects the flooring from the effects of moisture that may come from the upholstery. The floating system has a positive contribution to the comfort effects of the space. The mattress gives flexibility to the upholstery. It is easier and more comfortable to walk this way. The floating system is not used when the flooring should be laid in different directions and the junction points should be close to each other. In this case, the gluing system is applied. Again, the bonding system is preferred in areas larger than 250 m2 and in commercial areas.
Care of wood flooring
Vacuuming and wet-dry mopping are performed. It is polished with a non-slip lacquer 2-3 times a week. It is recommended not to use detergents for cleaning, as they cause wear of the surface. The flooring should be wiped with a suitable cleaner or damp cloth 24 hours after the application is completed. Any non-corrosive chemical can be used for routine cleaning. For stains and marks that are difficult to remove, solvents containing alcohol and acetone can be used, which do not damage the flooring and leave no traces.
How to remove wood flooring?
If you need to remove the glued wood flooring floor, you are in for some hard work. Unfortunately, water damage to your wooden floors or other situations may leave you no choice but to remove the old flooring. Glued flooring floors are one of the strongest, most durable floor coverings and are made to last for decades. This durability makes it extremely difficult to remove them on your own. Although it is a difficult job, it is not complicated – so if you are willing to buy a few tools and take your time, you can save money that professionals will charge you. You can rent an electric scraper to make things faster, but you will have a lot of sticky work to do manually. Follow this complete guide for the tips and experience you need to remove glued wooden floors as efficiently as possible.
Using an Electric Scraper and Removing the Wood flooring by Hand
Most flooring professionals would use an electric scraper to remove glued wood flooring. This is a heavy machine with wheels and a blade on the front side, which can save you from the hassle of dismantling old wood.
These machines can be rented from major tool rental stores and some local flooring fitters. If you have a way to transport, and comfortable driving are light electric machines, you can consider saving yourself many hours of manual work by renting an electric scraper. It’s a good idea to consult with a flooring installer to see if an electric scraper is suitable for your space.
Removing Glued Wood Flooring by Hand
The difficulty of this work will vary depending on the type of adhesive used, how well the adhesive was initially applied and how wide the hard wooden planks are. If you are lucky enough to have small boards that have not been installed by a professional, they can easily come out. However, most floors installed by professionals, such as carpeting firms, will require a lot of work to remove.
Removing glued flooring is a task that requires a lot of patience. When you’re ready to get started, collect the following items and follow the steps below to ensure that your removal process is as painless as possible.
Tools and Materials
- Circular saw with adjustable blade depth
- Buy a vacuum and bed linen to protect the room from dust
- Standard pry bar (large size)
- Other curious tools or crowbars (optional)
- Medium weight hammer (such as roof hammer or small sledge)
- Thick work gloves, knee pads and protective glasses
- 6 inch steel scraper or shredder
- 6 Inch razor floor scraper with lots of new razor blades
- Wide painter’s tape if you are removing only part of the flooring of the room
How to Prepare the Room for Lifting the Floor?
Tearing up your wooden floor will require the use of power tools, hammering and scraping off old glue. This process will create a big mess by throwing sawdust, wood splinters and sticky old glue everywhere. Protect your home by laying sheets on furniture or other nearby items. This will save you from cleaning up a big mess later and can protect sensitive items such as electronics from damage. When you use the chainsaw indoors, you may also want to use a workshop vacuum to catch the sawdust just before it explodes around the room. Just have someone follow your saw with a vacuum hose.