Installation Types

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Wood Floor Installation Types

A wood floor is only as good as its installation. You can have a very good products but if is poorly installed, you will be waiting you capital. Believe, it happens all the time. Basically there are three types of installation.

Nail-Down

This method is by far the best way to install a hardwood floors. It is the only way to install solids, and also excellent for engendered. It consist of a layer of moisture barrier (visqueen), a layer of plywood, a layer of tar paper (another moisture barrier and sound reducer between woods ) and finally the nail down of planks or strips.

Please see Installation Steps in this web site for detailed step by step description of this process.

The benefits of this type of installation:

	We have 2 moisture barriers.
	Very sound and solid, no hallow spots.
	Plywood helps to flatten irregular concrete slabs, and some leveling is possible.
	It is very easy to repair and remove planks. ( just the opposite of glue down).
	Much better and some times the only way to make borders, medallions and inlays.
	It is the only type of floors that can be uninstalled and reinstalled. Completely renewable.

Floating Floors

It is when we glue the tongue and grove together and float the planks over a underlayment that is also a moisture barrier. It is our second favorite type of installation, but only can be used on ½” or thicker engineered floors.

The benefits of this type of installation:

	We also have a moisture barrier.
	It is more economic than nail down.
	It reasonably easy to repair, and very easy to remove.

Glue-Down

This is our least favorite method. It only can be used with engineered wood. You have no moisture barrier or underlayment, and because of it most of the time we can see the imperfections and moisture from the concrete slab on the wood, the planks get that weavy look. It is also common to have some loose sports or air pockets. There are some concrete sealers for moisture, but they are not 100% and expensive. By the time you pay for the sealer and the glue, it is cheaper to install plywood. When comes to repair or remove a glued down floors be prepared for a nightmare.

The benefits of this type of installation:

Basically there is just one; It is easer for stores to sell the product, that is why it is used so much. They sell the floors and subcontract the installations to any installer that has a chop saw, a table saw and a trod. Minimum tools.