Engineered Wood - Installation Guide

Engineered wood flooring is the perfect option when you are looking for timeless style and durability. If you have chosen a solid wood flooring for your home, read on to learn how to successfully install it – from preparation to aftercare.

Preparation

1. As engineered wood flooring is a semi natural product, it will need to acclimatise to the temperature and humidity of your home before it is installed.
2. Some species of wood can be left in their packaging to acclimatise, whereas others will need to be removed from the box.
3. The time the flooring needs to acclimatise will also vary depending on the species of wood.
4. Finally, prepare your subfloor by ensuring it is clean and dry.

Underlay

1. The underlay you need will depend on the subfloor you will be installing it on. For example, if you are installing the floor on top of concrete, you will need an underlay that acts as a moisture barrier.
2. To install your underlay, simply roll it out from one end of the room to the other and cut to size.
3. If your room is an unusual shape, you can use separate pieces to cover the space, being sure not to let them overlap.
4. It is also important to leave extra space for any pipes.

Fitting

1. Once you have allowed your flooring to acclimatise and added your underlay, you can start to install your floor.
2. To begin, position plastic spacers along the longest wall, then fix the first row of boards.
3. Your boards may have a tongue and groove system – if this is the case, start from a corner and ensure the groove of the board is facing the wall. The second board will be laid end-to-end with the first. Measure the space left between the first board and the opposite wall, and cut the second board to size.
4. Be sure to allow at least 10mm for expansion around the perimeter of the room.
5. Continue across the room, ensuring that seams between boards are staggered and do not line up.
6. Finally, re-attach your skirting boards.
7. You can also fit your floor using a secret nailing or glue-down method. Secret nailing is a method used when laying your flooring straight onto a wooden sub floor or joists. It is named ‘secret nailing’ as the boards are secured by nailing at a 45-degree angel through the tongue of the board – meaning that the nails cannot be seen once the flooring is finished.
8. Glue-down is also a popular method of installation and is usually used when laying wooden flooring over a concrete subfloor. Adhesives have a flexible quality which works well with the natural swell and movement of wooden flooring.

Aftercare

• To keep your new floor looking spick and span, remove loose dirt and dust from the floor by sweeping or vacuuming, and wipe over with a damp mop to keep clean.
• You can also maintain your solid wood floor by applying a treatment such as wood floor wax or oil.

Browse our range of engineered wood flooring accessories or contact us for more info.