How do you install engineered wood flooring?

With the installation of any flooring, there are certain points to consider to make sure your floor is fitted to the very highest standard and to ensure its longevity. So much goes into fitting an engineered wood floor to guarantee it stands the test of time and looks its best in your home.

The prep work

As the old saying goes, ‘if you fail to prepare then you prepare to fail.’ This is why, prior to laying a floor you must ensure that the sub floor is sound.

What to check for

You need to ensure that there is no underlying damp which would cause any wood you lay to warp. If there is, then the sub floor will need to dry out before any wood can be fitted.

You also need to check that the room you are fitting a wood floor in is not too damp or humid. Bathrooms for example are typically wet rooms and are not good homes for a wood floor which will warp with excess humidity. Wood is better suited to halls and living spaces.

You need to ensure there is no laitance (the white flaky substance caused by concrete particles) which could cause your subfloor and subsequently your floor to fail. If there is, then it needs to be ground away.

You also need to ensure the floor is level; if it isn’t you may need to consider a levelling compound to ensure your new wood flooring is laid on a level base.

The fitting

Now you know you have a solid base you can think about the fitting.

If you want underfloor heating this needs to be fitted before the floor is fitted. Check your floor is compatible with underfloor heating.

You can have floating wood floors or glue down wood floors. The fitting principals are the same, however with glue down floors you need to put glue on the floor using a recommended wood floor glue and using an appropriate toothed trowel. You will also need to wipe away any adhesive from the surface of the board, so it does not dry on them.

First things first

Before you lay any wood flooring, open a few packs first and mix them up to ensure a good balance and colour variation.

When you start to fit the wood planks, start at a wall, ensuring you leave about half an inch expansion gap to allow for wood expanding with temperature changes. Use spacers to help you do this.

Then fit your first line using the longest planks first as a guide to ensure a straight line and maintain that expansion gap which you have marked using spacers.

Then move on to the next line, using a rubber malle to tap the tongue and grooves on the wood into place.

Ensure the wood fits tightly together as you work.

If you are using glue, smear the glue on in sections as you work and scrape off any glue that has dried too quickly if necessary and reapply.

Stagger your planks so that the joints at the end of each plank are about 6 inches away from the ones on the previous rows. You do not want all the end of plank joints in a line.

Keep laying the planks until you reach the other side of the room. You may need to use a pole bar to wedge the last pieces in and leave an expansion gap.

Other considerations

Think about cutting the wood around vents

Think about fitting the skirtings to cover the expansion gaps.

Think about cutting the wood to fit under architraves around doors.

Consider trims that you might want to use to cross room thresholds.

If you want underfloor heating, you need to check your floor is compatible with underfloor heating.

In summary

Fitting a wood floor is methodical and logical so long as you follow the rules. Make sure your sub floor is sound, it is critical to the success of the floor. Then fit the planks from one side of the room to the other, working in rows, ensuring planks are fitted tightly together, expansion gaps are left, and obstacles are worked around.

The result will be a beautifully fitted wood floor.